Player Ratings: USA 1-3 Italy
June 15, 2009
Player Ratings: USA 1-3 Italy
Italy beat USA 3-1 in their opening game of the 2009 Confederations Cup in Group B. Goal.com rates the players on show...
15 Jun 2009 22:00:26
Villarreal's Giuseppe Rossi impresses on his debut for Italy (Foto Grazia Neri)
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USA
Howard- 6.5: Could do nothing on Rossi's equaliser, but will be a little disappointed to be beaten from so far out when De Rossi hit Italy's second goal. Saved three times late on to keep the score down.
Spector- 5: Had a number of problems with Grosso, who bombarded forward all game down his flank. Spector offered little as an attacking outlet. Onyewu- 7: A tower of strength for two-thirds of the game, easily cancelling out Gilardino, and winning everything in the air. Found life more difficult when Rossi was introduced, and he missed a clearance on De Rossi's goal. Demerit- 6.5 : Was disciplined alongside Onyewu, and kept a tight defensive line. Only in the last 20 minutes or so did he feel the heat.
Bornstein- 5: Looked extremely nervous at times. A touch fortunate to see his own goal disallowed for a contentious Camoranesi offside.
Clark- 5: Started the game in combative fashion until he was shown an extremely harsh red card for a late tackle on Gattuso. The foul was late, high and dangerous, but a yellow should have been sufficient. Feilhaber- 5.5: Matched the Italy midfielders in the first half, but was off the pace after the break, as De Rossi took complete control.
Bradley- 6.5: USA's most consistent player from start to finish. Quantity and quality from the Borussia Monchengladbach man. Yet, he will regret his one-on-one miss. Dempsey- 6.5: Never stopped running, and like many of his team-mates was excellent in the first half. However, with USA down to ten men, he tired after the interval. Altidore- 6.5: Surprisingly caused the Italy defence a few problems in the first half, winning the penalty. However, he scuffed horribly when one-on-one and disappeared after half time. Donovan- 7.5: The best player on the pitch in the first half, scoring the penalty, and also putting Bradley and Altidore clean through on goal. Circumstances made life impossible for him in the second 45 minutes.
Substitutes
Davies- 6: Had a late half-chance, but this aside contributed little.
Beasley- 5: Made no impact.
Kljestan- N/V: No time to shine.
ITALYBuffon- 6: Safe on crosses, but struggled to interpret the trajectory of the ball. Handling was also a little suspect, but nothing to be alarmed about.
Zambrotta- 6: Sound and steady down the right hand side. Did his job defensively, but not much energy coming forward. Legrottaglie- 6: Shaky at times, and always looked like he had a mistake in him, almost conceding a penalty. Also missed a great headed chance at 0-0. Chiellini- 6.5 : A rock for most of the game, rescuing Legrottaglie, but he will be disappointed for the rash challenge on Altidore that conceded the penalty.
Grosso- 8: Does Grosso ever play badly for Italy? Even in the first half when the Azzurri were awfully bad, the Lyon star was still up and down the wing like a train, something he continued to do after the break. Gattuso- 5.5: Just like on Wednesday night against New Zealand, Ringhio looked extremely short of match fitness, and was regularly second to the ball. He was substituted early in the second half.
Pirlo- 7.5: Good in spells in the first half, setting up an easy chance for Legrottaglie. Excellent throughout the second period, providing the assist for the third goal.
De Rossi- 7.5: Too passive in the first half, but outstanding after the half-time oranges. De Rossi then made the pitch his own, and he scored Italy's second with a ferocious long-range strike. Camoranesi- 6: The Juventus man has had a nightmare season disrupted by injury, and despite a few nice touches, he did not look on top form. Replaced by Rossi, who changed the game. Gilardino- 5.5: Worked hard, but never looked anything more than average before he was withdrawn. Predictable and comfortably marked by Onyewu. Iaquinta- 6: Barely touched the ball in the first half, but then improved like most of his team-mates when Rossi came on and offered a supply-line.
Substitutes
Montolivo- 7.5: Montolivo's best performance in an Italy shirt so far.
Rossi- 9: Before Rossi came on, Italy were slow, old and predictable. After, they actually looked like a top- class team. A wonder-goal equaliser and a fine second, Rossi was simply brilliant.
Toni- 5.5: Missed two easy late chances to score.
Pato & Pirlo Are Untouchables At Milan – Leonardo
June 12, 2009
Pato & Pirlo Are Untouchables At Milan – Leonardo
The new coach has declared that two of his stars will certainly be staying put this summer.
12 Jun 2009 00:25:50
P factor as Andrea Pirlo scores from the penalty spot for Milan. Nevertheless they crashed out against Werder Bremen Related Links
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Milan are in serious danger of losing a further few stars, following the departure of coach Carlo Ancelotti to Chelsea and Kaka's move to Real Madrid.
The likes of Andrea Pirlo and Alexandre Pato have been strongly linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge to rejoin Ancelotti in the English Premier League.
