interpersempre.com

vs.

I'm happy with our second half performance.  Tough luck.  I hate Mazzarri, Maggio and Celi, the ref for tonight.  We'll bounce back against Lecce.

STARTING LINEUPS:

NAPLES - Here are the starting line-ups for Napoli v Inter, the 2011/12 Coppa Italia quarter-final being played at the Stadio San Paolo in Naples this evening (20:45 kick-off).

Napoli: 1 De Sanctis; 14 Campagnaro, 28 Cannavaro, 6 Aronica; 11 Maggio, 23 Gargano, 88 Inler, 18 Zuniga; 17 Hamsik, 22 Lavezzi; 7 Cavani.

Subs: 83 Rosati, 8 Dossena, 16 Vargas, 20 Dzemaili, 21 Fernandez, 29 Pandev, 85 Britos.

Coach: Walter Mazzarri.

Inter: 12 Castellazzi; 13 Maicon, 23 Ranocchia, 25 Samuel, 26 Chivu; 4 Zanetti, 8 Thiago Motta, 19 Cambiasso, 20 Obi; 10 Sneijder, 22 Milito.

Subs: 1 Julio Cesar, 2 Cordoba, 37 Faraoni, 11 Alvarez, 18 Poli, 28 Zarate, 30 Castaignos.

Coach: Claudio Ranieri.

Referee: Domenico Celi (Bari).

Prediction: Napoli 3-1 Inter

FORZA INTER

vs.

Too bad that we didn't get the cleansheet but overall a good win.  We need to keep this momentum going as far as we could.  I thought the youngsters did well and we scored two fantastic goals today.  Forza Inter.

STARTING LINEUPS:

MILAN - Here are the starting line-ups for Inter v Genoa, the 2011/12 Coppa Italia round-of-16 match being played at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza this evening (21:00 kick-off).

Inter: 12 Castellazzi; 13 Maicon, 2 Cordoba, 23 Ranocchia, 4 Zanetti; 37 Faraoni, 19 Cambiasso, 18 Poli, 20 Obi; 10 Sneijder, 30 Castaignos.

Subs: 21 Orlandoni, 6 Lucio, 8 Thiago Motta, 11 Alvarez, 22 Milito, 28 Zarate, 55 Nagatomo.

Coach: Claudio Ranieri.

Genoa: 22 Lupatelli; 31 Sampirisi, 5 Granqvist, 24 Moretti, 7 Rossi; 33 Kucka, 14 Seymour, 10 Brisa; 19 Jorquera; 2 Pratto, 9 Ze Eduardo.

Subs: 73 Scarpi, 11 Jankovic, 20 Mesto, 27 Constant, 32 Marchiori, 81 Sculli, 88 Biondini.

Coach: Pasquale Marino.

Referee: Carmine Russo (Nola).

Prediction: Inter 2-1 Genoa

FORZA INTER

THE FINAL: PALERMO PLAYED WELL BUT INTER WON 3-1

A brace for the Cameroonian, third goal scored by Milito.

Rosanero applauded by 40 thousand fans.

Delio Rossi salutes in tears.  Referee controversy.  Zamparini: "They only know how to steal."

Super Cup: it will be a derby in China.

ETO'O, KING OF ITALY

Scored a brace.  Palermo in tears.  Inter, a mini treble that worth a derby in China.

The Nerazzurri were dragged by the Cameroonian and the saves by Julio Cesar: it's the third title.

Anger Rosanero.

Rome A treble for another treble.  And if the Italian Cup won a year ago upped the ante with the Scudetto and the Champions League in their view, this one closes a season in which they "only" won the Italian Super Cup and Club World Cup.  At the end, the two goals by Eto'o and one by Milito were not only too severe for Palermo for the 3-1 win but Inter also lift the fifteenth trophy in the last seven seasons.  Seven Italian Cups in Inter's trophy room.  Not a trophy to be snubbed because Mancini began the new cycle of success, which involves Mourinho, Benitez and now for the first time Leonardo.

