A decade ago, at a damp Old Trafford, AC Milan beat Juventus on penalties to lift the Champions League trophy for the 6th time in the Rossoneri’s history, re-conforming the Italian side’s extraordinary relationship with European football, the post-millennial triumph the first since the famous 4-0 victory over Barcelona in Athens in 1994 nine years prior.
It began a brief era of dominance for AC Milan in the European Cup, securing two finals and one semifinal appearance in the next four years, winning the 2007 edition once again in Greece and securing the Rossoneri’s place atop of the UEFA club coefficient due to the consistency of their performances, as well as ensuring Italy’s place at the forefront of continental football was not lost. However, since those heady days, Italy has taken a hit thanks to a series of poor showings in Europe since 2007 that has resulted in the loss of the right for Serie A’s occupants to fight for a fourth Champions League position and despite optimism currently surrounding Italian football, it won’t change soon.
Serie A currently sits fourth in the UEFA coefficient rankings – the list ranking performance of countries and clubs based on wins and progressions in the Champions League and it’s sister tournament the Europa League. Despite there being little logic behind the idea (to me, at least) that performances in the Europa League should contribute to decisions made regarding a different competition, there is a direct correlation between the two.
The performances are then awarded points (two per win, one per draw, one extra point per round progression) and added up giving a yearly total, then added to the previous four season’s scores that gives a total that accounts for that country’s performance over the last five years.
Italy, as previously mentioned, sit fourth – 13 points behind Germany, 17 points behind England and a whopping 23 behind Spain for performances over the last half a decade. If this was a title race Italy would already be congratulating their European counterparts. If we were to look at specific clubs the sight is even more alarming; only Inter, a team who haven’t participated in the Champions League for two seasons (and don’t look like they are next year either) are the only team in the top 10 of the club specific coefficient rating – Milan have dropped to 13th after only progressing past the round of 16 once since winning in 2007 whilst Juventus have suffered from a near seven year trip in the wilderness since Calciopoli, only now regarded as a dark horse for European glory, and the only Italian side to deserve such recognition at this time.
Thanks to Juve and Lazio, Italy are having it’s best season since Inter won the cup in 2010 recording 13.416 tally, but still sit behind England, Germany and Spain in the coefficient, Juventus the only Italian side to have made it to the final eight of Europe’s premier competition while Spain and Germany boast two each. England’s poor turnout this season was a surprise but Tottenham’s advances in the Europe League (ironically at the expense of Inter) have ensured that the Premier League, for now, sit third in terms of performance this season.
If Italy are to retake the 4th spot that many Calcio fans believe is rightfully theirs, then an improved performance from Italian clubs as a whole is a necessity. Italy can’t survive on one club progressing to the quarter finals each year and complaining of injustice, playing reserves for the Europa League and wondering why the league’s reputation suffers. The fact is year after year, Italy have been left behind in Europe by sides that were once inferior to them, teams that once feared them.
When Juventus meet Bayern Munich later this month, it will be important for the Bianconeri and Italy for numerous reasons. Firstly, fans of the Old Lady will be hoping the Bianconeri can define their spectacular rebirth with a victory over European giant that are regarded as one of the elite clubs on the planet. Secondly, a victory over the club has defined German football will be a victory for every Italian fan that has it’s premier league at heart and thirdly – if hope at all exists for a Italian renaissance in Europe then a success for it’s most successful club is an excellent place to start.
However if Italy are to regain lost ground, the rest of the country must take note.
Forza Juve!
Hold on a second. You’re mentioning Juventus winning against Bayern and stating that a win for Italy’s most successful club would be important.
Don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against Juventus as a club. But the most successful Italian team in terms of winning trophies in Europe is AC Milan. As you pointed out in your article……
Juve’s domination of the Serie A scene doesn’t count for jack when it comes to Europe, so why state that so much hinges on them? They’ve been historically bad at turning their Italian domination into European success, where as AC, have been the opposite, largely to the detriment of their own Serie A prospects
Spain has 3 teams in the quarter finals (Real Madrid, Barcelona and Malaga) and not 2 but apart from that an interesting article.
@ Michael, Maybe its cause Juventus have fifty-three official titles on the national and international stage and the fact they are the only club to have won every club trophy at least once.(I believe Real Madrid might have become the 2nd team to accomplish that recently, not sure)
I agree with Michael.
Anyway go Juventus! I hope that Juventus get to play Barcelona. It will be positive Football unlike Netherlands vs Spain 2010
@Roc: what do you mean that Juventus is the only club to have won every club trophy at least once? The only club in Italy to have won a treble is Inter.