Despite these rumours, the new coach of the Rossoneri, Leonardo, has stressed that neither play will be leaving the club, as he has no intentions of letting them go.
“They will not leave Milan, as both of them are very important for my team,” Leonardo assured in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“They are key players, especially Pirlo, who has been essential to this side for many years in the past.
“To put it simply, they are both untouchable.”
Hopefully for Milan’s sake, Leonardo’s words are enough to put a halt to the rumours surrounding the duo's future.
Adrian Del Monte, Goal.com
Milan's Massimo Ambrosini In Line For New Deal – Agent
June 12, 2009
Milan's Massimo Ambrosini In Line For New Deal – Agent
The midfielder, who is set to inherit Paolo Maldini's captaincy, is set for a new deal...
12 Jun 2009 14:45:31
Massimo Ambrosini in action for his Milan side Related Links
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Milan midfielder Massimo Ambrosini is in line for a new deal, according to his agent, who has revealed a meeting to discuss new terms with vice president Adriano Galliani is on the horizon. The 32-year-old had been tipped to leave the club following reports he had become tired of waiting around for a new deal. Voices claimed former Italy coach Roberto Donadoni, who is a big admirer of the player, wanted him at Napoli. However, there is hope Ambrosini will get what he wants at Milan. "We have an appointment with Galliani for next week in order to discuss the contract situation," Moreno Roggi told Tuttonapoli.net. "The player's will is to remain in Milan. Napoli? I have never spoken with them and there has never been a request from them for my client."
Salvatore Landolina, Goal.com
GOOD-BY . . . Ronaldinho Kaka GOOD LUCK.
June 11, 2009
Calcio Debate: Can Ronaldinho Replace Kaka At Milan?
Goal.com's Subhankar Mondal wonders whether Ronaldinho can replace Kaka as the playmaker at AC Milan under new coach Leonardo.....
12 Jun 2009 15:00:44
Ronaldinho ponders his successful move to Milan, which has kick-started his career (Grazia Neri) Related Links
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These days Milan are in depression. With Carlo Ancelotti gone, Paolo Maldini retiring, and a number of players linked with moves abroad, the Rossoneri appear to be going through some really tough times. And then there's the heart-breaking departure of Kaka to Real Madrid. The Brazilian has arguably been Milan's best player over the last five years and his exit is regarded by many as a major setback for the club. While Kaka denotes respect and grace off the pitch, he is a marvellous player on it. The architect-in-chief played a key role in Milan's Champions League near-triumph in 2005 and was the best player in the world in 2007 when he charged the Rossoneri to European success. There is already talk of signing a replacement but as it is hard to discern a player of Kaka's calibre making a move in the transfer market, Silvio Berlusconi and Adriano Galliani might as well look closer to home in order to fill Kaka's large yawning shoes. When Milan signed Ronaldinho from Barcelona for €21 million in the summer of 2008, many apprehended that this would be a wasteful signing. Which it was after the first few matches when the Brazilian international looked a shadow of his former self. Ronnie eventually ended the season with eight goals and five assists in 29 league matches, starting only 16 of those games, with his winner in the Milan derby and two goals against Sampdoria in October forgotten. It is clear Kaka and Ronaldinho could not and cannot play alongside each other. The Brazilian duo might click for the odd match or two but as was testified during Brazil's lacklustre performance in the 2006 World Cup, the two tend to step on each other's toes when played simultaneously. At the World Cup it was Kaka who outperformed a nose-diving Ronaldinho and last season in Serie A it was again the 27-year-old who was more prominent. Carlo Ancelotti initially forced Kaka to play in a deeper position, thereby curbing much of his attacking instincts and creative freedom, but before long Kaka became the fulcrum of the side again, injuries notwithstanding. New Milan coach Leonardo has already declared that he will play an attacking 4-3-1-2 formation, drawing inspiration from the legendary 1982 Brazil World Cup team. Which leaves space for a trequartista, a player who plays somewhere between the midfield and the frontline and creates goals. With Kaka gone, Ronaldinho might just be played in that ‘hole’. Compared to his rival, Ronaldinho is a more audacious player and perhaps even more talented. While Kaka is a more harnessed playmaker, very cultured on the ball, pretty much direct and always knowing when to skip past opposition defenders, Ronaldinho is a more flamboyant figure, who is always ready to opt for the audacious when simplicity would do. There are suggestions that Ronaldinho is past his best and will never reach his old levels again. This columnist himself fosters the belief that Ronaldinho will never be the old Ronaldinho again, but even then, Ronnie's performance, although not good, was better last season for Milan than for Barcelona in 2007-08. Ronnie's form might have dipped south but he still retains that unearthly class and elegance on the ball. And Ronaldinho being Ronaldinho still carries the innate ability to strike fear into the opposition's heart. With Leonardo allowing Ronaldinho more chances to resurrect himself and more freedom to roam on the pitch, Ronaldinho could have Milan's game built around him. With Kaka in the side he was always playing second fiddle and perhaps felt suffocated. Ronnie succeeded at Barcelona because Frank Rijkaard designed the team around him, making him the creator-in-chief in a 4-3-3 formation. Ronnie's versatility to play on the left or as a trequartista makes a strong case for him and although there will be concerns over his fitness and hunger, giving a 29-year-old Ronaldinho one last throw of the dice wouldn't be that bad an idea. Especially when there are few top class trequartistas available in the transfer market. Subhankar Mondal, Goal.com
Looking Over The Shoulder Of A Giant - The Paolo Maldini Story
Calcio Debate: Looking Over The Shoulder Of A Giant - The Paolo Maldini Story
The impossibly successful career of Milan's most loyal servant has come to an end. Goal.com's Gil Gillespie traces the footballing life of the ultimate superstar defender...
