0:00

And now to pigeons bemoaning the fact

0:02

you can stream Directv satellite free. As

0:05

a family watching baseball on Direct T V

0:07

with no satellite dish and site that's excellent.

0:09

You call that changing the channel. Show up

0:11

on the Rumble Bloody. I have gotten all

0:13

these games on Direct T V makes up

0:16

for your mother, not preach you and your

0:18

sunflower seeds. Directv has the most Mlb

0:20

games call one eight hundred Directv claim

0:22

based on total again carried on Sports

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networks. Sports availability varies. Why should go

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to requires choice Baggage terms are restrictions

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apply. The

0:32

athletic. Hello!

0:38

And welcome to the Tivo Football Podcast!

0:40

I'm Joe Mckenzie. I'm joined as ever

0:43

but my good friend and producer my

0:45

grandmother Mike hello Hi John! Excited for

0:47

this bonus episode of the Tivo Football

0:50

Podcast! Yeah it is a very exciting

0:52

bonus podcast because you have the opportunity

0:54

to talk to a very special footballer

0:56

from the past and I will let

0:59

you tell the listeners he spoke to.

1:01

The. Edge. Ah thanks. So I sat

1:04

down with event his legend and World

1:06

Cup winner for Italy, Alessandra del Piero.

1:08

He was actually in New York last

1:10

week so as able to sit down

1:13

chat with him for about twenty minutes

1:15

or so. kind of reflecting on his

1:17

club career, that two thousand and six

1:20

World Cup run he had with Italy

1:22

as was a things he's doing in

1:24

the New York area to help promote

1:26

Syria, to help underserved communities and end

1:29

the students enrolled in the streets ocker.

1:31

Usa program as was looking ahead towards

1:33

the Euros in the Copa America and

1:36

which countries he thinks might be dark

1:38

horses and do it was. It was

1:40

a a very good conversation to have So

1:42

in your words I think the best

1:44

thing to do is toss it right

1:46

to their conversation. And

1:55

and. Passenger the up here that

1:57

you so much for sitting down with the

1:59

athletic your work on thing for in heavenly

2:01

Sword star with Nike seasons at Uva right?

2:03

Yeah cause winning score twenty is good. That

2:06

eats a chap is a trophy. Is there

2:08

one moment in particular that sticks out to

2:10

you from your club current. Five

2:13

wow moments He saw. I

2:17

want to be caught dead assist

2:19

I that I were that says

2:21

no because. As.

2:24

As a you this and owner

2:26

was a kid est now costs

2:28

and desist time the you us

2:30

either could you the like your

2:32

like heaven. So when

2:35

i was eighteen and us near they

2:37

both me from part of our and

2:39

then. We start

2:41

training but into day have a chance

2:44

you know to where the jersey yeah

2:46

so and then a some point to

2:48

the word moment offer for the shooting

2:50

with the officer for the vessels event.

2:53

As for twenty five years or more

2:55

so the guy came to me as

2:57

I used to wear the juicy into

2:59

the this as a As for him

3:02

was something that he was doing all

3:04

the time of the real was a

3:06

very important moments I was waiting because

3:08

I was you've a player was ready.

3:11

For the first time my you reduce it's

3:13

so odd put it on and eyes at

3:15

make these for the shooting and then. And

3:18

then I'd daily kids to the though

3:21

a citrus this was for me and

3:23

all I care. Huge memory, a huge

3:25

moments and that one for she was

3:27

taking my mind of the time. Now

3:30

there's so many memorable Champions League games

3:32

a that you've played and was there

3:34

any particular opponents that was difficult to

3:36

play against? Weather's an individual or or

3:38

team. What?

3:41

My history does a

3:43

D was share between

3:45

Remedy them my united

3:47

than time we had

3:49

several games against each

3:51

other, several fights and

3:53

and battles. As so

3:55

those who seemed str

3:57

the the to that's.

4:00

Doing the yes can.

