Juventus can scale European heights with Higuain capture

By David Lee Wheatley -- @davewh1980

Gonzalo Higuain could hold the key to Juventus’ hopes of lifting the UEFA Champions League trophy having completed his controversial switch from Napoli.

Perennial Serie A champions Juventus have been seeking a prolific striker since Carlos Tevez returned to boyhood heroes Boca Juniors in 2015.

Tevez struck 29 goals in all competitions during his Bianconeri swansong and replacement Paulo Dybala got close to that figure last year on 23.

However, the relatively inexperienced South American Dybala came up scoreless in nine of his final 14 league appearances last term.

Now, in the shape of another yet another Argentine international Gonzalo Higuain, they have an emphatic centre forward who broke records left, right and centre in Naples, and will continue in that same vein at J-Stadium.

In contrast to ex-Palermo starlet Dybala, the French-born 28-year-old did not run out of steam, as he plundered a remarkable 36 Serie A goals in 35 outings throughout the 2015-16 season.

In doing so, Higuain also set a new record for most goals in a 20-team Serie A campaign. He converted 25 per cent of his opportunities, whilst hitting the back of the net every 83 minutes on average – another league-best figure.

On that convincing evidence, some could legitimately argue that Higuain is an upgrade on both of his aforementioned compatriots.

There are no doubts surrounding Dybala’s abilities, but he is not the finished article and a hotly-debated £75.3 million has secured an alternative who represents the full package.

Notwithstanding the imminent departure of midfield powerhouse Paul Pogba, the Juventus side will almost certainly continue to deliver the amount of goalscoring chances which saw Higuain fire 385 league shots within his three-year reign as Napoli’s predator-in-chief – 60 more efforts on goal than any other Serie A player managed in that same timespan.

Miralem Pjanic, the assist-king of AS Roma, has also joined up with Juventus this summer and he is likely to provide consistent openings for his new team-mate in order to nullify any decrease in creativity caused by Pogba's move elsewhere.

It’s a potentially exciting link-up that may also benefit young comrade Dybala, should he be afforded a role in tandem with his more experienced fellow striker.

Juventus have been crowned Italian champions five seasons in succession, while claiming Coppa Italia glory in their last two campaigns to boot.

Though not taking domestic honours for granted, foremost in Massimiliano Allegri’s thinking this term is European success, with his second serious crack at the Champions League trophy beckoning.

His charges reached the 2015 final against Barcelona in Berlin, but alas they came up short at the most difficult hurdle after a thrilling ride. They were subsequently unlucky when losing narrowly to Bayern Munich over two legs at the round of 16 stage last season, but that outcome simply wasn’t good enough for a club of Juve’s standing.

The Bianconeri wished to build on their previous impressive showing, but they couldn’t replicate it without certain key ingredients.

With Higuain ensconced alongside the glittering array of superstar squad members that the Turin giants currently boast, it could well turn out to be a very different story this time around.

Continental heavyweights such as Real Madrid and Barcelona possess fantastic sets of players to call upon, but coach Allegri can rightly point to the likes of Higuain and Pjanic as top-class footballers who can more than match those most imposing of foes.

It’s bad news for the remainder of Serie A that Juventus are seemingly gaining strength year-on-year and widening the gulf between themselves and their supposed rivals in the process, but Italian football could benefit on the European stage if the Bianconeri can live up to their transfer window promise.  

Testing times ahead for Juventus

By David Lee Wheatley

Antonio Conte left the position of head coach at Juventus earlier this month despite having led the Old Lady to three consecutive Serie A title victories in convincing fashion.

Conte, one of the most highly decorated figures in Italian football, stepped down stating that he believed it was becoming increasingly difficult for him to be successful in charge of Juventus with a view to the future. Many observers took that as a dig towards the Juventus board in relation to their perceived lack of ambition regarding attempts to return the club back to the top of European football, a perch they last sat upon in 1996 when winning the Champions’ League trophy on penalties against Ajax. Furthermore, the rumours surrounding star midfielder Arturo Vidal’s future in Turin had people in some quarters speculating that Juve’s apparent willingness to do a deal at the right price was actually behind Conte’s decision.

