- Italys-team-perform-the-f-008.jpg (34.54 KiB) Viewed 371 times
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blo ... -mussoliniThe critical moment was … when our players raised their hands to give the fascist salute … I entered the stadium with our players, lined-up military style, and stood on the right. At the salute we predictably met with a solemn and deafening barrage of whistles, insults and remarks. It seemed like we were in Italy so much did the expressions resound of our idioms and dialects. How long that rumpus lasted I couldn't say. I was rigid, with an arm outstretched horizontally I couldn't check the time. The German referee and Norwegian players looked at us worriedly. At a certain point the hullabaloo began to die down and then ceased … We had just put our hands down and the violent demonstration started again. Straight away: "Team be ready. Salute." And we raised our hands again, to confirm we had no fear … Having won the battle of intimidation, we played.