Don't forget me

I am off for a few days away from the blog. I thought I would leave my favourite strike of the past few days to remind you of me.

Well, OK, he has got a bit more skill, hair and money than I do. But so what?

Back soon...

Now I'm a believer

I must admit that at the outset of this season - and for the opening weeks - I had my doubts about Juve. They rode their luck in a few games and didn't look all that sharp. But after their demolition of Palermo on Sunday night they look like they might be the real deal.

To some degree, I couldn't make up my mind if Juve were so good or the Sicilians were so bad. The Rosanero were a shadow of their old, aggressive, exciting selves. They were tame in the extreme but I think they were outbattled by the Bianconeri. Men like Nocerino (I like to call him Ball Buster as I am sure the football club Nocerina once had a group of Ultras with that name), Nedved, Zanetti and Camoranesi (yes, really) gave them hell.

Are Juve really good enough to take the Scudetto? I am starting to think that if Inter and Roma progress in the Champions League they just might be. The Turin giants only have the league to focus on. Hell, if Udinese can be up there challenging then surely La Vecchia Signora is in with a shout. Next week's trip to Milan will tell us a lot.

In other news, Italy landed Bulgaria, Republic of Ireland, Cyprus, Georgia and Montenegro for the World Cup 2010 qualifiers. It could have been better (ie Group 2) but it could have been worse. Bulgaria and the Irish will be tough on their home soil but all teams should be beatable in Italy. Got to get Euro 2008 out of the way first...

Imagine the conversation

I have read some daft stories in my time but this one tops the lot. Marcello Lippi turns down Birmingham! "This is not a stunt - it is genuine!" insisted the club co-owner. It gives me great pleasure to produce a transcript of the telephone call.

Brummie City Person: Hello, can I speak to Mr Lippy?

Marcello Lippi: Yes, speaking.

BCP: I understand you are out of work at the moment.

ML: Well, yes, apart from the odd bit of punditry for Sky.

BCP: Are you in the market for a return to management?

ML: Might be, depends who is speaking.

BCP: Oh yes, sorry, I represent an English Premiership club.

ML: Mmmm. Interesting, which one? Manchester United? Chelsea? Liverpool?

BCP: No, not exactly.

ML: Look, Signore, I have got a big cigar waiting for me! What club do you represent?

BCP (whispers): Birmingham City...

ML: What? Speak up.

BCP (mumbles): Birmingham City...

ML: What? Bird in hand shitty?

BCP (shouts): OK! OK! Birmingham City.

The line goes dead.

Who do you fancy?

While Italy strolled past the Faroe Islands there were other countries with bigger games to play on Wednesday night. Most of the big guns who needed to get a result got what they needed. Except, of course, for England. Oh disappointed Scots rejoice!

That Steve McLaren's men had fought back to 2-2 will only make it a more bitter pill. After all the jubilation about the help they got from Israel they couldn't even manage to get a point off a team that had already qualified. No doubt there will be calls for the manager to be hung, drawn and quartered at the very least. All of which will, once again, mask their shortcomings as a team.

So the final line-up for Euro 2008 is as follows. Austria, Switzerland, Greece and probably Holland in pot one. Italy, Croatia, Germany and the Czech Republic in pot two. Romania, Portugal and Sweden in pot three where England should also have been. Presumably France will be promoted into that bracket. That would leave Poland, Spain, Turkey and Russia in the last bucket.

It leaves a wide range of possibilities open. Clearly Holland would be the one to avoid in the top tier, while Turkey, Russia or Poland might be alright from the bottom drawer. However, as we all know, maybe Italy are best getting the toughest draw possible. So bring on the French again!

Call it what you will, but not a robbery...

Well, on a wet and grey Glasgow night, the Azzurri got the job done. It wasn't always pretty and there were a few shaky moments but they showed a lot of guts and "grinta" to record a first ever win on Scottish soil. Shame it had to knock the Tartan Army out as well and put them Frenchies through.

The mission could hardly have started better when Luca Toni (right) poked the ball home in a little over a minute. The big man does not get all the credit he deserves for just how skillful he is. Watch that finish again, he scooped the ball into the net in some style.

Much of the rest of the game revolved around the match officials. Italy had a lengthy spell in control as Scotland recovered from the shock of the early strike. Then Antonio Di Natale had a goal ruled out for offside which should have stood. At 2-0, I reckon, the game would have been pretty much over.

