The last defender. He is the first

September 13, the owner of the Golden Ball Fabio Cannavaro turned 50 years old

He went from Bulbo (a boy who supplies balls) to the captain of the national team. Diego Maradona himself gave him the boots, to whom the brave baby almost tore his legs in training. This Fabio deprived his native Skuadra Adzurra Victory at the European Championship, but raised the World Cup above his head. It was he who never won the championship of Italy, but took away the Golden Ball from the famous goalkeeper Buffon. There will never be such defenders as Cannavaro.

Its growth is 1 meter and 75 centimeters. In modern football, to defend, possessing such anthropometric data, death (or defeat) is like. But there are exceptions to the rules. And Fabio, who knew how to distort the opponent due to courage, dexterity and cunning, the best confirmation of this. Unless Roberto Carlos, a miniature “rear” from Brazil, also managed to masterfully stop the scorers on the way to the gate. By the way, two famous “fleas” will spend one season together in the Madrid “Real”. That was, of course, the victorious year for the Spanish Grand ...

Of course, Fabio was not going to work in defense. Nevertheless, Italian boys, obsessed with English fun, in childhood dreamed of resurrecting Paolo Rossi, Alessandro Altobelli or Roberto Baggio. But the striker from a native of Naples did not work. The Fabio Academy was determined on the position of the midfielder, which suited him quite: from the center of the field to get to the goalkeeper “house” and impress it - the task is fulfilled. And pleasant. However, Cannavaro did not turn into a full -fledged midfielder. The coach of the youth team Ricardo de Lella “lowered” the player even “lower” and closer to his possessions. “Fabio constantly looked at his feet ... What is the attack here ...”, - so explained his decision by the coach, who, in fact, blessed the guy for predatory exploits.

Fabio began famously: at one of the training, he rushed into the tackle and so chopped down the idol of the entire Naples Diego Maradona, that tears sprayed from his eyes.

He, who did not always appear at home classes Napoli, was in natural shock: when strangers dubas him along amazing limbs - this is understandable, but for his own? The Cadet Kannavaro thought that the ball selection would remain the last in his career (they say, for such a “divine acquaintance” he would be pointed to the door), but after the study sparring at the door he was Maradona and, having patted the brave young man, handed his boots to him. The joy of the beginner had no bounds.

Fabio noticed, albeit after a dangerous shock "reception". At eighteen, he will make his debut for the main team of the southern city in the country's Cup, in nineteen - in series A. at twenty - he is already a firm founder of the foundation in every sense. Maradona and other stars had left the club by that time, and Napoli was a miserable sight. But Kroshka Cannavaro fought for the “little donkeys” like a lion. And the Neapolitans had to soon sell this long-haired lion out due to financial problems, although he himself patriotically configured Fabio and wanted to spend his whole life in a blue T-shirt with the letter N. And in the end he spent his best Italian years in the yellow-blue Parma, where, together with Lilian Tyurama, Nestor Sensini and, of course, Dzanluji Buffon, he created Unlocked line for forwards.

The final of the UEFA-99 Cup in Luzhniki personally I will not forget. The leaders of the Olympic - Pires and Maurice - each time stumbled upon the “gang” of the Cannavaro. Bufffon simply froze in that cold Moscow May wind - he did not find serious work. The final picture (3: 0) Kopo, Vanoli and Keza were drawn by the 55th minute. The Parmesans had much more difficult after the match: the crowds of Russian fans did not let the wards of Alberto Malezani until late at night ...

... And for the first time I saw Fabio in the fall of 1997. Then, at the old Dynamo stadium (with wooden shops), the Russian team clashed with the Italian army in an butt match for the right to go to the French Mundial. And it was the 24-year-old Cannavaro who gave the team Boris Ignatiev Nadezhda, cutting the ball into the Buffon's “gate” in the second half. A draw (1: 1) left our guys a chance. But in the response battle at San Paolo, neither Yuran, nor Kolyvanov, nor Simetenov, nor Alenichev could break through the defensive redoubts of the Blue Squadron, which, in turn, made one accurate shot at the authorship of Kaziraga. Well, Fabio, to my regret, was beautiful ...