The class of individuals The celebration of Inter, which will be in Beijing on August 6 to play against Milan for the Italian Super Cup to start the new season, was the result of exploiting its great champions, from Eto'o to Sneijder as they were the two protagonists of the first two goals that stretched Palermo defense.  Also without underestimating the final contribution of Pandev and Milio who completed the triumph when Palermo got closer with the goal of Munoz, they were in striking distance.  Precisely Palermo don't have champions like at Inter but they can have their head held high because they played very good until the end with a special applause for Rossi who left a team built by him in tears. 

Inter insatiable Without a suspended Maicon and a injured Cambiasso, but with a recovered Sneijder, Leo started the mission for his first title on the bench by relying on the usual 4-3-1-2.  With Nagatomo confirmed on the right, Stankovic saw himself in the middle of Zanetti and Motta, but the problem was not the position of individual players.  The team was understandably tired without acceleration especially on the left where Chivu never went forward.  For Palermo, it was the opposite.  They looked fresher and more motivated, despite the absences of suspended Bacinovic and above all Bovo.  However, the Rosanero couldn't even produce a shot on goal, while Inter had the first real attempt at the goal with a classic counter-attack.  Sneijder launched the ball for Eto'o who was focused and running from the left to the center and slipped it in the angle of the goal.  It was the graze of a champion who understood how important class is but also suggests that Inter are really insatiable, because it still has a hunger for success.  With a special tribute to referee Morganti, who did not stop the action when Acquah committed a bad foul on Motta but waited to give him a yellow after the goal.

Palermo blunt So Palermo tried to rise its head, but the big absence of Bovo and an injured Goian during the match forced Rossi to put in Carrozzieri to play in his first real game after being suspended two years for doping.  Dancing in defense, inconsistent on the wings because Cassani was held back by Eto'o, Palermo lived on the ideas of Pastore and Ilicic behind the lone striker Hernandez who was dangerous on two occasions in the final minutes of the first 45 minutes.  It was a much needed spark to give new courage to the team and eventually Miccoli made an entrance for Acquah in 10 minutes after the break.  Rossi had to redesign the team tactically, leaving Migliaccio in front of the defense in a new 4-1-3-2 where Nocerino, Ilicic and Pastore trying to help out Hernandez and Miccoli who immediately tested Julio Cesar with his head.  Inter were suffering so Leonardo put in Pandev for Pazzini to strengthen the midfield and in the most difficult moment, Pandev got the ball in the midfield, passed it to Sneijder so he can find Eto'o.  This time to the right, but just as good as the one in the first half, he put it diagonally for the 2-0.  Everything seemed to be over, but the fireworks happened here.  With the header by Munoz, Palermo were dreaming of a sensational 2-2, but Inter then struck again with Eto'o who hit the crossbar and the newcomer Milito put it in after the cross by Pandev.  And at this point, it was really over for Palermo.  Because in Beijing, it will be Inter to challenge Milan.

Source: Gazzetta dello Sport

vs.

That was not a great performance on our part but we did enough to win our 15th title in 5 years.  This, for the most part, was a very good final. i wanted a third for Eto'o really bad but seeing Milito being happy and smiling are priceless. Congratulations everybody!

STARTING LINEUPS

ROME - These are the starting twenty-two for Inter v Palermo in the final of the 2010/11 Coppa Italia tonight at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome (kick-off at 21:00).

Inter: 1 Julio Cesar; 55 Nagatomo, 6 Lucio, 15 Ranocchia, 26 Chivu; 4 Zanetti, 8 Thiago Motta, 5 Stankovic; 10 Sneijder; 7 Pazzini, 9 Eto'o.

Substitutes: 12 Castellazzi, 14 Kharja, 17 Mariga, 22 Milito, 23 Materazzi, 25 Samuel, 27 Pandev.

Coach: Leonardo

Palermo: 46 Sirigu; 16 Cassani, 6 Munoz, 3 Goian, 42 Balzaretti; 8 Migliaccio, 94 Acquah, 23 Nocerino; 72 Ilicic, 27 Pastore; 9 Hernandez.

