18 June 2010, 1:07 pm
A day of opposite extremes, one that Mexicans around the world will remember for a long time, one the French will mark as one of the darkest moments of their sporting history. The match itself was not spectacular. France failed to create a single, clear goal-scoring chance in 90 minutes, despite having Ribery, Anelka and Malouda on the field. More entertaining was the atmosphere created by the overwhelmingly pro-Mexican crowd in the stadium. But Aguirre’s team played with more determination, unified, with common purpose and that was enough to scrape a win that takes them into a probable second round match-up with Argentina. France is likely to head home next Tuesday, after a calamitous appearance at the World Cup.
Mexican jubilation at the World Cup.
France’s probable exit from the World Cup, while not only predictable but in fact predicted, represents the dreadful culmination of the Domenech era, one of the worst managerial performances on record when considering the talent France has to work with. Domenech’s monumental failure is a tragedy not only for France but especially for the French players and for soccer fans everywhere. He created an atmosphere of distrust, no discernible tactics, a team without soul, disjointed in every segment of the game. Yet the greater responsibility lies with the French Federation, specifically with those who kept Domenech in charge even after repeated alarming results during the qualification and preparation campaigns. A loss to Austria, frequent clashes with players, near calamity against Ireland, poor results against Tunisia, Costa Rica, a loss to China – all pointed to this outcome.
The man who ruined the French national team (Raymond Domenech, on the left) and the man who can return it to glory (Arsene Wenger, on the right)
France ran around aimlessly yesterday, the players lamentably distant from each other. The most incredible and revealing sight was Domenech himself, after Mexico’s second goal, leaning in solitude against a post with a look of blatant detachment from what was transpiring, seemingly vaguely interested, a revolting serenity that said it all. Some of France’s players will still be around for the Euros in two years, but for many, including Thierry Henry who gave a lot to his country over the years, this experience was devastating.
18 June 2010, 10:56 am
On one of the best day of the World Cup thus far, the annoying buzzing of the vuvuzelas finally gave way to the marvelous chorus of chanting and the booming beat of the drums. Who else – Argentina, of course, put on a show on the pitch and in the Johannesburg stadium. Around the 9th minute of play the Argentine contingent rose in unison to provide the flavor and rhythm so obviously missing from the World Cup for the first time in the tournament and it went on like that for most of the match. Argentina sealed their group with a resounding victory over South Korea in a highly entertaining encounter, another impressive performance that confirms Maradona’s team as a maximum contender in the tournament.
Argentina fans put on a show in Johannesburg
The score-line was unflattering for the technically gifted and laborious Koreans, who did have a chance to overturn a two-goal deficit. Argentina was on its heels for about ten minutes early in the second half, as the courageous Koreans nearly finished a spectacular play that would have evened things at two-a-piece. It wasn’t to be. Shortly after, Higuain’s opportunistic (and a little off-side) second goal ended the Korean momentum and placed Argentina in complete control. Argentina showed off once again their multitude of resources. Messi created time after time and nearly scored the goal of the tournament. Tevez moved very well, Di Maria always dangerous, Higuain actually played unremarkably and was about to be substituted with Milito in the first half, yet in the end finished with a hat-trick. It would be fair to say that Argentine expectations were raised yesterday.
The antidote to the vuvuzela - Fiesta Argentina
Korea will be unfortunate not to advance, having displayed the quality of its game once again. Korea, clearly superior to both Greece and Nigeria, will have to earn at least a tie against Nigeria to be sure and count on Argentina not to lose. For the Nigerians, widely tipped to finish second in the group, World Cup ambitions effectively collapsed with the loss to Greece, a loss triggered by a single, indefensible act of indiscipline that changed the complexion of the game entirely. The other definitive moment of the match was Greece’s equalizer just before the half. Had Nigeria resisted until half time still a goal ahead, with the chance to organize defensively against a team with a feeble offensive punch, chances are they could have squeezed out at least a draw. After the equalizer, psychologically bolstered by the numerical advantage, Greece pressed and scraped out a winner that improbably provides Greece with a chance to advance, a miracle of sorts considering their pathetic performance against Korea. For Nigeria, an African traditional powerhouse, World Cup aspirations appear to have slipped away, though mathematically there is still a chance.
