Football Dispatch

Wednesday Football
12 March 2008
by Jerrad Peters

In the emotional moments following Inter Milan’s Champions’ League ouster at the hands of Liverpool, Inter manager Roberto Mancini revealed the timeline for his resignation from the club. The 43-year-old will quit the San Siro at the end of the season – ending a productive, four-year relationship with the Serie A giants.

The former Fiorentina and Lazzio boss also divulged that his players had been forewarned of the announcement. Still, the squad might have done better to send their manager out on a winning note. Trailing 2-0 after the Round-of-16 first-leg at Anfield, the Nerazzuri went out of Europe with nary a whimper, Tuesday. They rarely looked like scoring; and both Julio Cruz and Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed clear chances on either side of the break.

At set pieces, the hosts were diabolical. Dejan Stankovic could not have put the ball in the ocean. Each of his attempts sailed high over Pepe Reina’s goal. Ibrahimovic did no better. Granted, he was rarely supplied with a quality buildup and, when in sight of goal, was never afforded a moment by Martin Skrtel and Sammi Hyppia.

The apathetic performance must have been particularly painful to Mancini. After arriving in 2004, he rapidly reversed the club’s fortunes – delivering a first Scudetto in seven years and winning the Copa Italia twice.

Europe, however, proved another level entirely for Mancini’s Nerazzuri. In his first attempt, the Ancona man brought his side into the quarter-final stage before bowing out to local rivals AC Milan as flairs rained down in the San Siro. A year later, Inter were beaten by Juan Roman Riquelme and the one-year-wonders from Villarreal in the same stage of the competition. They have failed to survive beyond the Round-of-16 in the two winters since, however. Tuesday’s debacle at home to Liverpool was preceded by a disappointing loss to Valencia on away-goals in 2007.

That said, Mancini’s resume is impressive. Over seven years in management, he has won seven trophies. And given that several high-profile jobs are likely to become vacant in the summer, he will have every chance to land firmly on his feet.

Thailand’s Supreme Court will allow Thaksin Shinawatra to return to England for a month ahead of his trial for alleged corruption and malfeasance. The former Thai prime minister was in Bangkok last week to enter a “not-guilty” plea on the first of two charges. In 2003, Shinawatra’s wife was involved in a questionable real estate deal which provoked the charges. The 59-year-old will have to appear before the Court on 11 April.

In the meantime, he will return to Manchester in an attempt to raise a sinking ship. Manchester City have struggled since Christmas. Currently eighth in the Premier League, the club’s European ambitions have been all but tossed out the window. And Shinawatra, who spent 81.6M-pounds on City ahead of this season, appears to be losing confidence in manager Sven-Goran Eriksson. When queried as to his motive behind the return to England, he stated, “I have to go back and tighten the bolt.”

Cardiff can expect a European berth if they win the FA Cup. The Wales-based Championship outfit have been tied to Barnsley in the semifinal round of the competition. A win would book their place at Wembley. And, traditionally, the victor of the final would be granted one of the Football Association’s three entries in the UEFA Cup.

The FA, however, has refused to make the award in the event that Cardiff are triumphant at the national stadium in May. The governing body is reluctant to reward a non-English with an English seed; and while Bluebirds chairman Peter Risdale will appeal the decision, he is essentially helpless. The FA can award their entries based on whatever criteria they wish.

Still, all hope has not been lost at Ninian Park. UEFA boss Michel Platini has emerged as a surprising sponsor of Cardiff’s plight. In speaking with BBC’s Radio Five Live, the Frenchman said, “It’s not normal that they participate in one competition and, if they win, they are out. That is not good.” He continued, “If England don’t do something – we will do something.”

Meanwhile, Welsh Heritage Minister Rhodri Glyn has proposed that Millennium Stadium host the two semifinal fixtures next month.

West Ham are hoping to sign Luca Toni ahead of the 2008-2009 Premier League season. Just one year after joining Bayern Munich from Fiorentina at a price of 11M-euros, the 30-year-old striker is thought to be unsettled in Bavaria and would jump at the chance to play in England. If he did make the move, West Ham would be the 11th club of his career.

Alan Curbishley is an outspoken admirer of the 6-foot-4 Italian international. “He is quick,” stated the Hammers boss. “He wants to get behind defenders and he goes about his business quietly.”

Currently atop the Bundesliga charts with 14-goals this term, the Pavullo nel Frignano striker can expect to win his first championship in the spring. Over a 13-year career in football, Toni has won a Serie-B title with Palermo and the DFB Liga-Pokal with Germany. He was also a regular choice of manager Marcello Lippi when Italy won the World Cup in 2006.