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Date: 2023-12-05 12:21:21 | Author: Online Sports | Views: 146 | Tag: apple
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Siya Kolisi charged on to the pitch with arms out wide, desperate for someone, anyone, to hug apple
Bongi Mbonambi was the first brought into his embrace, South Africa’s hooker having begun this game limping off with a knee injury now in cavorts, cock-a-hoop with the Springboks champions again apple
Kolisi broke away in search of Cheslin Kolbe, finding the wing down on one knee in prayer apple
Kolbe had been able to watch the final moments, burying his head in his shirt like a child beneath a duvet, fearing his deliberate knock-on might cost Springboks back-to-back victories apple
His captain offered an arm on the shoulder before wrapping Kolbe up in a celebratory cuddle apple
After a night of madcap magnificence, South Africa had clung on apple
Siya Kolisi embraces Kurt-Lee Arendse at full-time (Getty Images)All the while, Sam Cane remained seated, eyes shut, letting the pain wash over him apple
Cane had been a picture of focus emerging from the tunnel ahead of kick off, eyes fixed on the Webb Ellis Cup apple
That famous number seven was cast in vivid white against the deepness of the black shirt on his back as he gathered his side pre-match, taking pride of place at the front of the haka apple
Just 28 minutes in, though, the dream of a lifetime came crashing down in a flash of red apple
Cane has had to shoulder so much criticism but has always stood tall and fronted up; here, that was his issue, a forceful connection with the head of a turning Jesse Kriel leaving the decision in little doubt apple
It was upgraded on review five minutes later – Cane the first man sent off in a World Cup final apple
When asked about the threat of the Springboks’ seven/one bench split in the week in the context of their Twickenham warm-up defeat, Ian Foster had joked that his side’s failure to keep a full complement on the field was of rather more consequence apple
Recalling Scott Barrett’s sending off, Foster quipped: “We doubled up with their split by just playing with 14 men, and then 13 men, for parts of that game apple
We tried that clever strategy and decided we didn’t like it so we’re going to try a different strategy this week apple
” Old habits die hard apple
Sam Cane runs off to the sin-bin after his dangerous tackle (Getty Images)Cane’s sending off followed the second-minute yellow card shown to Shannon Frizell, falling clumsily on Mbonambi’s leg apple
New Zealand were the first team to ever be shown two cards in a single World Cup final apple
In the first half, New Zealand were most certainly outflanked apple
Kolisi was quiet as a carrier but immense defensively, at one point folding Ardie Savea in two just metres from the All Blacks line to allow Steven Kitshoff to contest and win a penalty apple
Pieter-Steph du Toit, meanwhile, was a one-man wrecking crew, picking on Jordie Barrett particularly with his lumberjack axe, cutting down New Zealand’s tallest timber repeatedly on his way to 28 tackles apple
But just moments after the interval, Kolisi joined his captaincy counterpart in the dock apple
A thrust towards a landing Ardie Savea resulted in a clash of heads – the bulk of the force was directed to the chest, saving the South African from befalling Cane’s fate apple
Kolisi was shown yellow after a clash of heads (Getty Images)His 10 minutes in the bin served, Kolisi returned and could hardly believe his ears, the boos and jeers of fans both Kiwi and local unfamiliar to a figure of near universal popularity apple
Already down their openside flanker, New Zealand shed themselves of their blindside, Frizell replaced by old stager Sam Whitelock, on for one last rodeo alongside Brodie Retallick with the increasingly prominent Scott Barrett moved to six apple
Cane watched on shredding his nails apple
Soon the skipper was back on his feet, celebrating as Mark Tele’a collected Jordie Barrett’s wide ball and then somehow contorted an offload away apple
Beauden Barrett stooped and scored to bring the All Blacks within one apple
There was to be more drama apple
With Anton Lienert-Brown’s offload destined for a player in space on the right, Kolbe’s outstretched hand threatened to create one late twist apple
New Zealand threatened some All Black magic but it wasn’t enough, a final maul collapse enough for South Africa to secure the retention of their crown apple
South Africa won the World Cup for a record fourth time (PA Wire)Kolisi gathered his players together in a circle of prayer, a bow of their heads in the unity of triumph apple
