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Whenever a great side comes along, people always react in the same manner.  The general consensus immediately becomes that they are unbeatable.  Yet, Uruguay have not won every World Cup and Preston North End have long since failed to hold onto their First Division title.  Even the current Barcelona dynasty suffered a hiccup in between their dismissals of Manchester United.

Spain are the current holders of both the European Championship and World Cup, with bookmakers, pundits and punters alike finding it difficult to conceive that they will not dissect the opposition in the same surgical fashion next summer in the Ukraine and Poland.  And, so they might.

On the other hand, they just might not.  Throughout the World Cup, La Furia dominated possession and looked good doing it.  Yet, to their own frustration, they continually failed to administer the killing stroke.  Consequently, Switzerland were able to win ugly in the opening match of the group stage and every match but one in their tournament ended by either a 1-0 or 2-1 score. Rather than grabbing the world by the throat to win their first World Cup, Vicente del Bosque’s side managed it by the skin of their teeth.

When you leave the door open so many times, sooner or later, someone is going to walk through it.  Heading into next summer’s tournament, the champions will be largely unchanged from the current version.  Barring injury, Iker Casillas will be between the sticks, Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique will guard his doorstep, flanked by Joan Capdevilla and Sergio Ramos, the midfield will be led by Xavi and Andres Iniesta and anchored by Sergio Busquets, and David Villa will be up front.  The only changes might be Cesc Fabregas stepping into Xabi Alonso’s place or Pedro replacing Fernando Torres.  Essentially, they’ll be standing pat.  Meanwhile, many of their opponents will be featuring new, improved squads.

So, our cracked staff has gotten together one last time, this summer, to run the rule over the competition and offer their opinions on who will walk away as the next European champion.

Spain (Sean O’Brien) – After last year’s World Cup final, I predicted that Germany would win Euro 2012. I ‘m sticking with that prediction,for now, but the question for the moment is which team is most likely to win the tournament?  To me, ‘most likely’means favoured and Spain is obviously that.

Initially, my argument was going to be that this tournament would be this squad’s last hurrah, but, after doing some research, I was surprised by how young this Golden Generation is. At tournament kickoff next summer, only eight players will have reached thirty years of age. Of those, four are either goalies or sporadic starters. The others are Xabi Alonso , David Villa, Xavi and Carles Puyol.  Xavi, Villa and Alonso are all playing better than ever, with only Puyol showing the effects of his advancing years. It’s a medical fact that smaller people tend to age better and durability is just another advantage that this immensely talented squad enjoys.

Speaking of advantages, La Furia Roja has the best goalkeeping corps in the world, a backline with a fantastic mixture of experience and youth, a midfield deeper than the Pacific Ocean and scoring options more potent than ever, with Torres having had time to regain his form, Pedro developing further and Alvaro Negredo coming up. Imagine facing a team that could bring David Silva, Pedro and Cesc Fabregas off the bench? That’s just frightening.

Tactically, everyone knows that ball possession and midfield control give you a fantastic chance to win and they also know that no one on the planet maintains possession and wins it back better than the Spaniards.   Their players know each other so well that they are rarely, if ever, out of sync.

The only question mark hanging above this team is whether another season of Clasico matches will break the hard-earned trust in what has traditionally been a fractious team.  Regional politics had long been a detriment to the national team but, under del Bosque, Castilians, Catalans, Andalusians and Basques all came together.  Yet, smoldering embers between Real Madrid and Barcelona blazed out of control this season and, although the players claim that those emotions are set aside during international duty, another contentious season in La Liga will test that discipline, possibly exposing the ugly side of the beautiful game.

Germany (Gareth McKnight) – The Germans are starting to look ominous. Joachim Löw has been in charge of the side since taking over from Jurgen Klinsmann in July, 2006, stamping his style and authority over a talented group of players. Die Mannschaft alway seem to be there or thereabouts and the side has been on the verge of success in their last three major tournament outings, finishing third in the last two World Cups and runners-up to the superb Spaniards in Euro 2008.

The squad has a youthful exuberance and the old guard are finally comfortable in handing the reins over to the new generation; it was announced on Thursday that Michael ‘Kaiser’Ballack will no longer be considered for international duty. With Manuel Neuer, Mats Hummels, Mesut Özil, Thomas Müller and Mario Gomez, the side has world-class players, all 25 or under, ready to take the country to the pinnacle of football once again.  Despite having only two thirty-something players in their current squad, Germany does not lack experience, with seasoned campaigners Philipp Lahm, Lukas Podolski, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Miroslav Klose all having over 80 caps apiece.  It’s a perfect blend of old and new.

With the Euros a year away, mercurial talents such as Marko Marin, Marco Reus and Mario Götze have another season of club football to mature and possibly add their considerable abilities to the combined German effort.

Germany is undefeated in an admittedly average qualification group but – platitude alert!  platitude alert! – you can only play what is put in front of you. Löw’s team have won seven games out of seven, scoring twenty-two goals and conceding only three. With the big game mentality and nerves of steel the German side always bring to international tournaments, don’t be surprised if they finally oust holders Spain and lift the European trophy in the Ukraine.

The French Foreign Legion (Tapesh Patel) – With Spain so dominant at international level, it’s a tough ask for any side to topple them. But there is, I would say, a ‘second tier’of countries waiting to pounce if they do slip up, of which France is a member.

In little less than a season, Laurent Blanc has transformed the bunch of misfits that emerged from the World Cup without suspension into a cohesive, and above all winning outfit. The latter should be emphasised – as triumphs over England and Brazil, albeit in friendlies, testify to this France team’s ability to duke it out with the heavyweights.

The qualifying campaign has been unremarkable but there is little doubt that France will go through. If and When they do, the side at Euro 2012 will be an impressive one. Rami and Mexes have formed an impressive little-and-large partnership in defence. Yann M’Vila has the potential to last a decade as midfield enforcer. Samir Nasri sparkles as the side’s attacking fulcrum, even more so than for Arsenal. And Karim Benzema, after a long spell in the wilderness, is back.

Add the formerly suspended Franck Ribery and Patrice Evra into this equation, and it becomes the sum of old and new, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The big-club experience the pair will bring could be exactly what a potential winner of the tournament will need.

Les Bleus (Andrew Gibney) – Now that the quota scandal is behind Laurent Blanc – touch wood – he can get back to the wonderful job he has been doing with the National team. There is so much talent in this side and with another domestic campaign successfully in the books for all, I can only see good things happening.

The partnership of Rami and Mexes is getting better every game and, with the man mountain Mamadou Sakho waiting eagerly in the wings, the defence looks promising for years to come. There is no question that Yann M’Vila is going to be a star and 2012, culminating in the Euros, could be his breakout year.

Upfront there are just too many threats to write about.  Just trust me; take all your money and throw it on France..Allez Les Bleus, Allez!  – Andrew Gibney

Paris in Spring (Jude Ellery) – La Francais. Mes oui!  Sorry Tapesh, I’ll be treading on your toes a bit here but you don’t have the market cornered on Gallic appreciation.

Laurent Blanc is a stylish manager but, more importantly, the FFF have found the new secret formula for winning international tournaments: a lush away kit. Sure, Spain have nice home shirts, but France’s secret weapon is a classically designed second strip, inspired by the marinière: the black and white stripey number that French sailors (and afterwards, burglars) used to wear.

I predict that this outfit will inspire Les Sacrebleus to raise their performance by at least 3%, and, seeing as a prerequisite for winning any international competition is beating Italy in extra time in the semi-final, this little slice of haute couture will be just what Karim Benzema and co. need to bring the trophy back to l’Hexagone.

The Rejects (Martin Palazzotto) – Well, the consensus seems to be with Les Bleus in our little corner of the cyber-verse.  Personally, I’m with Gareth – great minds and all that – in the belief that Germany is going to claim its fourth European crown.  

He’s touched on all the right points.  As well as possessing the requisite talent to get the job done, die Mannschaft are trending in the proper direction after losing to Spain in the last tournament and the World Cup semi-finals.  They’ve transitioned quickly from an old squad to a young, eager side with big game experience.  They’ve learned to lose to Spain; now its time that they beat them.