Immediately following the former Azzurri international’s announcement in the middle of July, he was installed as one of the favourites to take on the vacant national team role. Meanwhile, recent news eminating from France suggests that big-spending Paris Saint-Germain have set their sights on recruiting Conte in place of Laurent Blanc at the Parc des Princes.

Of pressing concern back at the defending Serie A champions is trying to seek out a way of holding off the various vultures circling hungrily with their eyes firmly fixed on the prized Scudetto that Juventus have kept an extremely tight stranglehold on throughout the past three campaigns. Not only that, but how can they convince major players to stay on amid the upheaval at the club while mounting any kind of serious challenge on the European front?

The man entrusted with finding solutions to those conundrums is ex-Cagliari and Milan man Massimiliano Allegri, fresh from his mid-season sacking at the San Siro due to the Rossoneri’s atrocious form last season. He has experience of winning the league title in his debut campaign with Milan of 2010-11, which of course represents the last time anybody except Juve took home the plaudits. But he is a controversial choice due to former allegiances and also thanks to the embarrassing showing that he oversaw last term. Allegri has to win over the fans, deliver more silverware to the trophy cabinet and assist Juventus in their quest to make an impression on continental competition.

Rivals such as Napoli, Roma and even Inter will be confident of usurping the Bianconeri at the Serie A summit without the inspirational 44-year-old Antonio Conte at the helm and Allegri has a massive task on his hands to remain in charge of the team long-term. He must ensure Juve stay at the pinnacle domestically, while giving them realistic hope of progressing well in the Champions’ League. Meanwhile, talks will continue with Vidal once he returns from holiday in order to appease the Chilean and keep him performing in the middle of the park alongside talisman Andrea Pirlo, who has committed himself to his beloved black-and-whites for another two years.

Other sought-after stars Paul Pogba, Fernando Llorente, Carlos Tevez and Mauricio Isla will all want reassurance of the club’s determination to progress and improve; they won’t want to stick around if there is even the slightest hint of a backward step in the offing. Isla is already being heavily linked with a transfer to the English Premier League, while 29-year-old Llorente felt compelled to deny rumours of a move earlier this month. If Vidal or any of those other big names previously mentioned choose to jump ship this summer, then new boss Allegri and his board will find it incredibly hard to hold the remainder of their squad together.

If there was ever a time for the likes of Napoli and Roma to claim top spot in Italy, it is now.

Twitter: @davewh1980

Football Icons - Part 9: Zinedine Zidane

By David Lee Wheatley

Born in Marseille to Algerian parents on 23^rd June 1972, Zinedine Zidane grew up playing football with his neighbours and friends in the main plaza of his housing complex in amongst the concrete high-rises. It was within those humble surroundings that the young Zidane honed his abilities and eventually led to a move across to AS Cannes at the age of fourteen, via two youth teams in which he featured named US Saint-Henri and SO Septèmes-les-Vallons.

Tall, elegant and highly skilful, the attacking midfielder made a first-team debut shortly before his seventeenth birthday in May 1989 against Nantes. His first full campaign of involvement with the senior side culminated in the club’s highest league finish since the forties, thus leading to qualification for the UEFA Cup. His partnership with emerging forwards Amara Simba and George Weah terrorised defences right across France, as the team from the south of the country took Ligue 1 by storm.

Unfortunately, a partial break-up of the squad was inevitable and that summer saw Amara Simba return to his parent club Paris Saint-Germain following his loan spell, while the exciting Weah transferred to glamorous Monaco. That left behind a Cannes line-up bereft of goal threat and they fell alarmingly to 19^th spot and were sadly relegated. That sudden downturn in fortunes led to the exodus of the club’s remaining stars, including the influential ‘Zizou’ to Bordeaux.

