Odds and Ends as Inter’s U-11s Humiliate Their Opponents

By: Martha | October 8th, 2007

•Last season I got all righteously indignant about Inter’s Pulcini A team (they’re 11 years old, and under) beating opponents by scores like 39-0 and 32-1. Well, I should have saved my breath, because they’ve now surpassed even that: This year’s team just beat someone 40-0, and are averaging 26 goals/match this season. Classy, that.

•The UEFA Cup draw takes place tomorrow, and Fiorentina (AKA Italy’s lone remaining representative) are in the third pot, meaning they’ll be in a group with two of the top 16 teams still in the tournament — including Villarreal and Giuseppe Rossi, and Bayern Munich and Luca Toni — as determined by UEFA’s magical co-efficient system.

•If you believe Tribal Football, Gigi Buffon left the Stadio Franchi in the trunk of a car after Juve’s draw with Fiorentina yesterday.

•To no one’s surprise, Nelson Dida and Milan are both being investigated by UEFA for misconduct in the wake of Dida’s specular playacting at the end of Milan’s loss to Celtic last week; the case will be heard by UEFA’s disciplinary committee on Thursday.

•Just a few months into his sojourn in Ukraine, the rumors that Cristiano Lucarelli is unsettled and might want to return to Italy have begun. Though Lucarelli insists he’s happy there, it’s already being suggested that, if Shaktar go out of the Champions League before Christmas (not looking very likely right now), Torino might pursue a loan deal for the striker.

•Zlatan is “a beast.” Just FYI.

Category: AC Milan, Fiorentina, Inter Milan, Juventus, Rumors & News, Serie A, UEFA Cup

Tags: AC Milan, Buffon, Dida, Fiorentina, Inter Milan, Juventus, Lucarelli, Rumors & News, Serie A, Torino, UEFA Cup, Zlatan

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• Marco |  October 8th, 2007 at 5:45 pm

  
  
  

  Ah Martha, Martha, Martha… the things you would do just to give your adored Inter another plug…

  Posted from United States

  

• Martha |  October 8th, 2007 at 6:03 pm

  
  
  

  Hey, I’m not cheering them for the vicious, youth beatings — this is two critical post about them in one day, man, give me some credit! (:

  Posted from United States

  

• Marco |  October 8th, 2007 at 6:17 pm

  
  
  

  I’ll give you the credit Martha, but now that I think about it… are these kids really learning anything at Inter? I mean, if you’re winning every match 30-0, it either means you’re incredibly good or (more likely) that your opponents incredibly suck.

  So basically until the Pulcini become Esordienti, Giovanissimi and later Allievi they won’t have any worthwhile opponents at all… how is that good for learning?

  Posted from United States

  

• Martha |  October 8th, 2007 at 6:27 pm

  
  
  

  There are a lot of blowouts in that U-11 league, and a few close games — I think there must be just a handful of very, very good teams who for some reason don’t just off on their own and play together.

  I’d like to point out, however, that since the whole team are Italian and will clearly never play for the first time, the question is somewhat moot.

  (I totally agree with you though — they’re clearly learning nothing about football in those blowout games, and even less about respecting opponents and the game. I really don’t get it.)

  Posted from United States

  

• Lorenzo |  October 8th, 2007 at 8:50 pm

  
  
  

  Do they let any Italian kids play for them?

  Posted from United States

  

• Ian |  October 8th, 2007 at 9:03 pm

  
  
  

  “and even less about respecting opponents and the game. I really don’t get it.”

  So, they won’t grow up with that solid respect for sportsmanship and fair play that we’ve come to expect from Italian football? All is lost …

  Posted from United States

  

• Marco |  October 9th, 2007 at 9:43 am

  
  
  

  Ian, back up your arguments or STHU. Grazie.

  Posted from United States

  

• Ian |  October 9th, 2007 at 11:12 am

  
  
  

  Marco, we can’t agree that there are major problems in Italian football? And that some of those issues relate to fairness and ethics? Maybe I jump on it a little quickly, and for that I’m sorry, but Italy is certainly the center of football controversy right now, and I and a lot of other fans think it’s well deserved. All leagues have their dirty little secrets, but can you honestly tell me you think it’s not worse in Italy than in England, France, Germany, Spain and the other big leagues?

  Posted from United States

  

• Marco |  October 9th, 2007 at 11:45 am

  
  
  

  Like I said Ian, back up your arguments or be quiet. Making a broad generalization on the Italian league without specific examples is absolutely pointless.

  If you’re thinking about the Calciopoli scandal that’s over a year old, and I could quote you a similar scandal involving German referees not too long ago. Everyone’s got skeletons in their closet…

  Posted from United States

  

• Marco420 |  October 10th, 2007 at 7:11 am

  
  
  

  or the BBC special on English managers illegal transfers…

  Posted from United States

  

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