4:03

Often. Often for some kind

4:05

of. Have

4:07

enough Joe or something and earlier in

4:10

the group stage or after all, so

4:12

that's that's in the two teams that

4:14

they're always. For

4:17

me Still. The

4:20

best for the for that period. Now

4:22

at Stuyvesant Ah Reddit Two Thousand Six

4:24

World Cup of you know before getting

4:26

to the final am I like to

4:28

ask about the feeling with and team

4:30

prior to that ran a sixteen deceit

4:32

in Two Thousand Two World Cup. Going.

4:35

To get out of the group in two thousand

4:37

and four euros. What was the ceiling with in

4:39

that squad going into the tournament. Twelve.

4:43

Still a good feeling because you know

4:45

we know each other for it was

4:48

we know that we are song team

4:50

and we also know that if you

4:52

make one single mistake sometimes it makes

4:54

or the defense and that's why probably

4:57

And we we went out of previously

4:59

so we're forced that world cup in

5:01

a be. In. Asia situation for us

5:03

in it that he was going on. A

5:06

lot of things air around

5:08

the pizza the said like

5:10

this so that that moment

5:12

for as was the kind

5:14

of snow white guys ever

5:16

seen since collapse around us.

5:18

but we're here we're here

5:20

we have a big chance

5:22

we we want sets and

5:24

we were coming from a

5:26

to yourself for qualification and

5:28

friend again really really good

5:30

we were confidence her we

5:32

know that we can beat

5:34

everyone but. In

5:37

a to show it so

5:39

that's was the ceiling and

5:41

of course day by day

5:44

game by game that constant

5:46

confidence become higher higher was

5:48

still in the position where.

5:51

You. Know is. Issue A lot

5:54

of respect for. The other the

5:56

other opponents in do you think you are

5:58

better than them. Talking

6:00

about some particular game for example

6:02

so will because we know like

6:04

in a group stage happens. For

6:06

example of Guns Usa we got

6:08

the red cards so the way

6:10

the are Tebow didn't Australia and

6:12

their round of sixteen they're not

6:14

wrong at so that game changer

6:16

can be. That's

6:19

where as her my, we combat, we

6:21

we we stay songs and the and

6:23

we went through all through that because

6:26

we believe in each other. A

6:28

lot and we believe in

6:31

as. Like it like

6:33

a team. And as

6:35

and that a key for us

6:37

because you were of have so

6:39

much time to everywhere Goalkeeper descends,

6:41

midfielders a psych as so everybody

6:44

can yell, step up and say

6:46

or. I want to

6:48

solve the game of gonna do These earth

6:50

But the best thing for the best thing

6:52

for for that. Team.

6:55

Was defended. Dispute that we have

6:57

four years for each other between

6:59

each other or event never week

7:01

was was criminal clearly on display

7:03

in the semifinal against Germany. One

7:05

of most memorable Rocket games and

7:07

history are want to talk about

7:09

your goal? lower your emotions. Before

7:12

that and then immediately following it

7:14

because it was even though was

7:16

one know it was still a

7:18

tight tight contest. Sister's House. And

7:22

never had that game. I mean it

7:24

was so emotional and back and forth

7:26

all the guy or the time l

7:28

saving phone before he the boss for

7:30

us and. So. We

7:32

went one zero of course

7:34

was a bigger be saying

7:36

goes missing one minutes but.

7:39

Because. What you say exactly how

7:41

you never know what happened so for

7:43

other for me that specific moments this

7:46

the only thing that has in mind

7:48

His defense. They. Came back

7:50

to the way the next two deliveries

7:52

say one less thing that the since

7:54

I was a line with the differences.

7:57

On the on the of course left side.

8:00

because I was thinking that that was

8:02

the most important thing since we were

8:04

up. We just need some

8:06

time, buy some time and it's done. And

8:10

then all of a sudden we got this concert

8:12

attack and I say well, I

8:15

remember that still striking. So

8:18

I went all over and make

8:20

this run and everything went

8:23

perfectly. It was an amazing concert attack,

8:25

you know. Before kind of

8:27

Arden thought to them, you know, and make the

8:29

move and assist. It was amazing and

8:32

no look assist. And then my delivery

8:34

on the top corner was... Do

8:37

you remember that celebration? Because you

8:39

were clearly emotional. I remember everything.