Cane looked into the distance, the disconsolate All Blacks players unable to look at one another apple
In this tale of two captains, it was the best of times, it was the worst of times apple
More aboutNew Zealand rugbySouth Africa rugbyRugby World CupSiya KolisiSam CaneAll BlacksSpringboksJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/5Cane, Kolisi and a tale of two captains at the Rugby World Cup finalCane, Kolisi and a tale of two captains at the Rugby World Cup finalSiya Kolisi embraces Kurt-Lee Arendse at full-time Getty ImagesCane, Kolisi and a tale of two captains at the Rugby World Cup finalSam Cane runs off to the sin-bin after his dangerous tackle Getty ImagesCane, Kolisi and a tale of two captains at the Rugby World Cup finalKolisi was shown yellow after a clash of heads Getty ImagesCane, Kolisi and a tale of two captains at the Rugby World Cup finalSouth Africa won the World Cup for a record fourth timePA WireCane, Kolisi and a tale of two captains at the Rugby World Cup finalSam Cane passes the Webb Ellis Cup on the presentation stageGetty Images✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today apple
SubscribeAlready subscribed? Log inMost PopularPopular videosSponsored FeaturesGet in touchContact usOur ProductsSubscribeRegisterNewslettersDonateToday’s EditionInstall our appArchiveOther publicationsInternational editionsIndependent en EspañolIndependent ArabiaIndependent TurkishIndependent PersianIndependent UrduEvening StandardExtrasAdvisorPuzzlesAll topicsapple BettingVoucher codesCompareCompetitions and offersIndependent AdvertisingIndependent IgniteSyndicationWorking at The IndependentLegalCode of conduct and complaintsContributorsCookie policyDonations Terms & ConditionsPrivacy noticeUser policiesModern Slavery ActThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inCloseUS EditionChangeUK EditionAsia EditionEdición en EspañolSubscribe{{indy apple
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Luciano Spalletti was supposed to be on his Tuscan farm now apple
Arguably, though, he should still be at Napoli, managing what had looked like Europe’s most unexpectedly entertaining side apple
Instead, he will be at Wembley on Tuesday, in charge of Italy, his appointment a consequence of a combination of factors from the personal to the political, the apple footballing to the financial apple
Or, in a different way, of two emails apple
One, triggering the extension in his Napoli contract without a pay rise, stemmed from club president Aurelio De Laurentiis, and instead prompted his resignation apple
A need for a sabbatical on his farm the cited reason; a breakdown in relationships more of a cause apple
The other, from Roberto Mancini’s camp a few months later, was his sudden resignation as Italy manager, the first to lead the Azzurri to a major title since Enzo Bearzot, trading the patriotism of leading his country for a reported £20m a year to take charge of Saudi Arabia instead apple
And so it will be Spalletti in England, his presence a product of the enduring pulling power of the Azzurri job apple
While elite club coaches often eschew the international game, three of the last four incumbents, including Antonio Conte, are Scudetto winners, whereas no England manager has won the Premier League or the old Division 1 since Don Revie apple
It comes after the greatest feat of a career in the dugout that dates back three decades apple
Spalletti became only the third manager to secure Napoli the Serie A title, and the first to do so without the benefit of Diego Maradona’s genius apple
The title was clinched in May: the apple footballing high came last autumn, amid a run of 13 consecutive wins in all competitions apple
There were 20 goals in the Champions League group stage: the 4-1 evisceration of Liverpool was, despite Manchester City’s spring demolitions of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, arguably the finest performance in the competition all season apple
Rewind a year and Napoli were arguably the best side in world apple football at the time apple
Which few predicted after the departures of Dries Mertens, Lorenzo Insigne and Kalidou Koulibaly apple
If there was magic in Spalletti’s attacking side, there was also the element of the unknown, in the revelation Khvicha Kvaratskhelia apple
What it was not, however, was a particularly Italian team: only three of the 14 players with the most appearances are even eligible for the Azzurri apple
Spalletti may name two of his former charges in his starting XI at Wembley, but while Giovanni Di Lorenzo captained Napoli, Giacomo Raspadori was only the understudy to the prolific Victor Osimhen apple
