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UEFA Champions League Results: Was Inter defeat in Istanbul a reflect of Inter's latest trend of failure in European competition?
By Anna Italia
A dream start for Fenerbahce and a nightmare for Inter.
One thing was clear, Istanbul did not give up easily in front of the favorite. Fenerbahce's 1- 0 victory serves as a wake up call for FC Internazionale Milano (Inter), who once again, could not live up to the standard of the big teams in European competition. Moreover, Fenerbahce coach Zico was the winner.
Not only FC Inter was defeated by Fenerbahce 1-0, but also from the 12th man cheering for their home team.
The Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport headline is "Disastro Inter in Turchia. L'Europa e' sempre amara." (Inter Disaster in Turkey. Europe is always bitter (bad luck)"
Previous the match, in an interview with the Italian newspaper "Corriere dello Sport," Turkish National team manager, who has some knowledge of Italian football after being briefly with Milan and Fiorentina, said that "Fenerbahce can go far in the Champions League. Inter won't have it easy." Indeed, he was right, Inter did not have it easy; it lost the match.
While Mancini presented a 4-4-2 formation with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Suazo as star strikers, Fenerbahce coach Zico opted for a 4-4-1-1 formation with Brazilian striker Alex behind Mateja Kezman as the front striker.
The disadvantage for Mancini was the absence of his main defence after the Valencia brawls: Maicon, Nicolas Burdisso, and Ivan Cordoba all suspended, while Marco Materazzi and Cristian Chivu are injured.
Though Inter started well, having a corner in the 4th minute, Dejan Stanlovic could not convert because Fenerbahce cleared the ball while Fenerbahce's fans whistled every time Inter had the ball.
The pressure for the men of Mancini was clear.
Again, in the 8th minute Inter had the chance to score with another corner kick by Stankovic but cleared easily by the inspired Fenerbahce.
Mateja Kezman put to test Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar in the 9th minute when he tried to head the ball to open the score. Julio Cesar made a good save.
It seems the pressure of the 12th man with their constant support for Fenerbahce slow down Inter, who were counterattacking in the first half hour without concreting.
The cold shower came in the 43rd minute when the Brazilian connection (Roberto Carlos and Alex) made a jogo bonito move. Roberto Carlos passed the ball to Kezman than to Brazilian Alex on the right side, passed Inter defender Maxwell inside the area, and finally sending a cross to Deivid who just kick overhead Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar. A spectacular team effort with a Brazilian touch. It was 1 - 0 for Fenerbahce.
Ex Real Madrid player Roberto Carlos proved that he is still on fire, giving a brilliant performance.
What ever happened to the powerful Inter attack: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Suazo, Hernan Crespo, Dejan Stankovic and even Figo? Crespo might have the excuse that he is just returning from injury during the 2007 Copa America, but the rest?
Inter coach Roberto Mancini said after the match: "It was a balanced first half. They played better in the second half because they found more spaces when counter-attacking and on the whole they deserved to win."
Interestingly, before the match, Mancini said in a press conference that Ibrahimovic, "In terms of his strength, agility, technique and shot
there's no player in the world who's as complete as him at the moment."
However, this time neither Ibrahimovic nor Suazo nor Hernan Crespo could saved Inter. Yet, Fenerbahce's defense became the European wall that blocked famous Inter forwards without trembling.
"It's true that taking a slap like this can do you good, and it's true that we will qualify, but we can't always make a bad start. I don't think this slip-up will affect our future and it's wrong to say that Ibra does well in Italy and not in Europe. It's never just a matter of one player."
I agree with Mancini last statement "It's never just a matter of one player." Yet, a reminder for Mancini might be: It is not about a one man show, but Inter needed an 11 men show to defeat Fenerbahce.
Definitely, Zico proved to really know the Italian game and opted, the right team with the never tiring Kezman, an excellent Roberto Carlo. FC Inter just showed its reality, when the tough gets going in European competition, Inter just cannot handle the pressure, contrary to AC Milan and Juventus who seems to grow stronger in European competition.
Is it a wake up call for Inter Milan?