Still it’s been left to me, the responsible one, to let everyone else down easy and explain why your favourite didn’t rate with WFC.  I’m always stuck being the bad parent.  So, here’s the cold, hard truth:

The Dutch — Mohamed Moallim has been hampered by the poorest of excuses – a paying job – from defending the honour of his beloved l’Oranje in person.  Unfortunately, were he here, he’d find it difficult to rationalise precisely how Bert van Marwijk’s side could overcome what was already an aging defence in South Africa to hold off the potent attacks of France Germany and Spain.  Worse, two of their best young players, Ibrahim Afellay and Urby Emmanuelson may have hampered their own development by signing with clubs, Barcelona and AC Milan, which will likely not offer them consistent first team starts.

Then, there is the question of nerve.  Having given as good as they got in attack against Brazil, van Marwijk’s side crept into a defensive shell, one that an elephant wielding a sledgehammer would find impossible to crack, when they went up against the struggling offence of Spain.  In America, we have a saying:  you dance with the one who brought you.  If the Netherlands reach the final in Kiev, however, it wouldn’t surprise me if, one more time, the artistry of Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder and Robin Van Persie gives way to the brute force of Mark van Bommel and Nigel ‘The Legbreaker’de Jong.

Portugal –  Believe it or not, this is not a one-man team.  There is no doubt that Cristiano Ronaldo, for better or worse, is the Seleccao leader but Eduardo, Bruno Alves, Ricardo Carvalho, Pepe, Fabio Coentrao, Raul Mereiles, Nani and Hugo Almeida are hardly make-weight components.  They may not have the depth of the favourites but that doesn’t stop them from being a very real threat as long as they can avoid injury and suspensions.

 What’s the problem, then?  Well, when you have a coach, in Carlos Queiroz, who has unified a group of technically gifted, attack-minded players and sold them on playing as a defensive unit, sacrificing themselves for each other, you don’t sack him when he oversteps his bounds in protecting them.  When he leaves, the belief in a shared goal goes with him and you’re stuck with a ragged passel of disillusioned individuals.

The Azzurri – Under Cesare Prandelli, Generation Next in Italy is coming together.  His hardline on disciplinary matters has been accepted by all, after both Daniele de Rossi and Mario Balotelli were banned for incidents while on club duty.  Prandelli has also had a narrow focus in selection, with Serie A Golden Boot winner for two season’s running, Antonio di Natale frozen out and Villareal star Giuseppe Rossi on the fringe.  In the long term, that vision is likely to bear fruit and Italy should be a factor at the World Cup in Brazil.  It would truly be a shock if this young, untested side went the distance in 2012, however.

Greece —  The Greeks are unbeaten in their qualifying group, with four wins and two draws, holding off Croatia and Israel, and they did win it all in Portugal 2004, proving that anything can happen in a short tournament such as this.  Still, with key veterans such as Theofanis Gekas and Sotirios Kyrgiakos retiring after the departure of coach Otto Rehhagel, reportedly due to differences with new man Fernando Santos, they simply do not have the solidarity of that championship side.  Without chemistry or a prolific attack, all they can do is adopt a siege mentality and wait for the walls to come crumbling down.

Turkey –  The Turks combine the stalwart resistance of their long-time enemies, the Greeks, with a skill and flair that is just a step below that of more traditional artistes, Spain and the Netherlands.  Under the tutelage of Guus Hiddink, those qualities may have come together and resulted in a surprising run of victories on the neutral battlefield of Eastern Europe.  He’s done it before with Russia in the Euros and South Korea in the World Cup. but with the charismatic, if flighty, genius almost surely headed for Stamford Bridge, Turkey will be lucky just to qualify.

The Hosts —  Poland?  Umm, sorry but no.  The Ukrainians do have some strong players and will likely make it into the latter stages on pride alone but their success in club competition has largely been down to a healthy dose of Brazilian style.  That is an illegal supplement in this competition and the withdrawal pains will be fatal to their hopes.  At thirty-four, Andriy Shevchenko is going to give it one last shot for the ages but the days of Pele and Maradona, where one player could win an entire tournament on his own, are long gone.

England – Okay, let me get behind this industrial strength barricade before I lob my opinion into this minefield.  Alright then, here goes.  Basically, England is a mess.  The squad faces psychological, chronological and sociological impediments that only grow larger and more deadly to their chances as major tournaments approach.

Psychologically, it’s simple.  So much has happened to them over the years, that, deep down, in their heart of hearts, the players don’t believe they can overcome it.  Being an England player is similar to being a recovering heroin addict.  You may tell yourself that you can slay the beast, you may have every intention of following through and you may have the best treatment and support that’s available but when you step back out on the street, your resolve crumbles every time.

Chronologically, it just isn’t their moment.  The heart of the team, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard are all in the custody of Old Man Time.  Another club season may see Jack Wilshere ready to step in for Lampard but Fabio Capello is not likely to dare the media’s wrath and trust the youngster to supplant the terminally slow Chelsea midfielder.  Instead, they’ll play alongside each other, with their contrasting styles not the best fit.   At the back, Phil Jones is also on the verge of stepping into a key role but Chris Smalling isn’t.  Until Andy Carroll settles at Liverpool and stops incurring niggling injuries, his potential will remain his most valuable asset.   Wayne Rooney, meanwhile, needs a strong partner and, thanks to the obsession with foreign talent in the Premier League, Darren Bent is his only reliable and experienced option.  Scott Parker’s leadership would ease the transition from veteran squad to young team but Capello is too reliant on the old guard, regardless of the lessons of South Africa.  Overall, England’s selection problem is similar to Italy’s - ironic when you consider their manager’s nationality – in that they have stuck with their veterans too long, thus failing to develop, again with the help of a more globally minded Premier League, an entire generation of players.

Sociologically, there’s one obstacle that they just can’t overcome.   Even if Rio, Terry, Lamps and Stevie G. were in the peak of health, even if Scott Parker anchored the midfield instead of Gareth ‘How Did He Get Past Me?’Barry, even if Jack Wilshere became the heart of the engine, even if Wayne Rooney and Andy Carroll formed a deadly partnership and even if Fabio Capello had the squad perfectly tuned and pulling in the same direction, the media would find a way to tear it all to bits.  They’ve done it every time the Three Lions have begun to look like being kings of the jungle and they will do it again.  Why?  Because they are the pusher and it’s the England fans, not the squad, who are the addicts.  The NOTW and the Sunday Mirror put their product out there and the masses buy it, even when they know it for the deadly poison it is.  Their eyes dilate, their heads loll and drool runs down their chin as they read about what moral miscreants their heroes allegedly are.

If England fans want their squad to win, they need to stop mainlining the tawdry gossip and judge their team by its play on the pitch, rather than by its all too human frailties.

…..

Yeah, I think I may need a bigger barricade. – Martin Palazzotto 

That’s it for our review of the 2010-11 UEFA season.  It’s been real and it’s been long but most of all, it’s been really long,  Still, if you’re a glutton for punishment and have missed any portion of the ten-part series, links to each article are below.  As well, look on our home page to find the personal blogs of the many writers who contributed to the series!

1. Most Memorable Moments
2. Most Forgettable Moments
3. Player Not Named Messi Or Ronaldo Most Likely To Win Ballon d’Or
4. Club Most Likely to Win the 2012 Champions League
5. Club Most Likely To Spend Big Over The Summer
6. Player Most Likely To Make A Big Splash In The Summer Window
7. Manager Most Likely To Accept A High Profile Position
8. Young Player Most Likely To Impress At A Big Club
9. High-Profile Manager Most Likely To Remain Unemployed

Enjoy, and we’ll see you in 2011-12!

It’s an international weekend, which means Fergie and Wenger can complain about the referees to their heart’s content and Carlos Tevez, Arjen Robben and Antonio di Natale will enjoy a week off.  Most importantly, John Terry will be sporting the armband for England but Craig Bellamy hasn’t revealed whether he’ll be playing a wedge or a nine iron.  In any event, here’s the cream of the international crop, according to our cracked WFC writing staff.

Wales v England, Euro 2012 Group G (Saturday) – The Welsh haven’t had much to crow about in international competition beyond a lone World Cup appearance in 1958 and a final eight berth in the 1976 Euros.  Yet, a new generation of Dragons led by Aaron Ramsey, Gareth Bale and veteran Craig Bellamy have the firepower to cause concerns for group favourites England.  Unfortunately for the Welsh, their most exciting player, Bale, has been ruled out of the contest with a wonky hamstring.  Thus, Gary Speed’s side will be hard-pressed to cope with a Three Lions squad which is eager to get back on track after a dismal World Cup and must also make up ground on Montenegro, who lead them by 3 points, having played one game extra.

