Post by Taxigirl on Oct 25, 2003 9:59:04 GMT
Live on British Eurosport (7.30pm UK time)
Stadio San Siro
Alberto Zaccheroni could not ask for a tougher debut game on the Inter bench as he welcomes Scudetto favourites Roma to the San Siro.
This is always a high profile and hard-fought encounter in the Italian calendar, but it takes on an extra layer of significance this time around. The Inter camp was left in shock after the sacking of Hector Cuper, ending over two seasons of his sometimes successful but often criticised reign at the club. The 2-2 draw at Brescia last week, in which the players fought back from 2-0 down, was the final straw and the tension on the field was palpable. "A bridge between the players and Cuper was broken," conceded President Massimo Moratti. "Choosing Zaccheroni as his replacement was pure common sense."
Zaccheroni is a lifelong Nerazzurri supporter and favours an attacking 3-4-3 formation. This will immediately find favour with the players who last season begged Cuper to experiment with three men at the back. It should also leave Christian Vieri less isolated upfront with support from Alvaro Recoba and either Obafemi Martins or Julio Cruz. Zac’s options are slightly limited by injuries to Sabri Lamouchi, Andy van der Meyde and Luciano, but Emre Belozoglu should have greater influence in central midfield. The Coach won the 1998-99 Scudetto in this Stadium with Milan and hopes to replicate that success in the blue and black colours.
If the all-new Inter will favour attacking football then there are no doubts that Roma will come out with their guns blazing. The Giallorossi have fast become Scudetto favourites after scoring 14 goals in six games and conceding just three.
Fabio Capello’s men are currently undefeated and have the talent to match perhaps any team in Europe right now with Francesco Totti and Antonio Cassano perfecting their on-field relationship. Despite having no centre forwards right now – Marco Delvecchio, Vincenzo Montella and possibly John Carew will be out for this trip up north – their tactics have evolved to give opposition defenders too many options to mark effectively.
Roma have always valued their youth system and may just have discovered the New Totti – 20-year-old Daniele De Rossi set up both goals in the 2-0 win over Parma with exquisite skill and vision. A local lad, there are already calls for him to be included in the Euro 2004 squad as an alternative to Simone Perrotta. Cristian Chivu has shored up their defence, but the Romanian international is a real doubt for this game due to an ankle injury.
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Inter (probable): Toldo; Cordoba, Materazzi, Cannavaro; J Zanetti, C Zanetti, Emre, Kily Gonzalez; Martins, Vieri, Recoba
Roma (probable): Pelizzoli; Zebina, Samuel, Chivu; Mancini, De Rossi, Emerson, Dacourt, Lima; Totti, Cassano