Lazio-Inter: Off to Rome We Go
By: Johonna | December 5th, 2008
What: Lazio v Inter
Where: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
When: Saturday, Dec. 6, 8:30pm local time (11:30am pacific 2:30pm Eastern)
Referee: Daniele Orsato
How to Watch: Live on FSC; streaming here or here
Last time we were at the Stadio Olimpico we had a great time (thank you very much Roma), but we cannot count on that kind of reception this match. Although they had a bit of a stumble last Sunday (lost 2-0 against Atalanta), Lazio bounced back midweek in a surprise upset against A.C. Milan to knock them out of the Coppa Italia. To coin a phrase I hear quite often on Fox Soccer Channel: their tails may be up. For more on the match from the Lazio point of view, check out Cathal’s blog.
Here is what happened the last time we met Lazio in Rome for a Serie A game (1-1 draw; grazie Crespo):
Not so bad, but I believe we can do better.
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Mou has called up 21 players:
Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar, Orlandoni,Belec (Toldo is still injured).
Defenders: Cordoba, Maxwell, Maicon, Burdisso, Materazzi, Samuel.
Midfielders: Zanetti, Stankovic, Figo, Cambiasso, Muntari, Mancini, Bolzoni, Quaresma.
Strikers: Ibrahimovic, Cruz, Crespo, Obinna.
It nice to see Quaresma back up on the call-up list, and Crespo has made a rare return. Mancini, well, he needs to prove to me that he deserves a space – I want to believe. Adriano is not on the list because he was sick this week – Mou expects he will be ready to play on Tuesday. Balotelli is playing with Inter’s Primavera squad this weekend (home against Treviso). Apparently Mourinho wants him to learn the difference between playing in the Serie A and the Primavera league. I think a lesson is in the works. Happily, Chivu is back to training with the squad. As much as Mourinho likes stability, it is always nice to have options.
Mou was cagey today about a line-up, saying that we are just as effective with a 4-4-2 as with a 4-3-3. Still and all, I suppose the line-up will start much like it has recently:
No surprises. I would like to see Quaresma get some pitch time; Figo, I am not so sure. I love him and I want him to do well, but after that game, his presence on the pitch scares the poop out of me. Ditto for Nico (same team, different game).
I dont think this will be an easy match. Lazio are actually pretty good this year. They have some great players in Zarate, Pandev, and Ledesma, and Rocchi (among others). Their keeper has much improved over last year. C4 and Goal.com are both predicting a draw. Frankly, I think we can do better. I see no reason why we cannot leave Rome with 3 points (quick, someone throw some salt or knock on wood or something).
We must assume that both Milan and Genoa will win this weekend, therefore, we must also win to keep pace. I would like to go into the break with a good bit of space between us and the snapping crocodiles below. We need maintain concentration and go to Rome like we own the place. I would also like to keep a clean sheet, but, a win is the most important outcome tomorrow.
Allora Ragazzi, domani andiamo a Roma per tre punti!
FORZA INTER
C’mon Ricky, use those twinkle toes to score!
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Tags: Christian Chivu, Inter, Internazionale, Lazio, Mario Balotelli, Match Preview, Ricardo Quaresma, Serie A, Team NewsSubscribe
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Comments
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You know, I thought Milan was a shoe-in tomorrow against Catania, but they are having major injury woes.
I will be interested to see what comes of the Milan – Juventus game.
Juventus seem pretty strong, but then Milan have this habit of showing up for the “big” games. If only there was a way for both of them to drop 3 points.
Posted from
United States
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Please, don’t reference me and my “little incidents” that I pull out of my ass, as alessio says.
After all, this video, especially if one were to pay special attention around the 2:00 minute mark, shows exactly how much I pull out of my ass…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9akOa0Dnoc
I think that there is no way in hell that Juve drop points tomorrow. I think Milan might draw, which would help us.
The best scenario for us is if Milan drop points this weekend and if Juve loses/draws next weekend and we have to draw, at least, against Chievo.
I think that would give us at least an 8 point lead going in to the last game before the winter break.
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After all, this video, especially if one were to pay special attention around the 2:00 minute mark, shows exactly how much I pull out of my ass…
Didn’t really have that much of an impact on the season standings, did it?
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Here’s what you said I did, “This isn’t pulling little incidents out of my ass like MAD likes to do, these are real game-changing moments.”
Well, either I pulled a “little incident” out of my ass or I gave an example of an incident had a real game-changing moment. I might also add, that it had a bigger game changing incident (final score: 2-1 win instead of a 1-1 draw) than your false free kick goal would have (1-3 loss or 0-3 loss).