The press has played up every angle of the rivalry between the neighbours, dredging up Bellamy’s damning assessment of reinstated England captain John Terry and criticising Capello’s call-up of Wolves’winger Matt Jarvis.  With the absence of Bale and the captaincy issue finally settled, England should take all 3 points but, as with any derby, form goes out the window and Wales will be confident when they take the pitch at the Millennium Stadium. – Martin Palazzotto

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Brazil v Scotland, Friendly (Sunday) – I’m really looking forward to this one as I will be in the Emirates Stadium to witness it first hand. I have always wanted to see the magical Yellow Brazilian tops up close.

For Brazil, Robinho and Ronaldinho have not been selected but they will bring hotshot youngsters Neymar from Santos and Lucas of rival Sao Paolo, with a view to next years London Olympics. They do have some of the old guard with Lucio, Elano & Julio Cesar in the squad.  I am  very interested to see if classy defenders David Luiz and Thiago Silva can play alongside each other.

For Scotland, the question is will they be able to cope?  Allan McGregor will have a busy time in goal and Charlie Adam has a lot of pressure on his shoulders to make the Scots tick, whilst the lack of striking options means Kenny Miller will play as a lone striker yet again.  Still, whatever the score, the Tartan Army will revel in taking over London for the weekend and trying their hand at a bit of Samba dancing. – Scott Johnston

There is only one acceptable outcome possible for this match, a Brazilian win. The Seleção have been in a rare run of poor form, with consecutive losses to Argentina and France. Although coach Mano Menezes seem to be fairly secure in his job, he is none too happy with recent results. To change that, he has recalled veterans like Julio Cesar, Maicon and Lucio, who have been out of the squad since their early exit in South Africa.

Real Madrid fullback Marcelo’s excellent form has earned him a spot among the starting eleven but the big surprise is at the forward position. With Nilmar and Pato sidelined due to injuries, Leandro Damião will start the match alongside Neymar. Damião has been an impressive force at Internacional, here in Brazil, leading the line in the Campeonato Gaucho (Porto Alegre State Championship) and the Copa Libertadores. Both the youngsters and returning veterans will wish to impress the coach – and the media – to prove that they deserve a spot in this year’s Copa América, the first official step on the road to 2014. – Fab Presilli

♦   ◊   ♦

Germany v Kazakstan, Euro 2012 Group (Saturday) – Top v bottom meet in Group A and surely no one can look past Germany for this game.  It would take a miracle for Bernd Storck to lead his side past one of the strongest teams in Europe. Joachim Low’s latest squad has a mixture of the World Cup side and some young faces pushing through. The Dortmund trio of Mat Hummels, Mario Götze and Sven Bender might get a chance to show their worth. – Bachelor-no-more Andrew Gibney

♦   ◊   ♦

Luxembourg v France, Euro 2012 Group D (Friday) – The big story in France is the call-up of two of the ringleaders in the World Cup training ground strike, Franck Ribery and Patrice Evra. While Laurent Blanc has claimed the door is open for the transgressors, their presence can be put down at least partially to injuries, with normal starters Eric Abidal and Mathieu Valbuena sidelined for both clashes this week. The French media’s obsession with this one story more than faintly echoes the crazed attention given by the British tabloids to John Terry taking back the armband.

Both Evra and Ribery may go straight into the starting line-up,the latter likely assigned the right wing, although the possibility remains he could start in place of Malouda on the left. Otherwise, Les Bleus should look familiar to their recent outings.  The one disputed territory for the Luxembourg match is midfield, where Blanc may deploy the more attacking Yoann Gourcuff instead of his former Bordeaux favourite Alou Diarra.  That means, then, that Karim Benzema – who stunned Brazil last time out – will lead the line.

Predicted line-up for Friday:  G – Hugo Lloris/ D – Bacary Sagna, Adil Rami, Phillippe Mexès, Patrice Evra/ MF - Yoann Gourcuff, Yann M’Vila, Franck Ribéry, Samir Nasri, Florent Malouda/ F – Karim Benzema

France v Croatia, Friendly (Tuesday) — This match will be a much better spectacle and could see some of the younger players, like Mamadou Sakho, Abou Diaby, Jeremy Menez, and Kevin Gameiro, given their chance. Rest assured, however, that Blanc will still take this game very seriously, looking to follow up impressive wins – in display, if not in scoreline – against Brazil and England with yet another at the Stade de France. – Tapesh Patel

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Hungary v Holland – (Friday) then Holland vs. Hungary (Tuesday) Euro 2012 Group E — Two countries with a proud and rich footballing traditions meet for the first time in a competitive game in over two decades on Friday.   Then, as if to make up for lost time, they do it all again on Tuesday.  The Dutch go into the first game in Budapest without a competitive defeat over 90 minutes, under the managerial reign of Bert van Marwijk, but have a couple of injuries to deal with.  Most notable will be the continuing absence of influential winger Arjen Robben.  The Bayern Munich man, since his initial return early this year, has been riding the crest of a wave and would have benefited the national team greatly.

Yet his misfortune will once again be Ibrahim Afellay’s gain.  The ex-PSV captain who moved to sunny Catalonia in the winter transfer window, has greatly benefited from a run out in the Oranje first team, giving a stellar performance against Sweden in the last qualifier game.  However, a lack of minutes at Barcelona may go against him, although I can’t see who else van Marwijk would opt for in that wide left berth.  There’s Urby Emanuelson but, like Afellay, he hasn’t featured much for AC Milan – hardly, in truth.

Another worry for van Marwijk is who will replace Maarten Stekelenburg in the Dutch goal?  The Ajax keeper has done very well to fill the void left by Edwin van der Sar’s international retirement. I’d expect FC Utrecht keeper Michel Vorm to deputise, being the best of what is a very average bunch in reserve.

On the other side there will be a familiar face, in PSV winger Balázs Dzsudzsák, who is confident that his side can get a result but is urging caution.  As the lack of recent meetings between the sides is largely down to the Hungarians’long absence from the top echelon of European powers, guarded optimism is certainly understandable.  Still, the Magyars would love to surprise the Dutch much as the Golden Team surprised the World at the 1954 World Cup. – Mohamed Moallim

♦   ◊   ♦

Lithuania v Spain, Euro 2012 Group I (Tuesday) — Defending Euro champions Spain visit Lithuania in midweek, bidding to cement their place in next year’s finals.  Currently sitting on top of Group I with a 100% record, two wins from their next two games should be enough to take the Spanish through.  While the hosts will have warmed up with a friendly against Poland, Spain have to negotiate a tricky game with Czech Republic.  Yet, neither match will be a siesta in the sunshine.  A Fernando Llorente double helped Spain to a 3-1 win over the Baltic state back in October.  The Athletic Bilbao hitman could be called upon to deliver once more, with first choice marksmen Fernando Torres and David Villa currently out of form.  Injured trio Cesc Fabregas, Carlos Puyol and Pedro miss out, so Javi Martinez and Juan Mata have been promoted from the Under-21 squad.

Lithuania have four points from their opening three games, with a credible 1-0 victory away against the Czechs being their highlight thus far.  That said, qualification was always going to be hard after being paired with Spain.  Defenders Marius Stankevicius (Valencia), Marius Zaliukas (Hearts), midfielder Arvydas Novikovas (St Johnstone), and striker Tomas Danilevicius (Livorno) are the notable inclusions in a 26 man squad. – Shaun Best

♦   ◊   ♦

Portugal v Chile, Friendly (Saturday) — Without Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese side has to rely on some new names, like André Santos, and some old ones, like Nelson. Liédson could, or better, should be there with his compatriots, as he is in excellent form in Brazil, playing for Corinthians.

Mauricio Pinilla is usually the big name for Chile, however he is probably out due to an injury. Hector Mancilla has been playing well in Mexican side Tigres and will have his chance to appear in the national spotlight. This will be a big test for La Roja under new coach Claudio Borghi, who must keep the squad on track for the Copa America in the wake of Marcelo Bielsa’s protracted departure.

After facing Chile, Portugal will pick up where they left in the Euro qualifiers, playing Finland in Aveiro. – Fab Presilli

♦   ◊   ♦

Slovenia v Italy, Euro 2012 Group C (Friday) — “We’ll win easily on Friday, 2-0. More than that, I’ll say Slovenia will have 70 per cent possession. Am I exaggerating? No.” – Former Slovenian great Zlatko Zahovic, speaking to an Italian newspaper this week.