The switch to the wine region allowed him to blossom with a big-name outfit and he became integral to the team. It was with Bordeaux that he made his first steps on to the international stage in 1994 and he exploded on to the scene by scoring twice as a substitute against the Czech Republic in a 2-2 draw. Zidane quickly assumed the playmaker role and helped his country to the semi-finals of Euro ’96 in England. However, his performances weren’t up to his very best standard throughout the tournament, with many observers believing an imminent move to Juventus in Italy was affecting his game in some way.

This was in stark contrast to his exploits at club level, where he was named Ligue 1 Player of the Year for 1996, while assisting Bordeaux to the final of the UEFA Cup. Disappointingly for Zidane, they were convincingly beaten over two legs by Bayern Munich. Remarkably, Les Girondins made it all the way to that showpiece event from a mid-summer Intertoto Cup victory which led to their participation in the UEFA Cup initially. It was a run which included fine triumphs over the likes of Real Betis and Milan as they made their way arduously through to a meeting with the Bavarian giants, who proved too strong for them in the end.

Serie A awaited for the Frenchman, with a move to Turin giants Juventus confirmed post-Euros having been mooted throughout the competition. Some doubted his ability to shine on the highest level following some inconsistent performances for his national team, but he proved that notion wholly incorrect when spearheading a Scudetto and Champions’ League charge with Juve. The Bianconeri claimed the Italian league title by a two-point margin from closest challengers Parma, but failed in their quest for the European Cup at the Olympiastadion against a resolute Borussia Dortmund.

Juventus retained their crown the following season, with Zidane in imperious form with seven goals from 32 league appearances. Yet, the Champions’ League trophy alluded him once again thanks to a narrow loss against Real Madrid in the black-and-white’s third consecutive final.

That summer, Zidane stood out at the World Cup finals held in his homeland during the summer of 1998. Despite the midfield man receiving a red card for a stamp on a Saudi opponent in the second group match of the tournament, he played an crucial part in the run to a final meeting with Brazil at the Stade de France and came alive in front of goal with two crucial headers putting Les Bleus two-up. Fellow midfielder Emmanuel Petit sealed the victory with a third, prompting a party on the Champs-Elysees involving over one million people dancing in the streets with utter joy. The Juventus star was hailed as the hero of a nation, as illustrated by his image having been projected on to the Arc de Triomphe in recognition of his achievements during the festivities. Furthermore, Zidane was named FIFA World Player of the Year after his exploits for both club and country.

Another three seasons in Juve colours cemented him as one of the greatest footballers of his generation, but the Italian club lost their grip on the Scudetto during that period, ending as runners-up in the league table twice within that time.

Meanwhile, France hammered home their domination of international football by claiming the European Championship title in 2000 when defeating Italy in extra-time of a closely contested final. French football was on top of the world, with both global and continental competitions captured, and Zidane’s stock was at its pinnacle come 2001; the Galacticos project was in full swing at Real Madrid and the only step up on offer for the majestic assist-maker was a switch to the Spanish capital joining up with arguably the greatest club side in the universe. A fee in the region of 75m euros was agreed to take him away from Turin following five sterling years of service in order to begin a new chapter with a team looking to obliterate all obstacles to their lofty ambitions of European success.

Zidane signed a four-year contract at the Bernabeu when joining up with superstars such as Luis Figo, Iker Casillas, Roberto Carlos, Raul, Claude Makelele and many others in a squad brimming with quality. The decision to leave Juventus in search of greater accomplishments proved the correct one, with Real winning the 2002 Champions’ League to secure a title which previously escaped the former Bordeaux man throughout his stay in Italy. Zidane scored one of the most remarkable volleys ever witnessed at Hampden Park in the final tie with Germans Bayer Leverkusen, expertly swivelling to connect with his left foot before sending the ball crashing into the roof of the net. That strike turned out to be the match-winner and delivered Real’s ninth European Cup in their history, adding that prestigious medal to Zidane’s already impressive collection.

