Serie B focus: Bari and Parma back to the big time?

With just nine games remaining in the Cadetti Bari look likely to be gracing Serie A once again after an absence since relegation from the big time in 2001. Currently they are first on 63 points, 9 points clear of 3rd place Livorno in the race for automatic promotion. Of course there is likely to be twists and turns over the remaining nine games for the Bari faithful, but few now would bet against a return to Serie A for the southern club. Indeed it has been a good season all told for the club from Apulia with marksman Barreto also riding high in the top scorers chart on 15 goals, and with the fans pouring back into the stadium once again as they lead the attendance standings in Serie B as well. They have attracted an average gate of 12,002 this year and have a season high attendance of over 18,000 against Vicenza.

Parma also look like they may well make a quick return to Serie A after a one year absence. Parma, currently second on 59 points, belong in Serie A after the success they had in both Europe, Serie A and the Italian Cup throughout the 90s. Unfortunately for their followers they never quite secured the Scudetto they deserved at some point in the 90s, and there financial demise followed shortly after. But there fans should take hart from the progress both Napoli and Fiorentina have made in recent years, two clubs that financially and competitively sunk far lower than Parma have yet. Hopefully they can get back to where they belong and at least stay in Serie A for years to come. They may not have the financial backing they used to have, but they are still a great name and that alone should attract some quality when they return to Serie A.

The final spot is still up for grabs and could go anywhere to be honest, although many may fancy Livorno to pull through here thanks to the divisions top scorer in Tavano. The former Roma and Valencia hitman has struck 18 times this season, and few would be against the quality striker hitting a similar mark if Livorno make it to Serie A next season, but they will at least have to hold off Serie B heavyweights Empoli and Brescia first before any dreams of Serie A are realised.

The mercato rumour mill runs again

The season is not even close to being over yet, but the rumour mill is beginning to grease itself up to roll on and on. Throughout the next six months or so all that will matter in the football world is who will be playing where next summer. Lazio have a number of Issues to take care of, and Claudio Lotito knows it. He has until the end of April to tie up the boy wonder Zarate who, although inconsistent on occasions, has shown he has the ability to do great things in world football. Not only this, but Lazio surely must resign Goran Pandev, a player who has been linked to the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Bayern Munich. I believe he will stay, but Lotito must act fast otherwise Lazio, a team developing into perhaps a champions league place contender next season, will be left shorthanded.

Elsewhere, names such as Kun Aguero, Diego, Elano, Silva and Eto have all been linked to the Calcio world of late. As a Lazio fan I know this will make our chances of success harder, but the glamour and quality that these signings will bring will only make our championship more beautiful, competitive and exciting. Aguero especially is one that could make a huge difference to the champions league chances of Inter Milan, whislt David Silva or Diego could give Juventus the creative aspect that sometimes they have been missing this season, although no signing should be at the expense of the superb Giovinco.

Although the rumour mill can drive us all to dispair at times, at least it gives us something to ramble about through those long hot summer nights.

Montenegro 0 - 2 Italy

Match Report
Italy took a crucial three points from what was on paper a tough away match in Montenegro. Italy made a dream start early on in the match through a deserved penalty after the ball was handled in the area. Andrea Pirlo stepped up and cheekily chipped the penalty into the top corner with the ball coming in off the woodwork. Despite only having around 38% of possession throughout the match it was a fairly comfortable ride for the Azzurri, with Buffon only notably stretched once after pulling off a superb one handed stop from a Djalovic volley. However, the three points were well and truley wrapped up in the 75 minute when a superb long ball from Pirlo was found by Pepe who put in a fantastic cross for substitute Pazzini who on his debut fired home with a stunning diving header. However, a victory that looked quite comfortable perhaps should not have been so, as half was through the first half Fabio Cannavaro, acting as the last man, should have been shown the red card after blatantly taking down the superb Stefan Jovetic. For me Cannavaro has lost a step or two since his instrumental displays in Germany, and may actually be more of a liability these days especially in comparison to the brave Chielini who played the match with a broken nose.

My Players of the Game

Andrea Pirlo: Great vision for the second goal and a cheeky penalty made for an excellent performance by the AC Milan playmaker. Every attacking play started with him and that is why he is so crucial to this lineup.

Gianluigi Buffon: Only one stop to make all night, but what a stop is was. It takes a world class keeper to be almost totally inactive for the whole game and then to pull out a stop of that calibre.

Giampaolo Pazzini: Its all about taking your chances, and he did. Iaquinta has been in superb form but looked isolated last night. But Pazzini finished off a wonderful move by Italy and confirmed his status as the inform Serie A striker at this moment in time. With Rossi, Gilardino, Toni and Iaqinta appearing to be battling for the striker position Pazzini has thrown his name into the hat and may start against Ireland this Wednesday.

Future looking bright for Italy

The future looks bright for Italy's national side that is for sure. Already we have seen a promising crop of young players cracking the national set up. De Rossi and Chielini have forced there way into the side since the last world cup with the likes of Montolivo, Rossi, Quagliarella, Pepe, Motta and Foggia already joining a set of 'world champions'. Amazingly, it seems that this is only going to get better. The under 21 side includes players of great quality, already playing for big Serie A clubs and making significant contributions. Santon and Balotelli (Inter Milan), De Silvestri (Lazio), Santacroce (Napoli), Marchisio (Juventus), Aquafresca (Cagliari), Criscito (Genoa), Dessena (Sampdoria) and of course Giovinco (Juventus) are all young players who have taken great leaps forward this year in Serie A. It's not inconceivable that some of these players will make it to the 2010 world cup depending of course on their Serie A and European performances next season. This is genuinely a real wealth of talent that will continue to light up Serie A for years to come, and only confirms the opposite of people who believe that Calcio and Italian football in general is in decline. In fact the opposite is true, it is growing and developing and future success is surely on the way.