16 June 2010, 12:22 pm
Six days into the World Cup, every team has now appeared at least once and it is fair to say that, until today, the tournament has fallen short of the dazzling display anticipated. With the exception of Argentina – Nigeria, a match that provided end-to-end lively action throughout, no matter how much luster FIFA or ESPN tried to add, the quality of play has been average at best. Today’s Chile and Spain matches were great to watch all around and hopefully the start of a consistently higher level of play, as the pressure of advancing mounts.
There are positive impressions from the first 16 matches. Germany looked sharp in its demolition of the hapless Aussies and Holland played OK against the Danes, though far from spectacular. Ghana looked much better than in the pre-tournament friendlies and is now in position to make a run, though Germany will be a telling test for them. Italy played better than expected, with pace and purpose in pursuit of all three points in play, yet still seemed to lack creativity even on its best effort day. Paraguay defended well and has good attackers, but their obvious weakness is in the midfield. Even Brazil, while controlling the game and with Robinho in stupendous form, looked very average against a resilient N Korean defense. Fun matches took place today, Chile and Spain looking good despite missing boatloads of goals. Tournament favorite Spain suffered a heavy blow today that may cost them a date with Brazil in the Round of 16.
The disappointments came in several forms. All of the combatants of Group A – France, South Africa, Uruguay and Mexico – have looked mediocre at best. While USA showed spirit, England showed very little of anything. Greece’s performance was not worthy of participation in this competition. Slovenia and Algeria treated us to a lame stalemate. Slovakia essentially blew its chances of advancing to the second round by tripping over a jubilant New Zealand. Serbia disappointed greatly, considering the amount of talent on their roster. Cameroon suffered from a disjointed performance heavily reliant on individual efforts, while Japan looked organized and keen on taking points rather than impressing with play.
Ivory Coast – Portugal, yesterday’s highly anticipated match-up, also failed to deliver quality, leaving the audience wanting. Portugal created very little. Cristiano Ronaldo looked subdued. One play in 90 minutes and that was it. Midfield poor, Deco nothing, Simao nothing, Liedson very little. Portugal had support in the stadium and did not rise to the occasion. For their part, Ivory Coast moved well but created very few real chances. Even the introduction of Drogba in the second half, which lit up the crowd, failed to lift the game itself. In 25 minutes Drogba did virtually nothing, barely touching the ball until his chance in injury time.
Enough of that, please!
It can’t be just the swerving ball, about which many complaints have been lodged, or the altitude at which most games are being played. The contributing factor most responsible for the low goal count may be that the players are simply tired after long, strenuous club seasons in the era of the modern game. With energy depleted, the creative aspect of the game suffers first. The other conceivable possibility affecting the quality of play is the constant buzzing of the vuvuzelas. It creates a linear atmosphere without any discernible emotional scale, sending the players into a trance of sorts. There is no audible crowd reaction, none of the chants can be heard, and so what is the charm of the one-note plastic trumpet?
Whatever the explanation, the pace must improve or the audience’s interest is sure to dwindle. Everyone will still follow the tournament, perhaps more distantly. There are many matches to go, plenty of time for the tournament to catch fire, but up to now the magical moments have been in short supply. Today was a marked improvement in quality, let’s hope it is the beginning of exciting things to come.
13 June 2010, 11:21 pm
Amidst the incessant buzzing of the vuvuzelas, the first three days of the tournament are in the history books with a mixed batch of impressions and a couple of mild surprises. Concerns continue to float on and off the pitch, causing FIFA anxiety about the course of a competition that is perceptibly unfamiliar in some regards. Whatever the circumstances, the action is now in full swing and all that matters going forward is the quality of play. One aspect that FIFA can feel good about is the work of the referees: they have been fairly on point to date, perhaps with one or two exceptions (ask Australia about that).
The opening ceremonies seemed a bit odd at times, particularly FIFA’s choice of Patrick Vieira to hand the World Cup to South African officials. Vieira was on the losing side four years ago and was not selected for the French team this time around. Nevertheless, Friday’s opener between Mexico and the host country finally moved speculation to here and now. The match itself? After missing good opportunities in the opening half hour, Mexico delivered a soft performance, marked by a timid sense of confidence and urgency. Mexico’s step back allowed South Africa to pick up courage and create more in the second half. While it’s fair to say that Mexico dropped two points, in the end the result was equitable as South Africa could have taken all three but for the injury time goalpost.