In the second half, however, Scotland struck back. They were certainly pushing hard but the manner in which the goal came saw the officials in the spotlight again. The Scottish press has said Barry Ferguson "may have looked a shade offside" or the goal had a "hint of offside" about it. Let's be frank here, he was a good half-yard offside and the assistant referee had the benefit of a line right across the pitch to help him judge. In exactly the same position as he had ruled out Di Natale's strike, he got it wrong again.

In fairness, I also struggled to see how Chiellini's shoulder barge on Hutton ended up being a free-kick to Italy. In the last minute it led to Panucci's winner. The timing was harsh, but over the game it still made the major error count 2-1 in Scotland's favour. Call it what you will, but not a robbery.

Old Mejuto Gonzalez the referee is notoriously inconsistent. The apparently same incident can lead to a foul, a play-on gesture or a yellow card. That is annoying for players, in fact, annoying for everyone. It was certainly a shame that he was in charge.

I do think the better team went through but I would have rather seen France go out rather than Scotland. I hope now Alex McLeish can build on what his team showed last night. And, above all, I hope they are not in Italy's group again when the World Cup draw is made next week...

Fit to burst

I've been around a long time but I don't remember Scotland ever building up to a football game like this for a while. Maybe those play-off games with England or the meeting at Euro '96 but even those I don't recall having this intensity of coverage. Maybe it is because it is against Italy it has made more of an impression on me.

I think the whole country might explode by 4.59pm on Saturday.

That's the great thing football can do, the flip side to all the rubbish that has been associated with it recently. One way or another it will end in tears, joy or maybe in suspense on Saturday evening.

My main hope is that the Azzurri are as up for it as Scotland. If they are, I believe they will get at the very least a draw. If they are not, they might run into trouble. It will be a tense day when I expect to receive about 100 texts at full time. Whatever the outcome, I will try to take it on the chin. I have had plenty of highs and lows following Italia.

But, what the hell. Dai, ragazzi, fammi sognare ancora una volta!

Counting down the days

With just a few days to go, a sample of random thoughts on the upcoming Scotland v Italy clash at Hampden.

1) I have seen a few mentions that Donadoni might go against his traditional 4-3-3 and head for a 4-1-4-1 formation. How does that square with his talk of coming for the win? Is he going to err on the side of grafters (Iaquinta, Perrotta, Ambrosini, etc) over the more lightweight skill men (Camoranesi, Palladino etc)?

2) "Italy have never won on Scottish soil" - while this is true there have only been three meetings - and two of them were draws. And the win came in 1965.

3) Is there any real chance of Ukraine beating France and getting us both through?

Grim reading

I always try to keep a sense of humour about my football but this weekend has tested that to the full. The tragic death of a Lazio fan on his way to watch his team against Inter and the resulting acts of violence have thrown Italian football into darkness once again. I sometimes wonder if it can ever find a way out.

Coverage in a lot of sections of the UK media has been superficial at best. I feel that this Sunday's events ought to be distinguished from the death of Filippo Raciti last season in some significant respects. This was not the kind of pre-meditated horror which that incident turned out to be.

By all accounts it appears a tragic accident prompted the unsavoury scenes in Bergamo and Rome. Yes, the skirmishes at the service station in Arezzo were unacceptable but when word got out that a fan had been shot and killed there were large sections of Ultras up and down the country who felt all games should have been suspended. That appears to have been what Atalanta fans wanted and, ultimately, achieved.

The scenes in Rome also had the air of an improvised response to the shooting by the Carabinieri. It was senseless and stupid - without waiting for any kind of explanation - but it was not entirely incomprehensible. The more hardcore Italian fans have been maintaining an uneasy peace with police and it was always likely to take a lot less than this to set things off. And, of course, there are plenty of imbeciles out there who were only looking for an excuse to go out and cause trouble.

Ultimately, the scenes flashed around the world are easy prey for newspapers and television stations happy to continue the Italian football chaos theme. There have been knee-jerk calls for games to be abandoned but this, in truth, would achieve little. Everything which happened on Sunday was either a long way outside any football stadium or prompted by matters which had precious little to do with the game itself. To hold Calcio responsible for that would, I believe, be unfair.

Unfortunately, a bit like a hopeless criminal who keeps getting caught, the sport's previous convictions are likely to be taken into account.

Win it for Liedholm

I am a bit behind the times but have only just caught up with the news that Milan legend Nils Liedholm has passed away at the age of 85. I am not old enough to have seen him play but I remember him as manager of Roma and his name was always linked with one of the great Rossonero sides.

My favourite story about the Barone - indeed, probably my only story about him - is how his first incomplete pass was greeted at the San Siro. The fans are supposed to have applauded such was their amazement at seeing one of his passes go astray.