1 Jun 2009 12:18:32
Paolo Maldini
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On January 20, 1985, a tall, athletic-looking youngster with cheekbones like geometry came on as a half-time substitute for the injured Sergio Battistini during Milan's game against Udinese. The son of former Milan player Cesare Maldini, Paolo was just 16-years-old.
A staggering 25 seasons later, Maldini has just made his 902nd and final appearance for the club he joined as a nine-year-old. In that time he has become internationally recognised as the greatest left-back in the history of the game.
When he arrived a quarter of a century ago, the lean, athletic teenager who breezed through his Serie A debut with the ease of someone out for a quiet afternoon stroll, clearly possessed the sort of talent that is talked about in whispers.
By the time the following season arrived, Maldini had established himself as a regular member of Rossoneri coach Nils Liedholm’s starting X1.
In the same year, young Paolo began what was to become one of the most glittering of all international careers when his father called him up to the Italy Under-21 side.
A year later, Maldini won his first ever Scudetto on the very last day of the season, edging out an impressive Napoli outfit by three points. He also made his full debut for the Italy senior squad when he was called up for a friendly against Yugoslavia, a game that finished 1-1.
The 20-year-old Maldini also played all four matches at Euro 1988 in West Germany, when he helped Italy get out of an impossibly tough group that included the host nation, as well as Spain and Denmark, before they were beaten in the semi-final by a stylish Soviet team.
In 1989, Maldini would begin what was to become a love affair with the tournament now known as the Champions League. In May of that year, the seriously accomplished looking left-back was a vital component for Milan as they stormed through Europe, eventually hammering four past Steaua Bucharest in the final to give the young Maldini the first of what would become five European Cups. Not unreasonably, he was later named Under-21 European Footballer Of The Year.
The following season saw Maldini's Milan do what Manchester United couldn't manage to do and lift the giant European Cup for the second successive year when they beat Benfica 1-0 in the final.
This was followed, of course, by the 1990 World Cup in Italy. Maldini lined up alongside Franco Baresi, Giuseppe Bergomi and Riccardo Ferri in a fearsomely talented back four that would help the hosts all the way to the semi-finals, where they were cruelly defeated by Argentina on penalties.
It didn't take the Rossoneri number 3 long to get back to winning ways with his club.
The 1991/92 season was a special one for the boys in red and black.
The team that included such legends as Marco Van Basten, Franco Baresi, Roberto Donadoni, Alessandro Costacurta, Frank Rijkaard and Demetrio Albertini claimed the 12th Scudetto in their history without losing a single game.
And they did it again, twelve months later, this time pipping city rivals Inter by four points in one of the most memorable , and highest scoring, seasons of all time in Serie A.
By now, Maldini was the ultimate master of his art. In a four-man back line marshalled with an almost mathematical precision by the peerless Franco Baresi, Maldini was a lightning strike of a left-back. Unlike his only rival for the unofficial title 'best left-back in the world', Maldini was first and foremost a defender who had turned the great legacy left to him by the masterful Giacinto Facchetti into something even more remarkable. Maldini had the pace of a racehorse, the strength of an ox with a gym membership, a tackle or purest iron and a calm, unflappable elegance in everything he did, the like of which had never been seen before. In addition to this, he boasted two almost perfect feet that would allow him to spin in either direction, as well as dribble away from opponents when necessary. In other words, he was to the defence what Van Basten was to the business at the other end of the pitch.
Maldini's brilliant Milan continued to dominate, both at home and in Europe, and lifted their third consecutive Scudetto in 1994 before going on to turn in one of the greatest displays ever seen in a European Cup final when they destroyed Johan Cruyff's much-fancied Barcelona 4-0 on a balmy night in Athens.
Later that summer, Maldini took over the captain's armband from Franco Baresi at the 1994 World Cup in the USA and led his team, heroically at times, to the final against Brazil, Roberto Baggio's penalty miss and all that.
The era from the mid-nineties to the end of the century saw Maldini become increasingly an influential figure at Milan. By the time the fireworks had fizzled out on the new year celebrations of the year 2000, Maldini had won the sixth domestic championship of his career.
