Italian Serie A Team Of The Season 2007/2008

Unfortunately for fans of the Azzurri, Italy´s EURO 2008 campaign is now little more than a distant and shabby memory. While the nation licks its wounds, our resident Italian football correspondant Henry N. consoles himself by taking one last look back at the 2007/2008 Serie A campaign and compiling his Team of the Season:

GK: Sebastian FREY (Fiorentina)

Sebastian Frey’s heroics this season helped Fiorentina to their first Champions League place since La Viola’s glory days of the late 90s. On top of an impressive domestic campaign the Frenchman was also a key player in the club‘s UEFA Cup run and hero of the dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Everton in the Quarter-Finals. He then muscled his way into Raymond Domenech’s French squad for Euro 2008. The big question for Fiorentina fans however is whether or not he will remain at the Artemio Franchi next season with AC Milan reportedly in the hunt for his signature.

LB: Giorgio CHIELLINI (Juventus)

The tough Juve defender has excelled this season and in doing cemented his place in Roberto Donadoni’s Euro 2008 squad. His performances during the tournament, particularly against Spain, were nothing short of first class and because of this his stock has certainly risen. No doubt he will benefit from some more Champions League experience next season, presently he is considered to be one of the future cornerstones of the national team’s defence.

RB: Christian MAGGIO (Sampdoria, now at Napoli)

Christian Maggio may not be a name familiar to those who do not avidly follow Serie A but his displays for Sampdoria in the past season have been consistently brilliant. His dramatic last minute winner in the derby match with Genoa indicate he is able to perform even in high pressure situations and he has been touted as a possible entry into the Italy squad post- Euro 2008. Napoli, a club with a huge fan base and even larger ambitions for next season have already secured his signature on a permanent basis, seeing him as the perfect addition to their relatively youthful squad.

CB: Philippe MEXES (Roma)

Since his arrival from Auxerre in 2004, Philippe Mexes has quietly gone about improving his game and in doing so ended up arguably the strongest defender in Italy last season. The departure of Christian Chivu has only sped up his progress and the fact Roma were still in the Scudetto race going into the final game of the season was down in no small part to the imperious French centre back.

CB: Alessandro GAMBERINI (Fiorentina)

Although slightly less bold and brash than Mexes, Alessandro Gamberini was Fiorentina’s stand-out performer in defence last season and it was no surprise that when Fabio Cannavaro had to withdraw from Italy’s Euro 2008 squad due to injury Gamberini was chosen by Donadoni as a replacement. He will be looking to continue to make a name for himself next season and with La Viola participating in the Champions League there is a chance for his skills to be on show to a more international audience.

LM: Antonio CASSANO (Sampdoria)

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Ok, I realise that Cassano is a striker but recently Cassano’s best work has come from the left side of attack in an attacking midfield-cum-striker role. Despite his almost trademark histrionics, his performances have been of such quality that even strict disciplinarian Roberto Donadoni was practically forced to pick the ‘Brat from Bari’ in his squad for the summer’s main tournament. He managed an impressive 10 goals in 22 outings for Sampdoria last season but this doesn’t tell the whole story as his contribution to the team goes far deeper than just being a finisher. He is the player all his teammates look to when they need a flash of inspiration or a moment of magic to break the deadlock of a match. If Cassano, now permanently owned by Samp, can keep his ego under control then the club may well be able to build on their impressive season and challenge again for a Champions League spot.

RM: Riccardo MONTOLIVO (Fiorentina)

Hugely unlucky not to make the cut for the EUROs, he was the only person cut from Donadoni’s provisional squad. Despite this, Montolivo has been brilliant for Fiorentina with an eye for a pass that has forced comparisons, and rightly so, with Andrea Pirlo. He will have a chance to shine further next season as Fiorentina get a taste of Champions League football.

CM: Daniele DE ROSSI (Roma)

If last season proved anything it is that Daniele De Rossi is currently one of the best all round central midfielders in the world. He is a ferocious opponent, tackling back and protecting the area in front of defence as if his life depends on it. His range of passing is first class and his shooting from distance is both accurate and powerful. To compare him to Steven Gerrard would maybe be seen as cliché but the similarities are there. It should also be noted that De Rossi (like Gerrard) is playing for his hometown team and draws huge amounts of inspiration from this fact. He held the team together in Totti’s absence and is most certianly the permanent Giallorossi captain-in-waiting. Roberto Donadoni has also noted his leadership potential handing De Rossi the captaincy most recently in friendlies against South Africa and Portugal.

