Gianluca Zambrotta interview

World Soccer: You’ve played at the top level in European club football with Juventus, Barcelona and Milan. What are the differences between these great clubs?
Gianluca Zambrotta: I think that a big club is a big club even if it is in a different country and these are three of the most important teams in the world. I can genuinely say that there are no distinctive or obvious differences between them – apart from at Barcelona, who tactically have a different, clearly defined style of play and a contrasting, more attacking approach to the game.
You played at Barcelona before
Pep Guardiola turned them into the all-conquering side they are today. What was your impression of the Barca side you played in?
I played in Catalonia between 2006 and 2008 and it was a pleasure. The first year we ended on the same points as Real Madrid but lost La Liga because of the results of our head-to-head matches. The second season we reached the Champions League semi-finals and lost against the eventual winners, Manchester United.
But, sadly, two seasons without winning important trophies are two unsuccessful years for a club like Barcelona. These were Frank Rijkaard’s final days as
coach, but even then I had an idea that something special was growing with that group of players.
You joined Milan in the summer of 2008. What were the tactical changes that you had to get used to?
For me, personally, almost nothing was different when I arrived in Italy from Spain. It is true that the style of play wasn’t the same, but my job was identical. I have always played in a defensive back four, either at left-back or at right-back, so I did not find it difficult to adjust. A tackle is still a tackle no matter which country or league you are playing in.
You won a lot of Serie A titles with Marcello Lippi and Fabio Capello at Juventus. After more than five years, what is your opinion today about the Calciopoli scandal of 2006?
I am quite bored with Calciopoli. There has been far too much talking. I say every time that I have won five Scudetti in my career: four with Juve and one in Milan.
Why are so many veterans playing at Milan? What is the secret of players such as Clarence Seedorf, Filippo Inzaghi and, before them, Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi?
There are no particular secrets, but the management at Milan is excellent and they know perfectly how to look after professional footballers. Every aspect, both on and off the pitch, is considered with great detail. As a player at Milan all you have to do is think about football, and that is a kind of heaven for every player. You also need to be very professional by looking after yourself and those footballers you mentioned are highly dedicated.
Who are the best full-backs in the world at the moment?
On the right I like Dani Alves of Barcelona, and the other special full-back is his fellow Brazilian, Maicon, who has now had several excellent seasons with Internazionale. I would also mention Ignazio Abate, who is one of the most promising youngsters at Milan. On the left-hand side I have liked Ashley Cole in recent years, but since his emergence there have been no other players who have truly excelled at left-back. I think that Gareth Bale of Tottenham Hotspur is very good but he is maybe more of a midfielder than a defender.
Would you prefer to win another Scudetto with the Rossoneri or bring home the Champions League trophy?
The Champions League, definitely. I have never won the European Cup. I lost a Final in Manchester, when I played with Juve against the Rossoneri, on penalties in 2003. Since winning the World Cup, the one I want most to get my hands on before retirement is this most important of club trophies. I think the Champions League is important for Milan too because they can earn more money from it. That said, last year we were very happy about winning the Scudetto after five years of Inter dominance.
What are your plans for your life after you retire from playing?
I have already opened a sporting complex in my home town of Como. I have always maintained a strong bond with my birthplace and that will continue. I remember that in the summer of 2006 I organised a party on the lakeside during which I showed the World Cup trophy to the people of Como. I think that I will work with youngsters in my sports centre, where we have many football pitches, a swimming pool and a gym. That is my plan.
You have had a glittering career, but which game do you consider to be your best-ever performance?
We have to go back to the World Cup in Germany, in 2006, and more precisely to Hamburg, where we played our quarter-final match against Ukraine. I scored the first goal and I made an assist for Luca Toni, who netted the second. We won 3-0, we reached the semi-final and I was extremely proud of my performance that day. I also played a good match last season in the derby game against Inter, in April, when we won 3-0, but I think the World Cup quarter-final was definitely my best ever. I still smile when I think of it.

