Inter-ness y Viola: The Return of Inter?
(Awwwwwwwwwwwww.)
That's two weeks in a row in which Inter have stepped up and met a challenge like they gave a shit, and actually know how to play football. Dare we hope they're back for good? *crosses fingers*
For the first 30 minutes or so, the game was fairly even, with both teams having their share of attacks, and Mario Santana in particularly causing trouble for Inter down their left flank. But Inter gradually took control of the match and finished the half with a period of insane pressure, during which the score stayed at 0-0 only because of at least three absolutely miraculous saves by Sebastian Frey, the last of which probably had Galliani screaming "GET HIM AT ANY COST" into the red phone on his desk.
Amazingly, though, Inter came out in the second half and, instead of pouting, were even sharper and more in control. They eventually broke through with a Cuchu goal (totally created by the work of the Magnificent Patrick Vieira), and doubled their lead shortly thereafter through Mario Balotelli, who took another 1 v 1 with more grace and patience than any of Inter's other strikers would. (You know Cruz would have put it right at Frey, while Zlatan would have thought for too long and put it over, or something.)
The results of this match and the Roma-Udine game mean that everything basically stays the same for both teams: Inter have four points on Roma, and Fiorentina have the same margin on Udine (and Milan) for fourth.
Inter 2 - 0 Fiorentina
Cambiasso 56 (I), Balotelli 62 (I)
Inter: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Burdisso, Materazzi (Chivu 72), Maxwell; Zanetti, Vieira, Cambiasso, Stankovic (Figo 89); Balotelli (Cesar 77), Cruz
Fiorentina: Frey; Santana, Ujfalusi, Gamberini, Gobbi; Kuzmanovic, Liverani (Osvaldo 78), Montolivo (Pasqual 71); Jorgensen, Pazzini (Vieri 57), Mutu
"Hello, masses. Worship the pleather."
"Why yes, I am looking forward to the match. Thank you for asking!"
"I feel like I'm going to throw up."
LOADS of Fiorentina fans made the trip to Milan.
(At least this time, the Liverpool scarf makes sense.)
Also, one more thing before we get to the match.
Kuzi got a haircut. The highlights are gone, and he looks totally different. I'm very unsettled.
Right. Football.
I present to you Inter's MOTM again, Our Beloved Paddy.
My god, he was so good.
Seriously. I don't know what's going on, but I like it. Could it really be that he wasn't fit until now?
Totally controlled the midfield for 90 minutes, canceling out Monty which, for as those of you who saw the boy's performance in Holland on Thursday know, is quite an accomplishment.
He was so good Maicon, Max and Deki all decided they needed kisses, and even Gobbi wanted in on the action.
Also amazingly good, in an even more shocking way, was zombie!Nico.
No frantic scrambling, no stupid fouls, just winning headballs, intercepting passes, and organizing the back.
Yeah, I think there was a pod involved, too.
"What madness is this?! We were very specifically told your center backs would suck!"
"Dude. WTF? This isn't fair at all."
"What madness is this?! I was very specifically told my-- Oh. Never mind. Right. Well done, Nico! Just what I expected from you!"
If it helps anyone regain their bearing, Matrix didn't suddenly become amazing, so there is that to which we can cling.
He was, however, totally harmless, which is far better than he's been ... pretty much all season.
At one point, Pazzini (who had a very, very quiet day) very much wanted a foul called on him, but the replay showed it was a perfect tackle. (!!!!!!)
It must have totally weirded him out to be playing beside Nico, and have such a nice, quiet day at work.
Part of that quiet, of course, was due to the midfield, which was pretty fantastic.
In addition to Paddy, Il Capitano was hard at work, winning balls and flashing his thighs.
(Totally not kidding about the thighs.)
Even Kuzi's new hair couldn't put him off -- he cleaned things up well in the midfield, and had a fantastic shot on goal that fell victim to one of Seb's miracle saves.
I love this picture. Look how serene Monty is. (Plz not to ogle the captainly ass.)
Javi's favorite move: Stepping in front of the ball and using his massive thigh power to hold off everyone else. In this case, Mutu was his victim. *pats Mutu*
Also holding things down in the Midfield of Doom was Dancin' Cuchu.
He's not yet regained the magical form he had at the start of this season, but even at 80%, Cuchu is pretty awesome. (HAI JORGY.)
He can still rein in princesses, as well as score the occasional goal.
Said goal was entirely created by Paddy, who went by Liverani like he was standing still.
Then, from flat on his ass, played it back in front of goal, and Cuchu pounced.
Leaving a sad wasteland of purples in his wake.
He was seriously fired up.
(Mario got a little excited and tried to strangle him.)
"Leggo, I gotta go find Paddy. He's over there!"
