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Archive for March, 2009
Giovinco on Permette Signora
Mar 21st
Giovinco was on Permette Signora. Unfortunately it’s in Italian and there is no English subtitle available.
Note: Use HJSplit to join 2 files and if you have problem playing the video, then use VLC Player
Download here
Serie A Preview: Roma – Juventus
Mar 21st
Kick Off: Saturday March 21, 20:30CET,
Stadio Olimpico, Rome.
All Or Nothing For Roma
Roma’s hopes of salvaging their season rest on finishing fourth in Serie A with a Champions League place in their pocket. From now until the end of term, thirty points are up for grabs. The first three of those are on offer when Juventus visit the Stadio Olimpico this Saturday. However, it will not be easy for the Giallorossi as they have several stars missing through injury.
Luciano Spalletti’s men are joint fifth with Fiorentina, just two points behind Genoa. The Grifoni welcome Udinese at Marassi, and anything less than a win for Roma could start to get the critics shooting down their Champions League chances. The records are heavily stacked against the Eternal-city side. They have not beaten Juventus in Serie A in any of their last six meetings. Roma have lost four times to the Bianconeri; the other two matches ended in draws in Rome and in Turin. The reverse fixture ended 2-0 to the kings of Piedmont back in November. A wonder free-kick from Alessandro Del Piero, and a sucker-punch strike from Marco Marchionni did the damage. The Giallorossi will be hoping for a better outcome in front of their own crowd.
Juventus have not won at the Stadio Olimpico since November 2005. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was the protagonist back then, and plenty has changed since. Italy won the World Cup and Calciopoli changed the Italian game for good. With so many injuries taking their toll, a positive result is looking difficult. All of Roma’s last three games ended in draws. The Giallorossi did brilliantly to come back against Sampdoria last week. And the two previous clashes were against Udinese at home and the epic Inter draw away. With plenty of talk regarding Alberto Aquilani’s contract and Francesco Totti’s injury, distractions are likely. However, it’s all or nothing for the capital city side if they are to keep their hopes of top European football alive for next season.
Juventus Fighting On
The Bianconeri are keeping the Serie A title race still open. After the loss to Chelsea in the Champions League, Claudio Ranieri made some wholesale changes to the team for the Bologna game in Turin. For once, the Tinkerman’s choices seemed to pay the right dividends as Juve stormed to a 4-1 win to keep the pressure up on Inter. A new and tougher challenge awaits the Bianconeri in Rome. Anything less than a win could see the Nerazzurri take a further leap towards the title.
Although Ranieri is well aware of the injury situation at Trigoria, he will not be taking anything for granted against Roma. The Giallorossi showed their mettle against Sampdoria, and thus an alert Juve will need to be present at the Olimpico this weekend. Following the recent spat with David Trezeguet, peace seems to have been reached between the Frenchman and his coach. The prolific striker missed out last week, perhaps as punishment for his rant against Ranieri. However, he has a good chance of featuring this weekend as the coach makes more changes.
Juve will be confident knowing they have not lost to the Giallorossi in the league for almost four years, but the Olimpico has not always been kind to them this season. Juve have lost and drawn there already this term, albeit against Roma’s bitter rivals Lazio. Ranieri and his men will be hoping it’s third time lucky in Rome this weekend. Nothing more than three points will be on the agenda, and it’s time to show their mettle as we enter the business end of the season. Although the gap between second and first stands at seven points, the Scudetto lantern is still, just about, flickering for the Old Lady.
FORM GUIDE
Roma
Mar 15: Sampdoria 2-2 Roma
Mar 7: Roma 1-1 Udinese
Mar 1: Inter 3-3 Roma
Feb 21: Roma 1-0 Siena
Feb 15: Atalanta 3-0 Roma
Feb 8: Roma 3-0 Genoa
Juventus
Mar 14: Juventus 4-1 Bologna
Mar 7: Torino 0-1 Juventus
Feb 28: Juventus 1-0 Napoli
Feb 21: Palermo 0-2 Juventus
Feb 15: Juventus 1-1 Sampdoria
Feb 8: Catania 1-2 Juventus
TEAM NEWS
Roma
The injury room is almost full to bursting at Trigoria. Matteo Brighi was unable to train on Thursday, but he may be available to Spalletti for his midfield. Daniele De Rossi and David Pizarro are out with a one match suspension each, while Albeto Aquilani and Rodrigo Taddei are both injured. Marco Cassetti and Simone Perrotta are doubtful, and so Spalletti may have to call up Brazilian midfielder Filipe from the reserves. Cicinho, Juan and Francesco Totti are also crocked as the injuries continue to plague the Romans. Marco Motta and Sulley Diamoutene are also suspended for this one.
