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| Week 35 Spotlight: Good Cristiano |
Monday 24 April, 2006
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 Player of the Week: Lucarelli (Livorno)
Perhaps sick and tired of the recent public clamour demanding that Pippo Inzaghi be included in the World Cup squad, Cristiano Lucarelli decided to remind Italy boss Marcello Lippi of his ability on Saturday. After already publicly stating that he would go to Germany to clean boots, he’s again shown the tactician that his goal sense could prove invaluable this summer.
Lucarelli did win international recognition from Lippi last year, but has failed to break back into the set-up given the Coach’s insistence, or infatuation, with the likes of Christian Vieri and Vincenzo Iaquinta. Yet while the latter two players struggle with fitness and form, Lucarelli continues to ripple nets for unfashionable Livorno.
The former Torino man grabbed a much-needed hat-trick at the weekend, his first of the season, as the Amaranto’s seven match losing streak came to an end against Palermo thanks to a 3-1 win. That treble took Cristiano to 19 in Serie A this term, with the remarkable Luca Toni being the only Italian ahead of him in the scoring charts.
The fact that Lucarelli plays his football with a provincial club undoubtedly affects his chances of being part of Lippi’s 23-man squad, yet the stats don’t lie and the fully matured hitman has now bagged 85 Serie A goals in his career. Not a bad total for a player who has never really settled at one club after spells at clubs like Lecce, Valencia in Spain and Torino.
Lucarelli’s career undoubtedly took a decisive turn since he joined hometown club Livorno in 2003. Multi million pound offers weren’t lacking by any means yet the possibility to become a symbol for the Tuscan minnows was something that money couldn’t buy. And it was no great surprise when Lucarelli grabbed 29 goals in 41 Serie B appearances to help the club to Serie A promotion for the first time in over 40 years. His goals have now also kept them there for two seasons.
But the time may have finally arrived for Lucarelli to finally get the chance at the top-level which he arguably deserves. After links with Spurs, Fiorentina and Monaco in the past, it seems that Inter are keen to bring him to the San Siro in a bid for his goals and changing room stature which could be just what the Nerazzurri need to end their trophy drought.
“I don’t know if I’ll leave the Amaranto at the end of the season,” said Lucarelli after his exploits at the Armando Picchi. “I want to evaluate Livorno’s transfer policy before I make a decision on my own future. As for Inter, I don’t know if those reports of a firm interest in my services were true or not. We’ll just have to see what happens.”
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Goal of the Week: Trezeguet (Juventus)
David Trezeguet’s crucial late equaliser for Juventus on Saturday was arguably also the prettiest of the week. Although the Frenchman’s little flick over Angelo Peruzzi with the outside of his right boot was simple enough, it was Juve’s build-up play with Patrick Vieira and Pavel Nedved which made it a sublime finish. |
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Number of the Week: 5
Juventus’ draw with Lazio was their fifth on the trot which has allowed Milan right back into Scudetto contention. The Old Lady did have a 10-point advantage over the Rossoneri before such a run, but the gap now is down to just three with three games remaining. |
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| Words: Antonio Labbate |
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Past Spotlights
A unique review of each round of Serie A 2005-06, including Player of the Week, Goal of the Week and Number of the Week. More
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