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| Friday 11 April, 2008 |
| Blog: Peninsula post-mortem |
| With no Italian clubs in the Champions League semi-finals, Steve Wilson fears this is not a blip but a worrying sign of things to come |
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Serie A's involvement in Europe's top competition is over and for the first time since 2004 there is no Italian representative in the semi-finals. I remember a similar outburst of melancholy on that occasion only for the following year to see Milan back in the Final and 45 minutes from victory. But can we expect a similar revival next year? I don't think things will be as straightforward this time.
Inter and Roma look certain to be involved in 2008-09. Surely the Nerazzurri can't fail to reach the business end again? Indiscipline cost them this time against Liverpool at Anfield, but that lesson - and those learned at Valencia and Villarreal - must surely have made a mark on their collective consciousness. Regardless, it is a worry to be relying on Inter for European success.
Roma have been the peninsula's most consistent performer over the last 18 months. I believe they are only a few players away from being able to push on further than the quarter-finals - and with next year's Final to be played at the Olimpico there will be an extra incentive. However, so much depends on them finding the budget to bring in the big names they need to reach the next level.
Below the Scudetto duellers lies a selection of teams who are fighting to represent their country. On paper, Juventus and Milan appear to be the safest bets. While it would be good to see the four big dogs of the Italian yard representing Italy I have some concerns regarding the Diavolo and La Vecchia Signora.
Milan are on the verge of transition, as their aging squad desperately needs to be revitalised with some fresh young faces. When they get it right in Europe they are unstoppable, but when they get it wrong they are a liability. Juventus are still looking short of the dominant force they once were and it may be wishful thinking to expect them to have a major impact in their first year back.
Fiorentina have shown that they are capable of battling to the tail end of the UEFA Cup, but only just. The standard in the Champions League is far higher and Cesare Prandelli's side would need time to adjust, while qualification for Udinese or Sampdoria would be disastrous. Neither side is anywhere near equipped to mount a serious European campaign.
While Inter, Roma, Milan and Juventus all have individuals able to grace the Champions League, I just don't see any of those teams - at present - having the heft to challenge the Premier League sides. Football has always gone in cycles and soon enough the tide will turn, but for the immediate future I fear that Serie A's ship has run aground on the water-way leading to Europe's final four.
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"Qualification for Sampdoria or Udinese would be disastrous"... how dare you! As much as I hate them, Udinese put in a really good show last time they were there and they'd probably do the same, and Sampdoria would certainly surprise a few people. They'd certainly do at LEAST as well as Inter and Roma have done in recent years - i.e. not very. It's time for some new faces if the old ones can't get the job done. Samp for the Champions League! Cassano would run the show.
Simon Lamb
While Steve Wilson may turn out to be correct, there is insufficient evidence on which to base such a conclusion. Roma have now been in the last 8 in the last two seasons and have gained much experience, as has their Coach Luciano Spalletti. If they can invest significantly again this summer they have the potential to get closer to the Final, especially if the draw favours them, which it has not in the last two seasons when they have had very hard knock-out opposition.
Juventus have impressed greatly on their return to Serie A, and if they too invest, as reports suggest they will, I am convinced they can have an excellent CL campaign. They also have players who have experience of playing CL knock-out ties like Buffon, Zebina, Camoranesi and Del Piero.
There are many factors which have contributed to the EPL's domination of the latter stages of the CL in the last two seasons, including that they are always represented by the same teams who have accumulated a high UEFA co-efficient and CL experience.
Milan have the best recent CL pedigree of any club in Europe. They clearly focused on the Club World Cup this season - the way they raised their performance level in Japan was reminiscent of their recent CL campaigns. If they are able to rejuvenate the squad in the summer they have the pedigree to make an impact next season, if they qualify.
I believe it is very premature to reach such decisive conclusions on one season's worth of CL football. For us calcio lovers Steve Wilson highlights a fear, yes, but at the moment it is no more than that..
James
Between '99 and '02 there were no Italian teams in the Finals and everyone was talking about the end of Italian football and then Milan and Juve faced off in the Final and Milan went on to dominate for half a decade. Maybe, Italy will have to wait half a decade to have another dominant team but Calcio fans have enough fond memories to keep them going, '06 World Cup and Milans Champions League exploits to name a few. Forza Calcio!.
