Italian
football has hit its lowest point in decades and needs a thorough overhaul
A month ago, when Holland failed to make
it to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, there was none of the shocked despair that hangs over Italy’s non-qualification following its defeat to Sweden in the two-legged play-off.
Football in the Netherlands is facing its worst crisis and its fans have
perhaps become used to under-performance. Since 1982, the team has failed to
make it to the quadrennial extravaganza on
four different occasions. Dutch footballers were always expected to thrill but
not necessarily to win. Even the legendary Johan Cruyff didn’t bag football’s
most coveted prize. But Italy is different. The Azzurri have always found a
way, regardless of the circumstances. Italy went into the 2006 World Cup with a
match-fixing scandal raging back home; it ended up lifting the trophy. Another
scandal erupted ahead of the 2012 European Championship, but Italy emerged a
worthy runner-up to Spain. Four years later, Italy went in with arguably its weakest squad
ever but still outwitted reigning champion Spain and lost to Germany in the
quarter-finals only on penalties. This is what makes the four-time champion
missing out on the World Cup, for the first time since 1958, astounding. It is
true that the qualification process left very little margin for error, with
only the group topper earning a direct entry. Clubbed alongside Spain, Italy was always expected to come
second and be in the playoff. Once there, it was unlucky to draw Sweden, the
toughest of opponents. But even so, its performances have been truly worrying.
Italian football has been stagnant for
quite a while. In recent times the national team has even registered draws
against novices such as Haiti and Luxembourg. There
have been no credible replacements in sight for the likes of Andrea Pirlo,
Francesco Totti, Alessandro Del Piero and Alessandro Nesta. Only manager
Antonio Conte’s brilliance saved the country at the 2016 Euros. There is such a
dearth of emerging talent that in the first
leg against Sweden, seven of Italy’s starting 11 were older than 30. Supporters
even sought comfort in the team’s unblemished
record at the iconic San Siro stadium in Milan, causing Pirlo to remark, “I’ve
never seen a goal scored from the stands.” There is much to be blamed on
current manager Giampiero Ventura. He repeatedly ignored players who were adept and schooled in modern-day tactical methods. Midfielder
Jorginho, who has been excellent for Napoli, was only handed his debut against
Sweden while forward Lorenzo Insigne, the most creative of the lot, was an
unused substitute because the formation that Ventura used didn’t suit his best
player. But history suggests Italy isn’t alone. Both Germany and France
underwent similar turbulence before emerging stronger with a
complete overhaul of their footballing structures. What Italy needs is similar
soul-searching.
[Noun]
Meaningà A thorough examination of machinery or a system,
with repairs or changes made if necessary.
Synà Complete change,
complete change after examination, make over, catch up with ,restoration
Exampleà "A major overhaul of
environmental policies"
Antonymsà Stick
2. QUADRENNIAL <KWA/DREE/NEE/AL > :: चार साल का
[Noun]
Meaningà Recurring=(taking place) every four years.
Antonymà Regular
Exampleà "The quadrennial world championships"
3. EXTRAVAGANZA <X /TRA /V /GAE/ N
/ZAA > :: कल्पात्मक नाटक
[Noun]
Meaningà An
elaborate and spectacular entertainment or production.
Synà Spectacular ,spectacle
,pageant ,exhibition ,display,show
Exampleà "An
extravaganza of the event".
4. OUTWITTED < OUT /WEE /TED >
:: चतुरता में मात देना
[Verb]=past tense of outwit
Meaningà deceive by greater ingenuityà.[ the quality of being clever,]
Synà Outsmart ,out-think ,outmanoeuvre ,be clever than ,trick
Exampleà "Ray had outwitted many an opponent"
Antonymsà Be honest
5. CLUBBED < K /L/ B/D > :: संयोजित (मिल के)
[Verb]past tense: clubbed
Meaning à combine with others so as to collect a sum of money for a particular
purpose.[Here grouped together]
Syn à Join forces , make a joint contribution ,pool resources
Antonymsà Separate
Exampleà "friends
and colleagues clubbed together to buy him a present"
6. STAGNANT < STAE /G /NENT > :: गतिहीन
[Adjective]
|
Meaning à Showing
no activity; dull and sluggish.
|
Synà Inactive ,static ,dull
,lethargic,sluggish, ,dormant ,slow-moving
Exampleà "A
stagnant economy"
7. NOVICES < NO / VI /SES > :: नौसिखिया अथवा रंगरूट
[Noun]=
plural noun: novices
Meaningà a person new to and inexperienced in a job or
situation.
Exampleà "he was a complete
novice in foreign affairs"
Synà Beginner ,learner ,inexperienced
person ,newcomer ,neophyte
8. DEARTH <
D/TH or DE/R/TH > :: अकाल
[Noun]
Meaning à A scarcity
or lack of something.
Synà Lack .scarcity ,shortage ,inadequacy,
insufficiency
9. UNBLEMISHED <UN /BLAE /MISH /D
> :: मुकम्मल
[Adjective]
Meaning
Not damaged or marked in any way.
Synà Impeccable ,flawless, faultless ,perfect ,without
fault , pure
Exampleà "Her body
was perfectly shaped, formed and unblemished"
10. ADEPT<A /DEY/P/T > :: निपुण
[Adjective]
Meaning Very skilled or proficient at something.
Synà Expert ,proficient ,skilful ,talented ,virtuoso
Exampleà She is adept at cutting through
red tape"
Antonymà Incapable
,unskilled ,in competent ,inexperienced
11.[Here] TURBULENCE <TUR /BU /LEN /S > :: अशांति =
[Noun]
Meaningà A state of conflict or confusion.
Exampleà "Political turbulence"
Synà Turmoil, instability, conflict, disorder, upheaval
Comments
Post a Comment