So the current team owe it to his memory to go out and thrash Shakthar Donetsk tonight. And Roma owe it to him to go out and perform similar heroics when they face Sporting Lisbon tomorrow. Remember, he will be watching in judgment.

Addio, Barone.

Title remains in the open

Grazie Juve. With a battling draw on Sunday night they stopped Inter setting sail for an easy Scudetto. The Bianconeri might not have the quality and strength in depth of Mancini's men but they surely showed a lot of balls. They were worth their point in the end which kept the Serie A fight wide open.

Sneaking up on the rails are Fiorentina. Nobody really speaks of them as serious title contenders and that is how they like it. But a 1-0 away win to Lazio tells the story of a team increasing in maturity. I think they will struggle with UEFA and league duty but they look set for a great showdown with Inter next month.

Roma lived up to their "bella ma sprecona" (beautiful but wasteful) crown. Two goals up away to Empoli they should have buried them in goals (Vucinic the main culprit). Instead, they left the door open and two wonder goals by Vannucchi and Giovinco levelled the match. I still believe the Giallorossi can overhaul Inter thanks to an easier set of fixtures in the weeks ahead. But they have to kill their opponents off.

Oh, well, back to the Champions League watch tonight.

Bobo in Nazionale?

Well, the big man has admitted it. Bobo Vieri would love to squeeze his big Aussie butt back into an Azzurri strip. The question is, should we let him?

After scoring the winner against Napoli last night our Christian soldier said he did have an eye on the Nazionale. Now, my first reaction was simply to laugh. But, on reflection, is it so ridiculous? Is he a worse option than, say, Lucarelli or Quagliarella? Personally, I would like him to have more games under his narrowing belt but could it be worth a gamble? As an understudy to Toni we could do a lot worse.

In other news, the much maligned Mancini and Gilardino were heroes on Wednesday. The Roma man helped to win the derby while Gila was inspirational in the 5-0 hammering of Samp. If he keeps this form up he will get more than 20 Serie A goals for the Rossoneri this year. Who will the fans boo then?

Inter and Juve both won too setting up a mouthwatering Sunday night clash in Turin. The Derby of Italy is back in style. Sit back, pour yourself a good glass of Barbera and watch the sparks fly.

Sympathy for the Devil?

I have been having this strange sensation all weekend - well, since Saturday night anyway. It kind of tingles and is definitely something I have never felt before. I can't exactly put my finger on it but, if I had to, I would say that I was actually feeling a bit SORRY FOR JUVE!

The reason for this unwanted emotion was their clash with Napoli at the weekend. Normally, I would be 100% behind the boys from the San Paolo. Anybody who can beat the Bianconeri will do in my eyes. However, the manner of their victory - or, rather, the decisions which led to it - made me feel a bit of pity for La Vecchia Signora.

The story of the game, for those who missed it. Del P gives Juve the second half lead, Napoli equalise through a blistering run and finish from Gargano. Game on, I thought. But then Mr Bergonzi, the referee, decided to give two of the most pathetic penalties I have ever seen. First a perfectly clean Chiellini tackle sent Lavezzi flying and he pointed to the spot. Then Marcelo Zalayeta bit his old team's bottom with a leap that any self-respecting salmon would have been proud of. Another penalty and the game was over.

I actually FELT something during the post-match interviews with Nicola Legrottaglie. I could share his hurt at the injustice of it all. I know, I know, that Juve have kicked other teams in the same way 100 times before. But, still, I would rather they were beaten fair and square - not in this manner.

One team who were beaten fair and square, once again, were Milan. The curse of Serie A and the San Siro continues. How can a team so beautiful one day be so ugly the next? We have mused on this before and will no doubt do so again.

At least Inter were held to a draw in Palermo throwing a lifeline to the chasing pack. The procession of last year looks unlikely and the league table is really shaping up nicely. Fiorentina blew their chance to go second on Sunday night but the game with Genoa quickly descended into a midfield battle with few goalscoring opportunities at either end.

Crazy, crazy nights...

Phew. I have just finished watching Milan take on Shaktar Donetsk in one of the most entertaining games of the Champions League. I lost count of the goalscoring opportunities at both ends. Kalac was superb in Dida's place. Seedorf struck two sweet, sweet goals. And the Gila monster awoke in style with a double. Which brings me to my main point.

Let's take two players - Alberto Gilardino and Amantino Mancini. The Milan man has been regularly jeered by his own fans, the Roma man was booed off on Tuesday night after missing a penalty. Just how fickle are supporters allowed to be?