It might help to go to the Lazio board and read the entry in which the blogger, a Lazio supporter, accepts that we deserved to win… that it was “legit” in fact.
What effect anything had on the the end of season table wasn’t your original statement. Although, feel free, to change your argument at any time, at your convenience, please. I enjoy some random spontaneity in discussion. It adds a certain zest.
I mean, I don’t care if you don’t apologize for slandering me even though I was not even taking part in the discussion. That’s fair, I suppose. But the fact that you are still willing to just brush off the Camo incident as no harm no foul… without admitting guilt… that’s just a bit weird.
I would add that it affected OUR season, and not yours so much. That one point, or lack thereof, ended up being pretty big.
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This was a well deserved victory and anyone who says otherwise is obviously biased, bitter, or in denial.
Forza Inter!!!
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WAAAaAAh that is all alessio the hypocrite is saying
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By the way…
La Gazetta agrees with us, here’s the headline on the front page after I put it through google translator for the non-Italian speakers:
E ‘devastating un’Inter
Lazio disintegrated 3-0How great a headline is that!?!?!
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From Cambiasso on today’s win:
“On Inter’s performance in the capital, Cambiasso commented: “It was an excellent display. We hit our opponents in the key moments of a match that only looks easy now. Every match must be considered hard, even when everything goes well like it did tonight. We did well to make it easy. We did a great job in every department. Looking at the result it seems like Lazio did nothing, but this isn’t true. Lazio did everything they could but we stopped them and scored three goals, creating many other scoring chances.”
From the best right fullback in the world:
“Mourinho lauded his team for the polished performance against Lazio. Maicon repaid the compliment. “He’s a fantastic coach and he’s doing very well,” said the Brazilian after Saturday’s away win over Lazio. “We’re first in the championship and in the Champions League. We know that every game is difficult and we always have to be focused going on the pitch, and Mourinho always tells us this.”
Yeah, I think we’ll be okay…
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Even Ibra is all about the team:
“I’m very happy with the goal, but I’m even happier for the team’s great match. I have had a lot more chances in other matches but haven’t scored. It went well today so I’m very happy, but like I said, it’s the team’s performance that satisfies me most. It’s never easy to win away to Lazio.”
I think he may be transitioning from only arrogant to highly confident with just a dash of arrogance. Our little boy is growing up (sniff sniff).
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Wow, looking at the scores this morning…
What the hell happened to Udinese? They looked like world beaters a month ago.
Milan and Juve both won. Can’t say that I am too surprised. Both need to stay as close as possible to the top before next weekend.
Palermo’s weird form is back. If they could be consistent, they have the talent for a Europa spot.
Atalanta looks like they are climbing the table. UEFA Europa looks like their goal for the season.
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I have to say, Mourinho’s swagger is manfiesting throughout the entire team. It seems that Stankovic, Muntari and Samuel all turned into worldbeaters overnight, while Ibra now seems much more into “the team.”
In the ‘dark days’ of last spring/early performances of this season I would have said Zanetti, Ibra, Maicon, Cambiasso were head and shoulders our best players, and, to borrow and american phrase, Serie A ‘all stars’. I think you can add the three names from the first paragraph to that list, meaning that 70% of our field players are some of the best in Serie A. Whether it is Mourinho’s system, motivational techniques, the players doing it themselves or a combination of all three, we are in form right now.
This is different to last autumns good run, as that was largely against crap teams. We have already been through the hardest part of our schedule and have emerged in a stronger position in the table from it. It’s early still, but we are on our way.
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sulley, zlatan, deki, esterban, javier, JC, walter, ivan and doug. everyone praises them alot these days but everyone forgets poor little maxie. he does a hell of a job. in his short time at inter he’s become one of my favourite players.
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I have to agree about Maxwell. I don’t think that he plays for the Brazilian National Team, which is a shame.
Did anyone see the Milan game? Apparently they had a handling in the box that wasn’t called that saved their asses from dropping 2 points… again.
If someone saw it… and isn’t a Milan supporter, let me know if you thought it should have been a spot kick.
I want to see if that boosts their gift profit up to 10 points.
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Shhhhh. I dont want Dunga to notice Maxwell. International duty scares me – look at poor Vieira.
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Good news:
Julio Cruz… underwent medical tests at the San Matteo hospital in Pavia. Combi described the Argentine striker’s injury (a left leg hamstring strain) as “nothing particularly serious”.