Pat Cook
Not sure that this is a truly substantiated commentary on the European stage. Yes Serie A have under performed in general over recent years, but remember Milan managed to beat off all Premier League competition last year to win the tournament - I wouldn't suggest that indicates Serie A are losing their grip on the European stage. Admitedly many of the top clubs in Serie A will need to invest (not necessarily heavily) during the summer, and they do have challenges luring the 'big names' from across the globe given the tax differences between Italy and the English/Spanish Leagues, but it's not impossible and certainly won't take a lot for Serie A representatives to engulf the semi-final stage such have the Premier league teams in the past two years. Milan are ageing, but still have quality in the squad. With the addition of a couple of players (and getting 4th place this season), they can be European champions again next year. Juventus, a squad filled with World Cup winners. They certainly have the ability, just need to ensure they build a squad to compete on multiple fronts. Inter, disciplinary, disciplinary, disciplinary, it consistently lets them down. Improve on this and could cruise the CL next year. Roma, have shown consistency over two years now. If they can add another striker for next year, they will be serious semi-final candidates..
Simon Bushnell
I partly agree! Let's take Inter and Milan! With a couple of good young and experienced signings like Villa, Quaresma, Diego, Van der Vaart, Nasri etc they will add the pace and skills needed! They both have the economy to fight with the other major clubs! Roma is still not in the top ten, Barealona, Madrid, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Bayern, Inter, Milan and soon Juventus, but if they sell the club, they could buy the likes of Torres. If you took away Gerrard and Torres Liverpool would not be a top ten club! Juventus need to consider if Secco is the right man. He wants to buy the likes of Crespo, too old, and defensive midfielders. They have plenty of both! If they can buy two real good signings, one for defence and another top class creative midfielder, they might compete with the big guns! So much depend on FIAT's economy and their new stadium plans! FIAT's economy has been a catastrophe a couple of years ago, but is now among the elite in the world, while a new stadium will be a source of more income generated from the tickets sales! This is an issue for many Italian clubs!
Mikkel
Steve Wilson's blog is pretty much on the mark and I must admit Italian football does look like it is in a slump, but one point needs to be made which I think Steve intimated but didn't mention. Part of Italian football's problem is the fallout of Calciopolli, the scandal hurt the 2 sides which have been the flag bearer of the peninsula the most in Milan and Juventus.
Juve are still 'tender' and yes Milan although champions last year are a year older and definitely need new blood. Even Roma only just has a squad large enough to challenge for European and Italian honours. I think we also need to keep in mind that the Premier League can't feel smug either as outside of their top 4 there is nothing to write home about.
Reality is that the money situation makes it almost impossible to get a champion in either Serie A or the Premier League outside of the big four. Add to that Barcelona and Real Madrid being the other most likely to win a Champions League title and effectively Europe is basically a 10 team block. Oh for the glory days of Bayern Munich, Ajax or Porto being a force to balance things out.
This sad situation will be around much longer than Italian football's Champions League woes. World football is the loser. The gap in the Premier League between the haves and have nots I think is much wider than in Italy, the amount of 5 and 6 goal hammerings of sides in England is a blight on their competition and Derby's performance would see them struggle for relegation in Serie B! Brescia and Bologna in Serie A next year would be fantastic if they make it!
John Palamara
John has made a vital point here about the gap between haves and have nots. Certainly more wider in the Premier League than Serie a now - Everton, Spurs, Villa in Champions League? Cringetime, more like! But Serie A could do with a long hard look at itself and while I admire the pressing style of play, the constant stoppages for free kicks at the slightest pull does no good to prepare for the pace of the Champions League. It really is a question of balance rather than a full throttle approach and to that end our teams really aren't that bad - just a bit too smug for their own good! Strengthening the squads looks like a major priority, certainly Juve and Roma - not convinced with Milan clubs at the moment plus a bit more humility and determination would go a long way and football owes it to Del Piero, Nedved, Totti, Pirlo and co to enable a fairer showcase of their real worth to the even more smug ones on the other side of the continent. The way to beat in form teams, and in style, is to dictate the game like Juve did against Real a few years back.
Anonymous
With Juventus back in the fold and a hopefully resurgent Milan to follow, I have no fears that Serie A will be back among Europe's elite sooner rather than later. It's no secret that when Milan, Inter and Juventus finish in the top 5, Serie A is at its strongest - as although there is plenty of talent amongst the likes of Fiorentina and Sampdoria, they don't have that same bite when it comes to big Champions League evenings. In England at the moment, there is a healthy rivalry between the top sides. This does not exist in the cloak and dagger environment of Italy, and as soon as the top clubs realise that working together to create a strong football environment rather than taking every opportunity to weaken and undermine each other in a non-productive way, Serie A will once again hold the bragging rights in Europe.
Mike Messina
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