|
|
Special: Renaissance Men Ronaldinho And Ranieri Battle For Roman Honor
Italy's title race has one final fling of the dice as Milan pull into the capital to take on rampant Roma with the Rossoneri playmaker and the Tinkerman both with a both to prove.
Mar 5, 2010 12:00:00 PM
By Patrick Reilly
Serie A's (so-called) title race is in the last chance saloon so it's apt that old
cowboys Ronaldinho and Claudio Ranieri meet on Saturday night. The Brazilian genius was written off before the start of the season while the Tinkerman was booted out of Juventus last year after two solid if unspectacular years in Turin.
Both though have enjoyed a remarkable turnaround in their fortunes and are very much the 'Renaissance Men' of Italy. What better place for them to meet than in the Eternal City with both Roma and Milan snapping at the heels of Inter who have started to stutter by drawing three of their last four matches.
Ronaldinho circa 2005 performance in the Stadio Olimpico will add further weight to his quest to reach South Africa.
Analysis
Carlo Garganese, Goal.com International's Italy Expert
"Claudio Ranieri was sacked as Juventus coach two games before the end of last season, and most people thought that his managerial career at the very top was over. Historically painted as a 'nice guy loser' many Roma fans were totally against his surprise appointment after Luciano Spalletti left at the beginning of the campaign but he has won over the doubters, and after a brilliant run in recent months, Roma even have an outside chance of the Scudetto.
"Ronaldinho had a difficult first season with Milan and most thought he was finished as a player but this campaign he has been reborn. Since November he has undoubtedly been the best player in Serie A where he is top of the assists charts and it will be a travesty if he doesn't go to the World Cup on this form."
Carlo's Prediction
"I'm going for a result that is really no good for either side - a draw. Perhaps 1-1 as this is a game that really could go either way."
* Titanbet reckon that Ronaldinho will make the plane at 1/3 with odds of 9/4
against the twice world player of the year being at the summer showpiece while he is 8/1 to open the scoring against Roma. His under pressure compatriot Leonardo is 1/4 on to be Milan's coach at the start of next season with 11/4 against.
* Roma's Tinkerman Ranieri is 1/2 to still be in charge at the Stadio Olimpico next season with 6/4 against. He opened the door to coaching his country during the week with Titanbet offering odds of him being 12/1 to be the next coach of the World Cup holders.
Should Ronaldinho be on the plane to South Africa? Is Claudio Ranieri a real contender to manage the Azzurri? How do you think the big match will go? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think...
Become a fan of Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page for all the latest news and insight into everything the related to the beautiful game
cowboys Ronaldinho and Claudio Ranieri meet on Saturday night. The Brazilian genius was written off before the start of the season while the Tinkerman was booted out of Juventus last year after two solid if unspectacular years in Turin.
Both though have enjoyed a remarkable turnaround in their fortunes and are very much the 'Renaissance Men' of Italy. What better place for them to meet than in the Eternal City with both Roma and Milan snapping at the heels of Inter who have started to stutter by drawing three of their last four matches.
Ronaldinho circa 2005 performance in the Stadio Olimpico will add further weight to his quest to reach South Africa.
Analysis
Carlo Garganese, Goal.com International's Italy Expert
"Claudio Ranieri was sacked as Juventus coach two games before the end of last season, and most people thought that his managerial career at the very top was over. Historically painted as a 'nice guy loser' many Roma fans were totally against his surprise appointment after Luciano Spalletti left at the beginning of the campaign but he has won over the doubters, and after a brilliant run in recent months, Roma even have an outside chance of the Scudetto.
"Ronaldinho had a difficult first season with Milan and most thought he was finished as a player but this campaign he has been reborn. Since November he has undoubtedly been the best player in Serie A where he is top of the assists charts and it will be a travesty if he doesn't go to the World Cup on this form."
Carlo's Prediction
"I'm going for a result that is really no good for either side - a draw. Perhaps 1-1 as this is a game that really could go either way."
* Titanbet reckon that Ronaldinho will make the plane at 1/3 with odds of 9/4
against the twice world player of the year being at the summer showpiece while he is 8/1 to open the scoring against Roma. His under pressure compatriot Leonardo is 1/4 on to be Milan's coach at the start of next season with 11/4 against.
* Roma's Tinkerman Ranieri is 1/2 to still be in charge at the Stadio Olimpico next season with 6/4 against. He opened the door to coaching his country during the week with Titanbet offering odds of him being 12/1 to be the next coach of the World Cup holders.
Should Ronaldinho be on the plane to South Africa? Is Claudio Ranieri a real contender to manage the Azzurri? How do you think the big match will go? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think...
Become a fan of Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page for all the latest news and insight into everything the related to the beautiful game
Inside Goal.Com
-
RIGG: Anelka struggling against the current in Shanghai
Nicolas Anelka went against the grain when he moved to Shanghai. Now he's finding that coaching and gelling tactically is like swimming against the tide.
-
ROGERS: Bradley should command a bidding war among Serie A teams
Chievo is currently shopping the American midfielder and several Italian clubs have shown interest.
-
ISOLA: Neymar-led Brazil should be considered the 2014 WC favorite
Neymar was brilliant as Brazil easily handled the United States with early World Cup preparations officially underway.
-
LATHAM: Mexico using summer friendlies to build depth
With World Cup qualifying to begin in June, Mexico is using three U.S.-hosted friendlies to build squad depth.
-
McCARTHY: Harrisburg springs its wildest Open Cup upset to date
The City Islanders fought back from three goals down with nine minutes to play and won the game on penalty kicks in a stunning game on a wild night for the U.S. Open Cup.