December 2011
10 posts
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Best of Rinaldi's Blog 2011
In the spirit of Christmas and New Year, here is a quick rundown of what I think has been the best stuff on my blog in the past 12 months.
It is entirely personal of course, but feel free to take a look around and disagree or agree with what I have selected.
One thing is for sure, there has been plenty of nonsense posted. Links to much of it below…
January - Roberto Baggio v Maradona...
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Giuseppe Bergomi: 100-word hero #11
They call him Lo Zio, the Uncle, but Beppe Bergomi was just a teenager when he helped his country win the World Cup - even if his fine moustache belied his tender years.
Such early triumph can become a millstone but not for someone carved out of Nerazzurro rock. He became the heart of Inter and Italy’s defence for years to come.
Strength, anticipation and determination were his stock in trade...
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Inter v Fiorentina: How Trapattoni delivered the...
First appeared at Serie A Weekly
As he inspected the San Siro playing surface, Giovanni Trapattoni could have been permitted a sentimental smile. Even in his own illustrious almanac of football achievements that most famous piece of Lombardy turf holds a special place. He first carved out his reputation as a player there and, as a manager, it was where he constructed his “Inter da record”...
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Roberto Mancini: 100-word hero #10
It is that Football Italia and Rigore! legend Dave Taylor again, with a topical look at a man facing a Champions League managerial crunch night this week.
Roberto Mancini was a free-kick specialist whose awareness saw him out-think some of the world’s best defenders in 80s Italy. The Jesi born forward had skills few could compete with.
The dynamic relationship he shared with Gianluca...
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One season with Socrates: Fiorentina's farewell to...
It is not the kind of thing you forget in a hurry. When your team snaps up a member of the best side never to win the World Cup – at least in the eyes of most of the British media since 1982 – it constitutes a pretty memorable moment. If he happens to be their eccentric mastermind, it is an event which might live in your mind forever.
That whole Brazil squad which was sent home from Spain by a...
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UEFA Euro 2012: What are your #groupofdeath and...
There are just 64 different routes for Italy, or any other nation for that matter, to win the European Nations next year. The restricted nature of the tournament means there are a relatively small number of potential four-team combinations. But how to judge what would be a dream group or constitute a group of death?
Italy go into pot two, thus avoiding any chance of meeting Germany, England or...
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