Success with his club side, however, continued to be tempered by savage heartbreak on the international scene.
Just as Italy has been pipped on penalties in the final of the World Cup in '94, so they were to be even more cruelly beaten by an injury time equaliser and undeserved Golden Goal when France snatched victory in the final of Euro 2000. It would prove to be the closest Maldini would ever come to winning a significant international tournament.
Later that year, Maldini broke Dino Zoff’s record for the most capped Italian footballer of all time when he won his 113th cap in a World Cup qualifier against Romania. He would eventually retire from international football following that ridiculous game against South Korea at the 2002 World Cup, with 126 caps to his name, seventy-four of which saw him don the captain's armband, another all-time record for the Azzurri.
But his disappointment on the international stage was softened somewhat by the continuing achievements at club level, when the Rossoneri claimed their sixth Champions League trophy by overcoming fellow Italians Juventus on penalties after a pulsating, eye-blinkingly high quality 0-0 draw at Old Trafford.
Maldini then picked up his seventh and final Serie A title in 2004.
Of all the disappointments Maldini had to deal with in his career to date, nothing could have prepared him for the events of May 25, 2005 in Istanbul.
Despite scoring the fastest goal ever scored in a European final after 51 seconds of the game against Liverpool, Maldini witnessed a three goal lead disappear as Steven Gerrard, with more than a little help from the jelly-handed Milan goalkeeper Dida, turned the Champions League final on its head. The Milan skipper would later describe the defeat as the "worst moment of his career".
He had to wait almost exactly two years for revenge but when it came nothing can ever have tasted sweeter.
Maldini won his fifth Champions League title when two goals by Pippo Inzaghi saw them beat Liverpool in Athens.
He just had time to lift the Club World Cup before he announced his retirement from the game, a decision he would later reverse. But, on April 18 this year, Maldini officially stated that he would be leaving it all behind at the end of the season at the grand old age of 41.
Milan plan to retire his number 3 shirt, but it will be given a new lease of life if one of the great man's sons ever plays for the senior side. His eldest son, Christian, is twelve years old and is currently playing for the Milan youth squad. And a recent YouTube clip of his 5-year-old son Daniel tackling Clarence Seedorf (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXpPD3FpxIg) suggests that he may also be pretty close to following in his father's unforgettable footsteps.
Gil Gillespie, Goal.com
Leonardo The Right Man To Replace European Great Carlo Ancelotti At Milan?
Calcio Debate: Is Leonardo The Right Man To Replace European Great Carlo Ancelotti At Milan?
Leonardo is the new coach of Milan after replacing Chelsea-bound Carlo Ancelotti. Carlo Garganese hails the European success of Carletto, but believes it was the right time for the club to appoint a young, fresh, if somewhat unknown face...
1 Jun 2009 14:00:04
Former Milan legend Leonardo seeks advice from current Rossoneri coach Carlo Ancelotti
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The last 24 hours have been among the most crazy in Italian football history. Three legends – Paolo Maldini, Pavel Nedved and Luis Figo – all played the final games of their astonishing careers. Coaches Walter Mazzarri and Luigi Del Neri left Sampdoria and Atalanta respectively (the latter replacing the former), Napoli-bound striker Fabio Quagliarella waved goodbye to Udinese after an incredible 6-2 win over Cagliari, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic may have played his last match for Inter after scoring a magical backheeled winner in the 4-3 triumph over Atalanta. Bologna sent Torino down to Serie B, and saved themselves by beating Catania, an escape masterminded by veteran coach Giuseppe 'Papa'dopulo, who looks uncannily like Joseph Alois Ratzinger – aka Pope Bendict XVI. Divine intervention from the father? All this and we have yet to mention the biggest story from yesterday, bigger even than Maldini’s retirement. Carlo Ancelotti announced after the 2-0 third-place clinching win at Fiorentina that he was leaving Milan. Minutes later technical director Leonardo had been confirmed as Ancelotti’s successor while, to cap things off, Carletto was this morning announced as the new manager of Premier League giants Chelsea. What an exhausting 24 hours! Now all the facts are out of the way, we can really analyse this move. The first thing to say is that, despite some modest domestic success, Carlo Ancelotti will be remembered as one of Milan’s greatest-ever coaches, due to his European exploits. Taking charge in November 2001, the ex-Roma midfielder won two Champions League titles, as well as reaching a final, semi-final and quarter-final. He also lifted a Club World Cup and two European Super Cups. Milan have comfortably been the best club in ‘Europe’ during this decade, and they really should have had three crowns but for the freak collapse in Istanbul in 2005. For all the