8:42

I start running and then I remember

8:45

that on the other side, where I

8:47

scored, there were all our

8:49

fans. They have a little

8:52

piece of the stadium, you know, a thousand

8:54

people where my family was there, my wife,

8:56

everybody was there. So I

8:58

went, first of all on the

9:00

left, start to celebrate and then I said, I

9:02

remember, I want to go there. So

9:05

I went behind the goal where behind

9:08

the goal in this big tournament is a

9:10

full of cameras because automatic

9:13

cameras from the photographs and

9:16

video makers. I need

9:19

to run and jump

9:21

over these cameras without hurting no one of

9:24

them because it was a natural

9:26

feeling. I mean, I don't want to run

9:28

through them. So running

9:31

and trying to keep safe

9:33

myself in order, full speed, in

9:36

order to go to celebrate in front of them. And

9:38

then it was funny because at the end, you know, really

9:42

my wife, my friends, was in the front row,

9:45

supposed to be in the top. And then they

9:47

told me during the game, I said, it was

9:49

so emotional. So we came down, calm down. We

9:51

came down just a few,

9:53

you know, closer and closer. So that

9:55

was the story. And then I end up a little bit in

9:57

front of them. I say, in my mind, I was keeping up.

10:00

celebrating, shouting and I didn't

10:02

understand nothing. I said, but then in the

10:04

back of my mind, what are you doing here? Are you supposed to

10:06

be over there? It

10:09

was super funny and super emotional of course. It was

10:11

the best game that we had. The

10:14

more emotion, the more tough for

10:17

some reason. Of course the final was

10:20

even more for other reasons but

10:22

yeah definitely the best game that we had

10:25

in that war cup. Now you're

10:27

here in New York as Saria

10:29

has sponsored pitches in the Bronx via

10:31

its partnership with Street Soccer USA. The

10:33

inauguration was back in May of 2023.

10:36

Street Soccer aims to

10:38

fight inequality creating an accessible

10:40

space for underserved communities to

10:42

learn to play soccer

10:44

while also growing social and educational

10:46

skills and the digital media center

10:49

that they have allows students

10:51

to learn all about the career opportunities around

10:53

the game. Now you're going to meet with

10:56

some of the students enrolled in the Street

10:58

Soccer USA program which is super exciting.

11:01

I know you're heavily involved in giving

11:03

back to local communities, helping to provide

11:05

opportunities for students off the pitch as

11:07

well as sharing this story of Italian football.

11:10

Well I'm here with Saria for this big

11:12

event that had both of the government that

11:14

we want to do that to promote what

11:21

is the Italian football. We've

11:23

been through a lot but we

11:25

still have amazing teams with incredible

11:28

history and great

11:31

performance till now and European

11:33

level. So it's

11:35

a good moment in order to celebrate,

11:39

promoting and talk about our

11:41

football, our passion and our

11:44

things. In all of this we have amazing

11:46

players, we have amazing coaches, we have a

11:49

lot of these things and

11:51

yeah it's a good moment.

11:53

Coming to New York is always great plus

11:55

if you do it for the thing that

11:58

you have a passion for it. even

12:00

better. Now you know the tri-state area is

12:02

heavily influenced by Italian culture and Serie A

12:04

is so important to so many people here.

12:07

Why do you think Calco is such an

12:09

integral part of this New York community? Because

12:12

it is in our blood, because

12:15

we can avoid it. It's

12:20

a part of our life, it's part

12:22

of our beliefs and

12:24

part of our family

12:27

traditions. It means

12:30

really, really a lot for most of

12:32

us. And it's

12:34

the way to live life, it's a

12:38

lot of things. I

12:41

believe also for sure

12:43

in a place like New York or around the

12:46

world, not in Italy, it's

12:48

also another way to keep close to

12:50

your country, because you

12:52

still focus on your

12:55

favorite team or what

12:57

happened in Italy, what represent to be a

12:59

fan of one team or the other ones,

13:01

what is the dynamics that are going on

13:03

now. So it keeps you close

13:05

to Italy definitely. Serie A has an office

13:07

here in New York. What

13:09

are you looking forward to seeing in the US as

13:11

Serie A starts to grow around this country? Well,

13:15

we're looking, I mean, now

13:17

with, especially with social media, with

13:21

internet, you get closer

13:23

to everything around the world.

