Italy’s two national team outcasts face off tomorrow

If you ask most Italian fans who they would like to see on Italy’s World Cup squad, most will immediately tell you two names: Antonio Cassano and Fabrizio Miccoli. When in form, Cassano is the probably Italy’s most talented player and Miccoli is no slouch either, which is why he is aptly nicknamed “The Romario of Salento“. Both players are having extraordinary seasons: Cassano started brilliantly and then cooled off in the winter (where he was left out for a couple of games for “technical choice”) but since returning from his absence he has been Sampdoria’s best player and one of the main reasons they are close to Champions League qualification. Miccoli is having without a doubt his best ever season as a professional. To date, the pint-sized striker has scored 18 goals (3rd in the scoring charts behind Antonio Di Natale and Diego Milito) and his overall play has led Palermo within reach of the 4th Champions League spot.

So are the two of the best Italian strikers at the moment going to South Africa this summer? No. We could spend weeks guessing what exactly Lippi’s problems are with both of them, but for some reason he just doesn’t want them on the team. Does it bother the two players? Probably a little, but both have said they have things to keep them busy this summer. Cassano will be getting married, and Miccoli said he’ll be at his beach house in Gallipoli with his family. So both players have to focus on their clubs, and thankfully the soccer gods have set it up so that the Palermo-Sampdoria game tomorrow is a Champions League play-off of sorts. Basically, this is Serie A’s version of Manchester City-Tottenham.

If you want to watch a Serie A game this weekend, choose this one. Sampdoria currently occupy the 4th Champions League spot with 63 points. Palermo are currently in 5th place with 61 points. Since Napoli is too far behind to qualify for the Champions League, only Sampdoria or Palermo can qualify, making this a regular season play-off. If Sampdoria win away to Palermo tomorrow, they will have clinched their first modern Champions League qualification (they took part in the old European Cup in 1992, making it to the final vs. Barcelona but losing) with one game remaining. If Palermo defeat Sampdoria, Palermo will be one point ahead of Sampdoria on the final day and will face a most probably already relegated Atalanta side, meaning they should qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history rather easily. A draw would leave everything to the last day but give Sampdoria the advantage.

However, it is in Sampdoria’s best interests to try and win tomorrow. On the last day they host Napoli in Genova, but Napoli won’t lay down for them. Napoli, even though mathematically qualified for the Europa League, want to finish 6th place because then they would avoid having to enter the Europa League a round early and starting pre-season prep in July. So Sampdoria will be trying to win tomorrow.

And finally, this is a clash of two exciting teams that play excellent football and who both deserve to go to the Champions League. However, only one can win. Both teams have quality players and it should be an exciting game tomorrow.

Oh, and did I mention that Cassano and Miccoli come from two rival cities (Bari and Lecce) in the same region (Puglia) and always want to beat one another in their own personal derby?

Yep, it should be fun tomorrow.

Italy Serie A Offside
Palermo Offside.
Sampdoria Offside.

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Category: Europe, Leagues, Serie A, World Football