talk of Premier League dominance, Milan and Ancelotti won as many Champions Leagues on their own in the noughties as England did as a country. It is Ancelotti’s European pedigree that will certainly have convinced Roman Abramovich to entice him to London. What will also have turned the Russian’s head is the way that Ancelotti won on the continent. Only Barcelona, and perhaps the Real Madrid Galacticos, can contend Milan’s claim as the most beautiful club team of the last 10 years. Arsenal will also throw their hat into the ring, but their European failures rule them out. When Milan were in full flow between 2002 and 2006, and again during their last hurrah in 2007, they were an absolute joy to watch. The midfield of Pirlo, Gattuso, Seedorf and Kaka, not forgetting the likes of Rui Costa, were unplayable at times. Along with world class defenders and forwards like Maldini, Nesta, Stam, Cafu, Shevchenko, Inzaghi and Crespo – Milan really were a dream team. Despite all these continental heroics, domestically Milan were a touch disappointing under Ancelotti, winning just one Serie A title in 2003-04, and only really challenging on two other occasions. Milan were not built to win leagues, unlike the efficient and machine-like Juventus and Inter sides, who have dominated the last eight years domestically, but have lacked the required European flair. Having said this, Milan’s priority was always the Champions League, and in 2007 they regularly rested star players before their big knockout games against Bayern Munich and Manchester United. The last two-to-three years Milan have grown stale and old - in all departments – from the management to the coach to the players. Now was the right time for Ancelotti and the Rossoneri to part ways. Carletto has done a great job, but all good things must come to an end, and there was a real need to freshen things up. Silvio Berlusconi and Adriano Galliani will be hoping that new coach Leonardo provides the spark that Milan have been missing, although of course it is always a risk when you appoint a young trainer with no experience. Could the Pep Guardiola formula pay dividends? In his first press conference, Leonardo revealed that his point of reference for Milan will be Brazil’s legendary 1982 World Cup team, the greatest team never to have won the World Cup. If the Rossoneri can reproduce the magic of Zico, Socrates, Falcao, Cerezo, Junior and Eder, then there really could be some great times ahead. Leonardo has some clear ideas of what he wants from his Milan outfit. He will play with a 4-3-1-2, with the trequartista reportedly being a classical playmaker. This seems to suggest that Ronaldinho could be given a fresh start, while Kaka may indeed be on his way out of the club, suggestions that were strengthened when Leonardo did not categorically confirm that the Real Madrid-target was staying. The reports doing the rounds also imply that Leonardo may also allow Andrea Pirlo and Clarence Seedorf to leave (to Chelsea with Ancelotti), with Philippe Mexes/Diego Lugano, Juan Maldonado, Hernanes and Emmanuel Adebayor the 1998 World Cup finalist’s top targets. With so many changes having to be made to an ageing side, this will be no easy task for Leonardo. It is a new era for Milan. But will it be a new golden era?
What are your views on this topic? How will Carlo Ancelotti be remembered? Was Leonardo the right choice as his successor? Can he lead Milan to glory again? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think…
Kaka is almost certain to join Real Madrid
Calcio Debate: Kaka To Madrid – Is Italian Football Now At Real Risk?
Kaka is almost certain to join Real Madrid from Milan, and Carlo Garganese now fears the worst for Serie A…
3 Jun 2009 13:00:43
Kaka, Milan (FIRO)
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What has happened to Italian football? The modern game may be dominated by money and greed, but is Calcio on some kind of mission to rid itself of every big-name star? Since when has Italy become a selling country? Serie A has flopped miserably in Europe over the past couple of seasons and, while there are numerous reasons why, there can be no denying that one of the major factors has been the inability to match the spending power of the Premier League, and the Spanish big two of Barcelona and Real Madrid. Look around the superpowers of Serie A – Inter, Juventus and Milan – where are the household names? On Sunday, Italy lost three, albeit ageing, legends in Paolo Maldini, Luis Figo and Pavel Nedved. Kaka will almost definitely leave to move to Real Madrid, while the chances of Zlatan Ibrahimovic joining him in La Liga are 50-50. How can Serie A expect to dominate Europe again by selling their best players? Milan have had their spine ripped from them in a matter of days. First their soul and central pillar in defence Maldini, then their coach Carlo Ancelotti, and now it seems their best player Kaka. The Rossoneri are a painfully old team. The only first team players who are young are Kaka, Pato and Mathieu Flamini. New trainer Leonardo surely should have built the new era around these three stars. Granted, Kaka's recurring injury problems are a real worry (something that should concern Real Madrid fans too), and he is not the same player