Saturday, December 27, 2008
Juventus In 2008: 4th 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 fourth episode: July and August.
JULY
The 4th of July is a special day in the US and became so also for Juventus 2008/09. It is the first day of school for a group who for Trentino with an only objective in mind: that of qualifying from the Champions League preliminaries in August.
The team arrived in Val rendena with many youngsters, a few new faces (great curiosity with regards to Ekdal) but without De Ceglie, Marchisio and Giovinco busy at the Olympics and also without Palladino and Criscito who were both transferred to Genoa. All eyes are pointed towards Amauri who is already geared-up for a season as protagonist.
In Pinzolo the team works “huddled” as always by its fans. Just before returning to Turin another piece is put in place. Juventus announce the signing of Christian Poulsen. The Danish midfielder, a former Siviglia player, arrives in Vinovo at the same time as those who took part in the European nations cup. Ranieri may begin to work with practically the whole team. The latest addition is Chimenti, who returned to Turin with Belardi moving to Udine.
The first steps made by the new Juventus are encouraging. Especially in the continental friendlies the black and white team shows how much they want to take part in European football. In Copenhagen against Brondby and in Dortmund against Borussia, Amauri and Iaquinta have a first taste of satisfaction. The month of July comes to an end with a great show of football in Turin. The Olimpico hosts the Trofeo Tim with Inter and Milan. Juventus go close to winning the tournament and its only due to the particular rules that they fail to do so notwithstanding two excellent performances.
AUGUST
At the beginning of August the bianconeri take part in a tour in England. Juventus realizes immediately that they are once again protagonists as they meet Arsenal and Hamburg in the
Emirates Cup in London. Ranieri’s team wins against the hosts thanks to Trezeguet but loses against the German side which eventually went on to win the tournament. Before traveling to Manchester, the squad is completed with the arrival of Alex Manninger, the Austrian goalkeeper who has made Italy his second home, and the transfer of Almiron to Fiorentina.
Against the English and European Champions, Manchester United, Juventus make another step forward. They manage to keep pace with Ferguson’s man and go near to winning. Del Piero lives a great evening, receiving a standing ovation from all those present at the Old Trafford upon exiting the field. The most important news however, arrives from another part of Europe. Artmedia Bratislava, Slovakia champions, beat the Finish team of Tampere United and qualified for the double-match against the bianconeri.
In reality less then half a match is needed to end the game. In Turin, Buffon and company immediately corner the Slovaks. Camoranesi, Del Piero and Chiellini make the score 3-0 by the end of the first half with Legrottaglie netting another by the end of the match. Juventus have virtually qualified for the group stage of the Champions League.
The team has only to wait for the return match which is to be a formality. In order to prepare for it the bianconero play a number of traditional August friendlies: Trofep Birra Moretti (which they win once again), the Trofeo Berlusconi and the in-house match at Villar Perosa against the Primavera.
In the meantime three more back-ups arrive with the team. The Olymnpic adventure is finished for the Italian side just a step away from the medal-zone. Marchisio arrives a bit before De Ceglie and Marchisio due to a slight injury. The three youngsters are included in the expedition to Bratislava. Against Artmedia the match ends 1-1 with Amauri scoring his first official goal. Juventus is amongst the 32 teams who qualified and a few days later gets to know who will be its opponents in the first phase: Group H with Real Madrid, Zenit St. Petersburg and Bate Borisov.
But there is still some time before returning to real European football and the team must first think of the championship. On the 31st of August, Ranieri’s team have a tough start to face: a match away to Fiorentina. At the Franchi stadium, the bianconeri dish out a great performance. Nedved scores at the end of the first half after a great pass by Grygera. Del Piero and Amauri go close to netting the second but Gilardino manages to ruin the celebration scoring at the end of the match the final score of which is 1-1.It is nonetheless a good point even though complete with a bit of disappointment.
Juventus.com
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