Substitutes: 99 Benussi, 4 Kasami, 10 Miccoli, 11 Liverani, 36 Darmian, 51 Pinilla, 80 Carrozzieri.

Coach: Delio Rossi

Referee: Emidio Morganti (Ascoli Piceno)

Prediction: Inter 2-1 Palermo

FORZA INTER

THE GRANDE FINALE

For Inter is a mini treble.  For Palermo, there is history.

The 235 trophies won by the Nerazzurri players against the 11 of the Rosaneri.

One game will close the season in front of 70000 fans at the Olimpico.

Rome 1 Gulliver and the Lilliputians, Goliath and David, Xerxes and Leonidas, those are the big and little guys who know that the smaller guys did not salute those who are bigger than them.  Everything from literature, fantasy, filmography and history can be summarized in this way: a group - adding up all the individual achievements - that has won 235 titles against another that has 11.  This is the beauty of Inter-Palermo.  A game which 69,915 tickets have been sold.  A game on one hand there is mini treble (after Super Cup and World Cup) and on the other, there is history.  Inter are cannibalistic: Stankovic has won 25 individual titles of his own and on the face of everyone there are the hunger and the killer instinct.  Inter want to win again because they want to be at the top and at the same time dragging those 3 (Pazzini, Ranocchia and Kharja) who haven't won anything yet.  In Palermo, there are many who haven't won anything so dragging them are Liverani and Miccoli with the faces of students who want to return home with a 10 in their report card and not only that, a ticket to Beijing.  Ah, there is an aphorism of Samuel Taylor Coleridge that goes like this: the dwarf will see farther than the giant.  When he can stand on the shoulders of the giant.  Eh.

Rome 2 For the mini treble.  For the 15th trophy in seven years.  To continue staying on top.  To be Inter.  Moratti has asked for continuity of victories, Leo wants his first title, here is Zanetti to explain why: "We know the human value of our coach and we know that, like all of us, he really wants to win this trophy.  For him it would be the first with us and maybe be the beginning of a new series of victories with Inter."

The image So it begins with the encouragement of the captain ("A true Inter will be needed, a team that does not miss opportunities," he said to Inter Channel), and with a photo for Stankovic who said: "We want the last image of us raising the cup to be printed" but there are two big questions, Ranocchia and Sneijder.

Plaques and miracles? The central defender, yesterday, still had a fever of 37 degree with a lot of plaques in his throat so perhaps he can not play.  But today the medical staff and Leonardo will make the final decision.  The impression is that the center back wants to be there because he wants to help the team and remove the big zero in the box of career victories (like Pazzini and Kharja).  And what about Sneijder?  If the left calf continues to create problems then no.  The moral just a few hours before the game is that the chances of Ranocchia playing are higher than that of Wesley.  Any substitutes?  Materazzi over Samuel for the spot in the defense and it is almost certainty that Kharja will replace the Dutch who is in need of miracles.

Formation It will be a 4-3-1-2 for Leonardo and Inter.  A system that he and the team know best without Maicon (suspended) and Cambiasso (injured) but watch out for changes during the game because Milito wants to repeat from last year.

Source: Gazzetta dello Sport

ITALIAN CUP: A DRAW (1-1) AT THE SAN SIRO WITH ROMA AFTER THE 1-0 AT THE OLIMPICO

It is the sixth final in seven years: on the 29th with Palermo.

Eto'o scored, Borriello equalized after hitting the post twice.

For Leo, it could be his first title as a coach.

GO INTER, 6 TIMES IN THE FINAL

Sixth time in seven years for the Nerazzurri.

Roma, surrendered and anger.

Eto'o broke the deadlock but Borriello scared: double post and then equalized. 

A game with Palermo at the Olimpico on the 29.

