The former goalkeeper opens up about the national team, diving, locker rooms, infrastructure and his new role as a pundit: “I always say what I think. Even when it annoys people” Emiliano Viviano hasn’t lost his trademark bluntness. From long-time Serie A goalkeeper to TV pundit, the transition was natural for someone who, as he […]
The former Roma sporting director is ready to get back in the game and fires up the week leading to Roma-Juventus: “That Juventus-Roma 3-2…” A visionary executive, a talent scout, and a total football man, Walter Sabatini spoke at length to SMIT – Soccer Made in Italy. From his confidence about Italy’s participation in the
Matchday 26 delivered the fall of the giants… and of the referees’ association. Juventus, Milan and Napoli all went down, and once again refereeing controversy took center stage. It was a staggering Serie A weekend, or close to it. On paper, very few could have predicted that Milan, Napoli and Juventus would all slip up
The Fall of the Giants… and of the AIA Read More »
From Chivu’s words after Bodø–Inter to Mourinho’s lesson in 2022: when the surface matters, but the story can still change. There is a pitch in Bodø that seems to have a memory of its own.A synthetic surface that shows no mercy to those who are not used to it, and that inevitably becomes part of
That Pitch in Bodø and the Feeling That History Is Knocking Again Read More »
From Inter–Juventus to social media abuse, via referees and assistants: when the ball fades into the background and the system shows all its cracks. Inter–Juventus was played on Saturday night at San Siro and Inter won. That should be enough to sum up the weekend. Instead, it isn’t. For two days now, all anyone has
VAR, diving and the technology alibi: this is how football stopped deciding games Read More »
Spalletti decided not to speak, sending Locatelli to the press conference instead. Chivu’s response was subtly polemical… That Inter–Juventus is not a match like any other was already well known: the Derby d’Italia has always set fans’ emotions alight, and since the post-Calciopoli era the rivalry has unquestionably intensified. The buildup to the clash at
It’s Inter–Juventus Day: the strange pre-match buildup of Chivu and Spalletti Read More »
Five of the seven Serie A matches were decided by goals scored deep into stoppage time Matchday 24 of Serie A confirmed a trend that was already evident, amplifying it to the point of hyperbole: in Serie A, games are increasingly being decided deep into stoppage time. Setting aside Friday night’s drab 0–0 draw between
Until the Very End Read More »
The revelation of the ownership’s openness to Totti’s return came from Claudio Ranieri, and it already carries the feel of something close to official. In Rome, since yesterday, there has been talk of nothing else. It all started with a line from Claudio Ranieri during an interview with Sky Sport: “Totti in the club? The
The Friedkins want to bring Totti back to Roma Read More »
Matchday 23 felt like it would never end: it kicked off on Friday and only wrapped up last night… I don’t know about you readers, but personally I found Matchday 23 of Serie A unbearable, finally concluded last night with Milan’s emphatic away win over Bologna. A round of fixtures that truly seemed unwilling to
The Never-Ending Story Read More »