In France-98, the Italians blew up the foaming of the festival in the 1/4 finals. But Kannavaro was remembered by many. In one of the episodes, Stefan Givarsh Chat with his elbow his cheekbone, but a courageous defender with a bandaged face (blood oozed from under the bandage) ran to the end, not allowing the “musketeers” to distinguish. And in Euro 2000 Francesco Totti and the company were close to revenge in the main battle. Italy led 1: 0 in the third added minute. And on the Apennins they already opened champagne when Fabio unsuccessfully played his head near his penalty area ... Silven Viltor equalized, and in Extra-Tema, David Truseg with a well-aimed blow buried Dino Dzoff's squad. Naturally, all the dogs were lowered to the Cannavaro, which was not beaten in the house ... Another would have broken, but Fabio, who was noted after Parma in Inter and Juventus, withstood an incredible pressure and became even stronger.

In 2002, the Neapolitan was recognized as the best player in the national championship in Japan and Korea (although Italy will fly to the 1/8 finals), and the captain's bandage that ended his career after the tournament. Euro 2004 “Skuadra Adzurra” would fail, and no one thought that at the world forum in Germany 2006, the guys in blue would compose a spiritual football work. But they composed, because in a Cannavaro replaced the image, it was like a demon migrated. Having reviewed all the games of Italians at the 17-year-old tournament, I argue that this can only be defended by concluding a contract with the devil. Statistics are not lying: Fabio plowed all 7 matches without a single error and without a single warning (read: yellow card). The national team missed only two goals: and one goal is one’s own “unexpected” from Christian Dzakardo, and the second is a pencil case from Zidan in the finale. And do not forget that Allesrondro Nete was injured along the championship and went to the infirmary, and Marco Materezzi fell red in a fight with the Australians and missed the quarterfinals ... In short, the Cannavaro took over a heavy burden and dashingly brought to a large pedestal.

However, the numbers will not convey a complete buzz from the actions of a shabby soil warrior. They say that the Vikings in paradise in the morning grow new legs and arms, in return for the chopped off. So Fabio fought back and “roofed” as if he had already dead warrior. Without fear and reproach. At the same time, he so skillfully and briskly maneuvered and so accurately calculated his injections and the “theft” of the ball that the judges only shook their hands. Cannavaro took off into the air faster and above two -meter giants, which landed on a lawn with sad eyes and with a full backpack of disappointment. With a smile on his face, he destroyed all the intentions of the opponent in front of the penalty buffer. He was perspicacious as a pathologist, and in his pickups and jerks more feelings and inspiration were born than in Francoise Sagan combined in the novels. Journalists called Fabio the “Berlin Wall”, and many expressed the opinion that the captain-defender won the 2006 World Cup literally alone. And the coach Marcello Lippi admitted: “If it weren’t for the Cannavaro, not to see the team of precious rounds.” By the way, the T -shirt of that impudent and steep loner was sold at the auction, and all the proceeds went to the fund for helping needing children.

Well, in November, the magic Cannes raised the Golden Ball above his head, overtaking Buffon's friend in the vote. And that result, in general, is fair. By the way, in the entire history of Fabio, only the fourth defender, who deserved an authoritative award. But unlike the Germans - Beckenbauer, Matteus and Zammer - Cannavaro was a classic destroyer. And that way he was the first. In addition, it is noteworthy that since then the players of the defense of the Golden Ball have not received ...

And at the presentation, Fabio said: “I devote this prize to Italian football. I hope that from this moment his revival will begin. ” But the revival, alas, dragged on. Yes, Skuadra Adzurra took Euro 2020, but flew past two in a row of world championships-in Russia and Qatar.

Kannavaro, who played 136 matches for the national team, did not particularly shine much after the hot July summer, because he was tormented with patients with an ankle and knee. The three -year -old business trip to Real Madrid turned out to be two golden Victorias, Fabio did not transform into the favorite of the Madrid public - he grabbed a lot of warnings, retired and did not find a common language with partners.

... It was beautiful to say goodbye to football as a gentleman and officer of the Order for Merit to the Italian Republic "in the T -shirt" Napoli ", but did not work out. And the Cannavaro played in Saudi Arabia-in Al-Ahli. In 2013, he began in 2013 and a coaching career. But in the leading field, the father of three children, who replaced six teams in 10 years, has not yet succeeded. However, brilliant players rarely become outstanding coaches ...