Hello Interfriends,
Can you believe it? Can you feel the joy? Wow at the splendor of it all!!! Inter have beaten Ancona 2-0 it really is a day to celebrate! Well I hope you all felt the sarcasm in my words because obviously beating the last place team in Serie A is not cause to dance in the streets. Considering that Inter have not won a match in 11 games though does bring some worth to the win. Make no illusions though, it was still a sub par performance, one that looked to end 0-0 until a flash of brilliance by Recoba gave Inter the lead.
The squad is still a former shell of its past self. The team was very disjointed and with Zac experimenting with the lineup leaving out Vieri (Rested for Benfica) and bringing in Cruz to partner Adriano with Recoba in the midfield the team once again was not at its best. Recoba did have a good game though despite being out of position, but the form of Cruz was awful and the performance by Adriano was once again disappointing and worrying.
The first minutes however did see Inter come forward and use the wings as Helveg and Cruz came up the right while J. Zanetti and Recoba combined very well on the left. It was but a flurry however as Ancona quickly organized on the defensive side and it left Inter frustrated and once again without any idea's on how to break them down.
The good work on the wings quickly fades and the only alternative is to go through the middle via Adriano but it must be said that he is way out of form. Adriano looks to be suffering the atmosphere at the club and the lack of service to him is causing him to keep the ball too long. Time and time again Adriano would have 3 defenders around him and he would still not pass to the open man.
Inter do control the match but only because its Ancona in front of them. The problem is that Inter seem to be playing with the handbrake on, too scared to lose, to scared to move forward as a team. It makes for a disjointed squad where the defense is staying back, the strikers are isolated and without enough ball movement or man movement in the middle its only up to individual efforts to come forward.
The first half was pretty much uneventful, the only point was a few free kicks by Recoba one of which was cleared off the line. Other than that not much else to report other than sparatic attacks, but lots of missed balls, bad passes and overall lack of movement.
The second half starts as the first and also highlights Adriano's poor run of late. At the 5th minute he has the chance to end his slump and score from a corner kick. His form or unlucky streak (up to debate) haunts him as once again he misses the simplest of headers and puts it over the bar literally from a yard away from the goal line.
Collectively Inter are not a team at all and thankfully Zac has players with undoubted class. Its a shame they cannot show it game in and game out, but when Recoba decided to re-emerge again he beats Marcon with a wonderful left footed shot full of power, precision and grace to score the 1-0 goal and at the very least calm the teams nerves.
With the lead now under the belt, you could literally see the weight pull off Inter's shoulders. The ball began to move, Recoba inspired more play, and with the addition of Martins some much needed speed up front was added. Inter were rewarded with a second goal as Recoba sends in a great curling free kick that is met by Adani who scores the 2-0 goal via a well placed header.
It was not a spectacular game, but Inter could have scored another 2 goals with Recoba and Martins who failed score on clear cut break-a-way's but in the end it was not needed. Inter have lots of work to do if they are to fight for 4th place. Performances like this will not be enough against better sides.
With the victory though combined with Parma's loss and Lazio still to play against Roma it could bring Inter closer to the champions league but it will be up to them to get out of this slump, play as a team and demonstrate that fighting spirit lost over these past months. Lets start with a win over Benfica!
Eddy
Can you believe it? Can you feel the joy? Wow at the splendor of it all!!! Inter have beaten Ancona 2-0 it really is a day to celebrate! Well I hope you all felt the sarcasm in my words because obviously beating the last place team in Serie A is not cause to dance in the streets. Considering that Inter have not won a match in 11 games though does bring some worth to the win. Make no illusions though, it was still a sub par performance, one that looked to end 0-0 until a flash of brilliance by Recoba gave Inter the lead.
The squad is still a former shell of its past self. The team was very disjointed and with Zac experimenting with the lineup leaving out Vieri (Rested for Benfica) and bringing in Cruz to partner Adriano with Recoba in the midfield the team once again was not at its best. Recoba did have a good game though despite being out of position, but the form of Cruz was awful and the performance by Adriano was once again disappointing and worrying.
The first minutes however did see Inter come forward and use the wings as Helveg and Cruz came up the right while J. Zanetti and Recoba combined very well on the left. It was but a flurry however as Ancona quickly organized on the defensive side and it left Inter frustrated and once again without any idea's on how to break them down.
The good work on the wings quickly fades and the only alternative is to go through the middle via Adriano but it must be said that he is way out of form. Adriano looks to be suffering the atmosphere at the club and the lack of service to him is causing him to keep the ball too long. Time and time again Adriano would have 3 defenders around him and he would still not pass to the open man.
Inter do control the match but only because its Ancona in front of them. The problem is that Inter seem to be playing with the handbrake on, too scared to lose, to scared to move forward as a team. It makes for a disjointed squad where the defense is staying back, the strikers are isolated and without enough ball movement or man movement in the middle its only up to individual efforts to come forward.
The first half was pretty much uneventful, the only point was a few free kicks by Recoba one of which was cleared off the line. Other than that not much else to report other than sparatic attacks, but lots of missed balls, bad passes and overall lack of movement.
The second half starts as the first and also highlights Adriano's poor run of late. At the 5th minute he has the chance to end his slump and score from a corner kick. His form or unlucky streak (up to debate) haunts him as once again he misses the simplest of headers and puts it over the bar literally from a yard away from the goal line.
Collectively Inter are not a team at all and thankfully Zac has players with undoubted class. Its a shame they cannot show it game in and game out, but when Recoba decided to re-emerge again he beats Marcon with a wonderful left footed shot full of power, precision and grace to score the 1-0 goal and at the very least calm the teams nerves.
With the lead now under the belt, you could literally see the weight pull off Inter's shoulders. The ball began to move, Recoba inspired more play, and with the addition of Martins some much needed speed up front was added. Inter were rewarded with a second goal as Recoba sends in a great curling free kick that is met by Adani who scores the 2-0 goal via a well placed header.
It was not a spectacular game, but Inter could have scored another 2 goals with Recoba and Martins who failed score on clear cut break-a-way's but in the end it was not needed. Inter have lots of work to do if they are to fight for 4th place. Performances like this will not be enough against better sides.
With the victory though combined with Parma's loss and Lazio still to play against Roma it could bring Inter closer to the champions league but it will be up to them to get out of this slump, play as a team and demonstrate that fighting spirit lost over these past months. Lets start with a win over Benfica!
Eddy