Uruguay and France treated the audience to the poorest match of the week-end, predictably confusing from the French side but more to be expected of Uruguay. Overall, Group A matches seemed mediocre, but the quality improved on Day 2. Argentina and Nigeria provided a spectacular display of end-to-end action to collective global applause. Unlike in qualifiers, Maradona’s men performed coherently, with purpose and pace, validating the team’s pre-tournament preparation. Messi had a very good, not excellent, match, creating excitement with speedy incursions and putting to rest reports of his state of exhaustion, but it was a team effort for Argentina. For their part, Nigeria looked good as well. The Eagles played with determination and with a little more concentration could have taken at least one point out of the encounter. Nigeria will battle a surprisingly solid South Korea team, winner over a lifeless Greece, to advance past group stage.
Two hours later, the Anglo-American showdown started promisingly, only to fade in intensity during the second half and finish in a stalemate, a draw that brings the English back to earth and bolsters American optimism for the second round. “Hand of Clod”, “Cock-up Keeper Green Wrecks Dream Start,” “Stars and tripe”, “Tainted Glove” were some of the tabloid headlines in London, but England’s problems go beyond the blunder. Surprisingly, even under Capello, England reverted to a loosely organized bunch of over-hyped names. The pattern is incredibly consistent. England – players, fans, media, the entire country – enters every tournament with the conviction that in fact England is the team destined for glory and only tangential or incidental events can prevent it from achieving such superiority. This arrogant approach was deflated once again by a disappointing performance in line with reality, one that raises the pressure on Capello who, ironically, just signed an extension to remain England manager for a few more years. Can you imagine if England crashes out in the first round?
USA on the other hand played its chances well, even dominating stretches of possession. The Americans could have stolen all three points, but in the end the result was just. The only point of concern for the US is the health of goal-keeper Tim Howard, who performed excellently against England, though even in his absence the Americans are well covered at the position. A win against Slovenia might be sufficient for the US to advance, but a loss will effectively eliminate them.
Ghana provided the first African success of the tournament with a deserved, narrow victory over a truly disappointing Serbia. Ghana looked great from a conditioning point of view, quicker to the ball, speedy and athletic. With a Serbian coach who looked totally disheveled and refused to smile during the exuberant celebrations at the end of the match, Ghana seems to have overcome its poor recent form and should advance with a win over Australia. Serbia, who had a couple of chances but overall generated a dull performance, must now win against Germany for a chance to qualify. That seems like mission impossible judging by Germany’s sharp performance against Australia. It could have been much worse for the Aussies, their fragile chances entirely destroyed by Tim Cahill’s unwarranted send-off. Without Cahill and injured Harry Kewell, Australia lacked the power to challenge and was lucky not to have given up many more.
Asamoah Gyan converted a penalty to give Ghana a memorable victory.
Yet to emerge are Italy, Brazil, Portugal, Holland, Ivory Coast and Spain in what promises to be a week of low productivity in the corporate world. As an aside, non-football related incidents continue to cause uneasiness. New Zealand journalists were robbed of $100,000 of equipment stored in their hotel room (inside job fellows). The Uruguayan team safe was also emptied while the team played on Friday. Police used tear gas and rubber bullets in a fight with 500 stadium stewards who were protesting their wages, apparently. And the talk of the day was banning the annoying vuvuzelas, the local favorite, atmosphere-killing buzzing that has become a nuisance to most non-Africans and to viewers around the world. Songs are drowned out, players can’t hear each other, etc etc, but the real problem is that it doesn’t stop. A piercing sound like that for two straight hours, three times a day, is enough to say let’s do without them for a change.
10 June 2010, 9:12 pm
The first ever World Cup to be hosted by an African nation, South Africa 2010, is on the verge of kick-off. In less than 24 hours, the home country’s Bafana Bafana will take on Mexico in the competition’s inaugural match. After years of preparation and long qualifying journeys, the 32 finalists are set for action. Not a moment too soon for most, as training camps reached their limits, while the global audience adjusts to fit this most revered event at the center of every day life.
South African fans welcome the World Cup with great anticipation.