"Seriously. You're hurting me! Let go. Weirdo."
(Trying to track down Paddy, who'd run off in the other direction screaming.)
Much like Javi, who ran over to the bench in a total frenzy of awesome.
Amusingly, we have pictures of the moment he spotted Paddy, but none of the actual hugging. (It did happen, I swear. it's in the video I linked up there.)
We'll just have to imagine it -- they're manly hugging, and Paddy, leaning down so he can touch their bald heads together and activate Wondertwin powers.
(Pogo!Cuchu.)
Even running back to the middle, he was still all fired up -- they all were. Welcome to the land of Giving a Shit, boys. We've been waiting for you for months.
"Bugger."
"Listen, bitches. I think it's high time you talk about me."
Right, sorry, Your Gracefulness.
Cruzi was much more active than he's been the last few weeks, and had two shots saved by Frey, one of them something probably only Frey and maybe JC would have been capable of getting to.
He worked well with Mario -- it was his pass that put the kid through for his goal -- and also flashed a bit more thigh than usual. (Gambit flesh!)
Also: Looks like a drag queen. He and Cuchu seriously need to get some blush on those cheekbones and work it, just to see what would happen.
HAI DEKI!
Guess who didn't suck at all, and was so proud of himself when he went off that he couldn't sit down?
The tifosi kept singing, and the muppety Serb kept grinning and clapping. &hearts
Also, while we're saying hello to people, a quick shout-out to Mutu.
Apart from Frey, Fiorentina's best player.
But everyone was so effectively neutralized by the midfield and the non-shitty defense, he really only had one good chance, and JC dealt with it.
"DID SOMEONE SAY MUPPET????"
Happily, Maicon didn't get beat around the end at all on Sunday, and created a couple half-chances going forward (even if the last ball was often sort of shitty).
On the other side of the back, as usual, was Max.
(MAX!)
There are loads of pictures of him this week because Santana was going nuts in the first 30 minutes. After that, the Argie was mostly shut down, but that half hour got Max more Photo love than he's had for months.
He was solid, as usual, and once he started staying home a bit more to protect against Santana,it was all good.
And then, there was this guy.
He got carded again and made some more careless passes but, seriously. The kid is freaking awesome. (Gambit thigh!)
He played on both sides of the pitch, and was always willing to run at people with the ball at his feet.
He's making better decisions every match and also? Took all the free kicks and corners again.
Not only that, but he was not distracted by Ujfi's lovely, flowing locks. The boy is a marvel.
Oh, and he scored again.
A perfect ball from Cruzi put him in alone, and he slotted it past Frey, something that Zlatan will tell you is hard as fuck to do, even when you're in alone.
"God dammit. Fuck that kid." (Osvi looks like he doesn't exactly disagree, but may be misinterpreting Mutu's meaning.)
He's always almost mad when he scores, like "Yeah, WHAT. You didn't think I could do it? Huh? HUH?"
The come the pimp poses.
Notice the rest of the team is staying away, out of either respect or fear. Possibly both.
(Matrix and Nico, meanwhile, were having their own, safe celebration.)
By way of thanking Cruzi for the pass, he strangled him. (I'm noticing a trend in how Mario express his joy, and understand more clearly everyone's wariness.)
Everyone did get there eventually, leaving Seb to watch in despondent blurriness.
Nico had to run so far, he demanded his own hug. A really, really long hug, with which Mario eventually lost patience. (Thanks to pints for the link.)
He was subbed out so he could get some love from the supporters. Mancio approved of his day at the office.
Before we get to the post-match joy, a few moments of Viola love.
Oh, Bobo.
Only played about 30 minutes, but was one of Fiorentina's most threatening players while he was on the pitch.
And, of course, there's the Viola Frenchie.
Seb was full of miracles this week, all of them coming within about a five minute stretch in the first half.
With almost any other keeper, it'd have been three by half, easy.
And all of this on two bad legs, too.
(Notice Cruzi checking him out, and the total lack of shame.)
He's an absolute marvel, he really truly is.
Just ... try to ignore the facial hair.
Dear Mr. Della Valle: Please pay Seb what he's worth and keep him in Florence. Thank you.
Despite Miracle!Seb's best efforts, it ended a deserved 2-0 to Inter, and Osvi took off his shirt. (Woo hoo!)
There was a lot of very welcome Inter excitement, including a reprise of Cuchu's fist of joy,
Chivu really wanting to be involved,
Nico making Javi uncomfortable,
a little Javi bouncing,
And totally amazing JC dorkitude.
Looking forward for Inter, there's Lazio midweek in the Coppa semis, and then away to draw merchants Torino this coming weekend -- a veritable buffet of commies! As for Fiorentina, they're home to resurgent Palermo this weekend, which is more than a little scary.