he was in 2007, but this is a risky transfer. If Milan were to actually spend all the €65m they receive for the Brazilian on three or four world class stars, then perhaps selling to Madrid is a wise move. If reported targets Philippe Mexes, Hernanes, and Emmanuel Adebayor all arrive, the Rossoneri will certainly be stronger. But, will this happen? President Silvio Berlusconi has seemingly lost all interest in the team he took to greatness in the late 1980s and 1990s. Milan are in debt, as are virtually every club in Europe, but Berlusconi no longer wants to be the sugerdaddy who bails them out of trouble. Those who follow Italian politics will know that Silvio has far more important things to worry about right now. Who wants to bet that the confirmation of Kaka’s sale won’t arrive until next week because Berlusconi doesn’t want to risk harming his European election nomination? With so many big, established names being exported, it seems that only youth can now save Serie A as they attempt to close the gap on the Premier League. The Italian league undoubtedly has the best crop of youngsters in European football. No other championship can boast of such potentially awesome talents like Pato, Mauro Zarate, Mario Balotelli, Davide Santon, Sebastian Giovinco, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Kwadwo Asamoah, Alexis Sanchez, Marco Motta, and Stevan Jovetic. But will youth be enough? For starters, the top Italian clubs rarely trust players under the age of 23, and who is to say that once they are mature enough, they won’t be shipped off to England for extortionate amounts? Napoli star Lavezzi seems as if he could be on his way to Liverpool for €30m. The problem is not all Italy’s. One can only admire their traditional values, and determination not to sell out to rich, foreign investors who are crushing the soul of the game. Can you imagine a Serie A where Milan are owned by a Russian, Juventus by an American, and Inter by a Sheikh? It is unthinkable. Perhaps the clubs need to be a little tougher in rejecting offers for big-name stars. When a player wants to depart, as Ibrahimovic seems to crave, it is difficult to hold him against his will. However, when a player repeats time after time that he wishes to stay, declaring his love for the club at every opportunity, as Kaka has done with Milan, this is where the decision to sell becomes difficult to understand. It remains to be seen how Milan use Kaka’s money (and Yoann Gourcuff’s for that matter) but if they merely use it to pay off a few debts, then Italian football fans really should start worrying about the future of Calcio. What are your views on this topic? If Kaka joins Real Madrid, what does this mean for Milan and Italian football? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think…
AC Milan's David Beckham Ends Pepsi Deal
No longer a brand ambassador for the fizzy-pop merchants, Becks is set to concentrate his off-field endeavours on other projects.
AC Milan midfielder David Beckham has ended his ten-year association with soft drink giant Pepsi.
The 33-year-old announced today that the deal, worth a reputed £2 million a year, will be discontinued at the end of the player's current contract.
Beckham, who will play for Milan until the recommencement of the MLS season in March with LA Galaxy, told the press: "I have nothing but good memories of my association with Pepsi.
"I've played a gladiator, a cowboy, a surfer, and worked alongside Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez as well as some of the biggest names in world football.
"I hope everyone who has seen the work enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed making it."
-- Peter Staunton, Goal.com
Beckham To Make Debut Against Roma
Ancelotti: Beckham To Make Debut Against Roma
Milan's latest recruit will play against Roma on January 11th, after Beckham left his new coach amazed in training.
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that Beckham could make his full Serie A debut in the showdown clash with Roma next weekend.
The English midfielder has been enjoying his new surroundings, although things did not go smoothly during Saturday morning's training session as Becks scored an own goal.
Nevertheless, Ancelotti has been impressed with his new signing and he admits that the former Manchester United star could get the nod against the Giallorossi.
"He could be ready for the game against Roma," Ancelotti told Il Corriere Dello Sport.
"It's true that he hasn't been playing recently, but he has been working really hard in training and he is making an excellent impression on everyone."
Meanwhile, the Rossoneri are looking forward to this evening's prestigious gala, which has been laid on by one of the club's sponsors.
Fly Emirates have organised a special dinner and dance ceremony for the club.
Becks, though, is unlikely to do too much eating as he aims to keep his 33-year-old body in top-notch condition.
--Salvatore Landolina, Goal.com
Juve-Milan: All Time Best XI
Juve-Milan: All Time Best XI
This rounds enticing clash between Juventus and Milan will mark the 200th time the two sides have met. To celebrate the occasion, Adrian Del Monte has put together an all-time best XI of former players who have starred for both clubs...