Milan - There won't be the last derby of the season, but there will be another final, the sixth of the last seven since 2005 for Inter, which will go on the attack for their seventh Italian Cup, the first time against Palermo.  One night after the flop of the new Italian Champions, Inter had great odds against Roma, whom they had already beaten 1-0 in the first leg, but that expected script was not it.  Having slept for a half, Inter were awaken by the kiss of Eto'o who reassured the 1-0 but Roma had their fair share of chances.  So first came the double post by Borriello, just like the blunder of Ibrahimovic against Palermo.  But then the goal came for the former Milan player.  Roma fought much at the end but there was no goal.  So, Inter did enough to secure the 1-1 draw, it was more practical than beautiful by punishing Roma of their errors and omissions.

Inter diesel The absences of Sneijder and Stankovic (who scored the goal in the first leg) including a suspended Ranocchia were not enough to justify the disappointing first half of a slow and heavy Inter, without a hint of imagination and almost lazy.  Only Nagatomo, as usual, was able to pull out the rare applause from the few fans present with his acceleration and recovery on the left.  The other was Eto'o who managed to threaten on the left a few times in this match.  Even Kharja demonstrated the anger of someone who has played little.  Captain Zanetti, who celebrated 1000 professional matches, was only checking on the right while Cambiasso was one again on the left side in the midfield as Mariga was a preferred option in the middle.  Leonardo's tactical choices side, the team seemed only capable of playing like an old diesel engine leaving its fate to the innocent Pazzini, preferred for the declining Milito.

Roma Facing with such an Inter that was so humble and with only one shot on goal in the first 45 minutes, Roma were even worse and they couldn't score a goal to force extra time.  Without the suspended Totti and Taddei, alongside Borriello was Menez who served as a second striker but neither of them can do anything to Julio Cesar who just like Doni was unemployed for a half.  Not only that, the elastic 4-3-1-2 with Perrotta, Pizarro and De Rossi couldn't provide enough support to Simplico so they produced nothing but just smoke. 

Final Eto'o, early in the second half, put Inter in the lead by taking a low shot in the corner after it hit the arm of Perrota.  Inter could double the lead with Milito but instead Roma were awaken.  Borriello was very unfortunately when his shot hit the woodwork twice.  But the same Borrielo was able to head the ball in the net for the equalizer.  At that point, with 6 minutes remaining, we can see that all the fights were fueled by Burdisso and Roma in desperate attempts of mocking Inter in the final minutes.  But the score didn't change and everybody will eventually return to Rome.  Montella's team will go home while for Leonardo's, they will play in the final against Palermo.  Inter could lift their first trophy in 2011 and as a result, their next opponent would be Milan in Beijing for the Italian Super Cup.

Source: Gazzetta dello Sport

vs.

That was pretty but I'll take it.  Zanetti's 1000th game was a success.  We all wanted a win but 1-1 result was satisfactory.  There could have been more goals if luck or better finishing was involved.  Pazzini and Milito both had good chances to score why Borriello hit the post twice with one shot.

Nagatomo, I thought, did great defensively as well as Mariga but he is extremely raw offensively.  Eto'o got another goal which is his 34th of the season.

Nothing more to add besides FORZA INTER and:

STARTING LINEUPS

MILAN - Here are the starting line-ups for this evening's Coppa Italia semi-final second-leg fixture between Inter and Roma, which is being played at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan's San Siro district (20:45 kick-off).

Inter: 1 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 6 Lucio, 26 Chivu, 55 Nagatomo; 19 Cambiasso, 17 Mariga; 4 Zanetti, 14 Kharja, 9 Eto'o; 7 Pazzini.

Subs: 12 Castellazzi, 8 Thiago Motta, 20 Obi, 22 Milito, 23 Materazzi, 27 Pandev, 29 Coutinho.

Coach: Leonardo.

Roma: 32 Doni; 77 Cassetti, 29 N. Burdisso, 4 Juan, 17 Riise; 7 Pizarro, 16 De Rossi; 20 Perrotta, 30 Simplicio, 94 Menez; 22 Borriello.

Subs: 1 Lobont, 3 Castellini, 9 Vucinic, 15 Loria, 23 Greco, 47 Caprari, 87 Rosi.

Coach: Vincenzo Montella.

Referee: Daniele Orsato di Schio.

Prediction: Inter 1-1 Roma

FORZA INTER

=====

Kharja starting... I'm going to puke.