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| | Week 28 Spotlight: Pippo Poser | Monday 6 March, 2006 |
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 Player of the Week: Inzaghi (Milan)
Having been left out of the Italian squad for the 4-1 thrashing of Germany, Pippo Inzaghi reminded national boss Marcello Lippi of his ability during the win over Empoli on Saturday. Although the attackers which the tactician selected didn’t let him down against the World Cup hosts, Inzaghi has again outlined that he could offer something different on German soil this summer.
The former Piacenza and Atalanta man was Milan’s hero at the weekend. It was he who decisively broke the deadlock against an Empoli side which was threatening to leave the San Siro with a point on Saturday night, a goal which paved the way for Andriy Shevchenko to net a second before an Inzaghi ricochet ensured a 3-0 victory.
SuperPippo now has 10 League goals to his name, with a massive eight of them coming in 2006 – not a bad response to those critics who argued his career was as good as over. Yet Inzaghi has put his two-year injury nightmare well behind him to breath new life into Milan’s season.
Only last week the player insisted that he hadn’t felt this good since he first joined the club back in 2001. “I’m in great shape,” he stated. “Just like I felt during my first four months here before that famous clash with Cristiano Lupatelli. Not even in the season after, when I scored 30 times, was I in such great condition as I am presently.”
Inzaghi started the campaign as fourth choice at the club, well behind Sheva, Gila and the now departed Christian Vieri. But he’s once again a serious contender for a regular first team shirt and could prove crucial in this week’s big two tests – against Bayern Munich in the Champions League and then against former club Juventus, where the Rossoneri will be looking to reduce the gap at the top of the table to seven points.
If Inzaghi can continue his scoring trend until the end of the season then there is little doubt that Lippi will have to consider him for a spot in his final 23-man squad. Even if Inzaghi, who hasn’t played for his country for two-and-a-half years, insists that all he is focusing on at the present time is his club career.
“These goals against Empoli are not for Lippi, but for Milan as we needed the victory,” the striker wanted to underline. “I’m not looking to send any messages at all to the national Coach because he is well aware of what I am doing right now. I supported Italy on television the other night against Germany and I’ll do the same in the summer if I’m at home.”
Inzaghi may not be the prettiest of players to watch, in fact he’s one who does tend to infuriate with certain aspects of his game which don’t really need any explaining here. Yet there is one good thing that seems to come guaranteed with Inzaghi and that is goals. After netting 21 in 48 appearances for his country, it wouldn’t exactly be a shock to see him handed an opportunity to add to that tally in June and July. It's over to you Marcello…
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Goal of the Week: Inzaghi (Milan)
It was no vintage week for the spectacular in Serie A, but there was something special about Pippo Inzaghi’s first goal against Empoli. Gennaro Gattuso’s perfect through ball allowed Inzaghi to instantly turn his marker and rapidly fire his left-foot shot against the underside of the bar and into the back of the net. |
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Number of the Week: 15
Cagliari finally won their first away game of the season in their 15th attempt. After collecting just two draws and 12 defeats, the Sardinians inflicted a 1-0 defeat on Livorno. The Rossoblu hadn’t won on the road since the 3-2 at Lazio on November 28, 2004. Their last win at Livorno took place in Serie B back in October 1955. |
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| Words: Antonio Labbate |
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