13:25

But the presence here with

13:27

the office, for example,

13:29

this event that we do tonight or other events

13:31

that's going on during the year, it's

13:34

also a different way, because living

13:36

experience one-to-one is different than seeing

13:38

on TV. So on TV you can

13:40

see it every time, everywhere, in

13:43

every moment of your day. So being

13:46

in person is a different kind of feeling

13:48

for everybody. So it's good all the time

13:50

that and I fly and I

13:53

live in LA for a lot in

13:56

Australia as well, and I go around the world

13:58

a lot. So when I'm married,

14:00

people, you know, Italians that lives

14:02

somewhere and not in Italy. It's

14:04

a big moment. I felt it

14:07

and I lived outside

14:09

the country so of

14:11

course I miss my country. So that's

14:14

another point where I completely

14:16

understand what's going on in

14:18

these kind of events and

14:20

it's good, you know, sharing some thoughts, some

14:23

talk and hearing

14:25

the different experiences. What

14:27

the people seeing what's

14:30

going on in Italy from here, that

14:32

is another aspect. So

14:35

it's interesting. If you are

14:37

open-minded, it's always interesting. Now

14:40

we're gonna head to the summer. Italy are coming

14:42

into Euros as defending champions. You capped

14:44

them the national team in

14:46

the 2008 Euros coming off the back of

14:48

that World Cup win. What were those expectations

14:50

like and how do you think this team

14:53

will handle that? Expectations

14:57

are always high, you know. But

15:00

I believe that we got big, we got hit by

15:07

a big

15:10

experience in the past, you

15:12

know. We won the Euros

15:14

but we also have

15:16

a really incredible bad experience in North

15:18

Carolina for the World Cup. So

15:21

it's a moment of transition of course the last

15:23

10-12 years but we have a great

15:29

hope for this national team, great

15:31

belief and passion about it and

15:33

about the players, about the coach.

15:37

They are trying to identify

15:39

themselves in a really

15:42

specific identity,

15:45

yeah, having a really specific identity,

15:47

let's say like this. And

15:51

be a team because definitely only

15:53

be a team you can win. Even if you

15:56

have the best player in the world, you need

15:58

to be a team. And even more

16:00

for us that you know maybe if

16:02

you're looking for about these euros you

16:04

can see other national teams

16:06

that have

16:10

to be honest amazing champions that

16:12

maybe we don't have at that level

16:14

yet. Well they're in a group with

16:16

Spain, Croatia, Albania. What do you think

16:19

those teams you know how

16:21

do you think Italy will I guess?

16:25

Well it's a perfect mix of

16:27

of dangerous things that can happen.

