Italian pride clinging to Champions League hopes after WC miss

Thebattered pride of football mad Italians is now hanging on precariousChampions League ambitions less than a month after the country’shumiliating World Cup exit. The chances of last season’s runners-upJuventus and Serie A rivals Napoli and Roma reaching the knockout stagesgo down to the wire in this week’s final round of action.Four-timewinners Italy exited the World Cup prematurely for the first time in 60years leading to a period akin to national mourning. Now the progress ofItalian clubs to the knockout rounds of the elite European trophy,which they have held aloft 12 times — Inter Milan winning their lasttitle in 2010 — is still uncertain. Juventus — runners-up twice inthe last three seasons — would have expected to qualify when they weredrawn in Group D alongside Barcelona, Sporting Lisbon and Olympiakos,but they head to Athens today still needing a win to progress. A draw oreven defeat would be sufficient for the six-time defending Serie Achampions unless Sporting Lisbon beat Barcelona at the Camp Nou.Napolino longer control their own fate as they sit third in Group F beforetomorrow’s trip to play last-place Feyenoord. Maurizio Sarri’s side needto win in the Netherlands and hope Manchester City beat Shakhtar tofinish second on a superior head-to-head record.Roma — second inGroup C — also need to win against Azerbaijan minnows Qarabag toprogress along with Chelsea, with Atletico Madrid still in with a chanceif they win at Stamford Bridge. Italian clubs’ problems in the eliteEuropean competition in which they will have a fourth spot next seasonmirrors their national struggles.Italy failed to reach the World Cupfor the first time since 1958 after losing their play-off at the SanSiro to Sweden 1-0 on aggregate on November 13. Coach Giampiero Venturawas sacked and federation president Carol Tavecchio quickly followed.But there is a widespread feeling the problems go deeper.The74-year-old Tavecchio was seen a symbol of the Italian gerontocracy.Ex-Roma midfielder Damiano Tommasi, the 43-year-old head of the ItalianPlayers’ Union, who has been touted as a possible replacement forTavecchio, has said ageing federation bosses who are treating the sportas a business are the root of football’s problems.“I want the gameto be the centre of attention again, that youth football is launchedagain, from non-League level to A,” said Tommasi who has received thebacking of legendary ex-Roma teammate Francesco Totti.Three-timeChampions League winning coach Carlo Ancelotti believes that Italianfootball is at a crossroads. The 58-year-old had been the favourite totake over from Ventura, but revealed he turned down the offer,preferring to stay in club management. “Italian football has seriousproblems and I don’t think I’m capable of resolving them all alone,”said the former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich coach.Ancelottiis the only manager to win the elite European three times — twice withAC Milan and once with Real Madrid. “As usual the coach is blamed butthat’s not how it works. There is a structural problem,” said Ancelottiwho was sacked by Bayern Munich in September.“For example, why arewe the only country in Europe where the stadiums aren’t up to scratchand half empty? That isn’t the fault of Ventura. I realise there is aconflict of interests between clubs and federations, as there is inGermany, France and England, but right now Italian football needs theFederation to impose its power over the clubs and impose new rules toimprove the situation,” the Italian added. “For example, I thinkSerie A would benefit greatly by being reduced from 20 teams to 18 and Iknow there are clubs who are ready to vote for that.”