Inter-ness: Coppa Yawn
(Secrets.)
Even though it's the semis, it's still "just" the Coppa so, like Roma, Inter played mostly non-regulars, and let the other kids stay home and train, trying not to get hurt. The only normal starters who were out there were Matrix and Nico, and the midfield was full of people you'd be forgiven for thinking were dead: Maniche, Santi, and both Luises.
Anyway, the game was boring. Lazio had the better of the chances, including a bunch of corners in the first half, but they rarely forces saves out of Old Man Toldo, who was looks sprightly in his short-sleeved kit. Inter were threatening right before the half, and created a bit more in the second half, but Lazio really should have won -- with Toldo totally stranded, they screwed up a 2 v 1 (thank you, San Siro, for having a pitch made of soap). Late-on, Nico hit the bar with a header, and Luca Siligardi (mmm ... Siligardi) created a couple good chances in the 15 minutes he was on, but the game ended goalless and Inter will need to rock some away goals in the return leg to move on.
Inter 0-0 Lazio
Inter: Toldo; Burdisso, Materazzi, Chivu, Cesar; Jimenez (Siligardi 75), Maniche, Solari (Cambiasso 78); Figo (Bolzoni 39), Crespo, Suazo
Lazio: Ballotta; Zauri, Siviglia, Cribari, Radu; Dabo (Manfredini 81), Ledesma, Behrami (Mutarelli 60); Mauri; Pandev (Tare 89), Rocchi
Mancio spent his time before the match making fish faces. No one knows why. but we'd like him to stop.
The starters. Why does Chivu look like the scary one from A League of Their Own?
Bench of babies. HAI LUCA.
Figo played less than a half, because something happened to his ankle and he walked off.
Despite that, he's still in like half the pictures. I suspect the photogs didn't actually know who anyone else was.
To be honest, he really didn't do much.
He was playing next to Suazo, behind Crespo, which is rather a silly place for him to be these days. IMHO.
He did have one good moment, though, where he lifted the ball over this boy when he slid and zipped past him. That was nice.
And he got some quality time with Behrami's tongue, which is something no one could possibly turn down.
Plus, he looked grumpily fantastic, something of which I'm sure he was (grumpily) proud.
"Just so we're clear, I'm NOT FIGHTING WITH FIGO. You saw I played him, right? You saw?"
Little Luis, meanwhile, played 75 minutes, and is in pretty much all the pictures that aren't of Figo.
He's really so cute I can hardly stand it. (In case anyone was unclear on that point.)
Like the other Luis, he really didn't do much, either, but there was a lot of running around and trying very hard.
*resists making a pooping comment*
He's also really, really cute. Have I mentioned that?
Look at the Romans ganging up on him, those bastards.
I don't really know how it happened that he was spending so much time trying to win headballs, but that's not really what he was built to do. Also, I think someone is spitting on him. Is that the guy from Newcastle?
So. Adorable Focused.
You know who was good?
Yeah. The hobo!
He played in the middle of the back with Matrix, and was totally comfortable the whole match.
Also, he flew. My god, what miracle is next -- a haircut? Maybe? Please?
Matrix, meanwhile, was Gazzetta's MOTM (!).
He and Chivu did a shockingly good job of protecting Toldo from the terrors that are Pandev and Rocchi.
See? Rocchi's totally contained, you can see it in his semi-commie eyes.
(Not using his hand. Well, maybe a little.)
Nico played on the right where he tends to be awful, but he was fine there yesterday.
Also: Holy crap he can throw the ball far. Like, Maicon-far, without even trying. He's stronger than he looks, that one.
"Oh yeah, my defense is watertight! Never a doubt in my mind, not ever. And quit talking about me getting my eyes done, alright?!"
(Cesar played left back the whole game. Despite that, this is the ONLY PICTURE OF HIM. Maybe photographers don't hate Max, just his position?)
Crespo was the lead striker and wasn't awful but also once again failed to really impress.
That said, though, Inter didn't attack that much, so he didn't have THAT many chances.
He had one good shot saved by Ballotta, and also spent a lot of time being annoyed by offside calls, and stomping around in the box, muttering like a crazy person.
(Mmm ... Ledesma.)
He did make some friends, which was nice for him.
"Oh, don't look at me like that. He played the whole damn game! What do you want from me?"
Suazo played wide on the left, in sort of a Mutu-esque support striker position.
From what I can remember, he mostly just fell down a few times.
He was even less impressive than Crespo. The front line as a whole was incredibly quiet for the entire, very boring (Have I mentioned that?) match.
*shrug* "He's fast, alright?"
Oh, Santi.
Worked his ass off as always and had some good moments, but they all seemed to end this way: Out of bounds and filled with woe.
His partner in awful hair also ran around in the midfield a bit, sort of trying to pretend he was Paddy.
He wasn't Paddy (WHO can be Paddy?), but he was fine -- no disasters that I can recall. (Nevertheless, he'll probably be buried on the bench again until the return leg.)
When Figo went off, Bolzoni came on for him and played really well.
He didn't try to do anything fancy, just smart and simple, which works fine, thanks.
(This might be my favorite picture ever: Siligardi AND Mutarelli. *clutches ovaries*)
Look how young and little he looks! Awwwww.
Away to Toro (who are without both DDM And Recoba due to suspensions) this weekend, with Paddy suspended. I don't know about anyone else, but I AM FRETTING.