Serie A Preview: Bone Pickin’ Edition

Two rants inspired by Italy continuing to not lose to Germany since 1995 have been building up inside my brain. Indulge me, will you?

The Azzurri gave a very good account of themselves with an experimental line-up versus a Germany side that was playing at what I would consider near full strength. And German strength is strong.

Die Mannschaftworked a lovely goal to go up 1-0 early, but Italy recovered well and began to attack well with former Samp duo Cassano and Pazzini, now with rival Milanese sides, menacing the German net. Here’s where the first rant comes.

Don't even get me started.

Then Italy are denied at least 3 very strong claims for penalty kicks, only one of which can be seen in this video.

Mauri was denied what to me looked like a clear penalty after being felled following a give-and-go with Cassano. Then Aogo blocked Cassani’s shot with his hand.

The handball is tricky, so leaving that one out, Italy were denied two clear penalties. Why? Because of their reputation.

I’m sure I’ll get skewered for this but the last time I checked, all football teams, including national teams, dive sometimes. But for some reason Italy are always singled-out as cheats. After post-game protests by members of the Azzurri camp, German coach Joachim Löw dismissed the claims, and many chimed in derisively on these here interwebz.

Serie A has a reputation for being a leave full of diving as well. I am obviously biased but I think you’ll see just as much simulation most weeks in the EPL as you would in Serie A, if not more.

I get that there have been countless scandals in Serie A, so that one I can swallow and to be honest, sort of embrace. But the Azzurri should not be tainted by that.

Do Italian players dive? Yes. Again, players on all teams dive! Plus, go ahead and look at the stats. Prove to me that Italians are the worst offenders. Oh, wait you can’t. Unless it is obviously clear (which it sometimes is) whether or not a play was a dive or a foul is subjective.

Look, this was a friendly, so left on their own I’m totally OK with those plays. But the return of the “Italy are cheaters and and everyone knows it” garbage clearly irks me.

The final score was set when that Rossi fellow who you all seem so angry at equalized with a good run and a cool head to apply the finish on the the 2nd attempt. Which provides me with the jumping off point for my next little tirade. Andlest you all think I’m a total homer, I am about to bash a Milan legend.

Former Azzurri coach Cesare Maldini had this to say after the match:

“I am against the use of Oriundi in the Nazionale. Do we not have players in Italy who are as good as Thiago Motta? I think so. I consider Oriundi to be a return to the past.”

Oriundi, for those who may not know, refers to foreign-born people (most commonly athletes) of Italian ancestry who immigrate back to Italy.

Not sure if Rossi totally qualifies but Brazilian-born Motta, who Maldini so nicely singled out, certainly does.

But Maldini needs to shut it.

Italy have been calling up 0riundi since the early days of international competition. Maldini is afraid of a return to the past? What happened in that past? Italy won two straight World Cups with 0riundi in the side in 1934 and 1938. Argentinian-born Mauro Camoranesi played an integral role in the run to the 2006 championship as well.

Almost all national squads do this, and who doesn’t want their country represented by the best possible talent? Who is going to tell a coach not to try out all of his options.

It’s not as if Motta is already an Azzurri regular, but if he becomes one, so what? And It’s not like the side are flooded by them, nor is his name Liu Chang or Ned Johnson. The oriundi have every right to be part of the squad, and if they wear that beautiful shade of blue, any real Azzurri fan (never mind a former player and manager) ought to support them.

Whew. I feel better now. Let’s get to the matches!

AC Milan v. Parma- While they’ve unbeaten in seven, Milan have led their lead at the top of Serie A slip to just three points with a far too casual attitude and wasteful finishing by their vaunted attack force. Bothof their top two opponent face stiff tests this weekend but Milan need to signal some real intent to hang onto the top spot this week and put in a good showing at home.

This match could see a possible return from Andrea Pirlo, whose creativity the Rossoneri have missed dearly in the midfield. Amauri looks set to displace Hernan Crespo from the Parma line-up once again. The 15th place Crusaders hope the pairing of the Brazilian and Sebastian Giovinco can pull them to a more comfortable position away from the bottom of the table.

I honestly don’t expect Milan to have too much trouble breaking Parma’s defense. I just hope they can end this one convincingly. 3-0 to the Rossoneri.

AS Roma v. Napoli- Roma came out on the losing endof an 8-goal thriller against Inter last weekend, but better prepare to put a few more in the net if they expect to contain high-flying Napoli. Keep an eye on Frenchman Jeremy Menez who has had a fine season for the Roman side and put in a strong effort versus Brazil in the midweek. His midfield partner Fabio Simplicio has been coming on as of late as well. Both Mexes and Burdisso are out with suspensions.

