Exclusive: inspired by the glory of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Italian cricket “Underdogs” aims at the T20 World Cup | Cricket news
New Delhi: Forza Italia! Forza Italia! The songs are still reflected in the ears of Thomas Draca after Italy has obtained a historic qualification for the Male T20 World Cup ICC 2026. Italy has reserved its place in the mega event, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka, by beating the hosts in the Netherlands during the final of the World Cup region of the T20 of the T20 of the T20.With the Italian flag draped on his shoulders and his tears in his eyes, the Draca stimulator took a sincere victory tour around the Westvliet sport in Voorburg, in the Netherlands. It was a deeply emotional moment – not only for Draca, but for all of Italy.Long celebrated like a crazy football nation that has produced legends like Alessandro del Piero, Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo, Franco Barei, Paolo Maldini, Roberto Baggio and Francesco Totti, in Italy, screenwriter a new chapter – which puts cricket on the National Sports Map.For Draca, this is only the start – marking the start of a new era for cricket in Italy.“Honestly, I can’t believe it. It’s just surreal right now. It has been a work in progress. And I think, you know, you look at our team now – when we get our main team – we are delighted and delighted to be part of this.“We know that we will be the outsiders, but it’s more than going to the World Cup. This is the start of something new. We wanted to create a base for cricket-to inspire young children to take a bat instead of simply playing football in school. So for us, it’s more than qualifying for a World Cup. This is the start of something special,” he said.
Cricket can never reach the level of football in Italy, but doing something close would mean a lot.
Thomas Darcy
Draca was only six years old when Italy raised the FIFA World Cup in 2006 – their fourth title – after a 5 to 3 victory against France during a dramatic shooting. The memories of this emblematic victory remain fresh for the right -handed stimulator, which once dreamed of becoming a footballer.Playing in a World Cup has always been his childhood dream, but fate had other plans. Now he should represent Italy on the world stage – not in football, but in cricket.“When we call Italy, football stars have come to mind. But this is the first time that cricket has been intensifying. There are players that have been involved since the early 2000s. You look at Gareth Berg – he devoted a large part of his career in cricket in Italy. So it’s not just last year. Joe Burns made his debut in 2015. I in fact met one of the first days of qualification for captains of captains. He came to the ground and said to me, “You are one of my heroes.“I said to myself,” What do you mean? ” And he said, “I gave myself up to attend this special event”. He played in 2016 when Italy was fighting to qualify for the division cricket, “he said.“Joe Burns continues to joke that I am the new Totti. And we saw comments on how Italy could not qualify for the Football World Cup, but we qualify in cricket! For me, the football team in Italy 2006 which won the World Cup was inspiring. I remember when they were the subject in Australia, and I have always been a football fan. Cricket can never reach the level of football in Italy, but doing something close would mean a lot. “”While the team continues to celebrate its qualification for the T20 World Cup, Draca remains convinced that this team has something special – a unique spark – and thinks they are able to create their own piece of history.“We represent a nation that is still new in cricket, but we want to inspire the next generation. 10 to 20 years ago, this idea would not have existed. But now it becomes a reality. “The Federation has always supported us – people like Peter and Michael Di Venuto played in the early 2000s. Gareth Berg has been here since 2012-2013. And now we have players at the top of their careers, like Burns, the brothers of Marenti (Ben Manenti and Harry Manenti), and Grant Stewart,” said the 24 -year -old player.
