For zeddie: Roberto Rosetti was the guest on this morning's (my time) Domenica Sportiva, accepting the award for 'best referee in the world' by IFFHS. Spoke quite a bit; it was interesting to hear his insight on various players and on the state of refereeing in the current game. He spoke very highly of Il Capitano and of Zanetti and also commented that Cassano's behavior has markedly improved in the past year.

Serie A Team Of The Week: Round 31
Goal.com looks at the best performing players from Round 31 of the Serie A calendar...

Goalkeeper
Sebastien Frey (Fiorentina): This position was a toss up between the Frenchman and Milan’s Nelson Dida. Frey wins out, because he did not have to move for 45 minutes before making three incredible stops, while Dida’s saves were exaggerated slightly, simply because no one expected him to make them anymore. Frey lived up to lofty expectations once again.

Defence
Lichtsteiner (Lazio): The Swiss right-back was competent in his defending, helping his side to a great derby win. He was positioned well and showed he was sharp enough to snuff out many Giallorossi attacks during the game.

Cesare Natali (Torino): Putting in a solid performance at the back, the former Udinese defender cleared a Paolucci effort off the line and also scored the winner with a brilliant volley that kept the Granata’s survivial hopes alive.

Manuel Pasqual (Fiorentina): The defender has not been given many chances to shine this season, but he certainly did against Cagliari. He was astute in both his defensive and attacking roles down the left, putting in plenty of dangerous crosses and completed his afternoon by grabbing his first goal in four years!

Midfield
Fabio Caserta (Lecce): His side may have incurred a 3-1 defeat, but the veteran midfielder had nothing to be sorry about for his performance. He was the sole driving force in his team’s attacks, creating everything going forward, desperately wanting to avoid relegation.

Thiago Motta (Genoa): He was an influential substitute last week, earning his place in the ‘Team of the Week’ and this time, he was impressive for the whole 90 minutes. The Grifoni's gamble to take aboard the injury-plagued former Barcelona man certain paid off. Two well-taken and important goals against Juventus, bringing his tally for the season up to six.

Clarence Seedorf (Milan): Suffering from injury and poor form in the past couple of months, The Dutchman capped off a wonderful showing against the Flying Donkey’s by volleying in the winning goal.

Kolarov (Lazio): Mostly used as a left-back, but he was a constant threat down the wing for Lazio and ended Roma’s derby hopes with a shot from the edge of the area to give the Bianconelesti bragging rights in the Italian capital.

Attack
Antonio Cassano (Sampdoria): The Bari-born talent converted two spot kicks and showed all of his tricks as he has constantly done this campaign. A true match-winner. How long can Marcello Lippi keep him out of the Azzurri if he keeps playing like this?

Antonio Floro Flores (Udinese): What more can you ask from a striker. His persistence paid off as he needed two attempts on both of his goals to down Reggina in the final five minutes of the match.

Raffaele Palladino (Genoa): Juventus will regret selling him to Genoa on this day. He was absolutely devastating with his dribbling all evening and put another nail into the coffin that is his former side’s Scudetto hopes: by scoring the winner in the 88th minute.

Honourable Mentions

Houssine Kharja (Siena)
Emanuele Calaio (Siena)
Nelson Dida (Milan)
Mauro Zarate (Lazio)
Goran Pandev (Lazio)
Giampaolo Pazzini (Sampdoria)
Giandomenico Mesto (Genoa)
Samir Handanovic (Udinese)
Edinson Cavani (Palermo)
Fabrizio Miccoli (Palermo)
Mario Balotelli (Inter)
Manuele Blasi (Napoli)

It was a good goal. But if he really deserved to be included in the team of the week Serie A would be called Greek Super League...

No, the goal wasn't lucky, that's really unfair to say. It wasn't a fluke shot or a deflect it was a normal goal.

Calcio Debate: Alessio Secco - One Good Signing In Three Years, Genoa - Nine In One Summer

Genoa beat Juventus in a five-goal thriller on Saturday night, and if there is any justice they will now go on and qualify for the Champions League. Carlo Garganese hails the Rossoblu’s market campaign last summer, which he considers to be one of the greatest in Calcio history.


Statistics don’t lie, and you only have to take one look at the Serie A table to realise that, barring a late collapse in form, Genoa are fully deserving of a place in next season’s Champions League. The Grifoni have lost just six times all term, the same number as Juventus and Milan, and four fewer than Fiorentina and Roma below them.

With seven rounds left, it seems likely that the final Champions League slot will be a straight battle between Genoa and Fiorentina, who are separated by just two points. With Roma now eight points back, Luciano Spalletti’s men will surely have to settle for a place in the Europa League.

