(original photo by AP Photo) Stevan Jovetic may never have been more damp in his whole life. As he rose from a giant pool of water on the St James’ Park pitch his Fiorentina strip appeared to have taken on a deeper hue of purple than those of his teammates. Yet despite his soaking he was grinning from ear to ear, just glad to be back doing what he loves best - playing football. In a summer of fan protests [...]
When Vinnie Montella bit the hand that would feed him These are sombre times for Sampdoria but it has not always been that way. The Blucerchiati have been star turns in some memorable episodes of Italian football both domestically and in Europe. One of their more epic performances was delivered by Vincenzo Montella about 15 years ago – when he helped to destroy a club he would later serve both as player and manager. It was just the third round [...]
The San Paolo goal feast that took everyone by surprise Even in a city as superstitious as Naples, the omens can sometimes be wrong. The fans turning out for the visit of league leaders Inter in February 1980 had every reason to expect a tense, low-scoring affair. Instead, they were treated to a glorious riot of goals. These were two old-school Italian sides built on a solid bedrock of rugged defence. The Nerazzurri were a little more expansive but had [...]
Back once more with a wonderful game to look back on, Serie A Weekly is proud to once again bring you this series from Giancarlo Rinaldi. With Roma-Milan and the Genova derby he had plenty of scope, yet with time running out on another season he stayed decidedly closer to home. Trap’s Parting Gift As he inspected the San Siro playing surface, Giovanni Trapattoni could have been permitted a sentimental smile. Even in his own illustrious almanac of football achievements that most famous [...]
Once again the brilliant Giancarlo Rinaldi returns to cast a nostalgic eye over one of the weekends key fixtures. Serie A Weekly is proud to present the latest in this wonderful series. Witnessing The Birth Of A Serie A Superstar There was a time, it seemed, when he could never miss. Give the boy an opening from a particular angle on the left hand edge of the penalty area and every shot would trace an inexorable arc to the top [...]
Once again the brilliant Giancarlo Rinaldi returns to cast a nostalgic eye over one of the weekends key fixtures. Serie A Weekly is proud to present the latest in this wonderful series. Brilliance and bruises down at the Meazza It was supposed to be the “trampoline to the top”. League-leading Fiorentina had suffered their first defeat of the season away to Roma, leaving the door open to Gigi Simoni’s Inter to move ahead of the pack. The only obstacle on [...]
Il Gran Rifiuto Roberto Baggio’s ‘Great Refusal’ Everyone, it seemed, had an opinion. The barista in the town centre cafe, the teacher at the Liceo Scientifico and the carabiniere at the corner distractedly directing the traffic – they all had something to say on the subject. But none of them seemed able to agree on the final outcome. Would Roberto Baggio really end up at Juventus? It was the spring of 1990 and Italy was gearing up to host a [...]
How Fiorentina banished the nightmares of C2 Finding a ticket to an old football match at the bottom of a drawer is like discovering hidden treasure. It flicks a time-travel switch sending the mind scrabbling backwards trying to recall as much detail as possible about the game concerned. It stirs the soul with emotions from another era. My house is littered with such mementoes, most of which I have been reluctant to consign to the rubbish bin. I hoard programmes, [...]
Serie A Weekly is proud to present another episode of this beautifully written feature from well known and respected journalist Giancarlo Rinaldi The Milanese derby’s darkest night It is one of the most iconic snapshots of the Italian game. Inter’s Marco Materazzi leans on the shoulder of Milan’s Manuel Rui Costa as the pair of them gaze in disbelief or bemusement at what is unfolding before their eyes. Fireworks rain down upon the pitch of the San Siro in a scene [...]
Serie A Weekly is proud to present another episode of this beautifully written feature from well known and respected journalist Giancarlo Rinaldi. As the league takes a break to allow the National teams a turn we do the same as we look into the not-so-distant but oh-so-glorious past. We also take a break from the romance of the fixture itself to bring you Giancarlo’s personal memories of this great game How lucky Luca shot down my World Cup fears Superstition and pessimism have [...]
