5 HUGE Reasons Why Serie A isn't Sleeping With the Fishes

Serie A has been in the news a lot lately, as usual for some not so great things (come on, it wouldn't be summer without another point shaving investigation in Italy). But most recently Serie A has been on everyone's lips for what seems like a mass exodus of talent from the league. Ibra, Lavezzi, and Silva to PSG and Borini to Liverpool just to name a few. It was even said that with the departure of Ibra that there wouldn't be any superstars left. It's also being said that soon the Portuguese or French league could surpass Italy in the UEFA league rankings next year. I'm here to prove to the public that we shouldn't give up on Serie A just yet. There are PLENTY of reasons why I love it and here a 5 big reasons why you should too.

5. The Fans-Nobody loves soccer as much as Italians do. Calcio is a way of life for pretty much everybody. Its not like other countries where there are plenty of other popular sports like Rugby, Cricket, Basketball, or Baseball. You play soccer as a kid, and when you get older and get a job you watch it on tv with as much passion and love for the game you had as a kid. The atmosphere at matches is something that cannot be matched anywhere else. Sure the stadium doesn't get packed until around half time (the refs obviously don't get the memo that Italians are like 45 minutes late to everything). The fans don't care if there are multi million euro players out on the pitch or the neighborhood butcher's son, Italians just love soccer, and honestly a league is only as strong as its supporters. 

4. Euro 2012 Performance-  This reason alone should be enough to convince people of the talent that Serie A has to offer! The national team made it to the finals people! And this is a national team where a majority of the talent, well pretty much all but a few, play in Serie A. This was a competition where the Italians needed to prove themselves. Now I obviously have my opinions, don't get me wrong I love the Spanish national team, but for me the team to beat in Europe is Germany, I don't care what the FIFA rankings say. That semi-final game between Germany and Italy was something out of a dream (well for me at least since I'm Italian). I was proud that we had made it even that far, once I knew we were playing Germany I thought it was all over. But no! Balotelli was our savior! (and trust me, Italians get just as annoyed with him as everyone else does.) The team played just like that, a team. There was so much improvement from the World Cup 2 years ago and I was so proud. Most of the players that wowed us in this competition play in Serie A, Buffon, Maggio, Del Piero, the list goes on. Round of applause boys. Forza Azzuri! 

3. Juventus- After an amazing season domestically, winning Seria A and making it to the finals of the Coppa Italia, Juve was very well represented at the Euros this summer. Captain Buffon, Del Piero, Pirlo, Marchisio, as well as several others on the bench were all from Juventus. In fact, a majority of the starting line up for the Azzuri was made up of Juventus players. Brazilian defender Lucio has also made the switch over from Inter for next season. With all of that talent in one place Juve is really giving the most popular Italian sides, Milan and Inter a run for their money. With the Azzuri making it to the finals of the Euro Cup I'm pretty excited to start watching Serie A again in the fall, the players have really proved themselves worthy. 

2. Napoli- More specifically Edinson Cavani and Marek Hamsik. (I personally think Cavani is one of the top players in the entire world) My bias is going to come out a little bit more here since Napoli is hands down my favorite team in Seria A. Sure my heart broke when Lavezzi left, but there is still plenty of talent left in this squad and their Champions league performance this past season proves that. Now I am obviously a HUGE Chelsea fan, my heart was playing my homeland in the knockout stages. I remember waking up at 5am to watch the draw and once Chelsea's name was pulled I just kept saying over and over again, not Napoli not Napoli...but of course life is so cruel. I didn't want us to be drawn with Napoli because I knew that they wouldn't go down without a fight (and they didn't, through the extra time of the second leg I was on the edge of my seat and my grandma kept asking why I wanted the English team to beat the Italian one). With all of Italy's top teams being from the north, Napoli has finally given the people of the south (like my family) something to cheer about and be proud of. Towards the end of the domestic season they struggled a little in the league finishing 5th, but they did win the Coppa Italia. However, it was their powerful Champions league performance, as well as still hanging on to superstars like Maggio, Cavani, and Hamsik as to why Napoli and Serie A can compete with the best. 

1. Wesley Sneijder-Ok, seriously. How can anyone say with complete honesty that Serie A has no superstars left when pretty much one of the biggest stars in the world plays for Inter? I don't care if the Netherlands crashed and burned at the Euros, Sneijder is still a top class player and is beloved in Milan. Sure he's been linked with a move to Manchester United for like ever it seems but I doubt he'll actually go. (well he better not I would probably die) I don't even have to say anything else about Sneijder because his career pretty much speaks for itself, he is a superstar in every meaning of the word.