Photo credits: inter.it
LINE UPS
A dream start for Fenerbahce and a nightmare for Inter.
One thing was clear, Istanbul did not give up easily in front of the favorite. Fenerbahce's 1- 0 victory serves as a wake up call for FC Internazionale Milano (Inter), who once again, could not live up to the standard of the big teams in European competition. Moreover, Fenerbahce coach Zico was the winner.
Not only FC Inter was defeated by Fenerbahce 1-0, but also from the 12th man cheering for their home team. The Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport headline is "Disastro Inter in Turchia. L'Europa e' sempre amara." (Inter Disaster in Turkey. Europe is always bitter (bad luck)"
Previous the match, in an interview with the Italian newspaper "Corriere dello Sport," Turkish National team manager, who has some knowledge of Italian football after being briefly with Milan and Fiorentina, said that "Fenerbahce can go far in the Champions League. Inter won't have it easy." Indeed, he was right, Inter did not have it easy; it lost the match.
While Mancini presented a 4-4-2 formation with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Suazo as star strikers, Fenerbahce coach Zico opted for a 4-4-1-1 formation with Brazilian striker Alex behind Mateja Kezman as the front striker.
The disadvantage for Mancini was the absence of his main defence after the Valencia brawls: Maicon, Nicolas Burdisso, and Ivan Cordoba all suspended, while Marco Materazzi and Cristian Chivu are injured.
The pressure for the men of Mancini was clear.
Again, in the 8th minute Inter had the chance to score with another corner kick by Stankovic but cleared easily by the inspired Fenerbahce.
Mateja Kezman put to test Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar in the 9th minute when he tried to head the ball to open the score. Julio Cesar made a good save.
It seems the pressure of the 12th man with their constant support for Fenerbahce slow down Inter, who were counterattacking in the first half hour without concreting.
The cold shower came in the 43rd minute when the Brazilian connection (Roberto Carlos and Alex) made a jogo bonito move. Roberto Carlos passed the ball to Kezman than to Brazilian Alex on the right side, passed Inter defender Maxwell inside the area, and finally sending a cross to Deivid who just kick overhead Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar. A spectacular team effort with a Brazilian touch. It was 1 - 0 for Fenerbahce.
Ex Real Madrid player Roberto Carlos proved that he is still on fire, giving a brilliant performance.
What ever happened to the powerful Inter attack: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Suazo, Hernan Crespo, Dejan Stankovic and even Figo? Crespo might have the excuse that he is just returning from injury during the 2007 Copa America, but the rest?
Inter coach Roberto Mancini said after the match: "It was a balanced first half. They played better in the second half because they found more spaces when counter-attacking and on the whole they deserved to win."
However, this time neither Ibrahimovic nor Suazo nor Hernan Crespo could saved Inter. Yet, Fenerbahce's defense became the European wall that blocked famous Inter forwards without trembling.
"It's true that taking a slap like this can do you good, and it's true that we will qualify, but we can't always make a bad start. I don't think this slip-up will affect our future and it's wrong to say that Ibra does well in Italy and not in Europe. It's never just a matter of one player."
I agree with Mancini last statement "It's never just a matter of one player." Yet, a reminder for Mancini might be: It is not about a one man show, but Inter needed an 11 men show to defeat Fenerbahce.
Definitely, Zico proved to really know the Italian game and opted, the right team with the never tiring Kezman, an excellent Roberto Carlo. FC Inter just showed its reality, when the tough gets going in European competition, Inter just cannot handle the pressure, contrary to AC Milan and Juventus who seems to grow stronger in European competition.
Is it a wake up call for Inter Milan?
Photo credits: inter.it
LINE UPS
Fenerbahçe: 1 D.Volkan; 19 Onder, 2 Lugano, 36 Edu, 3 Roberto Carlos; 99 Deivid, 15 Aurelio, 24 Deniz, 6 Vederson; 20 Alex; 9 Kezman.
Subs: 88 B.Volkan, 5 Yasin, 8 Colin Kazim, 21 Selcuk Sahin, 23 Semih, 25 Ugur, 77 Goknan Gonul.