We have often seen players struggle to fulfill their potential at one club before exploding at another, leaving the previous employers in tears because of what could have been. The club owners and managers usually don’t have enough patience for new players and they tend to sell them after one poor season, but they sometimes live to regret it. The club officials that were in charge of these transfers probably still have problems sleeping at night.
7.) Gerard Pique (Manchester United to Barcelona)
Gerard Pique started his career at Barcelona’s famous youth school La Macia, but before signing a professional contract at Camp Nou, he decided to join Manchester United. After featuring in just 12 league games during the four years at Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson opted to sell him back to Barcelona for the fee of €5 million. Pique soon became a key player for both Barca and Spain national team, leaving Sir Alex Ferguson to regret the fact he hadn’t given him a real chance at Old Trafford.
6.) Diego Forlan (Manchester United to Villarreal)
Forlan arrived to Old Trafford for a fee of £6.9 million amidst high expectations, but after scoring just 17 goals in 95 appearances, the Uruguayan was shipped to Villarreal for mere £3 million. In his first season at El Madrigal Forlan won the Pichichi Trophy by scoring 25 league goals, while he even reached Champions League semi-final with the Yellow Submarine the next season. Villarreal made nice profit on the striker, selling him for €21 million, while Forlan managed to achieve the ultimate feat, having won the 2010 World Cup Best Player Award.
5.) Kevin Keegan (Scunthorpe to Liverpool)
When Bill Shankly brought Kevin Keegan for £35,000 from Scunthorpe, he thought he was signing an average midfielder, but he instead got an excellent goalscorer who helped the Reds reach unimagined heights during the ‘70s. After scoring exactly 100 goals, Keegan left for Hamburg, with Liverpool earning £500,000 from the deal. Keegan also amassed 63 England caps and was considered the first real superstar in English football.
4.) Nicolas Anelka (PSG to Arsenal)
Nicolas Anelka arrived to Highbury from PSG in one of the trademark Arsene Wenger deals, with Arsenal paying just £500,000 for the then 17-year-old striker. After helping the Gunners win the Premiership and FA Cup titles in his first season as a first team regular, Anelka, just like Arsenal, had a slow second season and quickly became unsettled at Highbury. Real soon came calling and splashed out £22.3 million for the Frenchman.
3.) Andrea Pirlo (Inter to Milan)
Andrea Pirlo was seen as one of the hottest prospects in Italy when Inter snatched him from Brescia, but the midfielder failed to prove his potential at Giuseppe Meazza and was sold to Milan a couple of years later in a transfer that involved quite a few players from both camps. Pirlo went on to become an integral part of the Rossoneri team that won numerous trophies in the next few years, while enjoying a lot of success with Italy national team as well.
2.) Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona to Arsenal)

At a moment when Barcelona are pondering a bid of €60 million for the player that was once in their own youth academy, Barca fans have every right to be aggrieved with the club management for allowing Cesc Fabregas to leave for Arsenal completely free of charge. The Spain international joined Arsenal when he was just 16 but quickly became one of the best midfielders in the world despite his fragile age. He has, however, never forgotten Barcelona, with the whole of Catalonia now hoping he would soon return to Camp Nou.
1.) Eric Cantona (Leeds United to Manchester United)
Leeds United signed Eric Cantona from Nimes for £900,000 with the Frenchman proving an instant success as he helped the Whites win the final Football League First Division title, before the competition made way for the Premier League as we know it. Everybody was surprised when club chairman Bill Fotherby sold Cantona to Manchester United for just £1.2 million, and that proved to be one of the worst decisions in professional football as the Frenchman developed into a real star at Old Trafford before retiring from football five years after leaving Leeds.