There was plenty of understandable rage in Gila's goal celebrations. Do the Rossoneri believe in him or not? Do the fans have faith in him or not? Is it OK to cheer your player when he scores and jeer him when he does not. Or should those fans grow up and get behind ALL their players. It has not helped the striker that the fans are ready to get on his back at any moment.

The same argument goes for Mancini. Remember that great goal he scored against Lyon, the one where he did about 68 step-overs? Everyone was praising him to the heavens then. He misses a penalty (not even taken all that badly) and the Olimpico berates him. Hasn't he earned a little more respect? I don't know, maybe there is more to it than that.

One thing is for sure, both players seem to hurt more than most at the criticism thrown their way. There is the same look in Mancini and Gilardino's eyes when their own supporters start to lose patience with them. Their confidence seems a brittle thing and the tifosi have the power to snap it. Maybe they should use that power a little more wisely.

Anyway, a last thought for all Milanisti. If only Serie A sides defended like Shaktar....

Is it time to call it a crisis?

Following defeat by Empoli in the San Siro on Sunday, is it time to admit the Rossoneri are in a full-scale crisis? I myself drooled at their display against Lazio a couple of weeks ago, thinking they were back on track. But ten points from their opening eight Serie A games tell a different story. Anything other than a win against Shaky Donetsk this week would be disastrous.

Did last year's Champions League triumph mask major shortcomings? Or will it all click once Ronaldo and Pato join the fray? I don't like to make snap judgments on a team, especially one which has won so much. Nonetheless, there is work which needs to be done.

Elsewhere, Roma confirmed everything about their crazy nature with a 4-4 draw with Napoli. While Juve showed a real tough attitude to see off Genoa. It wasn't a great display, but boy did they work hard for it. And, sneaky, sneaky Fiorentina cuffed Siena with a fantastic first half and super goal from Giampaolo Pazzini (happy now Juventino?). Unfair not to mention Inter, too, since they lead the league. They won 1-0 against Reggina.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=lhBIPDU2tW0

Grande Pazzo!

Two out of three ain't bad. Or is it?

I'm going to be honest here, I am facing one of my worst-case footballing scenarios on 17 November. Scotland take on Italy at Hampden with the home side needing a win to guarantee qualification while the Azzurri have two results out of three potentially in their favour (assuming they go on to beat the Faroe Islands).

I had always hoped to avoid this position. In my ideal Scottish-Italian world both teams would go through but it would take Ukraine beating France and a draw in Glasgow to achieve that. Frankly, it is not a combination of results I see as very likely.

Don't get me wrong, I don't have divided loyalties. I want Italy to get through - simple as that. But I wish it was not at Scotland's expense. The build-up to the game will be unbearable and the aftermath, if Alex McLeish masterminds a win, would be unthinkably painful. It is one thing to be hurting on your own (I've done enough of that in my time as an Italy fan). It is quite another to be miserable while all about you are in a state of delirium.

My football intellect reassures me. Player for player Italy are superior to Scotland in every department. Historically, too, there is no comparison. And yet over the years I have suffered enough setbacks to know that being the best on paper is no guarantee of anything.

That is where the worries set in. I often gripe about the English press being the main problem with the England team but there are sections in Scotland which are just as bad. They are just as prone to outlandish claims for their players and stereotyping foreign opposition. If I could have a penny for every time Italy are cast as defensive, play-acting and cynical in the build up to this match I would not be as poor as I am now. To be fair, it strikes me that the media around the world indulges more and more in this pre-match hype nonsense which gets in the way of enjoying the game.

Still, come 17 November I will have to pin my colours to the mast once more. Just as I have since I was a little boy in a Scottish primary school pretending to be Paolo Rossi (hence the picture above) when everyone about me wanted to be Kenny Dalglish. I took it on the chin when Liverpool were lording it over Italian sides in Europe. I hope that I don't have to do it again in a few weeks time.

Heading for a showdown

Well, it was competent rather than thrilling. Italy beat Georgia 2-0 in Genoa but it was nothing to blog home about. Still, in the circumstances, I don't think it was ever likely to be a classic. Knowing that we had to win after Scotland and France's victories put a bit more pressure on. So, it was never likely to be anything other than a wee bit edgy.

The first half, I thought, was pretty good. A reasonable amount of pressure and a few good chances before Pirlo slotted home a free-kick straight down the middle. What I didn't like was the taking the foot off the gas in the second half. OK, Georgia looked unlikely to score but still, the job was not done until Grosso delivered a lovely second strike late in the game.

