by Ryan D. Jaeger
Most countries in Europe boasts top-tier football leagues such as the UK's
Premier League, Spain's La Liga, Germany's Bundesliga and Italy's Serie A,
but it is the latter that has been accused of being 'boring and lackluster' of
late, despite a hot performance by one of its teams in the Champions League.
While nobody is denying that Serie A is not without its problems, it was while
in the midst of accusations from some that 'Italian football is dying' that
Inter Milan delivered a dazzling display of world-class football to dispatch
English Premier League powerhouse, Chelsea, 1-0 on Tuesday to win by 3-1
aggregate.
The victory means that Inter Milan has made it into the last 16 of the UEFA
Champions League. Said Inter Milan manager, Jose Mourinho, 'It's a great moment
for the team, a great moment for Inter, for all the players who year after year
had problems overcoming this barrier of the last 16, and now they have done it.'
The win will give Serie A some much-needed respite after the premier Italian
league underwent a big bashing last week when seven-time champions AC Milan were
crushed 4-0 by top English Premier League side, Manchester United. It was then
that the Italian media started to amp up their 'Serie A-bashing' campaign.
But at least Serie A still has a thread of hope of ranking in the 2010 UEFA
Champions League thanks to Inter Milan. Along with AC Milan, fellow Serie A
sides Fiorentina was also dispatched from the competition at the hands of the
Bundesliga's Bayern Munich, while Juventus didn't even make it past the group
stage.
Journalists and fans alike are complaining that for the second straight year
Serie A is risking missing out on the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Plus many are accusing the Italian league of boasting too few Italian players,
while Italian managers have been criticised for seeking out positions in other
countries.
And if Inter Milan is beaten in the last eight of the Champions League and
Bayern Munich continues to win as it has been, Serie A under UEFA rules could be
in trouble as it could mean the loss of the fourth Champions League qualifying
spot in 2011, which will have big implications for the club that finishes
fourth.
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