Soooooo what have we learned today? A lot! That Serie A shouldn't be written off just yet. There are plenty of other reasons why this league has still got it, but I just gave you 5 to start off with. Plus, can a league with players like Pato, Julio Cesar, and Diego Milito be considered bad? No way! All I'm asking is to give Seria A a chance and I PROMISE you won't be disappointed!! So as usual, may your days be as beautiful as the game we love so much. Ciao!

Calcio Queen

Euro 2012- Actually Exciting? Sort Of.

Caution...
If you are Dutch please proceed with caution...as some of the following content may bring back horrible memories that you have spent so long trying to forget.

Was it really just 2 weeks ago that the world watched Spain lift that ever wonderful Euro Cup? (again) Yes, it actually was. Maybe it just seems so long ago because it's not like we all haven't seen it before. Casillas lifting that same trophy 4 years earlier, then the World Cup 2 years after that. I'm sure most people (with the exception of Spanish people I'm guessing) are just downright sick of seeing Spain win EVERYTHING over the past few years. I'm also pretty sure that I wasn't the only one who noticed that this time around it was a bit harder for them to advance than it was in previous competitions. Could the ever powerful Spain finally be on the decline? I'm thinking yes. For me, this really was a competition that showed a lot of improvement for teams that struggled during the World Cup. It also was one that showed one of the top teams in the world crash and burn right in front of our eyes. As one of those people who get bored with international competitions pretty much in the group stages and just wishes that the summer would be over so I can start watching real soccer again, the constant upsets and surprises that Euro 2012 offered actually kept me pretty interested right up until the end. So lets rewind all the way back to last month...

If you would have asked anyone who was going to win Euro 2012 a few months ago you would have heard the typical answers...Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, and thats probably it. No one would have ever guessed that the Netherlands would crash out in the group stages, that Portugal would make it all the way to the semi finals, or that Italy would make it all the way to the finals. (yayy!!) Now believe me, I was just as surprised at the performance of the Dutch as everyone else was. I also know exactly how the fans feel, I was them 2 years ago at the World Cup. Looking on in disbelief as Italy, the then defending world champions were sent home in the group stages. Its one of those times in life where you remember exactly where you were and what you were doing even years later. You don't know what to think...you just hope that maybe you're dreaming and that this isn't really happening...oh but it did. And it happened to the Dutch as well, reaching the final of the World Cup in 2010 everyone expected them to to the same, and perhaps even better this time at the Euros. So what went wrong? Obviously being in the group of death was the first problem. But I, like the entire world just assumed that Germany and the Netherlands would advance from group B pretty easily, especially since Portugal has been suffering internationally the past few years. That first game against Denmark really was the straw that broke the camel's back. The team is full of superstars though, how on earth can a team with RVP, Sneijder, Robben, De Jong, and countless others not advance. I know why!!!! There isn't a pitch in the world big enough to fit the amount of ego on that team. Also, rumors of disagreements between the players as well as the coaches didn't surprise me one bit. That really is the difference between the Netherlands and teams like Germany and Spain. The domestic league also has a lot to do with the performance of the national team too. The dutch league isn't nearly as strong as the Bundesliga or La Liga. The best players for Germany and Spain are the ones who are used to playing with one another for their club teams, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, or Real Madrid. The Dutch players are all spread across Europe and only play together for the national team when they need to, which is why I kind of hate international competitions. It happens all the time, watching Messi play for Argentina just kind of makes me sad sometimes, but for Barca? He's pretty much a god. Ughh when does the Champions League start again?? :/

Other upsets in the competition were simply the result of just how exciting and unpredictable the game of soccer really is. The Czech Republic still advancing after a humiliating 4-1 loss in the opening match against Russia. Russia not advancing after that win, which kind of surprised me, but only kind of. The team has some players of note, but many of their better players didn't really deliver throughout the club season, Arshavin and Pavlyuchenko didn't impress anyone, but it just frustrated me because you know they have it in there somewhere. And the Ukraine making it sooooooo close to advancing past the group stages in their home country while at the same time reminding us all that Shevchenko's still got it.


Since I'm usually so optimistic (not) I should probably talk a little about the teams that did well and impressed me, rather than go on about the teams that either sucked, or surprised me that they ended up sucking. Three teams that impressed me, England, Italy, and France.

