How I Understand Football

When people want to play a match of football, they position themselves in a certain way. The goalkeeper, when he sees an opposing player coming, must make a save and keep the ball out of the goal area—otherwise it's a goal. If the goalkeeper is inexperienced and afraid, he shouldn't be in that position. He shouldn't let himself be caught unprepared. And if he can't move well, if he doesn't know how to dive or throw himself across the line, he has no business standing in front of the net. Next to him is the defender, or stopper. Then in the middle you have others: the winger, the midfielder, and more toward the center, the most active one is the midfielder who's the one going on the attack and dragging the team toward the other side. Me—I'm used to using my legs to run and walk like everyone else—I have to make sure the other side doesn't figure out what I'm planning, like passing through a certain spot where the shot isn't predictable. A header is something people use when they know how to do it. I don't do it because I'm half-blind and I strain to look in every direction, going crazy over every person who passes the ball to the next guy. I know I'm not a real footballer. I haven't played in years; I only play when there's a chance. What really matters to me about football is the crowd—people singing, doing the wave, getting fired up over a goal. The passion for a match gives weight to the players, and they can't let down the people who want them to win. I'm a fan in a manner of speaking. For me one team is as good as another. I don't look down on people who care about a certain color. Never Lazio—Romanista just to impress. If I happened to play with Totti, I'd know from the start that he knows how to stand up to everyone because he's a leader. So my thinking would be: I pass the ball to him. When I'm going for the action I pass to whoever is closest. I think football is a beautiful sport. I know women play it too. A match of football has to live up to what the crowd expects—they think about what the result should be, the rating for the best player on the field (these are things I've heard the coach say). If I can find my own vital space, I find it. I don't care who I'm standing next to. What matters is that he doesn't give me attitude or think "I'm the best." I know football is an international game. But if a match ends 0 to 0, there's no point playing at all.