Cesare Prandelli hopes to do what no other Italian national manager has done before:  win in Slovenia.  Lucky to draw in 1994, ten years later, the Azzurri were narrowly beaten by a late strike, which saw Slovenia leapfrog them in their qualification group.  A defeat in Ljubljana will bring about the same result but perhaps third time’s a charm?

The last four meetings have been decided by a solitary goal, so defence will be key.  Two survivors from the 2004 defeat, Gianluigi Buffon and Alberto Gilardino, are in the squad but there is no place for the country’s top marksman, Antonio Di Natale. At age 33, Toto is being snubbed in favour of younger players for Prandelli’s next generation Italy.

Also out of the squad are Daniele De Rossi and Mario Balotelli after both fell afoul of Prandelli’s new code of ethics.  Prandelli has confirmed he will lineup with a 4-3-1-2 formation, with former Sampdoria teammates Antonio Cassano and Giampaolo Pazzini reuniting upfront.  Italy tested the new team and formation in an hour-long game against the Under 18 side with the seniors winning 4-0.

Seven members of the Slovenian squad currently ply their trade in Serie A.  They have tasted defeat once so far in this campaign as the usually goal-shy Northern Ireland emerged with a 1-0 victory back in September.  Since then, the home side have drawn with Serbia, thrashed the Faroe Islands and narrowly beaten Estonia.  Top scorer Tim Matavz may start from the bench as the Groningen forward is carrying an injury. – Shaun Best

♦   ◊   ♦

USA v Argentina, Friendly (Saturday) — Carlos Tevez. That has been the main name coach Sergio Batista keeps leaving out of the Albiceleste squad.  While Batista claims it is not a punishment for the Man City player opting out of the Brazil friendly, claiming injury, only to play 90 minutes for his club just days later, the diminutive striker has been a dynamo for the Eastlands outfit.  To be fair, Tevez did miss the Chelsea match with a niggly groin but has been cleared for next weekend’s Sunderland game.

Lionel Messi is the big name on hand but the Americans are a real test for the Argentinians, ahead of a home tournament. Javier Pastore and Nicolas Gaitan will form the rest of the offensive trio in New Jersey. The goalie will be a last minute surprise, although Agustin Marchesin of Lanus is the most probable starter. Argentina plays against Costa Rica next Tuesday. I expect two wins but with less than impressive football leading more fans and reporters loudly calling for Tevez’return. – Fab Presilli

♦   ◊   ♦

See you next week, when we can all tap into our inner Craig Bellamy and get back to the club grind.

And the surprise winner for Countries Who Don't Have Anything To Spend Their Tax Dollars On But Shiny New Stadiums is...

..

It’s often said that variety is the spice of life.  Well, when it comes to UEFA qualifying, for any tournament, if you’re on a bland diet, then you’d best grab the antacid now.  Once again, Michel Platini and his boys have come up with a new set-up to decide the fourteen clubs that will join the hosts, Poland and the Ukraine, in June 2012.

You might need your calculator for this.  Are you ready?

Okay, this time around it’s nine groups, six consisting of a half dozen nations and the other three containing five apiece.  Of course, it’s the same home and home round robin within the groups, as in the past,  but this time the nine first place countries and the best overall runner-up will automatically advance to the finals.

Now, because some groups have six squads and others five, there is a special ranking system to determine the best runner-up.   Essentially, any matches played against a sixth place finisher will not count in deciding the automatic qualifier.  Which means that whoever is eventually crowned champion, one thing is certain:  as the final group qualifying matches approach, sales of headache medicine will rise sharply in several countries, as fans without mathematical doctorates attempt to calculate their side’s chances.  For instance, even if your team is certain of finishing second, the results from matches involving minnows in other groups, may affect your standing.  If the wrong team suddenly falls into sixth position or climbs out of it, the fortunes of  your boys may drastically change.   We’ll wait for those of you heading to the medicine cabinet now to return before continuing.

Right then, moving on…  Once the single runner-up and nine group winners have qualified, that leaves eight other second place countries to be seeded into two-legged ties, with the winners claiming the remaining four places in the final tournament.  Yes, we did say seeded, because that’s what UEFA have solemnly promised, mindful of the furor last autumn, when they exercised their prerogative to change their minds, at the last minute, and held a draw for the World Cup play offs.  Fingers crossed but it’s likely they’ll keep their word this time.

It's a little known fact that Einstein flunked out of Group Qualification Theory.

Still, even with their vow to remain consistent going forward, Platini’s crew have managed to fudge things just a little.  You would think that, having concocted this complicated system for deciding the best runner-up, UEFA would use it to rank the other eight.  Unfortunately, that would be too easy.  Instead, the sufficiently more intricate and confusing UEFA National Team Coefficient rankings will be used to decide the playoff matchups.

I’m sorry, but if you’ve raised your hand to ask us to explain the coefficient, please put it back down or we shall be forced to club you to death.  Thank you very much.

UEFA made two other decisions, before the draw, of which one came to the fore when the balls were drawn.

First, minnows, or should we say piranhas(?), Azerbaijan and Armenia were precluded from meeting each other in the group stages.  These two nations simply don’t like each other on any level, never mind football, and so common sense prevailed over bureaucracy, with provisions being made, just in case.  As it happened, ‘in case’reared its ugly head and the two were both drawn into Group A, whereupon UEFA moved Armenia over to Group B.  What would be done if the two nations both progressed and were fated to meet in the later rounds of the competition would really not be an important consideration.  There are plenty of other things which take precedence when the Apocalypse arrives.

Second, it was decided that should France be drawn with the Republic of Ireland nothing would be done.  According to Platini such an event “would be great.”  It would be even greater if Les Bleus would be required to not only recall, but start, Thierry Henry in both matches, were the sides to eventually meet again. Sadly, though, it was the luck of the Irish to be placed in a group with Slovakia and Russia.  Any plans of revenge will have to wait for another day.

It should also be noted that one match has already been played and Estonia, on the strength of a 2-1 home victory over the Faroe Islands, has actually been atop Group C since 11 August.  Technically then, we are a little late with this preview but are, nonetheless, happy to bring you a summary of the nine groups with our ratings for each of the nations involved.

Beginning with:

Group A…..(Geoff Edwards)

The group looks to be a straight fight between Belgium, Turkey and Austria for the honour of going through alongside Germany, who have to be favourites following their World Cup exploits.  The only dilemma for Joachim Low, at the moment, is the tug-of-war between Michael Ballack and Phillip Lahm, over the captain’s armband

Belgium, under the stewardship of Georges Leekens, certainly possess enough quality to emerge from this group. In Marouane Fellaini, Steven Defour, Axel Witsel, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku, Belgian fans will hope there is the nucleus of a squad that could rival their 80s and early 90s vintage, when a side containing the likes of Enzo Scifo and Jan Ceulemans was prominent on the world scene.

Hiddink's merlinesque effect may bring Turkey back into prominence

Turkey will hope to ensure that Euro 2012 is a tournament too soon for Belgium’s youngsters. Guus Hiddink’s men have a nice blend of youth and experience and a few survivors from the squad that reached the semis in Euro 2008, including Arda Turan and the Altintop brothers. Most importantly, they have Hiddink. If anyone can get the Turks performing consistently it’s the Dutch alchemist, who will want to put his previous campaign with Russia behind him.

Austria look to be a little behind Turkey and Belgium in the race for 2nd but, with a forward line boasting Martin Harnik, Erwin Hoffer, Marko Arnautovic and Marc Janko, they certainly have the potential to derail rival campaigns.  Although they can both be classed as the minnows of the group, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are certainly far from no-hopers. They’ll each look to take maximum points off the other and nick a point or two from their more illustrious opponents.

Group B…..(Eliot Rothwell)

This looks to be a two horse race with the footballing thoroughbreds of Ireland and Russia battling it out for the top spot.

Russia, under Dick Advocaat, will look to continue the progress made by Guus Hiddink.  With such players as Andrei Arshavin and Roman Pavlyuchenko, the Russians do have the horsepower . The one question is the defence and its inept talent for conceding silly goals when it matters most.

Giovanni Trappatoni relates the amount of times his stomach had to be pumped last month, after he ingested a bad batch of bangers and mash.

Ireland, under the stewardship of Il Trap, are looking to qualify for their first international tournament in some time.   The resolute defending of Richard Dunne, et al, will form the basis of their bid to claim top spot. With an attacking force of Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle up front, the Irish are capable of doing damaging but they lack depth and could lose their way should injuries to key players arise.

