Football / World Cup USA '94: What the Italian papers say - doom, gloom and betrayal

AFTER their 1-0 loss to the Republic of Ireland on Saturday the Italian papers immediately stepped up pressure on Arrigo Sacchi, the national coach. Gazzetta Sportiva said: 'What a Sacchi disaster' and La Stampa described the match as nothing less than a 'legendary fiasco'.

La Repubblica reached for files named hypebole and doom, proclaiming the result as the end of the World Cup dream and calling the side the worst Italy has ever fielded.

Corriere dello Sport hardly took it any better. They summed up the performance with 'Betrayal]' and called for a revolution in its main article, which attacked Sacchi for forcing the team into rigid patterns of play.

Writers across the country criticised the team's lacklustre play and picked apart the complicated passing and attack strategies favoured by Sacchi.

The Romans voted with their feet. The city streets emptied before the match and stayed so afterwards. 'Everyone is staying at home to cry,' said one restaurant waiter who had been watching the match outside on a small pocket television between serving courses.