Probable Starting XI: Doni, Panucci, Mexes, Loria, Riise, Filipe, Brighi, Tonetto, Baptista, Vucinic, Menez.
Juventus
Pavel Nedved is back in contention for his side after missing out last week. Giorgio Chiellini is also likely to play following a nose break last week, but he will wear a protective mask to support him. Olof Mellberg is likely to keep his place ahead of Nicola Legrottaglie who has a problem to his left knee. Claudio Marchisio is still struggling with a knock, and he is unlikely to feature. There may be space for Tiago and Christian Poulsen in midfield. Mauro Camoranesi, Mohamed Sissoko, Cristian Zanetti, Amauri, Paolo De Ceglie and Alex Manninger are all out of contention with various problems.
Probable Starting XI: Buffon, Grygera, Mellberg, Chiellini, Molinaro, Salihamidzic, Tiago, Poulsen, Nedved, Iaquinta, Del Piero.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Roma: Keep an eye on Julio Baptista. The hitman has blown hot and cold recently, but he was on fire last week. The ‘Beast’ grabbed a double against Sampdoria to rescue his side, and he will be hoping for more of the same against the Bianconeri on Saturday night.
Juventus: Hasan Salihamidzic has been consistent and covered well for the injured Mauro Camoranesi on the right. He has been effective and made the difference on a number of occasions. Expect him to be key to Juve’s cause.
PREDICTION
It’s set to be a Roman epic this weekend. With both teams struggling with injuries, a result is almost impossible to predict. Although there will still be difference makers on the pitch, a draw is likely. However, Juve have the greater chance of three points.
Roma 1-2 Juventus
Giovinco: Torino rejected me as kid
Mar 20th
Juventus attacking midfielder Sebastian Giovinco has revealed how he was rejected by Torino as a teenager.
“I was too small, so they said,” explained Giovinco.
“I only started playing by chance. I wasn’t really interested and had no great ambitions to play in a starting team.
“I had no posters on my walls in my bedroom – because I didn’t have a bedroom! I would sleep in the family dining room.”
Now Giovinco’s future is secure after signing a bumper new contract, but he added: “I just want to live my life quietly, even after I retire.”
I Used To Support Milan – Juventus Star Giovinco
Mar 20th
Juventus starlet Sebastian Giovinco talked about his career at the club, and admitted he used to cheer for Milan.
In an interview to Sky program ‘Permette Signora’, dedicated to Juventus, young star Sebastian Giovinco talked about the team’s Scudetto hopes, and admitted he used to be a Milan fan.
On next weekend’s match away to Roma, he said, “We have to go there to win and win all the other matches. I think we will be able to trouble Inter, I still believe in it.
“I admit that I used to support Milan, because when I was little, from ’87 to ’92, Milan were the most fashionable team, in the sense that they won a lot. Then, after spending 14 years at Juve, I became a Juventus fan. This is my 14th season here, I went through all the youth teams, and I have great memories.”
The 22-year-old also talked about his lack of height, which according to many will be a handicap for his career.
“People still tell me I am too short, and it’s true,” he admitted. “But it’s not true that I’m too light, I weigh almost 65 kilograms.”
Giovinco also believes that with young players it is possible to win.
“I think that with youngsters on the pitch you can win, not just do well,” he added. “Doing that you can have difficulties, but we are intelligent lads, and we are able to do deal with the pressure.
“Advice to young players? I am still like them. There are just three years of difference. All I know is you have to make sacrifices, believe in your abilities and go on the pitch without thinking about anything.”
Giovinco’s agent: ‘He will stay at Juventus for long time’
Mar 17th
“We believe that Sebastian has everything in order stay at Juve, as Del Piero did”. Giovinco’s agent, Claudio Pasqualina, sees in his player a new Del Piero: “It is obvious that Juve is the right team for Giovinco – he said to Radio Kiss Kiss – his last performance confirmed that we were right in refusing any transfer. I remember there were rumors of an exchange Cassano-Giovinco between Sampdoria and Juve. The facts show that we were right to reject all these possibilities. The same thing happened years ago with Del Piero, when we said no to his transfer when it was practically already done. I think Giovinco gives his best when he plays as a second attacker and not as a winger or midfielder. He is at his best when he plays around the first attacker.
