September 15th, 1999
The viola supporters' chants are all for Toldo

The fear of the hooligans prevents the sold-out. No problems between the rival 
supporters, but 5 000 tickets were left unsold. 
The penalty saved to Kanu makes everyone forget the keeper's blunder in Reggio.
Cecchi Gori's irritability.

by Luca Calamai

FLORENCE - No fireworks or shining coreographies. Just about 20 torches and a lot of viola. 
The stadium is not even sold out. There are talkings about 5 000 unsold tickets. It's all 
because of the "hooligans fear" which led to the closing of most bars and clubs in the area 
close to the stadium. The Arsenal supporters, about one thousand, found accomodation in the 
part of the stadium which dedicated to the opponents. In the afternoon, the massive formation 
of the forces of law worked perfectly. But many had already decided to stay home and just 
watch TV.
The game starts with a smile. The speaker calls out the name of the referee and his 
collaborators. The linesman who takes accomodation on the maratona side has got an "important" 
name: Schumacher. His name, though, is Frank. Very different from the phenomenon Michael. 
People laugh out loud. Just a break. Let's go on with the names of the players, which follow 
the entering teams on the field. An unexpected chant rises from the terraces: "Francesco Toldo, 
Francesco Toldo".
Nice though. Florence has already forgiven her champion for the blunder which cost the tie with 
Reggina last Saturday. The viola keeper thanks. He looks touched. He doesn't know that, 
eventually, he will be the hero of the night. The tension goes on. This Champions League that 
comes back to the "Franchi" after 30 years is a breath-taking event. People chant and suffer. 
Arsenal is a serious thing, they reply to the attacks of the viola one after one. On the 
contrary, it is exactly the English who build up a splendid ball with Overmars, which was 
almost a goal. Ljungberg kicks firmly but Toldo deflects on the corner. A real miracle. That 
chant at the beginning has already been rewarded. And now the whole stadium shouts "Francesco 
Toldo, Francesco Toldo". Not to forgive but to thank. 
The mistake in Regigo Calabria? Nobody remembers that anymore. And later on, when the viola 
keeper grows excited by saving a penalty from Kanu, Franchi's terraces are just about to 
collapse. Fiorentina are all rolled up on themselves. Stuck by this debut. But people carry 
on chanting, encouraging, pushing. They understand that it's a difficult moment. that the team 
has to be helped. Vittorio Cecchi Gori, too, tries to push his jewels forwards. The movie 
producer moves nervously his right hand. As to say: "Let's attack". We have to try. And then 
comes up another chant. Even stronger. "Bati, Bati, Batigol". The Reconquista champion is the 
man of the difficult moments. Cecchi Gori takes off his jacket. A few seconds later, Trapattoni 
does so, too. Everyone is in their shirt. This time it's not about elegance.
It's about heart. Fiorentina go close to scoring. Franchi lightens up. "Viola, viola". We can 
try. The ice is melting. The viola team keeps up Europe's most prestigious stage with the right 
attitude. No matter how it will go, welcome back to the Champions League.

Taken from La Gazzetta dello Sport
www.gazzetta.it/lagazzetta
English translation by Maddalena (www.acfiorentina.net/enricochiesa)