Friday, December 26, 2008
Juventus In 2008: 3rd Episode
2008 is on its way out. A very positive year for Juventus who returned with the great European teams through the qualification for the Champions League. Juventus.com relives the long voyage by Ranieri’s team in six episodes. Here is the third episode: May and June.
MAY
Having reached the qualification to European football, Juventus still hope to pass Roma and obtain the second place. The hope however, vanishes at the beginning of May. The favourable tradition against Siena comes to an end: the 1-0 defeat fixes the bianconeri’s standing as third and therefore the necessity of playing the preliminaries to enter the group stage of the Champions League.
However, the 2007/08 championship is not yet over and there are still two games to be played. This is even more so with Ranieri’s team having an influence on the relegation since they are to take on Catania at home in their next match. The Sicilians, coached by Zenga would be safe from reloegation if they won. This seemed to be a dream come true up to the very end of the match when Del Piero scored the 1-1 thus opening up a number of possibilities both at the top and the end of the table.
Incredibly enough, scudetto and relegation are decided on the very last match day. Juventus can allow itself to be a spectator on Sunday 18th May since it holds no interest and because the match away to Sampdoria was moved forward to Saturday due to Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Genova. The end result was an amazing 3-3. Del Piero passed Trezeguet in the last turning and wins the top-scorer title with the Frenchman in second place.
This is a sort of reprise for the captain who win the top-scorer title in the Serie B the season before. In the meantime Inter won the league with Roma hoping up to a few minutes from the end. Marchisio and Giovinco’s Empoli is relegated seconds before the end of the match and sharing its fate with that of Parma.
With the games ended the Juventus team is divided. All those called-up for the European Nations Cup left for their training camps. The others, who are also joined by a number of players who are willing to learn from the youth team are off on a fascinating adventure: two weeks in China and Australia for the “Costa Cruises Juventus Asia-Pacific Tour 2008”.
It is a sort of catwalk for Ranieri’s men who are the protagonists of three matches in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Melbourne. At the end of the last match in Australia, the coach from Rome receives the news he is waiting for the most: Amauri is now a Juventus player. The arrival of the Brazilian striker marks the future. This happens simultaneously to the farewell of players like Nocerino and Stendardo but most of all Alessandro Birindelli who leaves Juventus after 10 years and over 300 matches played.
JUNE
With the squad on holiday, awaiting the beginning of July and the preparation for the preliminaries beginning from the camp in Pinzolo, the attention of the Juventus fans is shifted towards two events: the European cup held in Austria and Switzerland and the transfer market.
Juventus 2008/09 starts to take shape. Having already signed Mellberg months before the new name in the defence is that of Darko Knezevic, a Croatian player who left a good impression at Livorno. However, the most awaited news is the return of Paolo De Ceglie, Claudio Marchisio and Sebastian Giovinco: players brought up in the Juventus nursery and more ready then ever after a year of experience in the Serie A.
The continental tournament does not end greatly. Donadoni’s Italy is having difficulties. Starting off with a defeat against Holland it would have been immediately eliminated if it weren’t for Buffon who saved a Mutu penalty in the match against Romania. Having passed the first round, the adventure is halted during the quarter finals against the European Champions to be , Spain. The match is decided by penalties but notwithstanding Buffon having once again done his part, this is not enough.
The azzurri go back home (and Marcello Lippi is called back as Italian coach) together with Grygera’s Czech Republic and Mellberg’s Sweden. However Juventus can count on a valuable consolation. According to many the best Italian player is Giorgio Chiellini, a youngster who is now fully grown and ready for the role of absolute protagonist. Upon arriving in Turin he received the well-deserved prize: the contract renewal. The future includes the face of “Chiello”.
Juventus.com
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