Turin, 22 May (LaPresse) – “Italy’s play-off spot for the World Cup? For me, it’s a dream. I told President Trump, ‘If Iran doesn’t come, Italy would be a good replacement. We haven’t been to the World Cup for 16 years and all the young people have never seen Italy at the World Cup – it’s about time’. Anything is possible; my dream remains. I also think that everyone who opposed me has the same dream when they sleep. And then something else happened; unfortunately, Ebola has broken out in Congo." This was said by Paolo Zampolli, US Special Representative for Global Partnerships, a guest on the “Dritto e rovescio” programme on Rete4, regarding the Azzurri’s possible World Cup play-off. ‘There are already 500 cases and 150 deaths. They’ve cancelled the training camp in Congo, in Kinshasa, and it seems they’re sending the players to Belgium to train,’ added Zampolli, before returning to the subject of the Iranian national team’s presence. “Obviously, the players and teams are welcome, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio was frank and clear: the players are all welcome and we want them to come, but if certain individuals interfere – if they are on the lists of designated terrorists who pose a threat to our country – they will never be granted access. But the athletes are welcome,” he concluded.