Now I can't hide the fact that I'm a big John Terry fan, no matter what goes on off the pitch. In fact, I really think that the whole reason England did so badly at the 2010 World Cup was because he was stripped of the captaincy so close to the competition, the team was in disarray and it showed. He is a natural leader and the team suffered without him as their fearless leader. France's world cup was just...I can't even think of a word to describe it. I was actually looking forward to finding out what ridiculous things the team was going to do next, and obviously finding it funny because I'm not French, it's not my team acting like a bunch of idiots. Finally, Italy's world cup was...well I already discussed that I don't need to go into it anymore. Wayne Rooney, who I don't particularly care for, actually delivered once his suspension was up and the team did well without him through most of the group stages. France did well too, with Ribery and Nasri playing the way they should and getting me pretty interested in watching some of their teammates play in Ligue 1 next season. We of course cannot forget Italia. We had to deliver in order to fix our reputation, and we did, in a big way. Sure the final against Spain wasn't perfect, but the lead up to it was...simply amazing, especially the win against Germany. I am actually a huge fan of the German national team, not expecting Italy to make it as far as they did I was pretty nervous when the motherland had to play Germany, a team that I fully respect. But my guys accepted that challenge and won in a beautiful way. At that point, I didn't care if we won the whole thing (well kind of) to me we had beat the best team in the competition and whatever happened in the final would be left up to fate. Apparently as fate had it Spain was to win...again.

Though I claim that international competitions are boring, I do kind of like them, especially when they're as exciting as this one. Mark my words, Spain is on the decline, and no matter what the fifa rankings say I think that Germany is the team to beat (and Italy did woohoo!!). This is of course only Europe I'm talking about, I absolutely love Uruguay too, but this was a Euro discussion. We'll see what the Olympics will have to give us (Luis Suarez will play for Uruguay yaaayy!!) but nothing this summer will compare to Euro 2012. Until next time, may your days be as beautiful as the game we love so much! CIAO!

Calcio Queen 

A Cure for the Summer Blues

And so it begins....

Summer can be a boring time for anyone, especially soccer fans. Sure there are always international competitions we can look forward to, for example last months Euro Cup, but nothing can really compare to the club season, the best in the world playing for the best teams in the world.

There is pretty much one thing in life I am truly passionate about, soccer, perhaps its in my Italian blood, hence the name Calcio Queen :). This is my first of hopefully many blogs on everything I find interesting in the soccer world. Since I'm new at this whole thing it might take a while for me to figure out how to work it. (pictures will come soon, everyone loves pictures) This blog is the absolute first from the wise and beautiful Calcio Queen and they will get better, so no worries. Naturally, as a fan I have my teams that I love and hate all others. (I have to say I am and always have been a die hard Chelsea fan, through thick and thin. European Champions, congratulations to us!!! )I'm pretty biased, but who isn't with the teams they grew up supporting? I am very capable of being objective, which I will of course TRY to do, but I'm not making any promises. :) You'll still hear about news from all over the soccer world, but just with a lot of Chelsea love in between.The news you WANT to hear, without all of that bull along with it.

When it comes to summers, this one is actually pretty exciting, Euro 2012, the Olympics, the U-19 Championship, and the Copa Libertadores. I'll go more in depth into the Euro Cup and Olympics next time, but I want to dedicate this blog to my favorite part of the summer, transfers.

Rumors are always so exciting, and anytime you hear of a transfer it is almost always a rumor. I have heard some ridiculous ones so far this summer. Cristiano Ronaldo to Chelsea? Please, over my dead body. Sami Khedira to Bayern? Well, that one I would actually be all for, but its no use focusing on the rumors when there is so much going on in the transfer world this summer that is actually happening.

I of course cannot start my discussion on transfers without having a moment of silence, for a legend has been lost. I'll have a nice shot of vodka at kickoff of the first Chelsea match of the season for you Drogba. (Plus I live in the U.S. the game will be at like 10am that is dedication!) After a disastrous rumor of him possibly going to Barcelona he has officially stared in China for Shanghai Shenhua, alongside former Chelsea teammate Nicolas Anelka. Normally, one would probably think a move like this, at Drogba's age, 34, would mean a step towards retirement, ala Beckham's move to the LA Galaxy. However, Drogba has recently stated that is in fact not the case. He said he wanted to try something new, and it was also not about the money. Personally, if he wanted to try something new why couldn't he go somewhere people can actually watch him play? Like Serie A or the Bundesliga. If Europe was the problem he could have always come to the MLS. (I wouldn't mind running into him around town over here) But, he has left us all, and with a heavy heart I wish him good luck. I really hope the people in China appreciate what they got :(.

