Che centrattacco [English translation]

His name was Spartaco and, during fifth grade,1

he used to play as a centre forward every Thursday;

with his crew cut, his green and blue shirt,

and his stockings rolled down.

He used to run like crazy

and jump about like a cat;

and everyone was shouting at him like this:

«oh-oh-oh-oh, what a centre forward!,

oh-oh-oh-oh, you’re like a fawn,

you’re better than Levratto,2

every shot is a goal;3

oh-oh-oh, what a centre forward!»

Many days passed and he grew up,

until he played as a substitute in Serie B;

but he didn’t settle for it: with zeal and commitment,

he prepared to play in Serie A.4

He used to run like crazy

and jump about like a cat;

and everyone was shouting at him like this:

«oh-oh-oh-oh, what a centre forward!,

oh-oh-oh-oh, you’re like a fawn,

you’re better than Levratto,

every shot is a goal;

oh-oh-oh, what a centre forward!»

And, for his community’s great jubilance,

he soon moved to Serie A;

however, his wonderful dream reached even higher:

he yearned for the azzurri shirt.5

He used to run like crazy

and jump about like a cat;

and everyone was shouting at him like this:

«oh-oh-oh-oh, what a centre forward!,

oh-oh-oh-oh, you’re like a fawn,

you’re better than Levratto,

every shot is a goal;

oh-oh-oh, what a centre forward!»

When he was finally admitted into the national team,

he played against Brazil and against Portugal;

he was a juggernaut, he scored 18 goals,

but when he got to the 19th, he woke up.

Falling off his bed,

right onto his bedside rug;

while looking in the mirror, he cried to himself:

«oh-oh-oh-oh, what a centre forward!,

oh-oh-oh-oh, what a crazy dream!;

I’m worse than Ercolino,6

I’m so crestfallen;7

oh-oh-oh what a centre forward!

To remedy the letdown,

I will hang up the photos

of Levratto and Nicolè to the wall ASAP.»8

What a centre forward!

1. quinta (classe) {fifth (class)} is the fifth year of school in Italy, in scuola elementare {primary school}. Whenever there is more than one graduating class in the same grade, they are given a letter as a name (A, B, C,…).2. Levratto was an Italian footballer from the 1920s-30s.3. (football jargon) sacco {sack} = net.

ogni tiro va nel sacco = every shot ends up inside the net.4. Italian football first division is called Serie A {‟A” series}; the second division is called Serie B.5. azzurro {light blue, sky blue} is the color of the uniform of the Italian football team; its members are called azzurri.6. Reference to i Sogni di Ercolino {Ercolino’s dreams}, a series of TV ads by Galbani that used to be aired during Carosello.

Just like in this song, the main character of the ads dreams of being very good and successful, though he has to face reality afterwards.

here is one episode

Ercolino is a given name meaning ‟little Hercules”.7. con le pive nel sacco {with bagpipes in your bag} = discouraged, disheartened.8. Nicolè is an Italian footballer from the 1950s-60s.

The song is from 1959.

• Artist:Quartetto Cetra