SI’s Excuse of the Week: “I had blisters on my heels at the end of the game. The thread that these socks were made with is too rough.” –Christian Panucci, Italian National Soccer Team defender, explaining his poor performance in their Euro 2004 opening game tie against Denmark.
You have to love the Azzurri. What other team would dare to put gold lame numbers on their jerseys? If they win Euro 2004, I’m hoping they show up for the World Cup with Armani-designed gold uniforms.