CM: Esteban CAMBIASSO (Inter Milan)

The tireless Argentine has once again been at the heart of Inter’s success this season. He has managed to add a goalscoring element to his sterling defensive duties which has proved crucial to Inter several times this season. Given Mourinho’s love of a true holding midfielder, Cambiasso should surely be a key component to his side next season.

FW: Alessandro DEL PIERO (Juventus)

Even after a great 2006/2007 season in Serie B following the Calciopoli scandal, not many would have tipped Del Piero to carry the same form over to Serie A but the Juve skipper has proved his critics wrong with a fantastic season, hitting 19 league goals and finishing the division’s topscorer, (barring the 1997/1998 season, this is his highest tally to date in the top flight). Despite seemingly disappearing from Donadoni’s plans for the summer during the qualifiers, his form since the turn of the year forced Donadoni’s hand into including him for the Euro 2008 squad. Can he maintain the same level next season? It would be foolish to write him off.

FW: Adrian MUTU (Fiorentina)

Perhaps Adrian Mutu would have been considered a rank outsider for a Serie A team of the year before the season started but there has been little doubt that, without Luca Toni alongside him, Mutu has taken up the reins and spearheaded the Fiorentina attack with aplomb. Despite injury he has scored more in 2007/2008 than 2006/2007 and in fewer appearances (17 in 26 in 2007/2008 compared to 15 in 33 in 06/07). On top of that, he has been vital to Fiorentina’s progress in the UEFA Cup with an impressive 6 goals in 8 outings. Having been fined more than £9m for his positive cocaine test during his time at Chelsea, a move away from La Viola had been touted but it would now seem that he is going to commit his short term future at least to the Tuscan outfit with an improved contract reported to be on
the table.

Subs:

Gianluigi BUFFON (Juventus) – If the team had been made to include Euro 2008 performances Buffon would have certainly been a starter. He remains in this writer’s opinion the best goalkeeper in the world so his inclusion as a substitute only serves as testament to Frey‘s performances last season in the league.

Mario BALOTELLI (Inter Milan) – Young and immensely talented. If Mourinho is prepared to give him a chance to prove himself again next season he could play a big part in Inter‘s season. If you haven’t heard of him now, you soon will (or you can get ahead of the game by checking Just Football’s ‘Good Player Guide’).

Marek HAMSIK (Napoli) – Arrived last season at Napoli from Brescia and immediately became a key player in their return to Serie A. Already attracking the interest of the ‘big 4‘ in Italy, Hamsik has a fierce shot and a good range of passing. A fantastic prospect who will only improve next season.

Alexandre PATO (AC Milan) – Given the hype around the young Brazillian before his arrival at AC Milan many felt he would inevitably disappoint as he bedded into the European game. It was not to be as Pato put in a stunning debut performance capped off with a goal at home to Napoli and continued to be the outstanding performer for Milan as the season progressed. Milan chairman Adriano Galliani‘s predicition that he would be European Golden Boot Winner in 2009 was perhaps premature but there is little doubt that the magical Pato will be a star on the world stage in the coming years.

Sebastian GIOVINCO (Juventus) – The young man from Juve was sent on loan to Empoli for the season to gain experience and he certainly did that, becoming Empoli‘s most exciting player in the process. Such was his progress that the Bianconeri have decided to keep him and he may well feature more prominently in the first team next season.

Javier ZANETTI (Inter Milan) – The Inter captain’s continuing zest and enthusiasm for the game shows no sign of depleting despite his age, as Zanetti had another outstanding season with the Nerazzurri. He was perhaps the only player to emerge from their Champions League campaign with any credit and continues to be hugely important to the club both on and off the field.

Adrian Mutu, Alessandro Del Piero, Alexandre Pato, Antonio Cassano, Awards, Daniele De Rossi, Gianluigi Buffon, Italian Serie A, Italy, Marek Hamsik, Mario Balotelli, Writer - Henry N.