Bad Time To Be An Italian In Europe

By: chris | March 4th, 2008

Milan 0 - Arsenal 2: And there she goes. Milan’s title defense is over a whole 12 minutes after Carletto waxed prophetic about Milan’s “Champions League DNA“. Whoops. From what I hear no one is blaming him, but I am for two reasons:

1. Don’t tempt the footballing gods. Ever.
2. You ALWAYS rest Clarence before a big Champions League game in the event something tragic happens - as it did against Lazio. The guy’s veins are running true with the same metal they cast the Champions League trophy from. Anytime Clarence is in the lineup your chances of winning go up about 7,146% (roughly). Always rest him. Always.

Carletto aside (I don’t blame him, rarely do), the red & black story over the two legs has to be Andrea Pirlo, who has gone from being one of the highest praised players in calcio week in, week out to crapping the bed over two European legs. But he’s allowed these moments, after all of his contributions to the Rossoneri. (Oh, and Ricky, who didn’t score 10 goals.)

This marks yet another disappointing point in a disappointing final season for one Paolo Maldini. They were bounced from the Coppa by Catania - the first ever trip for the Sicilians to the semis - have lost in the first knockouts as defending CL champs, and now can maybe hope to make the competition next year, as they scrap for 4th. Of course, maybe this is a blessing in disguise. It seems high time to usher in a new era at AC Milan, one not populated by elderly Brazilians. Time for Papa Silvio to write some checks.

* - Also, a round of applause to Uncle Fester for being able to spew out that much bullshit and still keep a straight face.

So things get more difficult now, with Inter up shit creek against Liverpool and Roma traveling to the Bernabeu. Though I suppose it’s better than sending Chievo to the 3rd qualifying stage, right?

Inter (0) v Liverpool (2): The good news for Inter is Crystal Chivu might play. The bad news for Inter is Crystal Chivu might play. Their back line is looking quite porous these days, and will be without the Matrix once again, as he gets to sit in the stands and yell not nice things to Fernando Torres all game long. With Cordoba and Samuel already out, things are dicey in the back.

Of course, the back line will matter little if they can’t bag some goals. At least two, to be precise.

* - Game’s next Wednesday, just thought I’d get this out of the way.

Real Madrid (1) v Roma (2): The Giallorossi are Italy’s best remaining hope to pass on through to the second knockout round after taking a victory back at the Olimpico in February. They’re riding a relatively hot streak, they’ve got health on their side and Real doesn’t…but it’s still Real Madrid. Thinks could look much better for calcio in Europe than they do right now.