Lionel Messi is widely considered to be the best player in the world at the moment and some even believe the Argentine is the best to have ever played the beautiful game. At 23 years of age he has accomplished much more than anyone could have hoped for and his life is pretty much an open book for soccer betting fans around the globe. However, there are some things that you probably didn’t know about the Barcelona star.
1.) Messi’s style of play, impressive technical skills and small physique earned him comparisons with the legendary Diego Armando Maradona, and it is interesting that the Barcelona forward managed to mimic Maradona’s two most famous goals he had scored in the World Cup game against England. Messi first scored a brilliant goal after a solo effort against Getafe, before scoring with his hand against Espanyol in the very same season.
2.) Messi was asked to play for Spain national team, but decided to wait for a call-up from Argentina. Had he accepted a call from La Furia Roja, the Argentine would now have probably owned a World Cup winner’s medal.
3.) His debut for Argentina only lasted for around 40 seconds. That was the time he spent on the pitch before being sent off. The fact that he hadn’t deserved the red card was probably poor consolation at the time.
4.) You may be surprised to hear that not only girls drop their pants in front of Messi, but some guys as well. A man was so desperate to get a picture with Messi that he chased the Argentine around the airport and when he finally thought he had caught him, a clothing failure prevented him from accomplishing his mission.
5.) In March 2010 Messi became UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and he now works with the organization helping children around the globe.
6.) While the whole world loves watching Messi from the comfort of their homes, the Barcelona star once said that he never watched highlights of himself.
7.) In the Champions League game against Panathinaikos, a Greek fan invaded the pitch only to show Messi the middle finger, probably tired of constantly watching the Argentine making fun of PAO’s defence.
8.) He won the 2009 Ballon d’Or award in front of Cristiano Ronaldo, by collecting 473 out of possible 480 votes. How do you think the Portuguese handled the results?
9.) Barcelona signed the Argentine when he was just 13 with the scouts needing just half an hour to realize the player’s massive potential. That will soon prove to be one of the best decisions in the history of football.
10.) Following Barcelona’s 6:2 victory over Real at Santiago Bernabeu, Messi achieved the unthinkable and received standing ovation from the home fans, having scored two goals to help his side record a memorable win. Cristiano Ronaldo would have nothing against getting the same treatment at Camp Nou, but Real will first have to beat Barca for that to happen.

Italian giants Inter Milan are regarded as one of the biggest clubs in Europe but the last few seasons have been tough ones for the Nerazzurri.
Inter boss Claudio Ranieri has came under fire in recent months as the team have slumped to seventh place in the Serie A table.
Struggling
Inter are currently six points behind third placed Udinese, who occupy the last Champions League spot in the league. Ranieri’s men have lost four out of their last five league games, the latest defeat a 3-0 home defeat against Bologna.
Inter also suffered a 1-0 defeat at French side Marseille in the Champions League. Inter face a tough trip to Naples to face Napoli this weekend.
Backing
Inter boss Claudio Ranieri has received the backing of club president Massimo Moratti. The Inter supremo told the clubs official website: “ Yes we will continue with Ranieri. We will continue to move forward (with him).”
I always saw Ranieri as a temporary appointment at the San Siro. I never saw him as a man to take the club forward. Since replacing Gian Piero Gasperini he hasn’t enjoyed the best of times. Ranieri hasn’t  got a history of winning major trophies and he seemed like a cheap appointment.
Mourinho
Jose Mourinho achieved a unique treble with Inter and is regarded as a hero to Inter fans. Mourinho left the club on a high and joined Spanish giants Real Madrid. He was simply irreplaceable.
The Nerazzurri have had the likes of Rafael Benitez, Leonardo and Gasperini in charge since the Portuguese boss but none of them have managed to achieve anywhere near the success of ‘The Special One’.  Ranieri isn’t as good a head coach as Mourinho, very few are but Inter need to find a manager of a similar class.
If Inter fail to finish in the Champions League spots then Ranieri will inevitably leave his position at Inter. Then Inter will start the search for yet another boss. There hasn’t been any consistency at the club since Mourinho left and that’s hampered Inter’s progress.
Manchester City’s Roberto Mancini and Chelsea’s Andre Villas-Boas have both been linked with the Inter hotseat in the last few months and Ranieri’s position at the club is looking less safe by the game.
Aging
Inter’s situation reminds me very much of Chelsea’s. Inter have a squad that is slightly aging and the team have gone stale. The new players that have been brought into the squad in recent months haven’t really worked out.
Ranieri or the next manager will have a major rebuilding job on their hands this summer. It seems that Inter currently don’t have the financial muscle to sign the quality of players needed to move the club forward.
Difficult
Inter’s form needs to start improving and fast or they will struggle to get into those Champions League spots. It will be very difficult for Inter to finish in the top three in Serie A. The likes of AC Milan, Juventus and Udinese have looked far better than the Nerazzurri this season.
All three teams have proved themselves to be better teams than Inter. Even the likes of Napoli and Lazio could claim to be better teams than Inter this term. Inter look like they are in big trouble.
Vital
It’s crucial for the progression of the club that Inter finish in the top three of Serie A, both in terms of football and in terms of finances. I just can’t see that happening and Inter’s situation could get worse before it gets better.

