A return of Milan – Juve, a return of Serie A in Europe…a return for Italy?

February 21st, 2012 | by: samcalcio | Comments Off

Serie A is on an unprecedented high not seen since the first half of the 21st Century, when Calcio was the highest ranked co-efficient league in Europe, and Italian sides regularly contested for the highest honours continentally and internationally. Feared and respected, ties against Italian sides, national or club, were always met with the same disappointed groan, regardless of how good your squad was.

“Oh god, we’re gonna really have to dig our feet in to get out of this one”

And that’s how it was. To face Milan, Juve or Inter, Roma or the Azzurri, was a mental and physical test more demanding than most.

However, since those heady days of all Italian European Cup finals and savoy blue decorated World Cup celebrations, the Azzurri and Italian football as a whole has taken a large knock – critically, financially and otherwise. Calciopoli, and a long slow recovery process – especially Juventus, who have only just looked like the Old Lady of pre 2006 have led to change in attitudes towards the Italian game.

What was tactical, measured and patient became called slow, cumbersome and pedestrian almost overnight. The previous themes that outlined Calcio and the Azzurri as a model to follow became a template to avoid.

Fast forward 6 years, and it’s almost(almost) like it never happened.

Suddenly, we see AC Milan, notoriously bad in recent years against English sides(and in Europe in general) knock four past Arsenal, the very first English Rose to put a thorn in the Devil’s side in 2008, when Milan were World Champions.

We see Juventus sit proudly near the summit of Serie A, still unbeaten and proving near invincible on the domestic front, with a side full of hardworking Italian internationals.

We see Italian sides outnumbering all the other nations in Champions League progession.

Close your eyes and open them again. Pinch yourself. No really, Serie A is back on the front foot. Even if it’s momentary, it’s thoroughly refreshing.

All these events come days before a return of modern Calcio’s biggest title clash: Milan v Juve.

The most successful side in Italy against the European globetrotters, ItalJuve vs a Milan side packed with foreign stars.

Movie style one liners aside, slowly, but surely, Serie A is gaining rhythm and order again. The old rivalries are back, the criticisms are turning into begrudging offerings of respect and us, the Azzurri fans are better for it.

Because there is more Italian talent than there has been for a very long time. From the experienced veterans down to the bright sparks lighting up the provinces, Italia is thriving as a hotbed of young prospects.

Try and name as many talented, young Italian forwards as you can: Balotelli, Destro, El Shaarawy, Immobile, Paloschi, Borini, Insigne…the list goes on.

There is now more reason to be optimistic about Gli Azzurri than previous years. More reason to feel hopeful. Because historically, when Serie A thrives, as does the Azzurri. Think the days of the 1930’s when two World Cup’s signalled the intentions of a nation blessed with the two of the best forwards to ever play the game; Piola and Meazza.

Think of the 80’s, when Maradona and Platini battled it out on Italian turf in the aftermath of a joyous nation winning the World Cup in 1982.

Think of the 90’s, when Milan brushed aside opposition like irksome flies whilst Calcio attracted a whole new set of fans after the 1990 World Cup,whilst Lippi began his dominating Juve cycle, finally ending when he himself took Italy to triumph in Berlin in 2006.

I’m not saying it’s going to be exactly the same. I’m not declaring Italy as the side that will lift the European Championships this summer, heading into 2014 at the forefront of the European game.

But now, as we stand in the year of the heralded Apocalypse, it may well dawn a new beginning for Gli Azzurri, and Calcio.

The futures bright, the futures Savoy Blue.

(Sorry)

Sam is on Twitter. He’ll apologise on there, too.