Any surprises might come from Vladimir Weiss’ Slovakia, who triumphed over Italy at the World Cup. The potent menace of striker Stanislav Sestak re-enforced by a tremendous team spirit could pose a serious danger to Russia and Ireland. The win over Italy was greeted with jubilation in Bratislava and combined with the progression of Zilina to the Champions League group stages, a good European campaign could round off a very satisfying year for Slovakian football.

Bringing up the rear are Macedonia, Andorra and Armenia, the whipping boys of the group. Macedonia present the biggest threat, as England fans will know.  Inter Milan’s Goran Pandev shoulders much of the attacking burden.  The fight for bottom of the group will be interesting as Andorra and Armenia slug it out to see who can accumulate a lesser amount of 5-0 defeats, with Andorra sweetening the pot by welcoming away teams to Barcelona for a spot of R and R pre-match.

Group C….. (Eliot Rothwell)

The Cesare Prandelli era begins for World Cup ’06 winners, Italy.  The Italians will be favourites to qualify , yet also intent on regaining their opponents’respect after their dismal showing in South Africa. Daniele De Rossi and Giorgio Chiellini will be looking to get their international careers back on track. If rumours are proven correct, there could be much re-shaping of this Italian side.  With former captain Fabio Cannavaro now playing in the Middle East and Luca Toni and Francesco Totti definitely on the outs, expect a new crop of Italians to come to fruition this season.

Where Vidic leads, his band of Serbs will follow.

Featuring a wealth of attacking players, Serbia will present the biggest threat to Italy’s chances. Milos Krasic and Milan Jovanovic will provide width and incisive wideplay for the Serbians, who benefit from the extremely strong defence of Nemaja Vidic and Branislav Jovanovic. Serbia could finish top of the group, providing they find their goalscoring boots with 6’5″ Nikola Zigic backing up the towering talent of Marko Pantelic.

Slovenia are the next team in line. They were unlucky not to progress from their World Cup group and Mateja Kez’s side will be looking to continue the second golden age of Slovenian football by claiming a place at the Euros. With a resolute defence and, in Valter Birsa, an ability to score spectacular goals, the Slovenians are capable of scraping out 1-0 wins away from home.

Northern Ireland, perennial nearly men, will be relying on the goalscoring talents of David Healy once more as they attempt to scrap their way through the qualifying stages. If they are to progress, expect a spate of 1-0 home wins.  In August, Estonia struggled to a 2-1 extra time win, at home,  against the Faroe Islands.  The result hardly inspires confidence that they’ll prove any impedance to the big boys.

The Faroe Irelands, themselves? Surely they have no chance. Well that may be true but with the uncompromising Faroese air, the wayward Danes may just be able to nick a result here and there.

Group D….. (Tapesh Patel)

France is the only team from this group which qualified for the World Cup and therefore must go down as favourites. Laurent Blanc’s rebuilding job has, to date,  been largely praised but it will come under closer scrutiny (though not from Ireland), with inexperienced faces joining the World Cup dropouts. Some may expect Les Bleus to struggle but their pool of talent is surely far too large for qualification to be a problem.  Samir Nasri, Karim Benzema, Hatem Ben Arfa, Jeremy Menez and Pillippe Mexes will all return after being omitted from the South Africa squad by Raymond Domenech. However, it won’t be if, but how France qualify that will be most telling.

Dzeko wants to put a charge into Bosnia-Herzogovina

A talented side is Bosnia-Herzegovina but very top-heavy in attack.  The focal point of the team is the prolific Edin Dzeko, ably assisted by Zlatan Muslimovic, Vedad Ibisevic and raw midfielder Miralem Pjanic.  Unification of Christian and Muslim team members has instilled pride and patriotism in both the squad and the country itself, which will aid their qualification campaign.

Romania are solid but unspectacular. Captain Cristian Chivu has experienced colleagues in defence, such as Gabriel Tamas, Razvan Rat and Cosmin Contra. A lack of firepower up front, however, may create problems.   Belarus could be unlikely wildcards in what is a fairly weak group. Aliaksandr Hleb provides a touch of class, Vitaly Kutuzov some finesse, and Sergei Kornilenko the goals, having been prolific in the Belorussian League.

Meanwhile, Albania are strong in midfield, led by Lorik Cana and Altin Lala, but lack quality elsewhere.  Luxembourg are, of course, the very definition of minnows.

Group E …..(Avi Goldberg)

The nice moments of the World Cup in South Africa are over and it’s time for the Dutch to qualify for the Euro 2012 through Group E.  While I’m an unashamedly huge fan of the Oranje, there is no doubt that they’re the favourites in this group, with an impressive 25 games unbeaten, until the final, thanks to Bert van Marwijk’s decision to field a solid midfield.  A new challenge lies ahead, however, with two important players leaving, in captain Geovanni van Bronckhorst and veteran centre back Andres Ooijer.  As well,  seeing Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben falling off the team injured, they’ll need to prove again why they went so far in the World Cup.

Fans of the Blågult are hoping that Ibra is happier to return to them than he is to Milan.

Sweden, after missing the World Cup, will do their best to win all their games and try to settle an account with the Oranje, over their loss in the quarter-finals of Euro 2004. Now that the time for friendlies has past and the matches count, the Swedes can rely once more on the experienced striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The Finns aren’t to be forgotten, fielding a decent team despite never qualifying for the Euros. They adapt to every game differently and are unafraid of going for the win. Hungary, with their new coach Sandor Egervari and experienced midfielders Balazs Dzsudzsak & Roland Juhasz, can hurt their opponent badly through the counter attack & are not a team to think of as the weaker side.

The lesser known teams in this group, Moldova, ranked 89th worldwide by FIFA and San Marino, 202nd, have never qualified for the World Cup or the Euros but are determined to make matters as difficult as possible and prove themselves to the serious contenders.

Group F…..(Tapesh Patel)

After the disappointment of not reaching the World Cup, Slaven Bilic will be out to make amends. He has the squad to do it, too. Croatia are a solid all-round side, boasting talented playmakers in Luca Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Nico Kranjcar, as well as a potent strikeforce consisting of Eduardo da Silva, Ivica Olic and Maladen Petric. Bilic has created good teams from his players in the past, and although the Croats will need to be on their game to win this group, any other result would be a big upset.

Samaras is just praying for a chance to play.

Good news for all purists: Otto “Anti-football” Rehhagel has officially resigned from his post as Greece manager. In his defence (pun intended), he has secured his place in Greek footballing folklore. It now falls to the Portuguese, Fernando Santos, to attempt qualification – if he is to succeed, younger players like Sotiris Ninis and Georgios Samaras must be given chances to impress.

Israel have an outside chance at a playoff spot. They’re a young squad led by the experienced hands of Yossi Benayoun and Tal Ben Haim. Dekel Keinan, Tamir Cohen, Ben Sahar and Biram Kayal are all talented players, known to followers of the British leagues, and teenage midfielder Eyal Golasa has drawn admiring glances from Lazio and Bayern Munich. Latvia still possess some of the players who helped them qualify for Euro 2004, such as Maris Verpakovskis, who famously bagged six goals during that campaign. Nor should it be forgotten that they came third in World Cup qualification.

Georgia features a strong defence, led by Kakha Kaladze and Zurab Khizanishvili, but otherwise won’t linger in anyone’s mind. Malta are very much the outsiders, in this or any group in which they’re drawn.

Group G….. (Matt Dalton)

With England‘s ridiculously poor performance in South Africa all but a distant memory, it’s now time to focus on the next international tournament and, indeed, the future of the England national team. Having been drawn alongside Bulgaria, Montenegro, Switzerland and Wales, England have been granted a route to qualification which is far from easy. The Three Lions will be desperate to get off to a good start at Wembley against the Bulgarians on the 3rd September, with the second match quickly following, away to Switzerland on the 7th.

Ottmar's first priority is always that the bus is properly parked.

For the other teams in Group G, there is optimism. Never before have England appeared to be quite so weak; morale is at an all time low, key players are regularly underperforming and the fans are on the squad’s back like never before. Of course, England still expect, and are expected, to secure qualification from the group.  Yet, if ever there was a chance for the likes of Ottmar Hitzfeld’s Switzerland, with its bunker mentality, to spring an upset, surely this is it.  Bulgaria, even without the retired Dimitar Berbatov, and Montenegro are not to be taken lightly, either.

