Finally Serie A 2006/07; with all its point deductions; comes to a gripping end, and other end of season comments.

No not the top of the table that was practically decided by Christmas. Relegation back down to Serie B was a much more compelling contest. (I won't use the word battle as it might empower Catania fans)

Serie B is much more of a footballing wasteland than the English equivalent ; The Championship. Although the Italian naming convention is at least contiguous instead of the naming con that is League One.

Several tense and nerve-wracking games for the fans, players, managers and owners. Millions at stake and the prestige of remaining in Italy's top flight.

Referees with watches synchronized whistled the start of all the games, allowing for no advantage to any one team.

Four teams on 40 pts (seen as the magic number in the English Premiership), two on 39 pts, with Catania and Reggina on 38 and 37 pts respectively.

Messina and Ascoli already relegated. It remained a question of who would join them in Serie B for the 2007/08 season.

The games at the top and middle of the table hold no real meaning, maybe Milan finish third or fourth.

Fiorentina thrashed Sampdoria at home, a good end to a good season for the Viola.

Roma end their season with a topsy-turvy battle with already relegated Messina.

Udinese slip up at home to Palermo, a great end to the season for the UEFA Cup bound Sicilian club.

Minute by minute - who stays all the goals and groans from the foot of Serie A.

Kick-off +7 mins

Muslimovic scores the opener for Parma in the relegation opera, although not the first goal of the day (which goes to Mutu of Fiorentina). If no more goals are scored it's Reggina for the drop.

Kick-off +8 mins

Ambruso scores for Reggina, now it's Catania down.

Kick-off +16 mins

Matterazzi's penalty, Mancuso's goal and a second Parma goal for Budan don't change the bleak picture for Catania.

Half-time

At the half, Ascoli's second through Soncin, Lucarelli's goal for Livorno, Saudati's Empoli opener and a Maccarone pen for Siena still leave Catania dangling. Tough to do playing your home games in Bologna and not Sicily, only the fans to blame for that.

Re-start + 21

Inter bag a second through Maicon, Morrone and Lucarelli score, taking Livorno further from relegation, despite Atalanta bagging two through Zampagna and Bombardini. Rossini gets his first goal in 16 starts; a memorable header, moments after Chievo bring on a defender. As it stands Chievo are relegated.

Re-start + 25

Two penalties; Inter's Figo and Lazio's Rocchi; don't alter Chievo's fate but new jitters rumble through Stadios Franchi and Meazza. Amerini's goal for Reggina keeps them safe for another year.

Re-start + 35

A second Catania goal from Minelli almost assures Serie A of a Sicilian Derby next season. Ascoli grab a late goal and some late pride in front of home fans when Paolucci scores.

Re-start + 45

Negro secures Seina's Serie A place. Paulhinio completes the scoring for Livorno. Gasbarroni nets Parma's third.

Re-start + 48

Reginaldo scores last; on the final day of the 2006/07 Serie A season; for Fiorentina. A now exhausted and dejected Chievo succumb to their fate. All they needed was a point to stay up. Catania needed the win. Taking off Chievo's main goal threat had a detrimental effect. Catania were out-played and the game seemed destined for a draw but their collective tails went up with the goal and they never looked back. Sadly, the Flying Donkeys will be in Serie B next year. But maybe they can take some pride to Verona next season.

Sven-Goran Eriksson

Steve McClaren 

 

Excuse me Mr Cappello. 

PREMIERSHIP TRANSFERS FOR THIS PAST WEEK

Arsenal - having a clear-out, maybe ready for big name summer signings

Poom to Watford

Muamba to Birmingham

Fabianski from Legia Warsaw (does he have a better temperament than Lehman?)

Bolton - Sammy Lee getting hold of a useful addition to the defence

Samuels from Aston Villa

Chelsea - having a clear-out, maybe ready for big name summer signings, Sidwell, whilst capable is hardly Chelsea first team material, yet

Sidwell from Reading

Morais to Apoel Nicosia

Everton - retaining both Stubbs and Carsley, a sound move by the canny Scot

Carsley on a 1 year deal

Stubbs on a 1 year deal

Fulham - the ex Don, Mr Sanchez getting rid of some more dead weight?

Collins to Swansea

Portsmouth - canny acquisition of the always hard working Icelander by Redknapp

Hreidarsson from Charlton

Spurs - shoring up the defence with the highly rated youngster, Bale. Nice wad for Southampton

Bale from Southampton

'Circling the wagons' is spot on when commenting about US soccer. 

MLS embraces talent from around the world, both to improve it's level of play and ratings.   Angel and Dicchio are two first-class(ish) aquisitions.

The opposite of US Soccer.  Had they the will, the funds and the vision, quality managers such as  Cappello, Erickson, Ranieri, Houllier,  Smith, Allardyce could have been targets.  They all have top-flight managerial exeperience and offer the understanding of European Soccer that Mr Bradley lacks. 

Mr Bradley does have an excellent MLS career and would be a good appointment as an assistant to a well known foreign coach.  US players play abroad and aquit themselves very well. 

Bruce Arena; unfortunately; ended his tenure on a low note. 