16:29

Because Spain is still someone

16:32

that lately to be honest give us a

16:34

lot of headache and

16:36

win often. On the other side,

16:39

Croatia, the incredible history in

16:41

the last 10 years because

16:43

finished second the World Cup and then

16:45

again the Euros they do amazing they

16:47

have great talents in their team. Also

16:51

a little bit change you know a little bit

16:53

of generation speaking

16:55

for them definitely yes a little bit but

16:57

still and then Albania

16:59

is a

17:02

new force a new straight that

17:04

come and means

17:06

to be really really careful as well because

17:08

you know you can't underestimate even

17:11

them and you know

17:13

that group stage give you

17:15

a chance to make some mistakes. True

17:17

but you don't want

17:19

to make mistakes. You don't want to be in that

17:21

trouble and so

17:24

I believe they're going to prepare the games really

17:27

really well it would be ideal of course

17:30

win the first one but also having

17:34

the chance to win the second one would be that

17:36

you need to go to win the game. Yeah you

17:38

can you know predict and say

17:40

oh let's see how it goes no it's

17:43

a it's a fana even if it's a group stage

17:46

and you need to find a way

17:48

to win the game. Let's see

17:51

it's gonna be tough but Italy has the quality

17:53

to go over. Well looking

17:55

looking at the tournament as a whole who do you

17:57

see as the favorites do you have a horse

18:00

country that you think might

18:02

do better than expected and then do you have

18:05

a player you're excited to watch? I

18:12

really hope that Italy is going to be

18:14

that horse. Because

18:18

now I definitely to

18:21

let's say two national teams, France

18:23

and England, definitely they

18:25

are for many reasons

18:28

more chance than the other ones. In

18:31

terms of structure, qualities of the

18:33

players, level of the players, number

18:35

of the players. France maybe

18:37

have a, could put the

18:40

three team of first

18:42

11 that can easily

18:46

participate and doing well in the World Cup. But

18:49

these two teams are definitely the biggest ones to

18:52

face. And

18:56

Italy need to be very smart from my point of

18:58

view. As we did

19:00

in the past, we have qualities, we

19:02

have ideas, we have

19:05

beliefs. And

19:08

that's sometimes enough. If you

19:10

put 100% on that and the

19:12

chemistry between the players and the

19:14

team is great, you can beat

19:16

anyone. Now is there a player

19:18

on Italy that you're excited to

19:20

see that either we don't know

19:22

about or maybe we'll use this

19:24

tournament to kind of show the

19:27

world? No,

19:29

not one in particular to be honest. Because

19:36

the way that Spaletti plays really

19:38

involve everybody. So you need

19:40

a strength of everybody and not

19:44

to be focused on one player or

19:46

to give them too much attention or

19:48

responsibilities. I think everybody

19:51

needs to do their job 100%

19:53

and share this responsibility because

19:56

it's a lot, it means

19:58

a lot to where that Azuliji. It's a big

20:00

thing. We have a

20:03

full history behind the four-workup

20:06

winners. So it's a big

20:08

thing. And they know that.

20:12

They need to find the balance to put

20:16

that heart, mind and passion

20:18

in the game and

20:20

balance it with the emotion that they're

20:23

going to have for sure for this

20:25

kind of event that you just mastered, massive

20:27

event. Now, finishing up, last question. The

20:29

other tournament this summer is the Copa America and it's

20:32

being held here in the U.S. One of the semi-finals

20:34

is being played in the New York area, MetLife

20:37

Stadium in New Jersey. Are there any teams or

20:39

players you'd want playing in that game for

20:42

people in this area to get a chance to watch? Well,

20:47

arriving in the semi-final is

20:49

going to be a huge game in any case. So I think

20:52

U.S. is going to, in New York, we're

20:54

going to enjoy a lot that

20:56

semi-final. Of course,

20:59

IZANDO, Argentina and Brazil

21:01

for many reasons. I

21:04

don't know if there's a

21:06

way that they're going to meet each other in the semi-final.

21:10

Probably everybody were looking for a final

21:12

like this around the world. Or,

21:16

you know, even some locals

21:19

can say something because, you know, it's

21:22

a big thing. I mean,

21:24

South America and Copa America is a

21:26

big thing for every national

21:28

team. And you

21:31

never know what can happen. Talking

21:33

about Copa America and Euros, we

21:37

need to understand that when you

21:39

think about the team, you used to

21:41

see the team, you know, in your

21:43

own league. So if Euros play a

21:45

full 32 games of league, probably,

21:53

France, we're going to win. But

21:57

in the tournament like this, especially when

21:59

you go... to the knockout

22:01

games, it's different. Emotional

22:05

mindset and beliefs

22:08

take and can take a big

22:10

advantage in several qualities of the players. So

22:13

that's why everything can happen, that's

22:15

why this kind of tournament become

22:17

really really interesting and everybody fall in

22:19

love with. Because it's a knockout game

22:21

and you know even David can beat

22:24

Golia and you

22:26

know and that's going to be crazy. So

22:29

I'm really really curious to see what's going to happen.

22:31

Well, Alessandro, it's a pleasure to have you here in

22:33

the US and thank you so much for us. And

22:35

now with you, Thank you guys. As

23:06

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