Almost twenty-nine years ago, I had the chance to watch the great football team of Internazionale Milano, and since then it has been my favorite Italian club. In the summer of 2006, the Nerazzurri (black and blue) team broke a seventeen-year Seria A title drought. After forty-five years of European misfortune, Inter has won the UEFA Champions League against the famous German team of Bayern Munich. This victory meant that the Inter coach Jose Mourinho completed the Continental Treble, winning the Champions League (CL), the Italian league (scudetto) and the Italian cup. This accomplishment has never been done by anyone in the 102-year-old club’s history. With no more to prove in Milan, the highly controversial Portuguese coach would very possibly start a new endeavor with another emblematic football club: Real Madrid. At the Bernabeu Stadium, Michel Platini handed the CL cup to Javier Zanetti, the captain who won the trophy in his 700th appearance for the club.
At the beginning of the season, Real Madrid spent over $300 MM for signing Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Xavi Alonso and Benzema, and decided to get rid of two key players: Robben and Sneijder. At the end of the season, Real Madrid has not won any trophy, while the two Dutchmen earned five trophies with their respective clubs. Tonight, the MVP title was unanimously awarded to the Argentinean striker Diego Milito who scored two exquisite goals and created a couple of amazing chances for Sneijder and Pandev. The Italian team, that incidentally has not used any Italian player for ninety minutes, has dominated the game strategically despite offering the entire initiative to the Germans. Although Bayern had an overall 66% possession and few chances early in the second half, Inter’s defense was rock solid as it has been throughout the entire competition, especially when it knocked out the defending champion Barcelona. Tonight, Bayern’s Arjen Robben could not recreate the fabulous strikes that eliminated Fiorentina and Manchester United.
Now that the football season came to an end at the club level, the next big thing is the World Cup 2010, hosted by South Africa. For the last sixteen years, Brazil has demonstrated its ability to turn it up a notch when they needed most. Masterfully coached by Dunga – a world cup winner himself, the samba team possesses a very good chemistry and nobody should be surprised to see them lift the trophy for the record sixth time. By winning European Championship in 2008, Spain managed to get rid of the long-lasting label of underachievers. With the monkey off their backs and world class players (e.g., Torres, Xavi and Casillas) on the roster, they should reach at least the semi-finals. Argentina is a team of contrasts: on the positive side it is loaded with diamond-like quality players (e.g., Messi, Higuain and Milito) while on the negative side it has the worst possible coach – Diego Maradona. England’s coach, Fabio Capello, has all of his best players fit for this summer and there is plenty hope of a 1966 repeat. Though they are not better off, playing wise, than they were in Germany four years ago, this time they have a very successful coach and that could be a major success factor. Who will win the 2010 FIFA World Cup?
Toni,
Italy will win .. at least I hope that
Dan,
It is not impossible. You never know with the Italians, though they have small chances.
Hi Toni,
: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601077&sid=aMq46x2nslTw.
Since Romania didn’t qualified (again) I will make a bet for England. As Inter won the UCL after 45 years, I think it’s time for the english team to make it. JP Morgan analysts say the same thing
Rares,
If no major overhaul is going to occur, RO will not qualify for WC 20 years from now. The JPM model is as good as the CDO models were.
Toni,
Honestly I smiled at this one. I do not know why, but I knew you’ll correlate that with the JPM CDO models … heh …
BogdanC
BogdanC,
If I made you smile at least I accomplished one of my blog’s underlying goals.
I go for Italy … Forza Italia
If Torres is healthy, I put my money on Spain.
Hi guys,
I like your site and it looks very interesting and easy to read, really!. I came from South Africa. I love the Soccer and cannot wait till 11th June, can you?.But there is a problem coming from FIFA. It is that doesn´t choose the best teams in this planet for the World Cup which it should otherwise don´t call the World Cup a final, if you want to play soccer for the soul of competition then go to the olympics games. this is exactly what the World Cup is turning to. IRE needed to beat germany to be in and is not, JAP beat lowly teams as bahrain, qatar, kuwait, to be in. Is this justice I dont think so, just because you are in the World Cup it doesn´t mean that you have the quality to be in. Anyway, I desire to watch a super final on 11th July and my favorite winner team is Australia, and my favorite player is Iker Casillas.Good blog and keep going!
Sun,
Your point is valid. However, FIFA wants to have the whole world watching the WC, not only EU and South America. Good luck with Aussie!
Very good read. Ive been waiting exactly 4 years for this (since the last world cup lol). I can’t wait to see if Argentina can get the title in Fifa 2010 in South Africa
Michael,
Let’s see what is going to happen. So far, the level is under par.
Yeah no kidding. spain, brazil, italy, and france all have their heads up their … and I’m not quite sure why netherlands or germany may steal this one?
I agree. Except ARG, most of the favorites played under par so far. Keep also in mind that both GER and NED faced very weak opponents…The real deal starts after the group stage.
Toni,
Italy out … that is not good … this cup is kind of suprising don’t you think so ?
BogdanC
BogdanC,
If you recall, I did not include ITA in my original poll. There is nu surprise for anybody that FRA & ITA are out.
Toni,
Yep I recall that … did you use some similar JPM model to forecast Italy’s “default” ?
just a little joke …
Back to Ro stuff … what do you think about the gov plan blow out ? vat increase etc etc
How can the “court” people be that dum ?
All right, retired people won … but they actually won these: prices will increase, utilities in the winter will increase, inflation … the private sector will go belly up etc etc etc …
What did they win actually ? I don’t get it …
BogdanC
BogdanC,
You don’t have to get anything. That thing is not a government…instead it is a group of puppets. Be ready for gloomy days!