Mystery of Zebra Stripes Solved.” Referencing a study completed by the University of California, Guarino summarized “the stripes don’t keep the animals cool or camouflaged [and aren’t] meant to attract mates or confuse predators, either. Instead, the scientists believe that these stripes keep smaller creatures — tsetse flies and other winged biters — at bay.”
The original study, “The Function of Zebra Stripes” published in the journal Nature Communications, goes into further detail of the defensive use of a zebra’s stripes, examining the evolutionary particulars of geographical and species variation. The conclusion was the stripes act as a peculiar line of defense, warding off any would-be irritates of the equulei. The stripes are dizzying and confusing, making the animal unsightly for prospective bugs trying to land on the zebra’s hide.
Coincidentally, “peculiar,” “dizzying,” and “confusing” are also descriptors of another type of bianconeri defense, one found in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Udine.
Especially bearing in mind their last match, where Udinese lost 2 – 0 to Torino at the Stadio Olimpico, settling the Zebrette into the 15th spot on the table, one point shy of their 40-point-plateau goal.
Udinese has historically considered a forward moving, attacking team, particularly with Antonio Di Natale being a Serie A top goal scorer in recent campaigns. The Udinese defense is often overshadowed by the team’s midfielder playmakers and quick goal scoring forwards and hard to map with an ever changing lineup, lack of structure, and being constantly injury ridden. However, regardless of the problems that have plagued Udinese’s backline, individual players are consistently solid in their position, despite their questionable role in the team.
In honour of the scientific discovery of the zebra’s defense mechanism, here is an article celebrating the Zebrette’s defense mechanisms. Or, in other words, what you didn’t know about defenders Maurizio Domizzi, Danilo Larangeira, and Thomas Heurtaux and goalkeeper Simone Scuffet, but have always wanted to.
Maurizio Domizzi
Age: 33
Nationality: Italian
At Udinese since 2008
What You Didn’t Know:
Maurizio Domizzi is the most underrated—or overlooked—contemporary Udinese player. The 6 feet 1 inch (though he looks much taller) defender is the third most senior Udinese player, tied with Dusan Basta, both having played at the club since 2008 (Di Natale is the longest serving club member, having been a Zebrette since 2004, with Pinzi second).
Domizzi is a strong but silent, controlling the back line with experience he gained at Napoli in the mid-2000s. At the beginning of his career, he was bounced around from Italian club, having played in Serie A, Serie B, and Serie C1, before finally settling in Napoli in 2006. He would later join Udinese in 2008, first sharing co-ownership by his former club, until Udinese bought him outright. He has been at Udinese ever since, donning the Captain armband when Di Natale is not on the pitch.
Additionally, his wife claims that she originally never wanted to date him because she didn’t like his hair or the fact that he was Roman. But she ended up marrying him anyway.
Danilo Larangeira (Danilo)
Age: 29
Nationality: Brazil
At Udinese since 2011
What You Didn’t Know:
The centre back, who looks more like a lounge crooner than a footballer, made headlines last year when he was sentenced to one year in prison for racial conduct. During an April 2010 match, while playing for Brazilian club Palmeiras, Danilo called Atletico Paranaense defender Manoel Carvalho “macaco” (“monkey” in Portuguese) and spat at him (Danilo admitted to both incidents). Manoel reported Danilo’s conduct to the Sao Paulo police and in 2013, he was sentenced by the Sao Paulo Criminal Court to a year in prison.
Upon the judge’s decision, Udinese owner Giampaolo Pozzo immediately defended his defender claiming, his starting player, “is a very serious guy, a model professional and during these years he never had any attitude uncivilized and disrespectful.” Pozzo even brought the case forward to FIFA’s attention to intervene on the court ruling.
It has been assumed that Danilo’s sentencing was reduced to a fine on appeal, as he has not taken any extended leave to serve the jail sentence.
Thomas Heurtaux
Age: 25
Nationality: French
At Udinese: since 2012
What You Didn’t Know:
The GQ-looking defender has been a great addition to Udinese, though does not get the limelight other players have. Nevertheless, he has been proved success with his former French club, Caen, who was promoted into League 1 after placing first in Ligue 2 in 2010 while he was with them. Heurtaux continued to play with Caen in Ligue 1, until the team was relegated and he left for Udinese in 2012.
Heurtaux has been slowly getting the attention of French media back in his home country and recently has a full page spread in France Football at his success at Udine.
Also, his name loosely translates to “to smooth” in English.
Simone Scuffet
Age: 17
Nationality: Italian
At Udinese since 2014
What You Didn’t Know:
The Friulano-born teenager has been getting the attention since starting for the senior team earlier this year, after filling in for an injured Zeljko Brkic, whom he eventually replaced as starting keeper. Compared to the likes of Dino Zoff and Gianlugi Buffon (for the sole reason of the double f last name), Scuffet has been dubbed “the next superstar from Udinese” and has attracted the attention of Cesare Prandelli and the Italian National Team
And, yes, the “t” in his name is silent. He’s Friulano.