There is also the presence of an up and coming Wales side. Their resources may not be equal to England but there is no doubt that they’ll be up for the games. The rivalry between the two countries is massive; you only have to look at the rugby.

Ordinarily, there would be at least four “easy” games in a qualification group. This time around, however, there will be no ‘working vacations’to ease the way.  With only five nations, instead of six, there are no minnows and it’s clear that there will be surprises before all is said and done. Every team in this group is hopeful of a place at the European Championships in 2012, and rightly so!

Group H …..(Tapesh Patel)

"Rumblin', Bumblin', Stumblin'!" Ronaldo needs to get it together on the international stage. (w/apologies to the great Keith Jackson)

When it comes to Portugal, all eyes are on one man, which is just the way the twinkle-toed Cristiano Ronaldo likes it. After the major disappointment that was his World Cup, featuring a single unflattering goal, the Real Madrid man (his current injury aside) will hope to get back to what he does best: running rampant over inferior opposition. The Iberian midfield now has a young core of Raul Meireles, Joao Moutinho and Miguel Veloso, while left-back Fabio Coentrao also gives the side an added dimension going forward.

The Danish World Cup squad had an aging look to it, with players such as Jesper Gronkjaer, Dennis Rommedahl and Jon Dahl Tomasson all visibly past their prime. Denmark needs an infusion of new blood.  Luckily, manager Morten Olsen can call upon such rising stars as Daniel Agger and Christian Eriksen to replace those on the wane. Goals will be needed from Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner to bolster a side which lacked a consistent offensive threat in South Africa.

If the recent 2-1 friendly victory against France is anything to go by, Norway have blended their youth and experience  into a capable outfit.   With the likes of captain Brede Haageland, the brothers John Arne and Bjorn Helge Riise and Morten Gamst Pedersen, the Norwegians possess talent across the team.  They could well beat fellow Scandinavians Denmark (and Iceland) to second place.

Led by the likeable Eidur Gudjohnsen, Iceland may produce  some shock results.  Sadly there are no Stjarnan players in the squad, so don’t hope for any interesting goal celebrations.  Cyprus are unknown quantities with all of the squad currently playing their trade in the country’s domestic league. While not as isolated as the North Koreans, they are just as unlikely to stage an upset in this competition.

Group I….. (Steven Jones)

After completing a World/European double, there are no signs of the end of the ‘golden age’for Spain.   In fact, it looks like they might go from strength to strength and betting against them finishing top of the group would be borderline insane.  No, the group ultimately comes down to the battle for second place between the Czech Republic, Scotland and possibly Lithuania.

Whatever Darren Fletcher may think of McFadden's choice of anti-perspirant, he is happy to have him in the lineup.

Recent campaigns have done Scotland no justice, as they are again 3rd seeds in their group. Managing to avoid Sweden (who tore them apart a month ago) as well as Serbia and Turkey are major plusses but the Czech Republic will want to do considerably better than their World Cup efforts when they lagged behind Slovakia and Slovenia.

In Tomas Rosicky, the Czechs have a top player.  If he can string together a run of games for his club side, Arsenal, he may also prove pivotal in his country’s qualifying campaign.  James McFadden still remains Scotland’s standout player, with the side exhibiting a noticeable lack of creativity when he’s missing. Craig Levein’s tenure as the Scottish boss actually started with a home fixture against the Czech Republic, back in March, with a 1-0 win.

However, it will be the away fixtures that will pose the most problems for Scotland; recent matches in Norway and the Ukraine spring to mind as games where Scotland were outplayed with full strength sides.  Although, one can look to a certain night in Paris for some reaffirmation.

Lithuania can sometimes punch above their weight class but other than featherweights Liechtenstein, they are not likely to bully anyone about.

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We hope that fills you in on the various groups, where your country fits in and how they may or may not be able to progress.  In conclusion, we’d like to thank Professor Stephen Hawking, Carol Vorderman and Marcus du Sautoy for their help in unraveling the UEFA Group Theory Formula.

Enjoy the action and see you in Kiev!

Like the Giro, the Scudetto is a long race with plenty of twists and turns. No sheep, though.

In preparation for the ‘Giro d’Scudetto,’there’s been a maelstrom of player and manager movement during the summer.  The departure of one man, however, has changed the landscape more significantly than the rest of the comings and goings combined.  Jose Mourinho’s move to Real Madrid, after capping his stay at Inter with a domestic double and his 2nd Champions League crown, has sparked title hopes at clubs across the country.

With the outcome seemingly less inevitable than it’s been for some time, the race for the 2010-11 Scudetto is a tough one to handicap.  I’m willing to give it a go, however.  So, read on to see how I think the field will shape up in the coming Serie A season.

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The Maglia Rosa (Pink Jersey)

How Rafa imagines himself managing Inter.

Jose Mourinho is indeed gone from Internazionale, as is the cancerous Mario Balotelli.  Still, Julio Cesar, Ivan Cordoba, Javier Zanetti, Dejan Stankovic, Lucio, Thiago Motta, Samuel Eto’o, Wesley Sneijder, Sulley Muntari, Maicon, Nicolas Burdisso, Esteban Cambiasso, Diego Milito, Marco Materazzi, Walter Samuel and Goran Pandev all remain.  That’s a formidable squad.

Even Rafa Benitez may need more than a year to screw up this dynasty.  Then again, maybe not.  He’s doing his best to get Javier Mascherano in the squad, although Barca is on the verge of swooping for the unhappy Liverpool man.  I’m not sure how having the captain of the Diego Maradona All Star World Cup squad around would affect the attitudes of Cambiasso and Zanetti but I  can’t imagine it going over very well.   Giving their blessing to a young teammate Milito’s World Cup dream is one thing.  El Pibe’s chosen man on the pitch suddenly showing up to take over in midfield, is another matter entirely.

Trust will be an issue for the players.  Rafa is the polar opposite of  Mourinho.  The Special One bonded with his players and stood between them and the rest of the world.  He was a general.  Benitez is a politico, gravitating to power.

How everyone else sees it.

At Anfield, that power was with the supporters, rather than the absentee owners, or the players.  The Spaniard made every effort to ingratiate himself to the Kopp, often without regard for players, like Xabi Alonso.  Milan’s president, Massimo Moratti, is very much a presence not to be bypassed or usurped but you can bet Rafa will be looking to mark out his patch.

There’s little, if anything, of significance missing from Jose’s treble winners, yet one wrong step from Benitez may be the difference between Inter driving for five or watching Roma come up in the rearview and slip past them to claim the Scudetto.

The Challenger

Last season, Claudio Ranieri assumed command, early in the AS Roma season, replacing an ineffective Luciano Spalletti.  In short order, the former Chelsea boss had the Romans marching in step, steadily up the table, until they’d laid siege to Jose Mourinho and Inter Milan.  Ranieri didn’t have quite enough troops for the siege to break the Nerrazurri but it was a close thing.

Over the summer, they’ve acquired Brazilian star, Adriano, who, if he doesn’t drink too much of the stuff in the Eternal City’s nightclubs, will add some punch to Roma’s attack.  With Taddei and Mirko Vucinic streaking down the wings, the thundering left foot of fullback John Arne Riise and a midfield anchored by deputy captain, Daniele de Rossi, an effective Adriano might just be the final weapon needed to end Inter’s reign.

Ranieri has put the wind in Roma's sails.

Just in case, however, there’s young French international, Jeremy Menez, and the ancient talisman of the club, the tottering Francesco Totti.  The former Azzurri number 10 still holds the captaincy of his club, although Ranieri has gradually weaned him from a starting role to that of a 60th minute sub.  When he is on the field, his lack of pace has the same effect as a baseball pitcher’s knuckleball.  When you’re used to everything coming at you at a dazzling pace, an old man out for a pleasant stroll doesn’t really catch your eye, until it’s too late.

The Pursuit

Outside of Italy, clubs often take on the personality of their manager, influenced by his style. That’s not such a frequent occurrence in the Serie A, where coaches usually aren’t in town long enough to rub off on their charges.  Instead , Italian sides tend to emulate their owners.  Unfortunately for AC Milan, that means transforming into an aging squad with sharply declining abilities.  Much like their owner, the scandal beleaguered Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, they’re clawing to hold onto the shreds of what once was an imposing mantle of power.