Also, nothing about a Samuel injury. It just said that he had the day off as he is not on the CL list.
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Maxwell is a good player, and his defending has looked much better this year. I would include him and Cordoba on my list above if not for the presence of Christian Chivu. I see Chivu as our best left back and one of our best center backs. In my ideal Inter XI, he takes Cordoba’s spot and Maxwell stays out on the left. Maxwell and Cordoba have both looked good on our recent run, but when I think of potential ways we could exit Europe, two that I imagine are a Ronaldo on Maxwell matchup, or the Barca attack matched up against an Inter back four featuring Cordoba.
Maxwell is a good player, and one who would arguably start for Roma, Milan or Juventus. He is great technically and positionally. He is also a solid one-on-one defender, but I wonder about his athleticism in the Champions League. He might end up playing two games against Messi or Ronaldo, and I think we would have to be worried about both of those matchups.
If I may refer to the ESNP tools, Lazio attacked almost 50% of the time down their right side. Their stats from other games show a preference for going down their right, but not by this much, so they must have felt that was a good idea, ie avoiding Maicon and/or going at Maxwell. Additionally, Maxwell’s heat map indicates that he didn’t touch the ball as much as Maicon.
However, if you look at the shots and goals soccernet feature, it appears that actual Lazio chances developed down the sides in about equal amounts. Percentage-wise, this would seem to indicate that Inter gives away less chances down Maxwell’s side. Although it is a crude way to compare our two fullbacks, I think it speaks well to both Maxwell’s current form, and his abilities as a defender. Would the same percentages hold if we he were matched up against a world class outside player? We’ll probably find out sometime next spring.
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Lazio’s right side is our left, right? So that means that Lazio also had Muntari to deal with down that side.
I also prefer Chivu to Cordoba. I think that Cordoba has been having a great run, but when he gets frustrated he gets quite fouly. Chivu seems to have a cooler head.
Still and all, I have been quite impressed with Cordoba’s recent form in front of goal. You just dont expect defenders to score on the volley like that. Whatever Mou has been doing in training is working, it seems.
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I have to disagree on preferring Chivu over Cordoba. Cordoba’s speed and attitude are very important for our defense as he matched up well against the small speedy types that usually give us trouble. Besides, with his speed, he can get beat at the half line and make up the distance by the penalty area against most teams.
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I agree with MAD I think the cordoba / samuel pairing is our best pairing however I think that chivu is a class CB I wonder what mourinho will do when he is fully fit but if I were him I’d stick with this back four we’ve been playing with lately ( maicon , cordoba, samuel maxwell ) as they say ” if it aint broke then don’t fix it “
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supermario in CL squad…is the punishment over??!
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Cordoba’s pace is key. He’s probably the most underrated defender in Europe. He was dominant last year before his injury and hasnt quite hit top form.
Chivu is a class player who can fill multiple positions but he wouldnt be in my ideal starting 11. He’s a great player though and is probably prefered by Mou over Max at LB.
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Johonna, sorry if this has been mentioned already (150 comments is a lot to go through :p ), but would you know where the find a photo of Zlatan’s CRAZY ACROBATIC BACKHEEL PASS?
There’s plenty of videos online (such as this one), but I was hoping to find a still-frame of the crazy Swede in action.
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Oh, and speaking of Zlatan, here’s a very funny picture.
http://download.kataweb.it/mediaweb/image/brand_sport/2008/12/06/1228600097537_11.jpgPosted from
United States -
Marco, Il Corriere dello Sport has some crappy screen-shots:
http://www.corrieredellosport.it/Fotogallery/Calcio/8537/0/FOTOSEQUENZA%3A+Il+tacco+spettacolare+di+IbrahimovicI have yet to see other photos. Sorry.
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Cordoba over Chivu all day. The man is a World Class defender.
Cordoba can read the game, he is crafty, has tons of speed, has stength and for a smaller guy he is incredibly strong in the air.
The turning point in the CL tie with Liverpool last season is when he got hurt. When Inter went down a man at Anfield and were forced to defend for the rest of the match, he was by far the best player on the pitch. The Reds were at his mercy. It was one of the best single defensive performances I have ever seen. It was a real shame we lost him for the remainder of the season and conceded twice in that match after his late exit.
Our back line is infinitely better with him in it. Samuel and Cordoba are the 2 best options to go with. As for his yellows, I think its very normal for good centre backs to pick them up from time to time. It’s a vulnerable position that carries a lot of responsibility and it is very difficult to play. You have to play hard & cautions should be expected.
Posted from
United States
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