Newsgroup: it.sport.calcio
Titolo: United stay in Ruud health

Dal «Guardian», quotidiano di Manchester.
Manchester United 2
Juventus 1
Kevin McCarra at Old Trafford
Thursday February 20, 2003
The Guardian
Manchester United were wary about the beating of a weakened Juventus and
their second goal, when Ruud van Nistelrooy volleyed home a Beckham cross,
did not come until the 84th minute. They had thus made virtually certain of
a quarter-final place, but the riposte by Pavel Nedved, whose cross crept
crept into the net in stoppage time, was indicative of an enigmatic affair.
There is no advantage in being an unknown quantity when your own manager is
among the most puzzled. Whole departments of the Juventus squad were off
work after an outbreak of the 'flu and injury problems beset the club all
the way to the kick-off, with the name of the captain Antonio Conte hastily
removed from the line-up at the last moment. Marcello Lippi still had good
players, but the blend was not really of his choosing.
It must have been rather more to Sir Alex Ferguson's taste when the Juventus
defence conceded an elementary goal in the fourth minute. Lilian Thuram,
Mark Iuliano, and Igor Tudor might all have made a difference at the David
Beckham corner-kick, but they were unavailable for the back four and an
unmarked Wes Brown put a decisive downward header into the corner of the
net.
Antonio Chimenti's debut in goal had coincided with the centre-back's first
goal for United on his 95th appearance. The statistics presented Juventus as
a study in vulnerability, but Uefa were gradually vindicated in their
decision to reject the plea for a postponement. Although Lippi's line-up
occasionally appeared ill-assorted, the midfield was still infused with
ability.
That factor nudged United towards the circumspect manner they regularly
adopt in European competition. In one of the more subtle developments, the
team has learned to dis tance itself, when necessary, from the club's
outgoing traditions. These players can be reserved on occasion and a
remarkable record in reaching the closing stages of this tournament is their
reward.
They had to live with tension here and Paul Scholes was overwrought. Booked
already, further offences such as the impeding of Chimenti as he prepared to
kick downfield courted a second yellow card before the interval, but the
referee Kim Milton Nielsen was not at his most pedantic. Still, Ferguson
might have used the half-time period to give his midfielder a sermon on
restraint, assuming he still feels qualified to preach on that theme.
Their sense of safety was accentuated when Juventus, switching the ball
around midfield to the admiration of their supporters, could not often lend
support to David Trézéguet, the sole striker. None the less, the visitors
were capable of passing their way towards the goalmouth. Penalty appeals by
Montero and Pavel Nedved were reminders that a fractional misjudgment could
restructure the whole evening.
Ferguson had talked beforehand about the name of Juventus and the weight it
carried, no matter the make-up of the team selection. Lippi's side had that
ingrained sense of their own heritage. They have an eye to the future as
well, seeing themselves as the side who can take the Champions League for
the third time in their history and so restore the prominence of Italian
football.
Their level of conviction was on the rise and it was symptomatic that
Silvestre should collect the injury that forced his substitution while
United were trying to repel a foray into the left side of the penalty area.
The gap between midfield and attack was narrowing, with Zalayeta gradually
getting himself into more menacing positions.
United could not benefit from the piece of good fortune that should have
helped put them beyond Juventus's reach. Montero was short with a header
towards his goalkeeper in the 61st minute and so put Van Nistelrooy.
Chimenti seemed to bring down the Dutchman, but the referee let play
continue, perhaps certain that Scholes would slot home the loose ball.
If that was indeed Mr Nilesen's belief, he must have been otherwise engaged
when United's match with Arsenal was being broadcast at the weekend. Ryan
Giggs could not take advantage of an open goal then and, last night, the
only marginal improvement lay in the fact that Scholes at least hit the
post. United's display did have its merits, but they were not of the type to
send Old Trafford into raptures.
MANCHESTER UNITED: Barthez; G. Neville, R. Ferdinand, Brown, Silvestre
(O'Shea, 52'); Beckham, Butt, Keane, Giggs (Forlan, 90'); Scholes (Solskjær,
80'); Van Nistelrooy.
JUVENTUS: Chimenti; Pessotto, Ferrara, Montero, Zenoni; Camoranesi, Nedved,
Tacchinardi, Davids, Zalayeta; Trezeguet (Olivera, 66').
Brown, 4'; Van Nistelrooy, 85'; Nedved, 90'+2'
REFEREE: Kim Milton Nielsen (Denmark).
Alla prossima Sergio
--
«Avoid Iraq's humanitarian catastrophe»
http://www.amnesty.it
Tessera n. 503584 di Amnesty International
e-mail: 
kingof...@email.it
BOOKED: Scholes, Keane.
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"The King ? Of Spades"  ha scritto
Oh, fante di bastoni, scrivilo in ISCE.
Qui siamo grezzi e capiamo solo che la juve ha perso.

 Qui siamo grezzi e capiamo solo che la juve ha perso.
Se fossi grezzo non me ne vanterei. Elevati piuttosto.
Alla prossima Sergio
--
«Avoid Iraq's humanitarian catastrophe»
http://www.amnesty.it
Tessera n. 503584 di Amnesty International
e-mail: 
kingof...@email.it
--------------------------------
Inviato via 
http://usenet.libero.it

 Se fossi grezzo non me ne vanterei. Elevati piuttosto.
Dove sta il "vanto"?
Alla prossima, due di coppe.

 Già che c'eri potevi chiamarlo direttamente Due di Picche.
Giusto te... ho visto il sito ed è pieno di inesattezze: ma chi cazzo te le
ha raccontate?
Poi la conigliata di censurare un viso nella foto...
Un po' patetico, potreste far meglio.

> Dal «Guardian», quotidiano di Manchester.
L'articolo testimonia la flemma e l'obiettivita' britanniche.
Che risaltano vieppiu' sullo sfondo di isteria, menzogna e grettezza della
stampa asservita ai gobbi.
Ma quella merda di Tuttosport si rende conto di usare metodi e toni da
Kampala Herald?
Suvvia! Siamo europei!
Basta con il terzomondismo gobbo.


 Suvvia! Siamo europei!
E tu che c'entri con l'essere europeo? Di europeo ci sono solo le mazzate
che prendete da 39 anni a questa parte...
