Fan of the Day: Suffer for Italy

Jul 6, 2006, 18:12 GMT

Dortmund - With every new game the excitement grows for Vito Torelli.

'I didn't know what would happen. I was uncertain,' confesses the Italian whose dizziness extends beyond football. 'I'm very demanding with girls. I only accept those that will have me. I ignore the others.'

With a wink and a smile, Vito launches into football. 'After drawing with the United States, I felt we'd have to suffer to win like we did in 1982 in Spain when we ended up winning.

'In the last group game I wanted us to beat the Czechs only in the last minute - Italian style. A goal with the hand, would have been all the better so the other team feels it more. Luckily that's what happened against Australia. We scored in the last minute with a penalty. That confirmed to me that we'd match the side of 82 and become champions.

'It was a bit too easy against Ukraine, but I loved leaving it to the end against the Germans. I think we'll win the final comfortably just as we did in 82 but I'd welcome a tight match. It's not that I'm a masochist, but it's the only way we Italians will end up winning,' concludes Vito laughing.