Embracing the prestigious opportunity to represent their countries at the World Cup, players confirmed with determination and common purpose, though challenges persisted during the final preparation stages. Particularly remarkable is the number of injuries that have forced teams to scramble for solutions, Robben, Drogba, Nani, Rio Ferdinand, Vidic, Pirlo among the injured. From an organizational standpoint, FIFA must be relieved at the low level of disruptions to this point, although a couple of serious incidents have caused alarm (the stampede and the journalists robbed at gunpoint inside their hotel). Undoubtedly, the ability to adapt to local conditions quickly will provide an advantage for some.
Here are the 91minute predictions for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa:
Group A: 1. Uruguay, 2. Mexico, 3. France, 4. South Africa. Uruguay has a potent attacking force in Forlan and Luis Suarez, underrated talent at every position and an excellent technician in Washington Tabarez. Mexico will edge out France for second place. The 2006 finalists have an excellent roster that consistently fails to deliver under the guidance of Raymond Domenech. South Africa, better in 2006, may surprise, but are unlikely to advance past group stage.
Group B: 1. Argentina, 2. Nigeria, 3. South Korea, 4. Greece. Beside the easy group, Argentina had a solid preparation period. The players seem to be united and in good form. Nigeria should get past Greece and South Korea with superior talent and plenty of local support. The Greeks do not have enough firepower to challenge, but are strong defensively, while S Korea will give it a go.
Group C: 1. England, 2. Slovenia, 3. USA, 4. Algeria. England fields an experienced group, though central defense and an ideal complement to Rooney remain two of Capello’s main concerns. USA will perform well, but the magical run of last year’s Confederations Cup is unlikely be reproduced. Slovenia, a team with no stars and excellent teamwork, will surprise and quietly sneak into the second round. Algeria and USA will both finish on 4 points, one behind Slovenia.
Group D: 1. Serbia, 2. Germany, 3. Australia, 4. Ghana. Serbia is loaded with excellent players from top to bottom and will edge out an aging German team for the top spot in the group. Australia seems less dangerous without Hiddink’s magical touch, while Ghana is without Michael Essien and in poor form.
Group E: 1. Holland, 2. Cameroon, 3. Japan, 4. Denmark. Holland brings a formidable team, though one key component (Robben) suffered a serious injury in the last preparation match and is likely to miss the entire first round. The Dutch will win the group without him, especially if they can set the tone against the Danes. Cameroon will do well to advance to the second round, while Japan showed grit in the preparation matches against England and Ivory Coast.
Group F: 1. Paraguay, 2. Slovakia, 3. Italy, 4. New Zealand. Great team fielded by Paraguay, strong in every sector of the field and increasing confidence. Slovakia will edge out an aging, defensive Italy for second place. Despite five quality attackers, Italy has serious cracks in the midfield and defensive zones. Slovakia was dominant in qualifiers and will not be intimidated. Second place will be decided in the last match of the group, the direct clash between Slovakia and Italy.
Group G: 1. Brasil, 2. Portugal, 3. Ivory Coast, 4. North Korea. Anything can happen in this group. It is conceivable that three teams will end up with six points each (2W, 1L), or with five points (1W, 2D) each. Portugal, well supported in South Africa, without Nani but with Cristiano Ronaldo to lead the way, may take second place. Brasil does not seem dominant this time around. The wild card is African favorites Ivory Coast. The Elephants bring a superb roster of players, but without Drogba’s full power, they might fall just short.
Group H: 1. Spain, 2. Chile, 3. Switzerland, 4. Honduras. Easy group for the most balanced team in the tournament. Spain is spectacular through the last player on the bench and should have a smooth passage to the final, if they can get past their Round of 16 match which may be their toughest. Chile will give Spain a good run, but Switzerland and Honduras lack the resources.
