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Italy lacking a Messi or Ronaldo: Former coach
Milan: Former Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni admitted that the current side lacks a star player like Argentina skipper Lionel Messi or Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo.
Antonio Conte’s side could only manage unconvincing 1-0 wins over Malta and Bulgaria respectively in their most recent Euro 2016 qualifiers but they remain top of group H by two points with two games to play.
Trapattoni has no doubt that Italy will be among the leading contenders at the finals in Euro 2016 in France.
“We have to start a game with the assumption that we don’t have a Messi or a Cristiano Ronaldo, and be content with what is available. We have a precise identity and play with great spirit,” Trapattoni Awas quoted as saying by tuttosport on Tuesday.
“Against Malta and Bulgaria, I saw players chasing their opponents for 80 metres. We’ve taken six points that bring us closer to first place in a very even group,” he said.
Trapattoni remained optimistic regarding his former team’s chances in Euro 2016.
“I’m sure we’ll be a leading protagonist at Euro 2016, as ever. The critics have been exaggerating but this is something normal,” Trapattoni said.
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Sunil Gavaskar gives his opinion of GT allrounder Rahul Tewatia
The left-handed batsman from Haryana is garnering praise from all quarters for the way he’s finishing games regularly in the most exciting IPL season.
Gavaskar reckons Tewatia’s whirlwind knock in Sharjah (in IPL 2020) where he smashed West Indies pacer Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in an over, gave him the confidence that he belongs to the big stage.
Speaking on Cricket Live on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “That assault on Sheldon Cottrell in Sharjah gave him the belief to do the impossible and the confidence that he belongs here. We saw the impossible (he did with the bat) the other day as well. There’s no twitching or touching the pads (which shows a batter’s nervousness) when he bats in the death overs. He just waits for the ball to be delivered and plays his shots. He’s got all the shots in the book, but most importantly his temperament to stay cool in a crisis is brilliant.”
Gavaskar has also nicknamed the 28-year-old cricketer the ‘ice-man’ and lauded Tewatia’s ability to remain unruffled during the tense moments.