US Soccer needs to boldly step forward, not dawdle in the shadows of numerous other soccer nations who feel it has been necessary to appoint an ambitious foreign coach in order to compete in the big global soccer tournaments.

MILAN GRIND OUT REVENGE; ITALIAN STYLE.

The OACA Spyro Louis Stadium in Athens hosted the second European Final of 2007. The ultimate game of the season, a showcase of the best of European Soccer.

An eagerly anticipated rematch of the 2005 UEFA Champions League final, this time 300 miles (or so) further east. Pundits hoped for a rematch. Fast, exciting, attacking football is de-rigueur.

Liverpool FC v AC Milan, a beautiful stadium packed with fans from Italy, England and Greece and the 1984 European Championship Winner and recently elected UEFA President, Michel Platini the guest of honour. The festivities only marred by genuine ticket holders being turned away due to a lack of seats. Trouble and riot police ensued. A sad but familiar blot on the soccer landscape in Europe.

Milan played in their less than familiar white away strip and Liverpool in their traditional red.

Raphael Benitez opted for an unusual 4 4 1 1 formation leaving his top European goal scorer; Peter Crouch; on the bench. Eyebrows in the UK were raised when the Dutchman, Zenden, got a place in the staring eleven. Reports suggest he hasn't quite recovered from an ankle injury. Gerrard makes a fifth midfielder-cum-second striker behind the hard-working Dutchman, Kuyt.

Milan's formation was the more the more familiar 4 4 2 with Pippo Inzaghi partnering Kaka up front. Gattuso at the heart of the midfield and Pirlo providing the spark. Despite his critics Dida retained his spot. Pretty typical formation and personnel for the former Milan player; now coach; Carlo Ancelotti.

Liverpool began much the brighter. Pennant seemingly having free-reign down the right flank; constantly having the beating of Jankulovska; every significant Liverpool move involved Pennant in the first half. Poor delivery into the box or poor final touch constantly let him down despite his pace and mazy runs.

Milan had little attacking effort in the first half but efforts from Kaka; the gifted Brazilian; and Inzaghi kept the Liverpool defenders honest. A yellow card for Gattuso, Italy's Snarling Dog; did little to hamper his enthusiasm for the game or the tough challenges he is well known for.

For close to 45 minutes Liverpool dominated the play, constantly looking to attack; only hampered by Pennant's lack of a final ball, no target man and Zenden's obvious lack of a cutting edge. Dida remained resolute between the sticks when Liverpool did break Milan down.

A clumsy challenge from Alonso on Kaka, late the first half. A free-kick on the edge of the box; just left-of-centre; let Milan have their chance. The kick skirted the wall and was looking to be wide and safe when the ever-dangerous Inzaghi, glanced the ball past Reina into the net. Calls came for handball but neither the referee nor linesman had a clear view. Inzaghi will know. Instant replay was inconclusive. Liverpool 0 Milan 1.

The second half saw an increasingly desperate Liverpool throw more into the attack only to be beaten away by the staunch Milan defense; they closed ranks and repelled Liverpool in typical Italian style. Pennant was ineffective on the right and Zenden's replacement; Kewell; equally so on the left.

Benitez didn't see fit to bring on Peter Crouch until late in the second half, hardly enough time for the tall striker to make an impression. He immediately provided Liverpool with a different attacking option and trouble for the tiring Italian defenders.

Liverpool's pushing forward left gaps at the back allowing Inzaghi, 33, to beat the offside trap from a beautiful pass by Kaka. Coolly slotting the ball into the far corner past the floundering Reina. Effectively the game was over from that point, notwithstanding the just rewards for Kuyt's constant running and battling for the ball. Too little too late. Benitez harassed the fourth official for the time added on to the game's end but he has no- one but himself to blame. He allowed pace, power and the aerial threat to languish on the bench whilst he fielded an injured winger in a mostly ineffective formation.

German referee, Herbert Fandel, acquitted himself well. The game flowed nicely and he was firm when necessary. His positioning for the first Milan goal was terrible.

This was neither the attacking, high action of the UEFA Cup final, nor the too cautious sparring of the FA Cup Final. It was a close fought tactical battle with both teams trying to play to their strengths. Liverpool had the best of possession and chances but failed to capitalize on their early dominance. Milan weathered the Liverpool pressure and finished superbly. The English representative fell short and now Milan sit just two victories behind Real Madrid amongst the best ever European teams.

Liverpool:-

Reina

Finnan-(Arbeloa 88)

Carragher

Agger

Riise

Pennant

Alonso

Mascherano-(Crouch 78)

Zenden-(Kewell 59)

Gerrard

Kuyt

Subs Not Used:-

Dudek

Hyypia

Gonzalez

Bellamy

Booked:-

Mascherano

Carragher

Goals:-

Kuyt 89

AC Milan:-

Dida

Oddo

Nesta

Maldini

Jankulovski-(Kaladze 79)

Gattuso

Pirlo

Ambrosini

Seedorf-(Favalli 90)

Kaka, Inzaghi-(Gilardino 88)

Subs Not Used:-

Kalac

Cafu

Serginho

Brocchi

Booked:-

Gattuso

Jankulovski

Goals:-

Inzaghi 45, 82.

Att:-

74,000

Referee:-

Herbert Fandel (Germany).