Roma-Lille 0-1. Fiorentina. The goal is still Europe.
We didn't play very well against Lille, but our goal for the Europa League isn't compromised. Just as Europe must be a benevolent mother to France in its severe economic crisis,and is the best response to Russia: both for its dreams of greatness and its terrible inflation. Now we'll have to play well in Florence, against an opponent with many quality players, but we can take home the win.
Pioli fields the 3412 or 352 with a search for ball possession on the ground.
When building from a throw-in from the back, they form a W with Fagioli (or Nicolussi Caviglia) in the center and Dodò as the defensive back four. Alternatively, they build with Mandragora or even Dzeko (or Piccoli) dropping back.
Although often in the defensive phase they can also be placed with 532 or 541.
Kean is very dangerous, especially when he runs offside, crosses from the wings, and especially when Dodò crosses to their right with his back to goal on the left-center field, turning and shooting with his right foot, aiming for the far post. Gianluca Mancini will have to have a great game.
Thursday's Europa League match serves to reiterate how important Europe is. Already in a article A few days ago I talked about the Franco-Prussian conflict. One of the reasons for the success of Nazism in Germany was the sense of injustice of the Versailles deal That closed the 1st World War.
There had always been resentment between France and Germany that erupted into bloody wars. When France and Germany had a larger union like Europe on the table, free and conscious, they accepted it with enthusiasm. They had a genuine motivation. A transformation that would expand without shedding blood. Without waging war. Indeed, Europe presented itself as the negation of war.
The same age-old resentment is found between Eastern Europe and Russia. Eastern Europe initially felt strong Austro-Hungarian nationalism, then embraced Nazism to oppose Russian imperialism. This is why Russians accuse Ukrainians of Nazism, even though this interpretation ignores the complexities of Ukrainian democracy, which is still a democracy. And this is why, to convince Russians to limit their warmongering (and perhaps even put a stop to rampant inflation), they should seriously consider a grander project. A project that realizes their imperialist dreams without killing or dying. A project that from its inception aspires to universal peace: Europe.
Regarding the Olimpico match, it's normal to play poorly after so many good games. Even more so since we rotated so many starters. We made some basic mistakes and made some poor moves. It certainly doesn't affect anything. After two games, we're in the playoff zone, but if we play well enough in the remaining six games, which is what we didn't do on Thursday, we can easily finish in the top eight. It's a good result for us, considering we were so excited. Keep your feet on the ground.
| 2nd Matchday UEL | First Half | Second Half | Final Score |
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A separate chapter concerns the three missed penalties, which must have seemed like a complete joke for Lazio fans. Unfortunately, these situations happen. When you take a penalty, you have to keep your eyes on the goalkeeper and then shoot at a strong, angled shot. The three missed penalties weren't bad luck. They were poorly taken. Not angled. Not strong.
In any case, I don't feel like being too harsh on Dovbyk and Soulé. You can't judge a player by a penalty, as De Gregori sang. Soulé has already shown he has enormous potential. Dovbyk must make us understand whether that mistake was a fatal blow or if he's ready to bounce back. I'd start him on Sunday. Then we'll see what Gasp decides.
The match against Lille gives us the opportunity to discuss the complex situation in France.
France has a huge debt. If it doesn't implement reforms, it may no longer be able to pay its public employees, including the army and gendarmerie. The far right, the grandchildren of fascism, pushes hatred of foreigners and anti-Europeanism, and is favored to win the parliamentary and presidential elections.
It's a classic fascist plot: taking advantage of the economic crisis (as Nazism did), stepping up the ante on hatred towards a well-defined enemy (for Nazism it was the Jews, for the French fascists it was foreigners), with the addition that the demand for necessary, albeit painful, reforms is the fault of Europe and its proximity to Russia, suspected of not only political but also economic corruption.
Italy has already faced this situation. In 1911, it enacted the famous Fornero reform. It was very painful. The result was the success of the yellow-green alliance that united the fascists of the League with the chatterboxes of the Five Star Movement. In reality, the Fornero reform fixed the economy and protected Italy from market speculators (in fact, even the League, which has often gone beyond the point of insulting Fornero, despite having often been in government and currently having Economy Minister Giorgetti (who is indeed a very good moderate) from the League, has never changed the reform). Now, thanks in part to this reform, Italy has a better economic and financial situation than France.
Europe must not leave France alone in this situation, as it did with Italy, but help it control its economic budget and market speculators in exchange for gradual reforms that aren't too painful. It's important to convey the message that Europe will help France, not that Europe is some kind of unscrupulous tax collector. Even if French fascists were to take over the government, it's important that Europe safeguard its image as a saving mother and not allow itself to be portrayed as a tyrant without real consensus.
Now the Romanisti must focus on Florence. Fiorentina isn't having a great time, but we shouldn't rely on the standings. They're a solid team with several very strong players. If we take home the three points, which is within our reach, we'll remain among the best in Serie A.
Daje Roma!
Giordano Sepi
