"Italy, 2006". This is enough to evoke, in the collective imagination, a strong and clear image, which stands out among the others. An image of a man lifting a cup. And, the greater the concentration, the nostalgia, the greater the visibility of those moments. Say when Fabio Cannavaro raised the sky to the sky World Cup that the Azzurri were winning in Berlin, for the fourth time in their history. But "Italy, 2006" is also the trigger for another spring in the head of our then captain. In fact, at the end of an imperious season, Cannavaro won the Golden Ball, becoming the fifth Italian ever to do so, and was elected FIFA World Player of the Year. Today we are talking about him, Fabio, his football history and that 2006 to be framed.
Who is Fabio Cannavaro?
Lawful question, for a layman. Cannavaro is now a former football player, mostly defender, but also full-back if necessary.
Among the best features in the repertoire, the marking, the advance and the timing, especially in the aerial deadlifts, which he won very often, despite not being particularly tall in stature. During the 2006 World Cup, these parameters were greatly amplified, allowing him to play at levels never reached in his career. And we have seen the results well.
Fabio Cannavaro's career
Cannavaro, of Neapolitan origins, began his experience in that youth sector, making his debut in Serie A in 1993 and in the Uefa Cup the following season, also finding his first goal against Milan. It is then sold to Parma, to restore the financial conditions of the Neapolitans. Among the ducals, it can carry out its task together with pillars such as Buffon and Thuram, in one of the most significant defenses in Europe. It is no coincidence, in fact, that in this experience - which lasted seven years - he will close in second place a championship in which they have seriously put Juve in difficulty and will win the Uefa Cup, the Italian Cup and the Italian Super Cup.
In 2002 he moved toInter, under Hector Cuper. It doesn't start very well, on the contrary, but it picks up on the way, still guaranteeing good results. A series of injuries, on the other hand, will negatively characterize his second year at the Nerazzurri, preventing him from expressing himself continuously. By his own admission, the Inter two-year period was the hardest of his entire career. From big to big, in 2004 he landed at Juventus. Its performance levels up. And, to them, there are several sporadic goals, including his first brace in Juve - Empoli 2-1. The Piedmontese, in those years, hit two championships in a row, according to which they were revoked following the scandal that involved them.
To Avoid B, he decides to move to the Real, a team with which he won two Primera Divisions, while staggering below expectations. On expiry, he returned to Juve, receiving a very cold welcome from the fans, who did not forgive him leaving the post-ship.Calciopoli. In addition, he plays quite badly, he and the team, which ends the year in seventh place. Juve decides, in June, not to renew the contract and he frees himself. Cannavaro will officially retire in 2012.
The 2006 World Cup and the Golden Ball
As said, the World 2006 is the spearhead of his football career. His crystalline performances reached very high levels, so much so that the defense he led collected only two goals overall. In the final ofOlympic Stadium he not only graduated world champion, but reached 100 caps for the national team. Further crown, the attribution of the Adidas silver ball, an honor that Fifa gives to the second best player of the tournament.
Thanks to these extremely enviable successes, he was able to secure the Ballon d'Or and still be the last Italian to have won it. And, in reality, even for him it is a somewhat surprising triumph, because generally when a national team wins the World Cup, the award is given to the offensive terminal, to the driver who, to the sound of goals, has massacred opponents. . But Lippi's Italy was atypical from this point of view. Tony had scored two goals, Totti one, but the real power of those elements lay in the midfield and, even more so, in the granite defense, composed, among others, by Gigi Buffon. Indeed, he will finish second in the race for the Golden Ball. Quite a few controversies have arisen from those who consider that recognition as an expression of inspiration, assists, goals, talent. Instead, it was the solidity of our local defender that prevailed. One of the few to win a Ballon d'Or. Our pride.