Betting odds and match predictions for Sunday’s EPL fixtures

The north London derby, Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur, headlines Sunday’s English Premier League action, while Norwich v Manchester United and Stoke City v Swansea City are also on the matchday schedule.ere are the betting odds for Sunday’s fixtures.
Here are the betting odds for Sunday’s EPL fixtures.
Betting Odds
Arsenal (13/8) v Tottenham Hotspur (19/10); Draw (12/5)
Norwich City (11/2) v Manchester United (4/7); Draw (10/3)
Stoke City (5/4) v Swansea City (13/5); Draw (12/5)
Now then, let’s get right to the previews and predictions segment. Enjoy.
Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur: Match Preview
This season’s first edition of the north London derby saw Spurs defeat the Gunners by a score of 2-1 in front of 36,274 witnesses at White Hart Lane.
Sunday’s derby comes at a horrid time for Arsenal, who have lost their last two matches versus AC Milan (4-0) and Sunderland (2-0).
On the other side of the touchline, Harry Redknapp’s side are coming off a 5-0 win over Newcastle and a 0-0 draw versus Stevenage in the FA Cup.
Players to Watch
Once again, Robin van Persie is the player to watch for the Gunners. RVP, who has scored a Premier League leading 22 goals in 2011-12, has netted four goals in last five starts against Spurs.
For Spurs, on-loan striker Emmanuel Adebayor is surely the danger man. The former Togo international is coming off a 10 out of 10 match performance versus Newcastle United in which he bagged one goal and four assists.
Prediction
An cracking north London derby, 3-2 Spurs.
Norwich City v Manchester United: Match Preview
Manchester United travel to Carrow Road to take on Premier League newcomers Norwich City on Sunday.
United are second in the table, while Norwich’s impressive debut campaign has them sitting in eighth place.
Norwich have secured 10 points in their last five games, while the Red Devils have tallied 13 out of a possible 15.
With both United and Norwich on top form, something’s got to give on Sunday.
Players to Watch
With Wayne Rooney doubtful due to a throat infection, Javier “El Chicharito” Hernandez is the danger man for the Red Devils.
The Mexican international has scored in each of his last four appearances in all competitions for United.
Can he make it five-for-five on Sunday? Yes.
Wales international Steve Morison, who has netted eight goals and four assists in 24 Premier League appearances in 2011-12, is the man to watch for the Canaries.
The Welshman is a handful in the air and could give United’s back four a number of problems.
Prediction
United win, 2-0 Red Devils.
Stoke City v Swansea City: Match Preview
Brendan Rodgers and Swansea City are scheduled to take on Tony Pulis and Stoke at Britannia Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Stoke have notched just one point in their last five Premier League games, while Swansea have recorded seven points out of a possible 15.
Players to Watch
Swansea striker Danny Graham has had a prolific debut season for the Swans, having tallied 10 goals and one assist in 23 Premier League games in 2011-12.
Expect Graham to give the Potters defence some problems on Sunday.
For Stoke, Jonathan Walters, who has already started 25 league games this season, is the main man.
Will Walters’ superb hold up play lead to a goal on Sunday? We shall see.