Genoa have been consistent all season, losing just once at home, and should already be secure in fourth. They threw away a three goal second half lead against Fiorentina several weeks ago, while the Viola have often ridden their luck, and been indebted to the brilliance of goalkeeper Sebastien Frey.

Nevertheless, if Genoa hold their nerve, they should create club history by reaching Europe’s premier cup competition for the first time. The Rossoblu’s run-in reads: Lazio (h), Bologna (a), Sampdoria (h), Atalanta (a), Chievo (h), Torino (a), Lecce (h). Fiorentina, meanwhile, still have to tackle both Roma and Milan, with the Rossoneri travelling to Florence on the final day.

Genoa passed their most recent test on Saturday night with flying colours by deservedly beating Juventus 3-2 in a thrilling clash at the Stadio Ferraris. As has been the case all season, the Grifoni emerged victorious by playing an expansive, entertaining, and fast-paced modern brand of football. They zipped the ball around the pitch, attacked the wide positions at a ferocious speed, and just had too much energy for the disappointing Bianconeri.

Not only did Genoa show Juventus how it is done on the pitch, they also illustrated just what is possible when you buy well off it. While Alessio Secco and his fellow Old Lady circus friends have made one transfer disaster after another, Genoa, who currently have no sporting director, have reaped the rewards of one of the most impressive summer market campaigns in the history of Calcio.

No fewer than nine (yes, nine) of Genoa’s first team were purchased in 2008. This includes the entire three-man defence of Matteo Ferrari, Salvatore Bocchetti and Giuseppe Biava, wing-back Domenico Criscito (whose original loan began in January), midfielders Giandomenico Mesto and Thiago Motta, as well as attackers Bosko Jankovic, Raffaele Palladino and Diego Milito.

If Manchester City want to know how to build a team in one day, they should follow the Genoa example.

And what is more, Genoa do not have the Citizens’ money. They made intelligent signings. Ferrari and Motta arrived on free transfers, and have been contenders in Serie A for the best in their respective positions. Bocchetti arrived as a virtual unknown from Serie B side Frosinone and has exploded into the Italy squad, Palladino and Jankovic were locked-up prisoners at Juventus and Palermo, but have now shown their true colours. The former tore his ex-side apart on Saturday night. The best of all, Milito, returned on the final day of dealings for just €8m, and fired in 16 goals before injury struck. Even reserves such as Andrea Gasbarroni, Ruben Olivera and Sokratis Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (I had to get that out of the way) have been very useful.

And what funded all these great buys? The sale of Marco Borriello and Abdoulay Konko for a combined €19m, plus the extremely promising Italy Under-21 international Davide Di Gennaro. Borriello and Konko have played just a dozen games between them this campaign for Milan and Sevilla respectively. Talk about good business.

If anyone can find a past transfer campaign more impressive than this one, I would love to know. As for Juventus and Secco, this is all proof of just what is possible if you buy well. Secco has made one good signing in three years, Genoa made more than nine in one summer.

What are your views on this topic? Do Genoa deserve the Champions League? Just how impressive was their transfer campaign? The greatest ever? What could Juventus and Secco learn from it? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think…

Carlo Garganese, Goal.com

just that.. maybe he should have waited until the end of the season

It's quite ironic that Milan could kick Fiorentina out of the CL spots in the last giornata, isn't it?

Don't worry about that. Journalists love to deify as much as they love to dethrone... if Genoa don't make it you should expect a new article about how they should have kept hold of Borriello and Konko...

I personally would love it if that happened. I'm still bitter about what happened last season and I wouldn't mind a nice little revenge, at their own backyard!

* 5 game bans for Felipe Melo of Fiorentina and Diego Lopez of Cagliari for a post-game fight in the tunnel at the Franchi. Punches were thrown, apparently.

* 1 game touchline ban for Spaletti for postgame comments (and maybe a bit because of the fight he had with a Lazio assistant coach at halftime).

* Ancelotti got let off with a warning for his being sent to the stands.

10. Jeremy Menez (France & Roma)
An exciting midfielder who is unafraid to be individual. He has pace and close ball control that belies his youth and experience. Yet despite his obvious talent he has still to show real consistency with the Giallorossi.

9. Sokratis Papastathopoulos (Greece & Genoa)
Strong and composed, the Genoa defender has been fundamental to his club’s success this term. This 20-year-old powerhouse has the potential to become one of the best in Serie A and is already a full international.

