THE World Cup so proudly taken home by the winning Italian footballers soon became a trophy of two halves.

 

The players were accused yesterday of breaking it after the controversial final on Sunday.

 

A piece of the 14in-high cup snapped off during the celebrations that followed Italy’s penalty shoot-out victory over France.

 

Officials were said to be so alarmed that they considered cancelling a victory parade for the team. Concerns were raised after an Italian newspaper published photographs taken on the team bus as the heroes returned to Rome.

 

One shows a worried-looking Fabio Cannavaro, the team captain, holding up a piece of the green edging at the base of the trophy they were given. Next to him is his Juventus club team-mate Alessandro Del Piero, who looks on in alarm.

 

The newspaper suggested that the cup was damaged during the two-hour coach journey but added that the broken piece was eventually glued back on. The revelation is the latest controversy to hit Italy’s World Cup win. French soccer legend Zinedine Zidane has said he does not regret his vicious headbutting of an opponent.

 

And 13 members of the Italian squad belong to clubs at the centre of a major match-fixing scandal.

But the Italian officials needn’t be too worried about the damaged cup.

 

Last night football’s governing body FIFA said the trophy the Italians were given was a gold-plated replica. The players handled the original for only a few minutes during the presentations.

 

http://www.express.co.uk

"Last night football’s governing body FIFA said the trophy the Italians were given was a gold-plated replica. The players handled the original for only a few minutes during the presentations."

 

What the players handled the original cup which was stolen in 1983?

 

Blimmey

One shows a worried-looking Fabio Cannavaro, the team captain, holding up a piece of the green edging at the base of the trophy they were given. Next to him is his Juventus club team-mate Alessandro Del Piero, who looks on in alarm.

Sounds like a piece of green felt on the bottom of the trophy lol :laugh4: :uhoh: