Good article I found on Goal.com
Biased against Juve a bit, but still good stuff.
Made In Italy
4/5/2005 4:40:00 AM
Toto Cutugno's song: 'lasciatemi cantare con un guitar con mano, lasciatemi cantare perche ne sono fiero, lasciatemi cantare sono italiano fiero'; or Domenico Modugno's: 'volare oh oh, cantare oh oh oh. Nel blu nel pinto di blu, felice di stare la su' are songs that could in a nutshell explain the emotions running through an Italian or a Serie A fan at the moment.
When Inter defeated Porto (03/15/05), a repeat of 2003 occurred. Three out of four Italian teams made it to the quarterfinals. Roma fell victim in the first round, but they deserved it. When you throw objects on the pitch you deserve to lose. The punishment was lax compared to what the English teams got: a five year ban in European competition. Milan outclassed Manchester United, a united and disciplined Juve defeated Real and, as mentioned, Inter defeated Porto.
Hence, it seems that an all Italian show is in the works right now. No Spanish teams are in the Quarterfinal phase, and the Serie A fans could boast a little and state that their league is the best and what goes around comes around. However, looking at how the Italian teams played are these three teams the real deal? Are Juve, Inter and Milan that good? Ancelotti stated that Italian temas win because they are technically astute and play well defensively and cease the opportunity when it arises. He is correct to state this, along with the fact that Italian teams play more offensively excluding Juventus (compare them to Milan and Inter, they are more defensive. Hey, it’s all good if you win).
Watching these games at the local pub with my friends and a pitcher of beer, proved to be a challenge in Canada. Football is not highly praised and people would rather watch curling. Yes; sad, but true. It will forever remain a mystery to me. Anyways, I managed to watch the games and I wondered: Is Ancelotti correct? Yes his team, AC Milan, displayed a soccer clinic to Man Utd, Juve won and Inter romped Porto. So far so good. However, watching at these games from a tactical and neutral standpoint were these three teams that good or need I dare say the word: lucky?
Let’s begin with Juventus. If any Italian team other than Roma deserved to go home with Roma it was this team. Real Madrid have no one to blame but themselves. In 10 years, to meet 4 times and to only win in 1998, one must think: "what are they thinking or planning?" It is like the Edmonton Oilers vs. the Dallas Stars. Dallas always win and Edmonton never learn (they are hockey teams by the way). Real sliced and diced Juve in the first leg. They made Buffon and the Juve defence look like fools. Only the crossbar saved Juve. However, as I mentioned before: you can slap Juve once, but twice, you better run. The Juve management or Capello must be ardent readers of Machiavelli. Fortune must be wrestled down and controlled. In other words, go to the kitchen cupboard and find it. In the second leg, Juve to their credit went to the kitchen cupboard and got the ingredients to defeat Real: Trezeguet and Zalayeta. Yes, they played better, but Real were dangerous and to further anger Juve fans what about if Figo scored that free kick? A shoot out would have occurred. Whichever team that would have won, now is a mystery. Now Juve, God willing, will provide us with two mouthwatering legs: Juve vs. Liverpool and Juve vs. Chelsea.
Juve/Liverpool is a final in itself and it sparks memories of 1985, when many Juve supporters died. Benitez is a good coach, however, if Baros can be controlled Juve will make it through and face Chelsea. That is where the fireworks would begin. Two tactically astute coaches battling for a spot at Istanbul. Could you imagine the mind games between Fabio and Jose?
Would Fabio tolerate Jose’s antics? Capello is also very opinionated. This would be a battle to the finish. Two defensively astute teams that have defeated two Spanish teams. Chelsea defeated Barcelona, as Juve defeated Madrid. Chelsea used their tactics to their advantage, and the hit them hard and early tactics worked. Yes, Valdes was obstructed when Terry scored but what about Eto’o’s miss? Like it or not Chelsea deserve to be here and a battle between these two teams will determine the winner, I believe. Juve have the offensive advantage in Nedved and Zambrotta. Moreover many of these players have tasted a CL final, but will it be enough?