ROUND OF 16
1A. Uruguay vs. 2B. Nigeria > Uruguay
1C. England vs 2D. Germany > England
1E. Holland vs. 2F. Slovakia > Holland
1G. Brasil vs. 2H. Chile > Brasil
1D. Serbia vs. 2C. Slovenia > Serbia
1B. Argentina vs. 2A. Mexico > Argentina
1F. Paraguay vs. 2E. Cameroon > Paraguay
1H. Spain vs. 2G. Portugal > Spain
QUARTERFINALS
England vs Uruguay > England
Holland vs. Brasil > Holland
Serbia vs. Argentina > Argentina
Paraguay vs. Spain > Spain
SEMIFINALS
England vs. Holland > Holland
Argentina vs. Spain > Spain
FINAL
Spain vs. Holland > SPAIN TO WIN THE 2010 WORLD CUP
8 June 2010, 10:59 am
A fascinating story has emerged during the past week concerning the arrival of Argentine supporters in South Africa, among them many leaders of supporter groups from various clubs in Argentina, effectively gangsters, referred to as Barrabravas at home. Incredibly, about 30 are said to have arrived at the World Cup on the same plane carrying the national team with all its superstars and Maradona. Ten of the arrivals have already been deported back to Buenos Aires. Of the remainder, most have shacked up at a boarding school near Pretoria where they have caused no problems so far, though journalists have been cautioned not to come around asking questions. A plane load carrying 238 more Argentine supporters is set for arrival on Wednesday.
To understand the situation, it is necessary to understand Argentine futbol culture. Every club in Argentina, whatever the echelon, has not only “civilian” supporters but also hard core contingents integrally associated with the club. Everywhere the club plays, this group of supporters delivers a tremendous spectacle with songs, banners, flares in solidarity with the club they live for. This is essential to the Argentine sporting experience. Conversely, in a lifeless stadium without the incendiary atmosphere, the appeal of the encounter becomes greatly diminished. The electricity in the stadium is every bit as important as the match itself, if not more, and the people that create and deliver this atmosphere on the standing room only terraces of the stadiums are the Barrabravas.
San Lorenzo
Barrabravas are effectively organized with comandantes, sub-comandantes and soldiers. They are on hand wherever their club plays in the world. The leaders have relationships with the club presidents and often receive money for travel to away matches and procurement of flags or banners. They do not have to buy tickets. Their ingress is assured by the club bosses, partly for want, partly out of fear. Their contribution to the spectacle is so essential that often they deliver the entire spectacle. Many players strongly identify with the Barras, having risen from the same economic ranks of society. Idolized players receive mass adulation from the Barrabravas, which Diego – for instance – described as the greatest feeling in the world, but out of favor players can become targets after poor performances. Over time, the Barra leaders also developed strong economic power. Barras run everything around the stadiums, including game day businesses like food stands, parking and shirt sales. There are no commissioners, no licensing, no corporations, no behavior control – only popular culture in Argentine stadiums.
Power to the people: this is the home of the BarraBravas.
During the past couple of years, with an eye on the World Cup, some Barras have tried to expand this kind of relationship to the national team. In exchange for a promise to restrain from violence, Barrabravas from a number of clubs organized themselves into a union of sort called Hinchadas Unidas de Argentina (HUA). The political leader of HUA, Marcelo Mello, is widely viewed as connected to the government of Cristina Fernandez and her husband, former President Nestor Kirschner. Mello is seen also as the financial linchpin of HUA. Clearly many Barras, most of whom come from the poorest barrios of Buenos Aires, lack the resources to get to South Africa and all have received money that ultimately came from the government for their trip to the World Cup. Mello wants that special Argentine stadium atmosphere to be with the national team and his project brought to South Africa the characters that can deliver it.
Boca Juniors Barrabravas are the most notorious in Argentina.
Not all got to stay. The ten sent back to Buenos Aires included notorious gangsters Pablo “Bebote” Alvarez, the leader of the Independiente Barrabravas, Andres “Pillin” Bracamonte, chief of the Rosario Central Barrabravas known as Los Guerreros, Julio Cesar “Cara de Goma” Navarro, Bracamonte’s right hand man, and Sergio Gustavo “Flay” Roldan, the leader of San Martin Tucuman who is about to be prosecuted for the murder of a rival fan, yet was still allowed to board a plane in Buenos Aires because the paperwork of his case was not filed yet. Other Barras deported were three leaders of Huracan and two leaders of Lanus. On Sunday Barrabravas associated with San Lorenzo and Racing were seen at the airport setting off for Africa, while tomorrow member of Boca Juniors “La 12″ and core Estudiantes La Plata Barras were set to go.