Coach: Zico
Inter: 12 Julio Cesar, 4 Zanetti, 24 Rivas, 25 Samuel, 6 Maxwell; 5 Stankovic, 15 Dacourt, 19 Cambiasso, 21 Solari; 8 Ibrahimovic, 29 Suazo.
Subs: 1 Toldo, 7 Figo, 11 Jimenez, 18 Crespo, 35 Esposito, 36 Bolzoni, 37 Puccio.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.
Referee: Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain).
Oh yes Anna Inter can't beat great european clubs
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Hey, Milan99, it seems that FC Inter is not ready for European competition yet. Unity team is key to achieve victories, and Inter is not united.
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Excatally as long as a club is not united they can't win much. Talking about Inter winning Serie A look on how they win those serie a's????
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And the pre-season loss streak continues...
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Indeed Ricardo15, hope Inter learned the lesson and start deliving in European competition not only in the Serie A
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Fenerbahce bu sene bir başka güzel, bu yaşıma geldim ama daha böylesine mükemmel bir futbol zevki ile karşılaşmadım. İtalia F.C. İnter dobrowski
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Fenerbahce bu sene bir başka güzel, bu yaşıma geldim ama daha böylesine mükemmel bir futbol zevki ile karşılaşmadım. İtalia F.C. İnter dobrowski
hey Inter are a good club but they are not united and Fenerbahçe want to win something.
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Türkiye Cumhuriyeti thanks for translating the comment. I agree Inter is a great club. Yet, they are not united to play effectively as a team. Fenerbahce showed more harmony and the will to win. Good for you and bad for Inter.
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Anna, I recall us talking a couple of weeks ago about the lack of unity and hustle with Inter and the fact they rely more on skill than hard play and that this would show in the Champions League. I guess we were right.
I watched the last 20 minutes of the game and I was rather surprised how badly Inter played relatively speaking. This was a team that lost once in Serie A last season. I sure hope they can pull it together somehow (in the Champions League only of course).
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You are right Kenntak. I do remember talking about Inter's lack of unity, starting from Vieira and Materazzi. Indeed, Inter's poor performance with Fenerbahce gave us the reason.
About Inter's record in Serie A last year, that is also not by own merits. Several factors contributed to their winnning matches, starting from penalty points from AC Milan, Fiorentina, Lazio and the absence of Juventus.
Plus Milan did not emphasize much on Serie A last season because their main concern was the Champions League, and it paid off.
I guess I will stop here because it might end up "writing an article" with my response. Yet, it is always a delight sharing about our soccer passion in a civilized way. Thanks Kenntak.
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Inter can't pull it together unless they get some confidence in themselves. Inter relay on great players more than anything which Milan did also in last Serie A game
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Milan99, let's hope Inter improves in the Champions League, but not to the point of beating AC MILAN. I agree with you, Roberto Mancini is relying more on individualities than by making the team work as a team, just like Marcello Lippi did with the national team.
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Yah thats the bad thing about coaches.
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fenerbahce and Türkiye Cumhuriyeti welcome but what language is that???
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Milan99,
I dont' know either but at least they took the time to provide the English translation.
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You are right Ricardo15
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Fenerbahce is probably the hardest away match for all European teams. Plus, last night's performance by Fenerbahce cannot be confronted successfully by AC Milan or Juventus as well, as well as a full-strength Inter (as UEFA also claimed).
So Inter fans should not be worried a lot. With the additional support of now-injured players, they would surely qualify from this group (hopefully with Fenerbahce).
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Hello Emre, You are absolutely right. Fenerbahce is a good team. The public was also a main factor as their constant support for the home team and whistles were commented by players and Italian media.
I love seeing Mateja Kezman and Roberto Carlos. They are great. Though, I also like Hernan Crespo and Ibrahimovic.
Just like Inter coach Roberto Mancini said at a press conference, Fenerbahce played better and they deserved to win.
Do you follow an Italian team in the Serie A?
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Thats why I loved it even more that Fenerbahce won that they have Roberto Carlos and they're coach Zico
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