Milan played beautiful football and proved that English soccer without the proper tactical set-up and tight defences will leave you ripe for the picking. Arsenal and Man Utd should learn from Liverpool and Chelsea. Two coaches that stress defence. Yes, Wenger, if you want to win the CL, defence is the key (look at Jose, and Benitez). However, Man Utd had two chances to score in the first leg and they squandered them. Crespo was there and with poor goaltending surprise surprise, Milan are through. Kaka, however, needs to be more accurate. Misses like that could cost Milan again. Remember last year? Milan dominated the second leg, but they will face a test vs. Inter. If they win expect them in Istanbul. There is no way PSV or Lyon could beat Milan (even Inter for that matter unless they decide to be like Werder Berman, or Bayer Leverkeusen? I doubt it, Berlusconi or Moratti would lynch their team!)
Inter are through to the Quarters. They are well focused since they are out of the Scudetto contention, they will throw everything at Milan for they have nothing to lose. However, this team does not represent true Italian defending, or goaltending. I expect this from an English team not an Italian one. The defence is like a gorgonzola cheese: holes all over. Yes they have Adriano, but Milan have Sheva and Crespo along with Maldini and Stam. Defence wins championships. Moreover a balance of offense and defence wins trophies. Inter must learn this if they want to win. If they do win expect them to be at Istanbul. Will they win against say Juve or Chelsea? I say no, but any team can win on any given Sunday. Remember Greece in Euro 2004?
Unfortunately we will not see an Italian semi-final. That’s life. However, we will see great games. Let us enjoy the fact that Italian teams have made it this far and proved to the world that they are competitive and are capable of winning. Let all Serie A fans support these teams. I always believed that if Italian teams show up and play they are unstoppable. Well, Real, Porto, and Man Utd learnt the hard way. Well we may not see an Italian final like Juve vs. Inter/Milan but I believe there will be one there and I believe Milan and Chelsea will meet. Tactics and defence win trophies and the Spanish teams and the others learnt the hard way. Italian teams are beatable, but until then buckle up because there will be turbulence. If I am wrong? Oh well, there is always next year. Enjoy your flight.
Biased against Juve a bit, but still good stuff.
Made In Italy
4/5/2005 4:40:00 AM
Toto Cutugno's song: 'lasciatemi cantare con un guitar con mano, lasciatemi cantare perche ne sono fiero, lasciatemi cantare sono italiano fiero'; or Domenico Modugno's: 'volare oh oh, cantare oh oh oh. Nel blu nel pinto di blu, felice di stare la su' are songs that could in a nutshell explain the emotions running through an Italian or a Serie A fan at the moment.
When Inter defeated Porto (03/15/05), a repeat of 2003 occurred. Three out of four Italian teams made it to the quarterfinals. Roma fell victim in the first round, but they deserved it. When you throw objects on the pitch you deserve to lose. The punishment was lax compared to what the English teams got: a five year ban in European competition. Milan outclassed Manchester United, a united and disciplined Juve defeated Real and, as mentioned, Inter defeated Porto.
Hence, it seems that an all Italian show is in the works right now. No Spanish teams are in the Quarterfinal phase, and the Serie A fans could boast a little and state that their league is the best and what goes around comes around. However, looking at how the Italian teams played are these three teams the real deal? Are Juve, Inter and Milan that good? Ancelotti stated that Italian temas win because they are technically astute and play well defensively and cease the opportunity when it arises. He is correct to state this, along with the fact that Italian teams play more offensively excluding Juventus (compare them to Milan and Inter, they are more defensive. Hey, it’s all good if you win).
Watching these games at the local pub with my friends and a pitcher of beer, proved to be a challenge in Canada. Football is not highly praised and people would rather watch curling. Yes; sad, but true. It will forever remain a mystery to me. Anyways, I managed to watch the games and I wondered: Is Ancelotti correct? Yes his team, AC Milan, displayed a soccer clinic to Man Utd, Juve won and Inter romped Porto. So far so good. However, watching at these games from a tactical and neutral standpoint were these three teams that good or need I dare say the word: lucky?