All in all, it is a phenomenon unique to Argentina. Whatever the world thinks of this, for the Argentine players to have the Barrabravas on hand is like home-cooking. Their presence generates an energy and a confidence that the players thrive on. All Argentines know that many Barras are hard core gangsters, legendary for a violent history, but also the thrilling half of the show. They raise the sensational side of the match up to a spectacular level and for that they are not only tolerated, but often aided and abetted, as is the case now in Africa.
River Plate's dominant barra Los Borrachos del Tablon was on hand for the World Cup in Germany 2006.
8 June 2010, 8:56 am
Jose Mourinho’s move to Madrid was not the only remarkable end of the season development. Last week Italy’s soccer federation unanimously selected Cesare Prandelli to succeed Marcello Lippi as Italy coach after the 2010 World Cup. This is an excellent appointment. Prandelli, a former Juventus player, earned respect and admiration throughout Italy for his accomplishments as a manager first with Parma and, in recent years, with Fiorentina. He is a great strategist and players’ manager, masterfully able to get the most out of his resources. Idolized in Florence, where a large banner proclaims “Welcome to the Prandelli Show” at every home match, Prandelli was briefly rumored to take over at Juventus. To the relief of the Viola fans, he took the national team post instead.
Cesare Prandelli takes over Italy after the World Cup.
Prandelli’s successor at Fiorentina is Sinisa Mihajlovic, the Serbian former Lazio and Inter player. Mihajlovic started his coaching career as Mancini’s assistant at Inter, with one year stints in charge of Bologna and Catania. After successfully guiding the Sicilian club to preserve its Serie A place, last week Mihajlovic abruptly quit Catania, with rumors circulating that he was a long shot candidate to take over for Mourinho. In the end, Fiorentina provided the chance. This will be a great test for Mihajlovic’s coaching aspirations. Fiorentina is a prestigious club with European ambitions, well beyond Serie A survival.
Toward the end of last week, Rafael Benitez’s tenure at Liverpool came to an end after the club and the manager agreed to a severance deal to erase the remainder of his contract. The most revealing aspect of this move is the atmosphere at Liverpool. Benitez gave up a substantial amount of money for the chance to have a fresh start elsewhere, exiting the rut created by Liverpool’s ownership problems, but also by Benitez himself. At first impression, the move may work out well for both parties. Liverpool is in dire need of competent management and a vibrant, strong leader for the players. Guus Hiddink is the most ideal man for the job, yet once again he is unavailable due to his commitment to Turkey. The club has a big roster with too many idle players and plenty of room for improvement. They have six bona-fide pillars to build around in Carragher, Glenn Johnson, Mascherano, Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina and Steven Gerrard, plus Kuyt, Yossi Benayoun and Ryan Babel. Three or four solid additions may propel them to the next level. Kenny Dalglish leads the search for the next Liverpool manager, with Frank Rijkaard mentioned as a possible successor.
Rafa Benitez: ready for Northern Italian cuisine and nicer ties.
Benitez appears set to take over for Mourinho at Inter after being deemed as the best available candidate. President Massimo Moratti really wanted Hiddink as his next manager, but the Dutchman is tied up. After those two, the search did not reveal many suitable options. In Benitez, Inter gets an experienced manager who will not be overwhelmed by the job and who warrants respect at the outset. Benitez won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, so Inter’s house is full of champions. What impact his arrival will have on the field is unclear. With essentially the same Inter group returning, Rafa must keep their commitment and determination at maximum intensity after five straight Scudettos and the Champions League. It remains to be seen how this challenge will play out.
31 May 2010, 11:28 pm
The word “saga” gets thrown around loosely among Anglo-American journalists, often in an effort to create a buzz about an unremarkable story, but the Mourinho episode during the past week correctly merits this designation. The “saga” ended today with the official appointment of Jose Mourinho as Real Madrid’s manager for the next four years, capping a week of tension and speculation that was finally resolved through an old school gentleman’s agreement. After Mourinho was unable to persuade Moratti to let him go for free, despite maximum accomplishments and no desire to continue in Italy, Real’s boss Florentino Perez flew to Milano to get his man. Perez and Inter boss Massimo Moratti came to an agreement fastidiously over a good bottle of Chianti and everything is now official.
Jose Mourinho officially unveiled as the new Real Madrid manager.