The wealth is no longer there for Berlusconi to purchase whomever he fancies and leave it to managing director Adriano Galliani to sort out.  Now, to buy, the Red Devils first must sell; a problem when most of the merchandise on the shelf is either past its sell by date, or not yet ripe.   In the buildup to Match Day 1, rumours have been circulating that Zlatan Ibrahimovic and/or Liverpool’s Dirk Kuyt may be Milan bound.  Still, Milan must first generate the funds necessary to acquire either player.

Ronaldhino, you're sporting the physique of a 46 year old man. Namely me. Yours is a much better tan, though, if that's any consolation.

Currently, the only new blood is Ghanian international Kevin-Prince Boateng, on loan from Genoa.  Hopefully, Boateng will provide a direct link to the young Brazilian, Alexandre Pato.  As well, noted hip hop impresario Ronaldhino has committed his professional future to the club.   That may be a boost, if he can trim off some of the pounds acquired at the beach, while the rest of his compatriots were toiling in South Africa.

Even with Jose Mourinho no longer across the hall, Milan will find it tough to mount a challenge for the Scudetto. Under new manager, Massimo Allegri, they’ll be fighting off the likes of Juventus, Napoli and Sampdoria for the final Champions League place.

Juventus’ recovery from the infamous 2005 match fixing scandal has been slow and, to date, incomplete.  Yet , this could be the year they reclaim their Champions league place.  That prediction does come with a bucketful of ifs, however.

€40,000 per tackle? Madre Dios! If I just breathe on someone, it could cost me a day's wages.

If Gianluco Buffon stays healthy.  If Felipe Melo gets over his horrendous World Cup.  If Vicenzo Iaquinta, Alessandro del Piero and David Trezeguet can draw enough strength from their aging limbs to carry the scoring load for one more season.  If Diego doesn’t bolt at the last minute, for the Bundesliga.  If World Cup sensation Milos Krasic doesn’t turn out to be a flash in the pan.  If Alberto Aquilani, on loan from Liverpool, can rediscover his form and pull the strings in midfield.  And, of course, if Mauro Camoranesi is still willing to make a tackle without first seeking the permission of his attorney.

The Old Lady has enough talent to challenge Milan for a trip to Europe but are carrying enough baggage to get stuck in traffic, along the way.

The young Argentine has the potential to tilt the Serie A on its axis.

Napoli were a surprise in last season’s Scudetto, featuring a trio of dangerous forwards.  Twenty-three goals split between World Cup stars Marek Hamsik, of Slovakia, and Italy’s Fabio Quagliarella, as well as Argentine starlet Ezequiel Lavezzi’s eight strikes, forced opposing defenders to keep their heads on a swivel.  This season, they’ve upped the ante by adding yet another star of South Africa, Uruguayan Edinson Cavani, on loan from Palermo.  Anchoring the line is Cannavaro, not Fabio but his lesser known younger brother, Paolo.

Since film producer Aurelio de Laurentiis brought the club back from the dead, after its 2004 bankruptcy, they’ve doggedly risen up through the Serie A table, all the way to 6th position last year.  One gets the feeling de Laurentiis won’t be happy until they’re once again considered true contenders for honours in Serie A.

Rumours have it that Cassano actually prefers a five iron, as his weapon of choice.

Sampdoria surprised many with their torrid start to the last campaign.  For a time, they stood above even Inter on the table.  Dizzying heights, indeed.  Ultimately, they showed enough staying power to end up 4th, consolidating a place in the Europa league group stages.  Giampaolo Pazzini’s 21 goals certainly had much to do with the good fortune of Genoa’s 2nd club and his performance will again dictate their destiny in the upcoming competition.

The other main factor will be the contribution of Antonio Cassano. the club’s veteran second striker, aka Italy’s Craig Bellamy.  His mercurial reputation saw him left off Marcelo Lippi’s woeful World Cup squad, where his more positive attributes were sorely needed.  If he can hang onto his sanity for another season, Sampdoria may again do some damage, despite their expanded schedule.

The Peleton

Despite a disappointing 11th place finish in the league table, Fiorentina enjoyed a healthy romp through Europe last season, putting paid to Liverpool and only succumbing to eventual Champions League bridesmaids, Bayern, after some very questionable officiating went against them.  The purple clad Tuscans look a strong outfit but there are challenges facing them.

Fiorentina hopes that Prandelli's rise to the Azzurri doesn't signal a decline for them.

Manager Cesare Prandelli has left to assume the reins of a rebuilding national side.  His replacement is Serb Sinisa Mihajlovic, late of Catania and Bologna, where he finished 13th and 17th, respectively.

The addition of Mikael Silvestre, from Arsenal, is just as uninspiring but backline mainstay, Per Kroldrup has signed a 2 year extension to remain in Florence.  Up front, the load again falls on 15 goal man, Alberto Gilardino. As well, vice captain and number 1 keeper, Sebastian Frey, cannot be feeling too comfortable with the arrival, from Celtic, of Artur Boruc.

No longer in Europe, Fiorentina should fare better this year, if Mihajlovic can soothe the nerves of his inherited players and make good use of his own recruits.  Should he not, the Serie A managerial merry-go-round will surely make an early stop in Tuscany.

Rossi is ushering in a new era in Palermo.

While the rest of the world was watching the World Cup, Delio Rossi was enjoying a month long marathon of The Nanny, if the way he’s been cleaning house in Palermo is any indication.  Gone are Simon Kjaer, Edinson Cavani and Mark Bresciano, the latter in the autumn, if not winter, of his career.  Rossi’s spring cleaning has freed up space for Argentine sensation Javier Pastore to blossom and for an influx of younger players to begin cultivating top flight careers.

Spearheading the youth movement are two starlets from Argentine clubs, Rosario Central fullback Santiago Garcia and Boja Juniors central defender Ezequiel Munoz.  As well, Rossi has recruited Matteo Darmian and Kamil Glik for the back line, midfielder Pajtim Kasami, strikers Mauricio Pinilla and Massimo Maccarone, and goalkeeper Giacomo Brichetto.  Maccarone, the only Serie B player to feature for the Azzurri first team, is going to be relied upon to compliment captain Fabrizio Miccoli’s goal scoring prowess.

Di Natale is hoping his squad backs him up this year.

With so many changes and European fixtures adding to the burden, it will be difficult for Palermo to repeat their 5th place finish from ’09-10, much less improve upon it.

Despite the compact nature of last year’s Serie A table, it’s difficult to believe that Udinese finished 15th.  With Antonio di Natale’s 29 strikes, the support of Antonio Floro Flores and young Chilean starlet Alexis Sanchez, there was no dearth of scoring.  As Switzerland’s Gökhan Inler held down the midfield and partnered with Simon Pepe, Ghanian Kwadwo Asamoah and another Chilean, Mauricio Isla, the Little Zebras should have done much better.

Pepe has been loaned out to Juventus, Ghanian John Mensah to Granada and youthful French defender Mohamadou Sissoko to Scotland’s Kilmarnock.  New manager Francesco Guidolin knows he has the guns to shoot it out with almost anyone.  Now he just has to teach his charges to do it from proper cover.

In 15 appearances last season, Valeri Bojinov led Parma with 8 goals.  You might think that ratio would earn him more playing time, this season.  Unfortunately, Hernan Crespo has arrived at the ancient il Tardini, after a short spell in Genoa.

Crespo's flowing locks have been cut off but Parma is hoping the same doesn't hold for the flow of goals.

The 34 year old Argentine is far younger than the venerable stadium he will call home and the club is banking on him still having some spryness in his step.  If Crespo can lead and Bojinov follow, the Crusaders may be making plans to invade the Europa League, a year from now.

The Genoa Cricket and Football Club have long had a revolving door installed in the clubhouse.  They develop exciting young talent, such as Diego Milito and David Suazo, to sell to the big clubs.  Both to influence the youngsters and maintain competitiveness when they depart, the side also regularly takes in aging veterans of note.  Hernan Crespo, on his way from Inter to Parma, stopped off to contribute 5 goals in 16 appearances, last season.  This year’s big brother is former Roma and Bayern star, Luca Toni.

Rocchi is determined not to let anything rain on his century parade.

With players not always in permanent residence, goal by committee is very much the norm.  Rodrigo Palacio’s 7 led the squad in ’09 and he is back for more.  At the opposite end, Portugal number 1, Eduardo, backstops the club.