At international level, France lost their talisman due to a thigh injury for the opening two fixtures of the 2002 World Cup and by the time he was restored to the side it was too late; they dropped out of the tournament in the first round having failed to garner even a solitary goal from three group matches. It was a wretched attempt from the Champions of Europe to defend their position at top of the world game and suggested they were nothing without Zidane’s considerable influence.

La Liga was Real's the following year back in Madrid and yet another FIFA World Player of the Year accolade wound its way to the Marseille-born genius in celebration of his magnificent feats on the football field and those silky skills which so entranced fans and opponents alike. His passing accuracy, penchant for scoring important goals, sublime vision and ease on the ball made Zidane a fantastic spectacle to behold and placed the Frenchman among the footballing elite, both in a contemporary sense and historically.

France made it through to the quarter-finals of Euro 2004, as if to confirm their rapid fall from grace on the international stage. With that, Zidane hastily announced his intention to retire from national duty, only to return at the behest of coach Raymond Domenech for a qualifier in September 2005 against the Faroe Islands when it became apparent that the French were in grave danger of missing out on the German-hosted World Cup of 2006.

Thanks largely to the reinstatement of old hands Zidane, Thuram and Makalele to the set-up, Les Bleus managed to rescue the qualification campaign and duly take their spot at the World Cup. With Zidane installed as captain and inspirational leader, they went all the way to the final in hugely exceeding most observers’ expectations, but lost to Marcello Lippi’s defiant Italian team. Zidane had made public his decision to give up professional football at the conclusion of the World Cup in early May and therefore everybody knew the clash in Berlin would be his last.

It initially seemed that fate may have been on his side when Zizou nudged France in front after seven minutes from the penalty spot, Marco Materazzi levelled on 19 minutes and the contest laboured into extra-time. Zidane almost notched again with a header during the first period, but the excellent Gianluigi Buffon was equal to his effort. It was in the 110^th minute of proceedings, in the dying embers of the match-up, when the most extraordinary incident unfolded involving the two goalscorers. The two foes squared up prior to Zidane unleashing a ferocious head-butt firmly into the chest of the strapping Azzurri defender. A distinct feeling of shock was palpable around the Olympiastadion, due to the speed at which the situation flared-up merely from a case of shirt-pulling into the scuffle that ensued. Though no shrinking violet – his red card in the final was a fourteenth of his distinguished career – most onlookers usually chose to focus on the marvel and wonderment often created by the artistry of Zidane, as opposed to various unsavoury misdemeanours.

He unfortunately tarnished his heroic reputation somewhat by indulging in such volatile behaviour, thus blotting his copybook on the very last football match he would take part in after a sparkling 17 years in the professional game. Italy went on to claim victory by way of a penalty shoot-out, while the Golden Ball winner (for being voted Player of the Tournament) was unable to effect the outcome in any way. It later became clear that Materazzi had been ‘trash-talking’ in the direction of his opponent, which resulted in an insult spewing out of the Italian’s mouth pertaining to Zidane’s sister. The 34-year-old’s response was to become the aggressor and lash out with his head towards Materazzi and that last-ever action on a football pitch was burned on to the memory of those in attendance and viewing at home.

However, the overall consensus surrounding Zidane was that his supreme ability as a footballer far outweighed any disciplinary indiscretions and that he should be remembered as one of the greatest footballers of his era.

Following 108 caps for his country, numerous domestic and continental titles to his name and an abundance of personal accolades to look back on with fondness, Zidane retired from football completely when still enjoying his best form. Many of his supporters wished Zidane to continue and try to erase the image of his mistake in the World Cup final, while also dragging a few more years out of his tiring body. But, he stuck to his guns and did not return.

Instead, Zidane now acts as an assistant coach to Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid, as they search for their fabled tenth European Champions’ Cup this weekend in Lisbon against city rivals Atletico Madrid. After 12 years of trying for ‘La Decima’ since the Frenchman’s stunning strike in Glasgow brought up their ninth triumph, perhaps this could finally be the time to do it.  

Twitter: @davewh1980