Prior to reviewing this line-up, please be clear that the eleven players selected had to have played for both Juventus and Milan at some stage in their career. GoalkeeperPietro Carmignani: The most difficult decision in this line-up was selecting a goalkeeper, as there haven’t been many. Carmignani was one of the few standouts, despite the fact that he never actually played with Milan. The keeper made 25 appearances for Juventus in 1971/72, and later went on to become a goalkeeping coach at Milan from 1989-1993. Despite winning the Scudetto in his only season with the Bianconeri, and a Coppa Italia in 1976 at Fiorentina, Carmignani made a name for himself at Napoli, where he played 144 times. Nowadays he is the boss of Serie C2/A side Varese. DefenceLuciano Spinosi: The first of the three defenders spent an impressive nine years at Juventus from 1970-1979, in a period where he managed to claim five Scudetti and a Uefa Cup with the club. He later went on to play for Milan, where he managed to win another Scudetto, however his time with the Rossoneri was hampered by injuries. It was at Juventus where he made his mark on Italian football, and as a result he was selected for the Italian 1974 World Cup team. Since his retirement from the game, he has had several roles at varying Italian clubs, including a year at AS Roma as their head coach. Sandro Salvadore: At the age of just 15, Sandro Salvadore was destined to be a great, as he was identified by Milan scouts as a player with real potential. After a few years with the Rossoneri youth squad, Salvadore finally made his debut with the main team in 1958, and he later went on to win two Scudetti with the club, in a career that spanned from 1958-1962. The defender was then sold to rivals Juventus, and it didn’t take long for him to become an integral part of the club. He went on to win another three Scudetti with the Bianconeri, as well as an Italian Cup in 1965. He made 36 appearances for the Italian national team throughout his career, and was part of the 1962 and 1966 World Cup squads. His time with the Azzurri was brought to a grinding halt in 1970 however, when his coach Ferruccio Valcareggi judged him no longer reliable, following two unfortunate own goals against Spain in a 2-2 draw. Salvadore unfortunately passed away as a result of a heart attack on January 4, 2007. He was 67 years of age. Pietro Vierchowod: The player better known as the ‘Czar’, due to the fact that he was the son of a Ukrainian Red Army soldier, made just 21 appearances for the Bianconeri at the tender age of 35 in the 1995/96 season. That particular campaign proved to be a fairly successful one, as the club managed a respectable second place finish in the league and its second ever Champions League triumph, with the Czar performing brilliantly in the final against Ajax. The next season he joined the defending champions Milan, however it was a disappointing one for him and the club, as they could only manage an eleventh place finish, whilst Juve claimed the Scudetto. Vierchowod made his name at Sampdoria, where he spent 12 years at, between 1983-1995, and his career lasted some 24 years, before he eventually finished up at Piacenza in 2000. Throughout his career he made 45 appearances for Italy, and was selected in the successful 1982, 1986 and 1990 World Cup squads. At 41 years of age, the defender retired from the game as fourth on the list of Serie A matches played, behind Paolo Maldini, Gianluca Pagliuca and Dino Zoff. MidfieldEdgar Davids: One of the most recognizable footballers of all time kicked off his career with Ajax in Holland, before joining Milan in 1996. He endured a tough time with the Rossoneri, as he could only manage 19 appearances and one goal in his only season with the club. The next season he was sold to Juventus, for a fee of around £5.3, and it was in his seven year stint at the club whereby he made a name for himself. He was triumphant in the league with the Bianconeri on three occasions, and managed to win a Supercup with the club as well. He is currently a free agent, having just parted company with Ajax, and at this stage his career seems all but over. Romeo Benetti: The central midfielder did take a few years to find his feet in Serie A, however when he eventually did so, he became one of the most influential players in the competition. He started his career with Juventus in 1968, where he failed to hold a spot in the starting eleven, and so was loaned to Sampdoria for a season. His breakthrough came in the 1970/71 season when he was sold to Milan, and began to make his mark. He remained with the Rossoneri until 1976, before returning to Juve and winning two Scudetti in 1977 and 1978. He made his debut for the Azzurri in 1971, and would go on to play at the 1974 and 1978 World Cups. Fabio Capello: Better known for his managerial skills, Capello was actually an outstanding player in his day, with three of Italy’s biggest clubs. The midfielder burst onto the scene at Roma, following a three year spell with SPAL, before making his mark at Juventus, where he made 165 appearances and scored 27 goals. Over this time he won three Scudetti with the club, and became one of the best Italian midfielders, despite only eventually making 36 appearances for the Azzurri. He was involved in a straight swap for the Milan midfielder Romeo Benetti in 1976, at a club where he managed to win an Italian Cup and his fourth Scudetto in three years. He retired from the game in 1979, and 12 years later he took charge of the club he once played at, winning four Scudetti in his first five seasons with the club. At present, he is the coach of the English national team. Roberto Baggio: This man is undoubtedly one of the greatest Italian footballers of all time. To prove this point, Baggio signed for Juventus from Fiorentina in 1990, for a world record fee at the time of €12 million. In his five years at Juventus, the superstar of Italian football managed to win the Ballon D’Or, the FIFA World Player of the Year, and the Uefa Cup in 1993, as well as a Scudetto and an Italian Cup in 1995. At the completion of that championship winning season, the Juve star was sold to the Rossoneri after strong pressure from the Milanese President Silvio Berlusconi. In his first of two seasons he managed to win his second Scudetto, and