Last year, il Grifone were a comfortable 9th in the table and will likely finish the new campaign in the same neighbourhood.  After all, they are in the business of buying and selling players, not collecting trophies.

Lazio’s goal-scoring tandem of Sergio Floccari and captain Tommaso Rocchi will be getting some support in midfield, with the addition of Aussie Mark (don’t call me Marco) Bresciano, from Palermo.  The 33 year old Rocchi will be especially motivated,  as he was limited to 6 goals, a year ago, bringing his total for club to 89.  At the outset of ’09, he publicly stated his desire to become the 5th Lazio centurion, intentionally switching to the number 9 that 3 of the other 4 had worn, including the legendary Giorgio Chinaglia.  If Rocchi can enjoy a resurgence, Lazio might move into the top half of the table, after their 12th place finish in ’09-10.

Gillet was a major part of Bari's success in '09.

Bari were a major surprise, last season, finishing in 10th, having just earned promotion to the top flight, after championing the Serie B, in 2008-09.  As per usual, with a selling club, not much investment has been made to fortify their advances.  Five new players have come into the squad, all on loan, but the responsibilities on the pitch lie at either end, with acrobatic keeper and captain, Jean-Francois Gillet and the 14 goal scoring Brazilian, Barreto.  There is a lot of fight in this Adriatic seaside club, so it’s not so likely that they’ll fall victim to the sophomore blues.  Still, they’re not a threat for a European place.

The port city where football was first introduced to Sicilians by British sailors, Catania, has fallen into the habit of importing the game.  Italians make up only half the squad, very unusual for a less than elite Serie A squad.  Fully a dozen of its players are Argentine, a contingent led by striker Maxi Lopez.  He may see more time, this year, with Uruguayan Jorge Martinez now at Juve.  With Guisseppe Mascara also having an eye for goal, Marco Giampaolo’s side should have enough in attack to remain safely in the middle of the standings.

The Stragglers

Pellisier would like to see another gentleman, or two, come to his aid in Verona.

For 9 of the last 10 years, Chievo have led a quiet life in the mid to lower end of the Serie A table. During that time they have endured some tremoulous moments attempting to avoid the drop, especially in the ’08-09 campaign.  Under Domenico di Carlo, having picked up just 9 points in the first 17 matches, they suddenly found their stride, picking up results against Juve, Inter, Roma and Genoa to propel them out of danger.  This season looks to be another stressful one, as they rely heavily upon captain Sergio Pellissier, whose 11 goals were 1/3 of the team’s anemic ’09-10 output.

Last season, the strike partnership between captain Marc di Vaio and Brazilian veteran Adailton helped Bologna to narrowly avoid relegation.  Adailton has moved on to Romania and it will be up to a younger replacement, most likely Uruguayan Henry Gimenez or the Greek Peter Crouch, 6’5″ Vangelis Moras, to supply the necessary ammunition to keep the Rossoblu in the top flight.

At Cagliari, new manager, Pierpaolo Bisoli has moved over from newly promoted Cesena.  He’s acquired the effervescently named Robert Aquafresca, on loan from Genoa,and a pair of young Brazilians, Nene and Jeda, to supplement Alessandro Matri’s finishing.  Daniele Conti, the son of Roma legend Bruno, is the captain and midfield anchor.  Look for pacy young defender Francesco Pisaro to get some more minutes in the back.

Bisoli hopes to take the Sardinians away from the relegation zone, this year.  If their spirit, as evident in a recent unfriendly with Sicilian side, Palermo, is any indication, his charges are ready for the fight.

Leading the newcomers, the Giallorossi have popped in for another quick visit to the top flight.  Pulling a ‘West Brom,’Lecce have bounced right back into Serie A, after having been ignobly relegated in 2008-09.  Beyond their newly appointed manager, the venerable Luigi di Canio, late of Queens Park Rangers, nothing much has changed for the club.  Nor have they done a lot in the transfer market, to improve their chances of hanging around for a while.  Expect them to continue emulating the Baggies, by not overstaying their welcome in the 1st division.

Brescia will return to the San Siro this season but they won't be bringing their own legend with them, this time.

In their 90 year existence, it’s been rare for Brescia Calcio to spend consecutive seasons in Serie A.  Their last such period was their greatest.  The talismanic ponytail of Roberto Baggio spent its final competitive years with the club, from 2000-01 to 2003-04, and through the skills of the man attached,  they actually accomplished an Intertoto Cup runners-up medal in ’01.  In 2005, however, after his final season, ‘Baggio’s Brescia’were quickly relegated.

Other famous players have used Brescia as a stepping stone, in their early careers, including Pep Guardiola, Gheorges Hagi, Luca Toni and Andrea Pirlo.  With the retirement of Luigi di Biagio, after their promotion, the current group is left without a Baggio (of any variance) to guide them.  That’s not a good omen, but youngster Andrea Carracciolo will be looking to make his step up to Serie A permanent.  If he impresses, he may achieve that but for his club to also remain, more help than his will be needed.

***In a late development, just hours before this posting, Brescia have reached out for that help, bringing Alessandro Diamante back to Italy.  Having languished on the bench at West Ham,  for the past 12 months, the 27 year old striker, purchased for €2.2M, will likely be thrust into a leadership role with his new club.

Situated about an hour from Bologna, the Bianconera (yes, it’s yet another black and white kit in the Serie A) of Cesena are making their 1st top flight appearance since the ’91 season.

Although Massimo (pictured here with Piacenza) is a manager now, he remains as fit as Ronaldhino.

The new manager in town is Massimo Ficcadenti, whom you may remember as being the prize in the Verona/Reggina tug-of-war, ‘ in 06-07.  After Reggina finally won the right to his services, they promptly sacked him for failing to produce a victory in his first 10 matches.

Ficcadenti will be relying on former Velez Sarsfield and Atalante central defender, Maxi Pellegrino, acquired from the Italian side as partial compensation for Ezequiel Schelotto, to anchor the line.  Veteran Ghanian international Stephen Appiah and Schelotto, remaining with Cesena on loan, will patrol the mid-field.

This season marks their 2nd consecutive promotion, a surprisingly strong surge for the tiny club.  It was masterminded by the departed Pierpaolo Bisoli.  Whether or not his upward move, to Cagliari, suggests his former club has reached or exceeded its capabilities remains to be seen but don’t expect too much from them.

....

In 2009-10, Sampdoria was the rabbit that set the early pace, only to be run down in the final sprint by Inter and Roma.  This season, promises to be a tight finish again between the latter two clubs but perhaps with a different result.  The rest of the league was a whirlwind throughout the campaign, with clubs rising and falling throughout.  The mid table standings were so crowded that any little slip could have been devastating, as Juve eventually found out.

There is every indication that this year will be just as competitive.  Catch every match you can,in the race for the Scudetto, but, whatever you do, don’t blink…

...You never know what you might miss!

At the same time, the president of the Football Federation warned that, for the same reasons, the Cape Verde national team might also drop out of the qualification for the ’12 African Cup of Nations and for the ’14 World Cup.

Cape Verde doesn’t have much of a history in football, but the latest signs have been of steady progress. In 2008, Sporting da Praia eliminated the famous FAR Rabat (Morocco), at the preliminary round of the African Champions League, winning 3-0 at home. A year earlier, the national team climbed to its best ever position on the world ranking: 68^th.

Still, the latest events show how far off the African football is from its Europe counterpart, organization-wise. And it’s mostly about money.

Any European team who made it to the Champions League group stage received 7.1 million euros, plus 0.8 for every win. The last winner of the African Champions League, TP Mazembe, took home the somewhat meagre prize of 1 million euros.

On the other hand, for a small European club, continental football is a window of opportunity, to create a reputation and to market its best players, on global television. So, even if a round against a team from Moldavia was a non-profitable trip for Portuguese minnows Paços de Ferreira, they still went.

In Africa, the rewards are slimmer, away from the eyes of television, and the expenses can be even bigger. Like the Cape Verde national team felt last year, to travel to Tanzania, on the other side of the continent, can be a cost-ridden adventure.

The Government pays 30 per cent of the expenses and players are part-time professionals but it seems even that is not enough. Sponsors are few, in a country where the economy is still heavily reliant on the State, and their input usually only covers the wages and the equipment.

To be left out of the African competitions would surely be a “step backwards” for the Cape Verdean football, said the president of the Federation. And while South Africa is anxious to welcome the World Cup and millions dream of Ghana or Ivory Coast as champions, the continent’s football needs a step forward.