8. Zdravko Kuzmanovic (Serbia & Fiorentina)
A tireless worker, who has become an integral part of Fiorentina’s engine room over the last year. Costing £3m from Basle in January 2007, he is the model template for any young midfielder and has full international caps.

7. Stefan Radu (Romania & Lazio)
A highly talented defender has been a real discovery and one of the revelations of Lazio’s season so far. Signed in January 2008, he is a full Romanian international and can play in the centre or as left back.

6. Simon Kjaer (Denmark & Palermo)
The young Palermo defender is a nailed on first teamer and, at just 19, has already been called up by the senior Danish side. A youngster with real potential, whose positioning and strength has attracted several top European clubs.

5. Edison Cavani (Uruguay & Palermo)
'El Matador' scored on his debut back in March 2007 but struggled to hold down a first team shirt with Amauri in his way. When the Brazilian left last summer, the 22-year-old striker started to really impress and has become the club’s top scorer this term.

4. Mauro Zarate (Argentina & Lazio)
He may be small but he has the heart of a lion, and his stunning form for Lazio has seen him become a much vaunted player and terrace hero. Reportedly signed after Lazio President Claudio Lotito saw five minutes of him on YouTube.

3. Alexis Sanchez (Chile & Udinese)
The 20-year-old international striker has been a real top notch discovery for Udinese and can play anywhere in the forward line, or as a midfielder. Nicknamed 'El Nino Maravilla' - Wonder Boy - he is an excellent passer of the ball and has the grit and intelligence to match the very best.

2. Marek Hamsik (Slovakia & Napoli)
The former Brescia midfielder has taken Napoli by storm and is the complete entertainer with his blistering pace, trickery and goals. Still just 21, the club’s top scorer has been linked with several top Italian and European clubs.

1. Alexandre Pato (Brazil & Milan)
'The Duck' has been absolutely awesome for Milan this season and just can’t stop scoring. Possibly the world’s best young striker, he is already a full international at 19 and has the potential to become another Ronaldo.


Channel4.com

Blog: An inconvenient truth

Italy’s European nightmare continued last night with Udinese’s exit. Serafino Ingardia warns that it could be a long way back for calcio

It was left to Udinese to defend Italian pride in Europe last night. They gave it their all against Werder Bremen, who had previously disposed of Milan, but it wasn’t enough. As a result, all that we have been left with are ruins.

The Friulani were our last hope of continental success. Before then all of our clubs had been wiped out, underlining the fact that we are no longer the ones to beat. It’ll be different next term, of course, with Milan returning to the Champions League and Juventus and Inter improving their squads. Still that’s not the point, neither a consolation.

When Jose Mourinho openly criticised Serie A earlier this season his comments were taken with a pinch of salt. “We are the world champions!” many noted. Indeed we are and will be until 2010, but then what?

Can that trophy won in Berlin three years ago still justify our European failures at club level for years to come? That Cup we won against France stood there to show that, despite Calciopoli, there still was good left in Italian football, nothing more.

Mourinho had indeed revealed an inconvenient truth which us Italians didn’t want to hear, so instead of carefully listening to his words, the fans and the media plugged their ears and continued to blare about past glories.

I am not here to fully analyse the problems of calcio, but can confirm, if someone hadn’t noticed, that we have fallen behind the giants of football. While the English eased three teams into the last four of the Champions League, we failed to even get one into the quarter-finals.

It is not Inter’s fault, neither Juve nor Roma’s. It is calcio’s fault because our system is falling apart and is paying the price of competing against rich and powerful rivals. Even the Germans are getting past us – now that’s worrying. We may as well wait for Ligue 1 to be better than Serie A and then the disaster will be complete.

Some may say it would have been different with Milan there to represent us but look at what the Rossoneri did in the UEFA Cup this term. It’s their fault if they couldn’t reach fourth last year and if they continue to sign fading stars.

But just to list some of our main concerns, we can say that Italian football is way behind the others in terms of marketing, attendances and stadia quality. We are also well behind when it comes to security and organisation. We are no longer the first choice for star players too.

Italians need to wake up. The FIGC must take action and the clubs have to reflect over their past errors. Because we are better than this and we definitely deserve more.

FT Genoa 0 - 1 Lazio

+1 cookie to Muslera.

I like the kid. He stuck with it and fought for his place - and heck, took over the #1 place for Lazio over Carrizo. He's a good keeper even if Milan seem to score on him for fun (we put 3 past him this year).

Fishdoll -1 cookie to zeddie for using a nickname for a cugini player.

The Juve defense really has lost its mojo. Dreadful timing for them to do so.

Yep, that one.