THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014 SPORTS Italian League Preview Italy under a cloud for Serie A kickoff ROME: The Serie A season kicks off on tled for the presidency, 42-year-old former journeymen and players in their thirties. Conte had led Juventus to successive Serie A tuned their team but need to overcome the Saturday with Italian football at a new low AC Milan and Italy midfielder Demetrio When Massimiliano Allegri was sacked as titles and made them the dominant force in erratic form which repeatedly caused them to following a miserable World Cup campaign Albertini and 71-year-old Carlo Tavecchio, coach in January, Milan announced that Italian football while the phlegmatic Allegri drop points against lower-placed opponents and the election of a federation president head of the association of amateur leagues Clarence Seedorf was the man to take them had been swimming against the tide at if they are to offer a challenge. Rafael Benitez’s embroiled in a racism row. Once Europe’s (LND). into the future, only to fire him at the end of Milan. The change has put a different com- side started their season on the wrong foot most prestigious league, Serie A has lost its Albertini had the support of the Players’, the season in a decision that defied all logic. plexion on this year’s championship with AS last week when they were held 1-1 at home glamour over the last few years as dilapidat- Referees’ and Coaches’ Associations as well They have now turned to their former strik- Roma, who finished second in Rudi Garcia’s by Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of their ed stadiums, financial problems, racism and as Juventus and Roma, plus the sympathy er Filippo Inzaghi, previously coach of the debut season in charge last term, ready to Champions League playoff tie. That has left hooliganism have all taken their toll, not to of fans and the media. That seemed to sug- under-19 team, who will inherit the same offer an even stronger challenge. them with an uphill battle in Wednesday’s mention two match-fixing scandals. gest that he was the man to take Italian problems as his two predecessors. Fiorentina, fourth last season, have kept return at San Mames, where elimination It has dropped to fifth, below Portugal, football forward. The real power in FIGC Allegri, meanwhile, has found a sanctuary their team largely intact while Inter will also would leave Serie A with just two clubs, in the UEFA ranking which determines the elections, however, lies with the Serie B, the at Juventus following the shock resignation be expected to mount a more serious chal- Juventus and Roma, in the Champions distribution of places in the Champions Lega Pro, which represents the third and of Antonio Conte after the first training ses- lenge in their second season under Walter League group stage - another clear sign that League and Europa League. Rather than fourth division clubs, and the LND. They sion of the season. In three seasons, the fiery Mazzarri. Napoli, third last season, have fine- Serie A is not what is used to be. —Reuters signing the world’s best players, Italian foot- backed Tavecchio. Amid widespread disbe- ball now has to make do with ones who lief among anti-discrimination campaigners have past their peak in the English Premier abroad, Tavecchio was swept home despite League and La Liga, or who have yet to referring to African players as “banana make the grade there. Champions Juventus eaters” during a prepared speech to the chased Chile forward Alexis Sanchez but LND. ended up with 21-year-old Spaniard Alvaro Unhappy at the lack of opportunities Morata, who struggled to get a place at Real given to Italian players at professional clubs, Madrid last season, and 33-year Patrice Evra Tavecchio talked of a fictitious player who from Manchester United. Evra’s former he named Opti Poba and, he said, “previous- United team mate Nemanja Vidic moved to ly ate bananas and then suddenly becomes Inter Milan on a free transfer. a first-team player with Lazio.” In many There have been flickers of encourage- countries, Tavecchio’s career would have ment with Juventus, winners of Serie A for been finished, yet, after a quick apology, the last three seasons and proud owners of Italian football carried on as if nothing had the only club-owned stadium in the top happened . The FIGC’s own internal prose- flight, and AS Roma showing what can be cutor has dropped the case against achieved with a new outlook. Italy coach Tavecchio for lack of evidence, although he Cesare Prandelli was another beacon of is now facing an investigation by European hope as he rooted out the negativity