he became the first player to win back-to-back Scudetto with two different clubs in the process. He made his mark for the Azzurri at the 1990, 1994 and 1998 World Cups, before bringing his career to a close with Brescia in 2004. Since then, Baggio has made a return to the playing field on just one occasion, and that was earlier this year on October 8, when he featured in a charity match between Milan and Fiorentina that was played in honour of Stefano Borgonovo. ForwardsJose Altafini: The Brazilian turned Italian international, landed in Italy in 1958 after winning the World Cup with Brazil in Sweden. He signed for Milan in 1958, and in his first season with the club he scored an impressive 28 goals in 32 matches, as the Rossoneri claimed their seventh ever Scudetto. He also won the European Cup against Benfica in 1963, as his second half brace led the club to their first ever title. He went on to make 205 appearances for the Milanese club, and scored 120 times, before eventually parting ways with them in 1965 for Napoli. Following a seven year stint at Napoli, he joined Juventus in 1972, where he would go on to win two more Scudetti in 1973 and 1975. Through his career he made a name for himself as being a decisive player in the closing stages of matches, as he often scored goals in the final 10 minutes. Pietro Paolo Virdis: Preferred to the incomparable Pippo Inzaghi, due to the fact Superpippo is still playing for the Rossoneri. Virdis initially spent four seasons at Juventus in the early 1980s, to kick-start his playing career. He managed to win two Scudetti in his time with the Bianconeri, before being sold to Milan, to make room for Paolo Rossi, who was set to join the club from Perugia. Things improved whilst at Milan however, as he would go on to make 135 appearances, score 53 goals, and win another Scudetto, to make it three in his career. He was also a member of the Rossoneri squad that was triumphant in Europe in 1989, when they defeated Steaua Bucharest 4-0 in the European Cup final. He was Serie A’s top scorer in 1986/87, with 17 goals to his name, and his playing days ended in the late 80s, following the club’s European triumph. Paolo Rossi: This striker is one of the most talented players in this incredible line-up. He joined the Bianconeri in 1982, following an infamous betting scandal that saw him suspended for two years. These accusations were declared to be inventive recently; however the striker was still forced to miss two years of football. In his three seasons at the club, from 1982-1985, Rossi managed to win a Scudetto, an Italian Cup and the 1985 European Cup, following a 1-0 triumph over Liverpool. Following this, he moved to Milan for one season, where he would make 20 appearances and score just two goals – a brace against bitter rivals Inter Milan. At international level, Rossi became the first player to ever win the World Cup, the Golden Boot, and the Golden Shoe for the best player of the 1982 FIFA World Cup. In that corresponding year, he also received the Ballon D’Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year, to cap off one of the most successful individual years in the history of the game.
Line-Up (3-4-3):
Carmignani
Spinosi Salvadore Vierchowod
Capello Benetti Davids Baggio
Altafini Rossi Virdis
Ancelotti: It's A New Era For Milan
Ancelotti: It's A New Era For Milan
Following the 1-0 UEFA Cup win over Sporting Braga, AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti believes that the club are entering a new era, as he says his first seven years at the are now "closed"...
AC Milan won their UEFA Cup match against Sporting Braga on Thursday evening, but not without difficulty as the winner came from a stunning goal by Ronaldinho in second half injury time.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti admits his side struggled, but believes that this is a new era for the Rossoneri.
"Tonight we struggled a lot. That was expected because Braga is a team that is unknown to us," explained the former Juventus coach.
"It's been seven years since I arrived on the Milan bench, the first seven years have now been closed, tonight's match was the first game of the next seven years."
Ancelotti used an untested pair in the centre of defense and it held up for the entire match.
"For the first time this evening (Kakha) Kaladze and (Phillipe) Senderos were the central pair, it was an important test, even though they weren't in the best condition. I am happy," he told Milan's official website.
Ancelotti will now turn his attention back to Serie A, where his squad sit at the top of the standings. The Rossoneri visit Lecce on Sunday evening.
Adam Scime
Nesta Explains American Trip
Nesta Explains American Trip
Milan defender Alessandro Nesta has revealed his decision to fly out to America and he insists it's purely down to his injury rather than any other motives...
The Italian stopper has been hampered with injury this season and he hasn't even played for the Rossoneri. His ongoing back problem is the cause of his woes.
Reports in Italy have even suggested he might retire but Nesta has given his views on the situation in an attempt to reassure the fans.
"I am not going to the United States for any other motive," Nesta told Antenna 3.
"I am only going to see if there is something more behind the problem.
"I will hope the situation can be resolved soon because I had another problem and thus I am returning to the doctors who helped with my shoulder otherwise I would risk stopping for good."
Nesta will be hoping to make a quick recovery. Milan are flying high in Serie A and in the UEFA Cup this season and they take on Lecce tomorrow afternoon at the Via Del Mare stadium as they look to maintain first place.
However, it will not be easy as the Salentini have not lost at home this season.
Salvatore Landolina
ALL I CAN SAY
WOW
CUP OF CUPS
AC Milan Greatest Goals
http://video.libero.it/app/play/index.html?id=0cdc893f0d566e0682eb77186ded374a
DAD YOU ARE THE BEST
MY DAY WILL COME
I KISSED ''champions league'' CUP!!!
Terryville Santos vs HBC ac milan
WALDBAUMS CUP UPDATE
With two overtime and a minute 1/2 left in the game Terryville beats AC Milan with the Golden Ball 4 TO 3.
Congratulations to Terryville we wish you all the best.
A.C.MILAN-USA TEAM PHOTO
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