Azzurrini Take 2008 Toulon Tournament

By: chris | May 29th, 2008

Italia 1 – Chile 0

It rained cats and dogs earlier this afternoon in Toulon, France, which made the final an extra delightful viewing experience. They may as well have played the game in the shallow waters of the Mediterranean, because it wouldn’t have made any difference.

The game was as you’d expect it, with the ball less than lively and maintaining possession on the attack difficult at times, but there were some fantastic Slip N’Slide tackles which started about 15 yards before the lads had stopped moving. Everyone loves a good Slip N’Slide game.

The lone goal came from a brilliant Daniele Dessena ball (remember that name, he’ll be owning midfield real estate like few others in a couple years) onto the rushing Pablo Osvaldo, who provided a beauty of a finish over the right should of the Chilean goalkeeper. The Azzurri counter attack provided a few more opportunities, with Osvaldo missing a sitter (great finish, missed sitter – how it always works, right?) and Tiberio Guarente hitting an audacious ball over the keeper from 45 yards out, goalbound before knocking off the post. Just cruel from the footy gods. Shots that good shouldn’t hit the post.

Chile was dangerous on the attack, and their best chance came with only seconds on the clock, literally, as in the 93rd minute one of the midfielders launched a ball goalwards only to see that one hit off the post as well. A post for a post. Cruel as they may be, at least the football gods were fair ont this day.

The player of the tournament was deemed to be Sebastian Giovinco, Juve’s mighty mouse, who was far and away the best player on the pitch in each game he played. Easy pick for the suits that decided these awards.

The goal of the tournament came from Chile’s Pedro Morales, which you can see below, and for obvious reasons. That strike actually saw them into the final.

Ivory Coast won the third place game against Japan on penalties, and Sekou Cisse got his fourth goal to lead the tourny in scoring. The full tourny summary can be seen here or on the official website (in Francais).

Morales goal: