WCQ Qualifier Preview: Republic of Ireland versus Italy

If there was ever a match destined for a draw, this was it. Whether you look at the stakes, the form, the history, the styles, or the personnel, it all leads to Italy leaving Ireland with a point, putting them into South Africa and the Republic of Ireland on track for the playoff.

This post [...]

Why Did Draw in Kazan Turn Tide for Mourinho?

Internazionale Milano manager José Mourinho

Maybe it didn’t (and the title’s question is presumptive), but in monitoring news about Rubin Kazan, it seems a large proportion of it originates in Italy and expresses some combination of shock, surprise, and disappointment in Inter Milan drawing with the Russian champions. For a litany of reasons, this [...]

UEFA World Cup Qualifying – Group 8 Wrap Up

This is a series of nine, short posts that will be synthesized into one article for World Soccer Reader.

Team
GP
Pts

Italy
7
17

Spalletti, Ranieri; Roma, Juventus

Luciano Spalletti moved on from Roma

Luciano Spalletti resigned at AS Roma today. This is going to be a huge loss for i Giallorossi, and I can’t imagine any of the Roma supporters I know being happy with the move.

Yet there was a certain inevitability to the move. Roma had been knee-capped by [...]

Ultimately, Milan Derby Tells Us Very Little

You can accuse me of bias, as I pointed out before the match that today’s Milan derby would tell us little about either club. Along will the reasoning I outlined there, Gennaro Gattuso was red-carded early, making this match a complete aberration.

The counter argument that that last clause: Inter was already up [...]

Milan Derby Will Only Show Who Is In Most Trouble

We are about three hours away from Milan and Internazionale, which would be must-see footy were the teams in mid-table: neither battling for Europe nor battling relegation. In Round 2 of the season, all this match could do is show us the strength of each club, but whereas that would normally tell us who [...]

Sneijder Moves to Internazionale

Wesley Sneijder has completed his move from Real Madrid to Internazionale. Various Italian outlets started reporting the story early morning Pacific time. Here’s one example, and here is an English-language account.

The impact for Real Madrid is minimal. Although this would have changed as the season wore on, they were committed to not [...]

Fiorentina Shows Scudetto Chops In Draw at Bologna?

I didn’t get to see Fiorentina play in Lisbon against Sporting. I have a video, which after watching La Viola open their Serie A campaign against Bologna, I intend to watch.

As I type, Fiorentina is pressing their hosts with ten minutes left, tied 1-1. Since allowing a first half goal on a set [...]