Arsenal came back from two goals down to hammer North London rivals Tottenham 5-2 at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners looked dead and buried in the first 40 minutes after Louis Saha and Emmanuel Adebayor found the net for Spurs.
Comeback
Arsenal struck twice in three minutes just before half-time. The opener came from a superbly taken header from full-back Bacary Sagna. Just three minutes later Arsenal’s talisman Robin Van Persie curled home a sublime equaliser.
The half-time whistle could have came at a bad time for Arsenal but the Gunners came out in the second half and continued from where they left off in the first. Midfielder Tomas Rosicky flicked home his first Premier League goal in over two years, just after the break after a lovely team move.
Recovery
Winger Theo Walcott scored two well-taken goals in the second half to confirm the victory. However in the first half the England international couldn’t do a thing right. His decision making was awful and he looked low on confidence.
In the second half though he looked like a completely different player. He started looking brighter and made the right runs in the second half. Those runs resulted in him finding the net with two superbly executed finishes.
The 22 year-old has hasn’t had the best of times in recent months and has received criticism from certain quarters. I believe he is very much a confidence and hopefully he can now find his best form for both club and country.
Uncharacteristic
The five goals conceded was very uncharacteristic for Tottenham. The Spurs back five is usual so solid and well organised but the Gunners hit them on the counter-attack to devastating effect. Tottenham keeper Brad Friedel isn’t accustomed to picking the ball out  the net this season but he had lots of practice at the Emirates.
The second half was a real nightmare for Spurs and their fans. It was definitely a game that Tottenham will want to forget in a hurry. Harry Redknapp and co. will want to move on from this game very quickly.
Talisman
Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie again proved his worth to the Gunners. The Dutch international produced another outstanding display. He scored the equaliser and he also had a hand in Walcott’s goals.
The 28 year-old now has 23 Premier League goals to his name this season. Van Persie’s future is in doubt with his contract expiring next summer. Both parties have agreed to leave contract discussions until the summer.
No doubt Van Persie will evaluate where the club are in the summer before deciding whether to stay or move on. It is vital for Arsenal that they keep hold of their captain. People say Arsenal are not a one man team but without their talisman the Gunners would be in big trouble.
Europe
The victory took Arsenal above Chelsea into the Champions League spots on goal difference. Arsenal’s future hinges on whether they qualify for Europe’s elite competition. It’s the key to the club being able to strengthen their squad in the summer and also keeping hold of the likes of Van Persie.
Drama
Games between the big teams this season have been fantastic, especially for the neutral. The Premier League keeps producing amazing games and drama. It’s hard to take your eyes off the English top flight at the moment and lets just hope that the Premier League continues to produce such entertaining encounters.
Are Tottenham still top dogs in North London?

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger hailed his side’s performance in the north London derby on Sunday, claiming that Arsenal dominated the game after Tottenham’s bright five-minute start at the Emirates.
Somehow, Arsenal found themselves 2-0 down, courtesy of goals from Louis Saha (4′) and Emmanuel Adebayor (pen 34′).
The Gunners comeback was fueled by Bacary Sagna, who scored in the 40th minute to get Arsenal back in contention.
Three minutes later, talisman Robin van Persie got the Gunners level on terms heading into the half-time interval.
An unlikely hero – Tomas Rosicky – put Arsenal ahead in the 51st minute, sending the Emirates Stadium into sheer jubilation.
Theo Walcott put the icing on the cake for Wenger’s side with a quickfire brace in the span of three minutes (65′, 68′).
After the game, Wenger said: “Today shows that Arsenal is alive more than anybody thought before the game.”
“We had a performance today where the technical side and drive of the team was perfect.
“Everything was perfect despite a very bad start. I think Tottenham started well for the first five minutes, after it was all us for 85 minutes.
“We dominated the game. We were 2-0 down and refused to lose the game. We were determined to win. We had a great spirit.”
I must admit that I did not fancy the Gunners to beat Spurs at the Emirates on Sunday. In fact, I predicted Spurs would win 3-2.
However, I had not written off the Gunners like most people prior to this huge north London derby comeback victory.
That being said, I felt, and still feel, that Arsenal will finish the season in fourth place, with Chelsea, Newcastle United and Liverpool missing out on UEFA Champions League football in 2012-13.
“It is still possible to finish above Tottenham if we keep our run going,” Wenger continued.
“It is possible but it will be down to consistency. Everybody in the Premier League now can lose points.
“We both have difficult schedules but if we continue to play like that, why not?”
Now then, I simply can not get on board with Wenger’s claim that Arsenal can finish above Spurs if they continue their form simply because one good performance does not mean that the club are on top form. At least not yet.
That being said, if the Gunners can score five goals in every match, I fancy their chances. If not, not so much.
The gap between the two sides is seven points at the moment, with Spurs having the edge in goal difference (first tiebreaker), while Arsenal have scored more goals (second tiebreaker) than their bitter north London rivals.