Global, Serie A

With Milan-Juve ending in a stalemate, Ravin Sampat analyses how Inter capitalised and are now set to claim the ”Winter Champions” crown.

Despite being recognised as one of the biggest games in European football, the draw between Milan and their northern rivals, Juventus, was overshadowed by two big events. Firstly, the Euro 2008 draw; secondly, Inter’s thorough examination of Fiorentina’s title credentials.

One may start to feel for Roberto Donadoni’s Italy. After winning the World Cup in 2006, Donadoni took over the helm as the Azzurri coach with much fanfare. How does one make a World Cup winning squad better?

With Totti and Nesta retiring, Del Piero injury-prone, and a host of strikers misfiring on the domestic front, Donadoni has bought in new blood as a means to counter his critics. Di Natale, Palladinio, Quagliarella - all soon to be household names.

Donadoni even did the unthinkable. He bought back Panucci, Bonera and Lucarelli. This is the sign of a good manager. Even though the qualifying campaign started slowly, Donadoni’s tactical finesse and patent talent in his team selections paid off in that final game against Scotland.

I often feel that if Steve McClaren had taken more risks in his selection instead of picking names based on reputation, England might have had it easier. Gabriel Agbonlahor, Robert Green and Arsenal’s Theo Walcott were all left out the selection process. The biggest casualty was Peter Crouch. Despite long ball being almost a certainty when Crouch plays, the quality of England’s midfield would mean that long ball never needed to be a real option. No Beckham in the first few games was questionable, and sticking to a goalkeeper who had made mistakes both domestically and internationally was a major issue. Around Europe, when a goalkeeper makes a mistake, they are questioned. Despite Buffon’s greatness, Donadoni would not have hesitated to bring in Marco Amelia had Buffon folded. In Brazil, Dunga dropped Dida altogether and bought in the younger Julio Cesar of Inter, a benefit for both club and country.

Despite drawing France (again) and the Netherlands, with a strong Romanian team in their group too, Italy will be fine. It is the battle between Van Basten’s unpredictable Holland side and Raymond Domenech’s ‘can we be bothered to perform’ France; Italy’s strength in depth should be enough to top the Group of Death.

Domestically, the league is taking shape. In the battle of the north, Juventus will definitely feel that they should have won Saturday’s encounter with Milan. Trezeguet, Nedved and Iaquinta were fantastic up front, Zanetti held on in midfield against Milan’s trident force of Ambrosini, Gattuso and Pirlo, and Kaka was kept quiet by a strong performance by Chellini.

Ranieri’s men are certainly in the title running.

They have now played Roma, Milan, Inter and Fiorentina, drawing all four games. His Juve side is like that of Lippi’s during the nineties. I cannot state enough the similarities between the two teams. Pace, power, collective responsibility, resilience. They may be decades apart, but one thing is for sure - they both refused to give up.

Milan, on the other hand, are enduring an odd season. Ronaldo came back against Cagliari, but again he disappeared. The Rossonerri have not replaced the mantra of Andrei Shevchenko, and if they do not address this problem quickly, expect them literally to draw their way to a lacklustre fourth-placed finish.

Inter. What to say about Mancini? If anyone should be applauded for management skill, it is Roberto Mancini. I am surprised that no one has thought to mention Zlatan’s form over the last year with the end-of-year awards being handed out. We speak of Messi, Ronaldo and Kaka, but do not be surprised if next year’s Ballon d’Or is a three-way race between Zlatan, Fàbregas and Gerrard. France Football magazine take note - it’s the quiet ones who are the greatest.

Inter will be happy with the Saturday San Siro stalemate, but as far as Mancini is concerned, the only team offering any resistance is Roma. Their defeat of Udinese was a big result like that of Inter’s at Fiorentina. It halted the progress of two teams who can challenge with the best. The performance of Inter was so magical that the Florence supporters stood up and applauded Inter as they walked off at full-time.

With a third of the season gone, Juventus look stronger, Milan are 13 points behind rivals Inter, and Roma are slowly catching up with the Nerazzuri. In two week’s time, the Christmas break will arrive. Juventus, Inter and Roma are unlikely to look forward to this, however. As Serie A’s leading pack, they want to continue their good run of form. Yet for Milan, a break from league action is just what they need. Instead of spending time at the Club World Championship in Japan trying to win the competition, Ancelotti should instead ask Mr Berlusconi to fill his Christmas stockings with a new striker, a new goalkeeper, and possibly a new fitness coach to get Inzaghi and Ronaldo injury-free.

But despite the doom and gloom of the red side of Milan, it seems the New Year promise of Alexander Pato may just be the surprise Don Carlo has been keeping at bay.

Arriverderci

Quote of the week: ”When he plays like that, he almost reminds me of Van Basten in his prime” [Mancini praises Zlatan]
Team of the week: Sampdoria
Goal of the week: Jorge Martinez (Catania)

Results - Week 14
Atalanta 5-1 Napoli
Cagliari 0-0 Livorno
Catania 3-1 Palermo
Fiorentina 0-2 Inter
Milan 0-0 Juventus
Parma 1-0 Empoli
Roma 2-1 Udinese
Sampdoria 3-0 Reggina
Siena 1-1 Lazio
Torino 1-1 Genoa

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