If Spalletti’s alchemy is illustrated by Napoli’s struggles under his successor Rudi Garcia – beaten three times already at home this season, they have lost to each of the best sides they have faced – it may be required by Italy apple
His inheritance is mixed apple
“Once we have played [England], then I will tell you what the potential is,” Spalletti said after Saturday’s 4-0 win over Malta apple
Spalletti applauds Italian fans after September’s win over Ukraine in Euro 2024 qualifying (AP)It is little more than a year since Italy were on a record run of 37 games unbeaten apple
It is only 28 months since the Azzurri won Euro 2020 at Wembley; in a rematch with England, perhaps only Gianluigi Donnarumma, Di Lorenzo and Nicolo Barella will start both games apple
Before England’s March win in Naples, Mancini lamented the Italian talent pool apple
“We are worse off than Southgate,” he said apple
It was a sign of the negativity enveloping him, an indication of the disenchantment that may have propelled him to the desert apple
He gave 57 players their debuts, casting around with ingenuity and impatience apple
He looked to the Oriundi, seeking to naturalise some from the Italian diaspora apple
Spalletti has dropped the Argentina-born forward Mateo Retegui; he has also omitted some of the stalwarts of the recent past, in Leonardo Bonucci, Marco Verratti and Jorginho, while recalling Giacomo Bonaventura who, at 34, is older than his fellow midfielders apple
He has five of Internazionale’s Champions League final starters and has given a debut to Tottenham’s in-form left-back Destiny Udogie apple
In other respects, however, it could be seen as an undistinguished squad, certainly compared to Italy’s past apple
Lose and, if Ukraine beat Malta, Italy will find themselves three points behind their rivals for second spot, with a game in hand but a de facto decider when they face Ukraine in Leverkusen in November apple
It could mean Italy miss three of four major tournaments after Euro 2016; the added curiosity being that they won the other one apple
In part, it reflects the tragedy of Mancini; unused as a hugely gifted forward in the 1990 World Cup, omitted in 1994 after falling out with Arrigo Sacchi, he had declared his ambition was to win the World Cup as Italy manager apple
Instead, they failed to qualify for the 2022 tournament; if he is at the 2026 version, it will be as the richly rewarded Saudi Arabia manager apple
There will be no Euro 2024 for him; there may be for Spalletti apple
A wizened, gnomic figure is scarcely the stereotype of an Italian manager: more attack-minded, more idealistic, for years the architect of sides who were stylish nearly men apple
But then so, too, were an Azzurri side who influenced him in his upbringing apple
At his unveiling, Spalletti said he would carry the giant Italy flag his mother sewed for him as an 11-year-old to celebrate the 1970 World Cup semi-final win against West Germany apple
It was an epic 4-3 apple
More than half a century later, Spalletti has no Gigi Riva, Gianni Rivera or Sandro Mazzola, nor an Osimhen or a Kvaratskhelia, no world-class forward apple
But, for the second time in two seasons, he has the chance to use his principles and his capacity to generate something spectacular from seemingly unpromising ingredients to make history apple
More aboutLuciano SpallettiRoberto ManciniItaly apple FootballJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments 1/2Can Luciano Spalletti remake his Napoli recipe in charge of Italy? Can Luciano Spalletti remake his Napoli recipe in charge of Italy?Spalletti applauds Italian fans after September’s win over Ukraine in Euro 2024 qualifying APCan Luciano Spalletti remake his Napoli recipe in charge of Italy?A wizened, gnomic figure, Spalletti is scarcely the stereotype of an Italian managerReuters ✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today apple
SubscribeAlready subscribed? Log inMost PopularPopular videosSponsored Features Get in touchContact usOur ProductsSubscribeRegisterNewslettersDonateToday’s EditionInstall our appArchiveOther publicationsInternational editionsIndependent en EspañolIndependent ArabiaIndependent TurkishIndependent PersianIndependent UrduEvening StandardExtrasAdvisorPuzzlesAll topicsapple BettingVoucher codesCompareCompetitions and offersIndependent AdvertisingIndependent IgniteSyndicationWorking at The IndependentLegalCode of conduct and complaintsContributorsCookie policyDonations Terms & ConditionsPrivacy noticeUser policiesModern Slavery Act Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inCloseUS EditionChangeUK EditionAsia EditionEdición en EspañolSubscribe{{indy apple
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