Moratti, forever grateful to Mourinho for Inter’s magical season, did not hide his bitterness about the modality of the break-up. The Portuguese’s departure loomed above the club’s success prior to, but particularly during the past week of what should have been pure joy. Since Inter’s European triumph, it has been impossible to ignore this story. Inter fans celebrated at reduced intensity, weary of an uncertain future and of the impact of Mourinho’s departure, a man who had the loyalty of all the players, Balotelli apart. Moratti should do everything to get Guus Hiddink and the club will be absolutely ok. With Mihajlovic, everything will collapse. The Serb has neither the personality nor the experience to be in charge of Inter.
Mourinho now embarks on the road to establish himself as the best ever. Unquestionably, this new “project” as he put it is very much a personal quest as it is about Real Madrid’s success, perhaps more. Yet as loaded as Madrid is, this vision of glory presents obstacles that Mourinho may not be fully aware of. Pellegrini mentioned something on his way out that made a lot of sense. He made reference to Madrid’s dysfunctional circle within the club’s leadership, an element that affected the past seven managers to have come and gone. At the center of this circle is Madrid’s “Sporting Director” Jorge Valdano, an Argentine who played for the club briefly and has managed to stick around ever since.
Valdano was not a great player and is not revered in Argentina, but he seems to be a master manipulator at Real and always in favor with Florentino Perez. There is no doubt that Mourinho’s arrival diminishes Valdano’s role at the club. The two will inevitably clash. It will happen this way: following a poor result, Mourinho will abstractly make mention of the impact certain whispers at the club sabotaging his program, the media will have a field day, paranoia will feed on itself and possibly test allegiances among the players. It is very unlikely, given those two personalities, that Mourinho and Valdano will work together for long.
Mourinho appears to be on a collision course with this man.
Then there are the players. Mourinho will be tested at times, as he was with Balotelli. If a problem emerges with Cristiano Ronaldo or Higuain, be it performance, work rate or personal life, Mourinho knows only one way to handle it: as a benevolent autocrat. No one player is bigger than the club, correctly. He will have the difficult task of managing a new set of egos and personalities.
Despite his tremendous success, Mourinho has now departed boisterously from Porto, Chelsea and Inter. There is no turning back. Ultimately, what he wants more than anything else is love. No amount of trophies will give Mourinho the satisfaction of knowing that he was loved by the players and the fans alike. For now, he has earned the respect of players and supporters everywhere he has been, but the love is still elusive. He had Inter’s love forever if he would have made this move to Madrid differently. Now he must be pleased to have only respect.
24 May 2010, 11:25 am
Two excellent individual efforts by Diego Milito made the difference in Saturday’s Champions League final to complete Inter’s dream season and place the Italian club on course to match Barcelona’s unprecedented achievement in 2009. The moment of glory did not last as long as normal, however, as players and supporters alike started considering the implications of Mourinho’s imminent departure from the club, which was more or less confirmed in the hours following the final. Those two or three days of personal reflection were not necessary after all, as Mourinho essentially confirmed Real Madrid as his next “project”.
Inter captain Javier Zanetti lifted the Champions League trophy in Madrid.
The match itself was not among the most spectacular of finals, it was evenly balanced for long stretches. On each side of Milito’s first goal, Bayern pushed hard via the Robben corridor, but Inter closed spaces quickly, committed no defensive blunders and enjoyed a sure performance from Brazilian goal-keeper Julio Cesar when tested. As the match went on it became apparent that only Robben could generate any threat. Robben tormented Inter left-back Cristian Chivu repeatedly and came close once, but in the end Milito’s stupendous second goal sealed Inter’s victory. To what must have been Lucio’s delight, Diego “El Principe” Milito got the better of De Michelis on the first goal and literally turned van Buyten inside out on the second. After that, the stadium became the setting for a memorable fiesta for the nerrazzuri supporters, confident that the Champions League was theirs for the first time since 1972.
Diego "El Principe" Milito was tremendous in Madrid.
Mourinho was visibly emotional at the end, celebrating with Zanetti, Cambiasso, Maicon and the rest of the players that he has turned into one unified group during Inter’s successful campaign. Perhaps Mourinho’s greatest achievement, what he will be remembered for most, will be his ability to lift Inter out of a culture of psychological fragility, to instill in the players a strong belief in their abilities to overcome the greatest of challenges through willpower, effort, cunning, efficiency, determination and courage. The Chelsea and Barcelona ties are exhibits A and B for Inter’s new character. Mourinho got all of the players on the same page about their roles within the club’s objectives and once he pieced together the winning formula, earlier this year, he never relinquished it.