Two for One?

For a lot of people the title race is already over. For some people surprisingly I actually mean players of Juventus! Nicola Legrottaglie told tuttosport earlier this week that 'Last year we were third, this time around we are second. Next year it is our turn to finish first'. Buffon also conceded that Inter look like Scudetto certainties. To be honest I can't believe this. Maybe it is mind games, maybe they have actually conceded defeat. To me this seems ridiculous, principally because both Inter and Juve still have to play each other again in a few weeks time in Turin. Not only that, but Inter's next game in Serie A is against an inform Udinese side away from home. An Udinese side that boast a strong attack in Pepe, Di Natale and Quagliarella, are in the quarter finals of the Uefa cup and have beaten strong teams like Juventus at home this season. Ranieri has stated that Juve must close the gap before the derby and that the meeting between Udinese and Inter could be key.

A closer look at the run in

Inter
v Udinese away
v Palermo at home
v Juventus away
v Napoli away
v Lazio at home
v Chievo away
v Siena at home
v Cagliari away
v Atalanta at home

Juventus
v Chievo at home
v Genoa away
v Inter at home
v Reggina away
v Lecce at home
v Milan away
v Atalanta at home
v Siena away
v Lazio at home

Juvetus have it tough with regards to Milan and Genoa away and Inter at home, but Juve fans should remain optomistic. With Inter having to visit Udine, a rejuvenated Napoli and host an inconsistent but quality Lazio side there will be further opportunities for the Turin faithful to gain ground on Inter. Juve have shown how far they have come this season with superb wins over Real Madrid, Milan and Roma last weekend. Can they take the final step?

No Serie A this week, so Internationals it is!

Here we go, International fixtures this weekend. International selections have been made, Pazzini, Foggia, Motta, Bocchetti have been added to an already exciting squad but once again there is no Antonio Cassano. I have to say this is in the long term is a real mistake. Cassano brings creativity, flare and the element of the unexpected in his play. In effect, players like this who can keep the ball and play it effectively take the pressure of the defence. France have this in Ribery, Brazil have Kaka, Argentina have Messi. I look at the Italy squad as it stands and to be frank I do not see a great deal of creativity there. There are world class defenders such as Chielini and Cannavaro. There is the deep lying playmaker in Pirlo and the attacking wing backs in Zambrotta and Grosso. There is an array of hitmen upfront in Toni, Gilardino, Rossi, Pazzini, Iaquinta. There are also promising additions. Foggia is a player of great promise. He attacks from either flank on the wing and can dribble all night long and this is a positive move from Lippi. Yet, really there is a player in Genoa tonight who knows he should be there, but probably never will be.

What is the factor?
We all know about Cassano's attitude, but it has improved dramatically at Sampdoria. But is this because of him, or because the team their plays for him. He is Sampdoria right know. His play during the Coppa Italia semi final against Inter was scintillating. However, put him in an environment where he is a smaller fish in a bigger pond then the tantrums may return again. Perhaps this is why Lippi has in recent times suggest a move away from the Luigi Ferraras, something that is likely this summer, to see whether in reality Cassano really can adapt to playing amongst world class players in every department without feeling the need to be the centre of attention.

Is Cassano Crucial to Italy's success?
Lets be serious here, there is no reason why Italy cannot retain their title in South Africa next summer. But in their recent friendly against Brazil they were stagnent. The backline of Zambrotta, Chielini, Cannavaro and Grosso is still rock solid with Buffon in goal, but unless they attack more as opposed to sitting back then they will invite more pressure on the back line. Yes, they have great forwards but unless they are serviced then they will not get many opportunites. Cassano's creative flare would remedy this.

Welcome to a blog about Italian football. I have followed Calcio since 1993 and have developed a great interest in the passion, charisma and history of the beautiful game in Italy. Italian football is always mixed with triumph and tragedy, from Italy's shootout demise in 1994 against Brazil to their shootout victory against France in 2006, from Calciopoli to Milan's Champions league victory in 2007.

This season has been no different so far. Most clubs in Serie A, bar perhaps Inter Milan, have experienced great ups and downs. Udinese, Napoli and Lazio have at some point or another topped the standings, but all three, despite having great potential, have faltered at one time or another. Milan and Juve also have had their slip ups which has almost certainly ended any title chance for the former, and made things difficult for the latter. Then again, some clubs have just gone up and up. Inter and Genoa will claim this, and have to be the happiest set of fans in Serie A currently. Inter march on towards another Scudetto and Genoa's rise from the depths of Serie B appear to be culminating in a Champions League place. Roma and Fiorentina may still have something to say about this, as may Juve with regards the title, and it is these scenarios that draw me back to the screen every week to see what happens.

Thats the beauty for me. I profess to be no expert at all, just a fan just like you of a certain club in Serie A, that I wont reveal, at least not yet anyway. Forza Calcio!