Also a Euro 2012 update

This match was from a few days ago. Italy defeated England in the quarterfinals, 0-0 (4-2).

Euro 2012 update

Italy defeated Germany yesterday 2-1 to advance to the finals against Spain. 

Pirlo's goal against Parma

On Saturday, Milan beat Parma 1-0. Below is Andrea Pirlo's goal-

World Cup Update #3: The group stage is over

Here are some important statistics from the group stage of the 2010 World Cup:

• Teams that won all three of their matches: Argentina, Netherlands
• Teams that lost all three of their matches: Cameroon, north Korea
• Teams that allowed no goals in the group stage: Uruguay, Portugal
• Teams that scored no goals in the group stage: Algeria, Honduras

• Most goals scored: Argentina, Portugal (7)
• Most goals allowed: north Korea (12)

• Milan players who have appeared at the World Cup: Zambrotta, Pirlo, Gattuso (Italy); Adiyiah (Ghana); Huntelaar (Netherlands); Onyewu (United States)
• Milan players who have scored at the World Cup: Huntelaar
• Milan players who have not appeared at the World Cup: Thiago Silva (Brazil)

Great moments in World Cup history #7

Here are four different views of the same goal-- Fabio Grosso's against Germany deep into extra time of the 2006 semifinals. All four are worth watching. This is basically the goal that convinced me to root for Italy in the final against France.

English version

American Version

Italian version

Official FIFA movie version

AC Milan 2009-2010 Season Statistical Highlights

Here are the statistical leaders for AC Milan during the 2009-2010 Serie A season:

Most games played: Ronaldinho (36)

Most games started: Ronaldinho (34)

Most minutes played: Andrea Pirlo (2952)

Most minutes played without scoring a goal (goalies excluded): Andrea Pirlo (2952)*

Most goals scored: Marco Borriello (14)

Most yellow cards: Massimo Ambrosini & Mathieu Flamini (10)

Most red cards: Massimo Ambrosini & Mathieu Flamini (2)

Fewest minutes played (of players who appeared at all): Rodney Strasser (7)

*Pirlo's amazing goal against Real Madrid came in the Champions League.

Below: Gennaro Gattuso received eight yellow cards this season. Here is a picture of the last one.

Still my favorite goal of the year

Andrea Pirlo scores to make it 1-1 against Real Madrid in the Champions League

To see my second favorite goal of the year (Inzaghi's game winner in Milan's 2-1 victory over Olympique de Marseille), click here.

Match report: Cagliari 2 - Milan 3

Above: Davide Astori right after scoring an own goal to put Milan ahead 3-2

• Goals scored: Borriello 7', Ragatzu 17', Huntelaar 19', Matri 32', Astori (own goal) 38'
• What happened: Five goals were scored in the first half. The last time these two teams met, seven goals were scored.
• What else happened: Both Inter and Roma won, so Milan are still in third place.
• Questions about this game: Was Huntelaar's goal from an even longer distance than the one Pirlo scored against Real Madrid in the Champions League?
• What this match teaches us: Neither team seems to be able to play defense.

Match report: Real Madrid 2 - AC Milan 3

• Goals scored: Raul 19', Pirlo 62', Pato 66', Drenthe 76', Pato 88'
• Goals disallowed: Thiago Silva 86'
• Raul's goal: Milan keeper Dida had just caught a soft shot. Then he brought it down and bounced it off his knee straight to Raul. Raul did not miss.
• Why Dida was even playing: Dida started for the injured Storari. Storari had replaced the injured Abbiati. Abbiati had replaced the injured Dida.
• Pirlo's goal: Pirlo shot from 35+ yards out. The ball grazed Iker Casillas' fingers but went in. The shot was so surprising that the television announcer did not realize that the ball had gone in the net. The Madrid home crowd did go instantly silent, however.
• Pato's first goal: Ambrosini put a long pass in to Pato. Casillas rushed all the way out of the penalty area but could not get to the ball. Pato went around Casillas and did not miss. This was Pato's first ever Champions League goal.
• Drenthe's goal: Madrid had many, many more corner kicks than Milan. This was one of them. Madrid took a short corner and Drenthe drilled it along the ground and into the net.
• Thiago Silva's goal: Milan had a corner. Ronaldinho took it. Thiago Silva or a defender headed it in. The referee disallowed the goal for no apparent reason. Much yelling, pushing, and shoving followed.
• Pato's second goal: Seedorf (who had an absolutely fantastic game) lobbed a short pass into Pato who was wide open on the right side of the box. Pato calmly volleyed it in.
• What this match teaches us: I have absolutely no idea what this match teaches us. However, this may have been the most exciting, satisfying match I have ever seen.

Above: Thiago Silva celebrates the victory.

Below: Another post-match scene.

Highlights are below:

Poor Pippo...

Super Pippo (Milan's Fillipo Inzaghi) has not been chosen by Donadoni (the Azzuri's coach) to represent Italy in Euro 2008. Meanwhile, Boriello, Di Natale, Del Piero, and Quagliarella were all picked. This means only Ambrosini, Gattuso, and Pirlo will represent (no Oddo- due to injury-, Bonera or Nesta at defence) AC Milan. The Italian team will be very Inter and Juventus dominated. Well, actually Milan has about the same amount as all the other teams. But still.

All's done in Serie A: Game day 38

BOOOOO!

This morning, nothing was decided in Italy. Relegation, scudetto, and Champions League spots were all still very open. Unfortunately, some teams were on the losing end of the games. Inter, Catania, and Fiorentina all grabbed the wins (or draws, in Catania's case) they needed. Milan and Roma won, but their efforts were "truly academic," as their destinies were really determined by Fiorentina and Inter. Parma lost, sealing their own destiny: to return to Serie B.

Inter 2- Parma 0
Inter are the scudetto winners for the third consecutive year, and the 16th time in history.
Parma will be relegated to Serie B, along with Empoli and Livorno.

Roma 1- Catania 1
Roma finish the season second. Their win was irrelevant as Inter won anyway.
Catania narrowly escaped relegation (by one point!).

Fiorentina 1- Torino 0
Fiorentina pull off the win they need to participate in the 2008-09 Champions League.
Torino were safe from relegation and had little to play for. They could have given Milan a hand, though.

Milan 4- Udinese 1
Milan finish two points behind Fiorentina, so they will have to settle for the UEFA cup. This will make certain Italian prime ministers unhappy.
Udinese were also playing for very little, as they have already qualified for the UEFA cup.




Above (right to left): Pato, Pirlo, and Kaka celebrate after Pato scores the equaliser against Udinese, Luciano Spalletti looks sad after his team (Roma) fails to win the scudetto, Javier Zanetti lifts Inter's scudetto trophy.