Napoli took care of business at home against Cesena last time out but face a stern test here despite the Giallorossi’s recent form. All the key pieces are there for Napoli but I have to believe Roma will put up a spirited fight at home.

I had a hard time with this one, and ultimately just decided to go with wishful thinking. A 2-2 draw puts Napoli back closer to a nice, safe distance from Milan.

Palermo v. Fiorentina – Palermo still have designs on the Champions League and will need talented playmakers Javier Pastore and Josip Ilicic to maintain their strong form to stay in the hunt. Spurs fans may be interested to note that Tottenham have reportedly expressed interest in the Slovenian. Because you all don’t have enough attacking midfielders.

Fiorentina drew away at Parmalast weekend and their middling form makes their 11th-place position in the table very appropriate. I rate La Viola’s young fullback Lorenzo De Silvestri quite highly and Fiorentina’sdefense in truth has been solid. The fact that Mutu may return to the starting lineup should tell you all you need to know about their attack.

This could turn out to be a good match to watch it Fiorentina aren’t able to kill the game the way they like to. Palermo’s attacking options give them the upper hand. 3-1 for the hosts.

Bari v. Genoa- If Bari have any chance at all of pulling themselves up to safety, from which they are nine points away, they’ll need someone to get hot to excite both the team and fans. Stefano Okaka could be that player. On loan from Roma, the young Nigerian-Italian has already netted twice for Bari, including the only goal versus hated rivals Leccein the derby. Bari don’t score a lot, but they can’t defend so they might as well go for broke and Okaka is young and naive enough to do so.

Genoa took a suprise point off of Milan last weekend. I was particularly impressed by the play of Floro Flores, Genoa’s goalscorer in that contest and a recent loan signing from Udinese. The striker was full of running and tried to play provider as well on more than one occasion.

This will probably be a pretty conservative game, but Bari really have nothing to lose. If they can play for pride at home, they’ll pull this one out 1-0.

Lightning Round!

Brescia v. Lazio- Bresciaactually took full points last round, albeit off of Bari. They won’t have time to get used to it. Lazio win after Kozak sends every Brescia player to the hospital, 0-2.

Cagliari v. Chievo- 9th versus 10th place in the table withbothclubs near full strength? Count me in. A cagey affair produces an important Cagliari win, 2-1.

Catania v. Lecce- 17th versus 16th? Now that’a another story. Maxi Lopez is the most likely to score for Catania but Lecce is porous so it might be a good game for the Sicilian club and its fans to build some confidence. 2-0 to the Elefanti.

Cesena v. Udinese- Udinese entered the European places at 6thlast weekend and won’t relinquish that accolade easily. Expect Di Natale to settle it for Udinese as always. 2-0 in a match well controlled by the visitors.

Sampdoria v. Bologna- Samp are going backwards as expected. The loss of their strike-force certainly didn’t help but all was not well before Cassano and Pazzinileft. Bologna find themselves in 12th and could climb into the top half of the table depending on other results.

Samp need the points more, which is sad considering Bologna have been docked points this season, but they won’t get all of them. One apiece from a 2-2 final.

Match of the Week

Juventus v. Internazionale - The Derby d’Italia pits the two most successful clubs in Serie A competition against each other this Sunday. You know it pains me to say that. 

Juventus got back on track through their new man Matri against Cagliarilast week. Anyone who watches him consistently will find out why Juve went after him so aggressively. They have the option to make his move permanent at the end of the term and if he can put a few past Julio Cesar on Sunday he’ll make that a very attractive choice.

And for the first time in a while Inter come into the Derby d’Italia with some Italians. Or Azzurri players at least, if you listen to Cesare Maldini. Motta, Pazzini, and Ranocchia all featured in the match versus Germany midweek, and should all play a crucial role in this affair as well. Pazzini has been great for Inter and provides a key foil for Eto’o. With Sneijder looking back on track, Leonardo’s side are looking dangerous.

This really should be a good one. Juventus have slipped to 8th but don’t get it twisted, they are still a dangerous side. The Old Lady could do Milan a solid here witha strong showing at home. I think it will be a nervy game in the first half before exploding to life in the second, with Juve eventually taking all three points from a big 3-2 victory.

The Serie A table could look very different come next round. Watch it all unfold withme! Have a great weekend UF’ers.