It was impossible to judge the defence on this performance. Ambrosini had a great game at the heart of the team. And Toni made a huge difference to the attack. It will all have to be a whole lot better in Scotland next month. Be interesting to see if anything comes out of the friendly with South Africa on Wednesday which might influence Donadoni's thinking for September.

Only one result will do

The port capital of Liguria plays host to a must-win clash on Saturday night. Italy face up to Georgia in Genoa knowing nothing less than a win will do. Yes, there will be one eye on the afternoon clash between Scotland and Ukraine, but no matter what the outcome of that one, the Azzurri must win.

Most exciting element to the call-ups was the inclusion of young Riccardo Montolivo from Fiorentina. It made a fair bit of sense with Alberto Aquilani out injured. I doubt he will play, but still it shows some good judgment from Mr Donadoni at last.

Also interesting to see both Del P and Inzaghi left out. The former can have no complaints after his shabby display the last time out. Maybe Super Pippo might have been nice to have in there with his goalscoring pedigree but, on the other hand, you have to turn the page some time.

A final thought on the equanimity of the UEFA decision on the pitch invader and Dida. Celtic fined £12,500 and the big Brazilian banned two games. Everyone's a winner...

Stop press: Nice win for the Azzurrini on Friday night, a couple of goals for Acquafresca but a starring role for little Giovinco. It looks like the Italian school is still producing some exciting players. Italia 2-0 Croazia.

Et tu, Juve?

A bit like every superhero needs his nemesis, Fiorentina need their game with Juve every year. After the Bianconeri's brief sabbatical in Serie B it was great to have them back in the Artemio Franchi on Sunday. Oh, and how we laughed at all the old themes revisited! Moggi or no Moggi, it was classic Juve.

David Trezeguet runs in front of Frey in a clearly offside position while Vincenzo Iaquinta gives La Vecchia Signora the lead. And the goal stands! Then, two Juventini scythe down Semioli in the penalty box and the referee waves play-on. Brilliant! Still, maybe things have changed, Fiorentina got a penalty to equalise, what an enjoyable rumble.

Elsewhere, Roma got back to fine winning ways while Milan humiliated Lazio. I had to feel sorry for their young goalkeeper who had a dreadful night but it was good to see Gilardino get amongst the goals. Maybe they will get off his back in the San Siro, now (probably not!). I also felt sorry for Delio Rossi who - even at the best of times - looks like a car salesman under pressure to meet ever tougher targets.

I did not, however, feel much sympathy for Lazio Presidente Claudio Lotito who strode into the ground like some latter-day Roman emperor with his coat draped over his shoulders. He subsequently snuck out with the same coat almost hiding his head like a criminal being escorted from court. Shame on him for deserting his team.

And badge of honour for the week goes to reformed drugs-man and Milan reject Marco Borriello who fired Genoa to their fourth win in a row and put them right in the UEFA Cup hunt at this early stage.

Black Thursday

How smart everyone that reads this blog must be. The last poll asked you to predict which Italian team would go furthest in the UEFA Cup and, almost to a man and woman, you said Fiorentina. I didn't imagine you would all be proved right so quickly.

It was a dark night for the Italiani in Europe. It was no surprise to see Empoli's youngsters tumble out in Switzerland but the loss of Sampdoria - having clawed their way through the Intertoto - was harder to take. Even more disappointing was Palermo's exit to unheralded Mlada Boloslev on penalties.

The Viola themselves only made it through after extra-time and spot-kicks. Although that was clearly a conspiracy to leave the Florentines as tired as possible for the visit of Juve on Sunday.

Dumdum Dida in the Doo Doo

It seems that no night for Milan in the Champions League can end without the talk gravitating towards their Brazilian goalkeeper. Once again, he was the centre of attention in Wednesday night's defeat at Celtic Park.

The facts, as they appeared to me, were as follows.

1) A fan got onto the pitch (Celtic will be heavily fined for that).

2) The fan struck Dida (Again, Celtic will be fined even more heavily, maybe a game behind closed doors).

3) Dida set off in chase of the wee Glaswegian but then decided to fall in a heap on the floor as if felled by Mike Tyson.

I was glad to see that Milan as a club quickly disassociated themselves from any thoughts of appealing over this incident - it was simply too comical. However, it does raise further concerns about the big Brazilian. His performances have been so shaky and this is the latest sign of his growing frailty. With all their money, could the European Champions not find anyone better?

On the other front, good game by Lazio. I did not expect them to get anything out of Real Madrid and they remain in with a shout of qualification.