2010 was a bad year for Italian football. I tried to think of the positives, but very few came to mind. A disastrous World Cup in South Africa, a bad showing in the Europa League, and only a Champions League victory (guided by a Portuguese mastermind) which retains some dignity for Italian football.

While 2010 was a poor year, it now allows all of Italian football to rebuild in 2011. Just looking at the Serie A, a much more competitive league has formed after an exciting summer of transfers. AC Milan have strengthened considerably with the super-signings of Ibrahimovic, Robinho, and Kevin-Prince Boateng. Juventus are rebuilding properly under Luigi Delneri, who is creating a team which plays through the electrifying Milos Krasic. Inter Milan are in a rebuilding phase as well after the disappointment of Benitez’s failure, and now Leonardo trying to make a proper impact with a treble-winning side.

These changes along with a general strengthening of teams like Lazio, Napoli, Palermo, and even Roma all contribute to a much more exciting league.

No more 1-0 wins, ground out with counter-attacking football, now Italian sides seem to have realized that to win, you have to score goals. Juventus score plenty of goals while leaking at the back, Palermo play a fluid style with the humble Javier Pastore orchestrating the side, and AC Milan steamroll through teams with Ibrahimovic’s wrath accompanied by a dancing Robinho. No matter what anyone says, the Serie A has become exciting. AC Milan seem unstoppable, and if Leonardo manages to wake up a drowsy Inter team, we’ll have a proper battle for the scudetto on our hands.

With the Serie A becoming more exciting, we are also seeing this positive change reflected in the Italian national team. Cesare Prandelli is a shining symbol of hope for Italy fans, giving us all the chance to see Cassano back in the Azzurri shirt, along with Mario Balotelli and other exciting young players. The qualification for the European Championships of 2012 doesn’t look to be too difficult, and if Prandelli continues to breed these youngsters into the national team, there’s a chance that Italy will be a contender for the tournament held in Poland-Ukraine.

2011 is ultimately a year of hope for Italian football. A chance to forget about the UEFA co-efficient, the World Cup in South Africa, and a boring Inter Milan dominance in the Serie A. An exciting league has formed, and along with it a stronger national team is moulding itself under Cesare Prandelli’s venturing eyes. What do you hope for Italian football in 2011? Share your comments below!

Atop Group A Roma have definitely turned the right corner with a renewed march toward this year’s Champions League final again possible.  After a terrible start to their domestic season and the shocking opening  loss to CFR Cluj in the Group stage, all is forgiven by Romanista fans with Roma’s reversal of the group opener beating Romanian side Cluj 3-1 Wednesday evening.  Roma will have to win or draw against Bordeaux in two weeks if they hope to move on but with their recent string of victories momentum has finally swung in favor of the Giallorossi.

Qualification to the last 16 by Internazionale was not as glamorous losing to visitors Panathinaikos 0 – 1.   Inter still sit first in Group B on 8 points. The second and third place teams in group B, Panathinaikos and Anorthosis Famagusta, meet in the final group encounter with the victor being the second team to qualify from Group B. Panathinaikos will have the upper-hand needing only a point at home to Famagusta in two weeks time to join Inter, yet the Italians now need a result, possibly even a victory, away to Werder Bremen or risk failing to top Group B.

Tuesday evening saw the first Italian club eliminated when Fiorentina lost to French side Lyon at home 1 – 2.  Juventus of Turin have already qualified for the last 16 and drew 0 – 0 away to Zenit St. Petersburg also on Tuesday.

The three remaining Italian contenders can all finish group leaders if Roma beat Bordeaux, Inter beat Werner Bremen and if Juventus draw with Bate Borisov in their final group clashes.

UEFA.com Magazine Matchday 5 Part I Interviews

Once again UEFA.com Magazine has supplied us with some fantastic matchday-5 player interviews.  Listen to Alex Manninger, Olof Melberg, Mohamed Sissoko, Luca Toni, Fabio Grosso and Sebastian Frey discuss matchday-5 results.

(click on image for video interview)

UEFA.com Magazine Matchday 5 Part II Interviews

Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho gives his opinion on the performance of Panathinaikos

(click on image for video interview)

Related Articles

mcalcio – CFR Cluj 1-3 Roma: Giallorossi Back in the Driver Seat
channel4 Football Italia – We must learn lesson, says Moratti
AFP – Inter through despite Panathinaikos shock
Champions League Talk – Champions League Matchday 5 Preview

Can Roma and AC Milan turn things around this week?  I think Roma will and must as Mourinho and Inter already have that 3 point lead which cost Roma the title last season.  AC Milan are having injury trouble already so Clarence Seedorf will have to fill the absence of Andrea Pirlo in the midfield and he can do it but will he step it up come Sunday? I’m predicting Milan will not get their first win of the season.

Match Day Three Pick the Score

The Punter’s lounge is a great place for additional insight into Serie A predictions take a look for yourselves by clicking on the logo

For Match Day Three Analysis click on the image to the right and download the audio file of today’s World Soccer Daily podcast.  Steven Cohen, Kenny Hassan and myself discuss Serie A in the second half of the program.  

The current situation at AC Milan and AS Roma as well the cover of this month’s FourFourTwo magazine is all the Talk.

After downloading fast forward to the 136th min mark or if you prefer simple use the audio player below to listen in.

Arrival of Match Day Three for Serie A fans will see several key players missing including, Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso for Milan (both injured), Massimo Maccarone for Seina and Sulley Muntari for Inter (both suspended), forward David Trezeguet for Juventus and forward Ezequiel Lavezzi for Napoli (both also injured).

I’ve provided a recap of my predictions from Match Day Two not a pretty sight. It was another 4 out of 10 week, and AC  Milan could not score against an iron curtain Genoa, making them even worse then I would have predicted.

Match Day Two Predictions vs. Fulltime Scores

if image is unclear double click twice for enlarged version.

(screenshots courtesy of Footbo Social Football Network)
Match Day Three Predictions will be posted later today.

Related Articles

Match Day One – Serie A Italian Calcio
Match Day Two – Match Day Two Predictions