Another issue that I can't ignore is Paris St-Germain. Just the whole team is one huge issue to me that I honestly don't get. Last summer they were claiming they were going to buy all of these super stars, I'm of course not going to forget that they stole Javier Pastore right from under Chelsea's nose.  It kind of seems they actually might do something this time around. Thiago Silva has just confirmed his transfer and back to the rumor mill again, it seems that Ibra may follow. With former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti as their fearless leader, newcomers like Silva and possibly Ibra, of course not to mention Alex, another Chelsea favorite of mine who has since left us, this could perhaps be the year that I actually pay attention to what's going on in France. I've never really followed Ligue 1, but this seems promising to me. Especially after seeing the national team somewhat get their act back together at the Euros. But this is of course all talk, will PSG deliver even with this influx of talent? We'll just have to wait and see.

I'll finish my transfer discussion ( for this time at least, everyone knows the good stuff happens at like 11:59 on the day the transfer window closes) with my personal favorite, the Premier League. At the beginning of the summer we had quite an interesting arrival in England. Lucas Podolski to Arsenal. Now that was very interesting to me, yeah it seems like a great idea, but I'll believe it will work out when I see it. We all remember his brief stint at Bayern Munich a few years ago. After his utterly amazing performance at the 2006 World Cup he pretty much failed to impress and shortly returned to FC Cologne. He's just one of those guys, when it comes to country he never fails to impress, but when it comes to his club performance...ehhh. Its like a reverse Messi. Podolski could potentially have some huge shoes to fill if Van Persie does end up leaving, though to me thats not an even trade. With Van Persie in the middle and Podolski playing of a more offensive midfield role the duo could be unstoppable. But, again, who knows what's going to happen there. Also, who knows what RVP is going to do, he still has a year left in his contract and I honestly think that at least for this season he's going to stay put. Hopefully, Podolski can prove me wrong and actually be a positive thing for Arsenal.
In a season full of big budget disappointments (and no I don't mean Fernando Torres, he scored when he needed to and got more trophies this season than pretty much everyone so boo to all the haters!!!) another rumor I came across was the Andy Carroll to West Ham loan idea. That could work for him, maybe. He has yet to impress anyone at Liverpool, and didn't really do much for me in the Euro Cup either. Yes he's a good player, and Newcastle wasn't that bad when he played for them, but Liverpool had their own problems before he got there. He just got sucked into that horrible train wreck of a few seasons that people can't look away from. Liverpool was always great on paper, Gerrard, Kuyt, Suarez, just to name a few, but for some reason they've just been slacking. Maybe Carroll needs a season at newly promoted West Ham to boost his confidence, come back to Liverpool and restore them to glory. I've also heard rumors of a loan to Spurs or AC Milan too, but honestly I think Carroll needs a team like West Ham to get back in form. With newly signed Borini and potentially Clint Dempsey (who to me, is the best player on the U.S. National Team and my hands down favorite) perhaps this could be the season that we see Liverpool on top again. We'll see how optimistic I am a few weeks into the season.
I'm not even going to address Carols Tevez to AC Milan, he should have gone to China, not Drogba, so I don't have to deal with his crap.
Of course we aren't only concerned with the movement of players, but managers as well. Was I shocked and a little offended when I found out that former Chelsea manager AVB was to replace Harry Redknapp at Spurs...no. (Umm yes I was) Did I care that of all of the teams to go to, he chose to lead our cross town rivals? (...no comment) I'm not one to hold grudges (yes I am, good luck with that AVB) but I'm VERY interested in what is going to happen at White Hart Lane this season, especially with all of this Modric, Van Der Vaart exit talk. They're way lucky Bale stayed on, he would have done well at Barcelona, but I digress.

There are so many more transfer rumors that I haven't talked about here, just some of the big names that came to my attention. Frankly, its way too overwhelming with things changing everyday. I'll just be happy once the season starts again and I can start writing about if these transfers are actually delivering. Next time I'm going to talk about Euro 2012, the upsets (obviously the Netherlands), surprises (Forza Italia!) winners, and everything in between. Until then, may your days be as beautiful as the game we love so much.

Ciao for now from your...

Calcio Queen