Let’s begin with Juventus. If any Italian team other than Roma deserved to go home with Roma it was this team. Real Madrid have no one to blame but themselves. In 10 years, to meet 4 times and to only win in 1998, one must think: "what are they thinking or planning?" It is like the Edmonton Oilers vs. the Dallas Stars. Dallas always win and Edmonton never learn (they are hockey teams by the way). Real sliced and diced Juve in the first leg. They made Buffon and the Juve defence look like fools. Only the crossbar saved Juve. However, as I mentioned before: you can slap Juve once, but twice, you better run. The Juve management or Capello must be ardent readers of Machiavelli. Fortune must be wrestled down and controlled. In other words, go to the kitchen cupboard and find it. In the second leg, Juve to their credit went to the kitchen cupboard and got the ingredients to defeat Real: Trezeguet and Zalayeta. Yes, they played better, but Real were dangerous and to further anger Juve fans what about if Figo scored that free kick? A shoot out would have occurred. Whichever team that would have won, now is a mystery. Now Juve, God willing, will provide us with two mouthwatering legs: Juve vs. Liverpool and Juve vs. Chelsea.
Juve/Liverpool is a final in itself and it sparks memories of 1985, when many Juve supporters died. Benitez is a good coach, however, if Baros can be controlled Juve will make it through and face Chelsea. That is where the fireworks would begin. Two tactically astute coaches battling for a spot at Istanbul. Could you imagine the mind games between Fabio and Jose?
Would Fabio tolerate Jose’s antics? Capello is also very opinionated. This would be a battle to the finish. Two defensively astute teams that have defeated two Spanish teams. Chelsea defeated Barcelona, as Juve defeated Madrid. Chelsea used their tactics to their advantage, and the hit them hard and early tactics worked. Yes, Valdes was obstructed when Terry scored but what about Eto’o’s miss? Like it or not Chelsea deserve to be here and a battle between these two teams will determine the winner, I believe. Juve have the offensive advantage in Nedved and Zambrotta. Moreover many of these players have tasted a CL final, but will it be enough?
Milan played beautiful football and proved that English soccer without the proper tactical set-up and tight defences will leave you ripe for the picking. Arsenal and Man Utd should learn from Liverpool and Chelsea. Two coaches that stress defence. Yes, Wenger, if you want to win the CL, defence is the key (look at Jose, and Benitez). However, Man Utd had two chances to score in the first leg and they squandered them. Crespo was there and with poor goaltending surprise surprise, Milan are through. Kaka, however, needs to be more accurate. Misses like that could cost Milan again. Remember last year? Milan dominated the second leg, but they will face a test vs. Inter. If they win expect them in Istanbul. There is no way PSV or Lyon could beat Milan (even Inter for that matter unless they decide to be like Werder Berman, or Bayer Leverkeusen? I doubt it, Berlusconi or Moratti would lynch their team!)
Inter are through to the Quarters. They are well focused since they are out of the Scudetto contention, they will throw everything at Milan for they have nothing to lose. However, this team does not represent true Italian defending, or goaltending. I expect this from an English team not an Italian one. The defence is like a gorgonzola cheese: holes all over. Yes they have Adriano, but Milan have Sheva and Crespo along with Maldini and Stam. Defence wins championships. Moreover a balance of offense and defence wins trophies. Inter must learn this if they want to win. If they do win expect them to be at Istanbul. Will they win against say Juve or Chelsea? I say no, but any team can win on any given Sunday. Remember Greece in Euro 2004?
Unfortunately we will not see an Italian semi-final. That’s life. However, we will see great games. Let us enjoy the fact that Italian teams have made it this far and proved to the world that they are competitive and are capable of winning. Let all Serie A fans support these teams. I always believed that if Italian teams show up and play they are unstoppable. Well, Real, Porto, and Man Utd learnt the hard way. Well we may not see an Italian final like Juve vs. Inter/Milan but I believe there will be one there and I believe Milan and Chelsea will meet. Tactics and defence win trophies and the Spanish teams and the others learnt the hard way. Italian teams are beatable, but until then buckle up because there will be turbulence. If I am wrong? Oh well, there is always next year. Enjoy your flight.
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