Italian leader sends a message to the Italian football world cup team Win or Die
World Cup is one of the top sporting event that unites the fans of different football teams under the national banner. Regardless of what team you support within the country when the world cup starts you become nationalist and stand hand in hand with people from all walks of life. You want exactly what every other nation wants; the world cup to come home. When you are the man in power and you want results to go in your favor you can make the team an offer they can’t refuse.
Here is a story of how Win or Die came about in Italian football:
Benito Mussolini (1938) "Win or die!"
Mussolini was a man with the brains and a well versed tongue;
His first job was the editor for the Milan socialist paper.
Mussolini brought Italy into order and regain control of the economy
He adopted the Roman salute and the Black Shirt militia, which Hitler later copied from him as the Brown Shirts
He became known as “Il Duce” (the leader)
When Mussolini talked people listened; he was never shy of making bold statements and backing them with actions, beside a savvy politician he was a hardcore football fan Mussolini sent the Italian phrase "Vincere o morire!", literally translated as 'Win or die!', to the Italy players by telegram ahead of the 1938 final in Paris. When the man in charge who can just about do anything at will sends a message like that; you have no choice but to win, you can’t take it lightly, your options are limited to Wining or dying - Italy won the game 4-2 against Hungary, prompting opposition goalkeeper Antal Szabo to say: "I may have let in four goals, but at least I saved their lives". Antal’s remarks are remembered to this day; regardless of how Mussolini was perceived, everyone agreed, he was a man of his words.
Win or Die was not the first time Mussolini had made such a threat. It has been documented Mussolini told Admiral Vaccaro, head of the Italian federation, before the 1934 success: "Admiral, Italy must win the World Cup." The Admiral replied: "Of course, Duce. That would be a wonderful achievement." Mussolini responded: "Admiral, I don't think you understood me. Italy MUST win the World Cup." No wonder Italians take the world cup very seriously to this day; Win or Die still resonates to the core of their game.
In the 2010 football world cup Italy is a long shot with odds of 16.5 to 1 to win the world cup. The chances look dim unless they get another message this time from the current prime minister Silvio BERLUSCONI Presidente del Consiglio dei Ministri, literally translated "President of the Council of Ministers". Since there is a big difference between Mussolini and Silvio; maybe the fans should help with the message.
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