and soccer’s governing body UEFA. cynicism often linked with the four-times world champions and did his best to rejuve- Milan shambles nate the team despite an unproductive AC Milan were among the clubs to offer youth system. But Italy’s group-stage World immediate support to Tavecchio and dis- Cup exit, following defeats by Costa Rica miss the outcry which his remarks caused and Uruguay, undid much of his good work outside Italy. Milan are one of the clubs and prompted Prandelli to quit with two most in need of change, the seven-times years left on his contract. He joined European champions having become a Galatasaray in Turkey. pale shadow of their former selves. Silvio Berlusconi, who has been club president Antiquated structure since 1986, and Adriano Galliani, his long- A second, and more far-reaching conse- standing right-hand man once famous for quence, was that Italian federation (FIGC) his ability to make big-name signings, have president Giancarlo Abete, who had taken a seemed unable to cope with Milan’s new lead in trying to stamp out the racism which reality. has blighted the game, also resigned. The Having announced two years ago that REGGIO EMILIA: AC Milan’s Brazilian defender Alex (left) and Ghanaian midfielder Michael Essien (right) chal- election to replace him exposed the anti- the club would concentrate on developing lenge Juventus’ Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal during the TIM Trophy football match between AC Milan and quated power structure and suggested that young players, they did exactly the opposite Juventus August 23, 2014 file photo. —AFP old habits will die hard. Two candidates bat- in the transfer market, signing expensive Tottenham target Champions League via Europa loophole PARIS: Two-time winners Tottenham Hotspur carry a nar- importance as we want to achieve our aims.” Soligorsk while Dutch rivals Feyenoord have an away row advantage into their Europa League playoff second France risk losing two clubs before the draw with bit- goal to protect after coming back to force a 1-1 draw leg against AEL Limassol of Cyprus while their domestic ter local rivals Lyon and Saint-Etienne both needing sec- against Zorya Luhansk of Ukraine. Spanish sides are well rivals Hull need to overturn a 1-0 deficit to keep alive their ond leg victories. Hubert Fournier’s seven-time champi- positioned to reach the next round after Villarreal first ever European campaign. Thirty one places are up for ons Lyon gave up two late goals at home to Romania’s thrashed Astana of Kazakhstan 3-0 and Real Sociedad grabs in the final qualifiers to reach the group phase draw Astra Giurgiu as they were beaten 2-1 while Saint- edged Russian outfit Krasnodar 1-0 thanks to a 71st on Friday in Monaco and governing body UEFA have Etienne slumped to a 1-0 defeat against Karabukspor in minute winner from Xabi Prieto. Italian interests rest thrown a valuable carrot in front of the potential winners. Turkey. with Torino, as they drew 0-0 on the road at RNK Split of The triumphant side in the May 25, 2015 final at Warsaw PSV Eindhoven, the 1978 UEFA Cup champions, take Croatia, while Inter Milan are in the driving seat after will, for the first time, automatically qualify for next sea- a 1-0 lead to Belarus where they tackle Shakhtyor overpowering Stjarnan 3-0 in Iceland. —AFP son’s Champions League. Spurs, who are off to an unbeaten start to their cam- paign with a 2-1 win over Limassol and back-to-back wins in the Premier League are enjoying life under new manag- er Mauricio Pochettino, who has got the North Londoners smoothly out of the gate. The team are looking for their first silverware, since Spaniard Juande Ramos guided them to the 2008 League Cup, although their last VANCOUVER: In this file photo, United States’ Kelly O’Hara (5) fights for con- European success dates back to 1984 when they won their second UEFA Cup, now the Europa League, in a trol of the ball with Costa Rica’s Daniela Cruz (8) during the first half of CON- penalty shootout against Anderlecht. CACAF women’s Olympic qualifying soccer game action at BC Place in “The Europa League is now a different competition,” Vancouver, British Columbia. A group of players from the US women’s said Pochettino. “If you won it last year you basically got national team, who will vie for a spot in the World Cup in October qualifying, nothing, just a trophy but now the Europa League gives have joined with several international players in protesting the turf surfaces you the opportunity to play in the Champions League. for next summer’s big event in Canada. —AP That is a big challenge for us,” added the 42-year-old Argentine.