Jose Mourinho rejoiced the moment, then moved onto busines.
Inter’s celebrations continued throughout the week-end at dimmed intensity, as it became more and more clear that, indeed, Jose Mourinho will leave Italy to take over Real Madrid. All of the business conditions are ideal for this transition and, despite his success at Inter, Mourinho did not make a lot of friends in Italy. His motivation is easily discernible. He wants to become the only manager to win the Champions League with three different clubs. He wants to conquer La Liga and let the record indicate that he was successful in four countries. Madrid is close to home. Madrid’s roster is already loaded with stars and super-stars, including Cristiano Ronaldo. The challenge Mourinho will face with Real is meshing the personalities and the egos of the Galacticos into one, single-purpose family, as he did at Inter. This is a very real challenge. He will be especially tough on Cristiano Ronaldo. Mourinho is a benevolent autocrat, it’s his way or the highway. Cristiano’s liaisons with fashion and pseudo-celebrities will not be tolerated. All of Real’s players will be required to be on top of their game, but Mourinho has a lot to work with already. Former Real and Inter man, Portuguese star Luis Figo, has been apparently lined up as Mourinho’s second in Madrid.
Speculation has some of Inter’s key players, including Milito and Maicon, following Mourinho to Real. Milito himself stopped short of committing himself 100% to Inter, despite three more years under contract. But Inter President Massimo Moratti, the proud guardian of the family jewel, moved quickly to kill the rumors. It appears that Mourinho had a contractual clause allowing him to leave under certain conditions, one of them being the Champions League win. Maicon and Milito will not go for less than astronomical transfer fees.
22 May 2010, 11:07 am
Bayern Munich’s path to today’s Champions League final in Madrid reflects the German club’s status as the competition’s team of destiny. Their passage from group stage to the semifinals had a touch of miracle just about every step of the way. But Inter has been on an unprecedented upward trajectory in 2010 and their game reflects the new culture at the club instilled by Mourinho. If Inter simply plays with the same level of determination as it did in the Chelsea or Barcelona ties, it is difficult to see them losing today. However, the Germans, who worried deeply about Barcelona, will relish the underdog role once again and come into the match without fear on Inter.
Last November Bayern’s prospects looked awful, having stumbled badly in the Champions League, their manager Louis van Gaal was very close to being sacked. Somehow Bayern overcame improbable odds to leap-frog Juventus, then got past Fiorentina with Robben, a lot of luck and a ridiculously off-side goal in Munich. Next came Man United, a strange home and away encounter that was greatly determined by two enormous, opportunistic Olic goals and a Rooney injury. Lyon was there for the taking, having relieved the Germans from a possible date with Real Madrid.
For their part, Inter looked completely over-matched by Barcelona at group stage, but the paramount transformation for this team and the club came in the Chelsea ties. Never has Inter displayed so much aggressive fighting spirit, so much unity of purpose as in the Chelsea, first, and then Barcelona ties. Each and every Inter player has embraced Mourinho’s style and tactical game-plan and it shows. With the emergence of Wesley Snejder as a magnificent play-maker, Diego Milito as an irrepressible goal-scorer, Samuel Eto’o, Pandev and Maicon providing the threat on the flanks, Inter’s firepower should make the difference. Thiago Motta is Inter’s big absence today, a player who Mourinho loves and who exemplifies Inter’s new, scrappy, fighting spirit.
Bayern will be without French winger Ribery, a big loss that leaves his replacement Altintop with a lot of responsibility and relieves Mourinho of one huge headache. Effectively, if Inter shut down Robben and possibly Mario Gomez, it is hard to see where Bayern’s goals will come from. Marc van Bommel is a great captain, but on the whole Bayern’s five offensive players do not match up to Inter’s.
Both clubs have reached the final against the odds. Both have already sealed their domestic league and cup double, enjoying tremendous seasons and bringing all the positive momentum into today’s match. Yet only one team will make history in Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu. It is an encounter worthy of the occasion.
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