I'm sorry for my US friends and for all US Soccer fan, but as an Italian and an Inter fan, I have to root for Argentina in this Copa America 2007. Half players of the Albiceleste has Italian origins, and the other half plays for Inter! But I also would like to tell you that the USMNT were really ok for one hour: the problem is that it's the last 30 minutes that make the difference between a good team and a top team. And Argentina is full of stars...

Anyway, I was not surprised that theafter US scored first, with a penalty kick by Eddie Johnson of Kansas City, but Argentina was lucky to equalize immediately: Crespo scored with the open goal after a free kick, and after a shot saved by Keller. Good chances for Argentina at the end of first half (especially a great shot by Veron saved by Keller and the crossbar) but at half time the score was still 1-1.

Crespo, assisted by Messi, scored on 63 minutes the 2-1 goal reaching Maradona (present in Maracaibo) on the top of Albiceleste scorers, but most of all Argentina takes the lead. The Inter Milan player's diagonal shot is perfect, nothing to do for Keller. On minutes 77, after one minute of ball possession of the Argentinean, a cross from the left side by Heinze is converted by Aimar's header. Basile made a good choice, by replacing Cambiasso with him. There's time for Argentina to score the fourth goal, after a counter attack: Tevez, Messi's substitute, had no opposition and Keller was beaten once again.

As I said, good for the US team to play the first hour at the same level of the Argentina giants, but ehn Crespo scored his second goal, ther's been no reaction. Anyway, US keeps same percentage to get through they had before the game. On the contrary, though for Argentina it took 63 minutes to take the lead, bit after that things became easier and, good for me, Argentina is still favourite for this Copa America edition in Venezuela.

Here you have the highlights of the game:

In a surreal atmosphere, with no viewers, Inter won 2-0 against Chievo and this is Nerazzurri’s fifteenth consecutive wind. Real Madrid (46 years ago) and Bayern (in 2005, but not in the same season) have been equalized, but it’s not an European record yet.
Inter scored after 41”, with Adriano from a very difficult angle, then Chievo tried to make life difficult to Julio Cesar but in second half Crespo (with a suspect handball before kicking) scored for the final 2-0.

Roma won at home vs. Parma (3-0, all goals in second half), but we have to remark that before the match (an open door match, we have to specify) AS Roma fans did not participate in a silence minute in memory of policeman Raciti. There were also slogans against police, a shame one week after Catania events. And it’s been the proof that if the stadium is ok, but you fill it with stupid people, violence problem has not been solved.

AC Milan had to face a difficult test, Livorno is a very good team, even more today with Stefano Fiore and Cesar Rodriguez, two former Lazio players. Ronaldo played in second half, but the decisive goal has been scored by Czech left back Jankulosky. At the end, in Milan San Siro stadium season tickets could watch the match, showing that at the end Italians find compromise between “zero tolerance” and anarchy. Everything went well, and we think they will go well next Sunday for Inter-Cagliari.

All matches started at 3 pm, for security reasons, as we already said. But at the end not every match started on time: Messina-Catania, another risky Sicilian derby, started at 4pm due to heavy rainfalls. An important win in Palermo, and Empoli now is fourth and will have to fight against Milan and Lazio (0-0 in Bergamo behind closed doors vs. Atalanta) for the Champions League qualifying round. Fiorentina had a very good afternoon: Toni and Mutu could not play, but their substitutes Reginaldo and Pazzini scored: Fiorentina is officially one of the candidates for fourth place!

It’s a good Coppa Italia edition, as we have four top teams qualified for the semi-finals. This evening in Genoa, Sampdoria and Inter Milan played their first of three matches in a week (next Sunday for Serie A day 21, and Thursday February 1st the semi-final second leg), and the Blucerchiati play with their best team. On the contrary, Mancini prefers to give a day-off to Ibra, Adriano, Maicon, Materazzi, Maxwell, Cambiasso, Vieira.

The difference between the two teams is anyway big, just consider that if Ibra and Adriano are at home, this means that forward is Hernan Crespo. And the game goes quickly to the expected direction. After Sampdoria players claim a penalty kick for a deflection with the hand by Cordoba, at 10’ a free kick by Luis Figo goes towards the far goal post: Nicolas Burdisso is the quickest and his header is lethal for Samp’s goalie.

Sampdoria tries to react, but the only thing they can do are some far shots that cannot give problems to Toldo (JC has still a bad backache). Inter on the contrary tries to come close to Zotti’s goal, and it’s again a header by an Argentinean, this time Hernan Crespo, that gives a satisfaction to Mancini. And again Luis Figo is the assist man, with his left foot. Crespo jumps above Accardi: 24 minutes, 0-2.

At half time, coach Novellino replaces Bonazzoli with Zenoni. At 3’, Inter with Crespo is close to third goal, then Sampdoria has some good chances with Quagliarella and Flachi. But it’s again Inter that scores: Figo (and who else?) beats a right-wing corner and Burdisso’s header, this time Zotti gets a hand to it but cannot save. 56 minutes, 0-3.

Well, among all records that Inter is breaking this season, there’s a defender as top scorer in a competition: this is Nicolas Burdisso, four goals in this Coppa Italia. And it’s even normal, in a team that scores a lot of goals in dead ball situations. It’s just a pity that Figo is leaving Inter, after this match where he gave 3 assists to his team-mates. Sampdoria just want to avoid a worst result, we just note the entry of young defender Bastrini and, on Inter’s side, the come-back of Julio Cruz “el jardinero”, and the entry of Belgian midfielder Maaroufi and Greek striker Choutos.

Next Thursday in San Siro in Milan, Nerazzurri probably will gain their third consecutive Coppa Italia final, while Sampdoria will try to stop Inter’s ride on Sunday night, in a Serie A match. Tomorrow, at 9,15 PM (CET) always in San Siro, AC Milan and AS Roma will fight for the other semi-final, and the result of the match will be -we’re sure- more difficult to forecast than this evening’s one.

Tonight in Serie A, Catania beat Empoli 2-1. The encounter was originally scheduled to be played back on December 16, but bad weather in the Sicilian city forced the game to be postponed. Now Catania is fourth with 29 pts., just one more that Empoli itself.

Here is first goal pic, from www.inter.it: