Athletic Events 2024-
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Tomorrow at Lille in the
Northeast of France,
close to the Belgian border, Juve
is facing
Lille at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy for Day 4
of
the group stage of the Champions League.
Our aspirations do not allow us too much
breathing space. We have to avoid mistakes
and to give all we've got.
FORZA JUVE!!
Maestro Carlo could not have captured this in
better terms, so I quote:
"Football is a party and
you can only celebrate
and party when you, your family and everybody
is well. When people are not well, you don't
party...
Football has to stop. Because it is the most
important of the least important things in
life."
Maestro Carlo's statement (without having been
crystallized) has been in my mind for quite a
while now, especially with the war, and the
extermination, annihilation and ethnic cleansing
taking place, in Gaza. We play football and
follow
football in search of some normality in a World
whose order and ethos are totally corrupted
and priorities completely upside-down...
UDINESE-JUVE 0-2
JUVE-PARMA 2-2
For me at this point in time, the
best 11-13 for Juve have been
Perin/Di Gregorio
Kalulu
Gatti
Cabal
McKennie Fagioli Locatelli Cambiaso
Conceicao/Weah
Vlahovic Yildiz
I know that the schedule is loaded
and exhaustion and/or injuries would
require some rotation. But Motta has
to also send a signal that there is a
certain degree of stability in the starting
configuration, not least so that the co-
ordination and the chemistry required
develop between the starting players,
and the execution becomes "automatic".
Juve-Parma
today. Juve this season is facing
two difficult tasks. And I am characterizing
them
as difficult because of the way Juve has been
performing and, given the carelessness with
which, often, it shoots itself in the foot (like
playing both football and kickboxing in the
area and giving penalties away as prizes).
The first will be not to
drop points at matches
with teams that are not contesting the
scudetto,
but have other motivations to appear strong and
show character, especially against behemoths.
The second will be to manage to take points
away (preferably 3) in games against the other
competitors for the title and, when one
watches
some of them play, like Inter, Napoli, Atalanta,
one realizes how difficult that task will be.
FORZA JUVE!!
INTER-JUVE 4-4
JUVE-STUTTGART 0-1
Perin, Locatelli and Cambiaso really
tried to fix a dismal appearance. But
two or three players cannot save the
day, especially when the Brazilians
show such cavalier attitude and care-
lessness. And WE NEED A STRATEGY!
Also in Torino this coming Tuesday, for
Matchday 3 of the Champions League,
against
Stuttgart.
JUVE-LAZIO 1-0
Back to the Serie A race tomorrow at
the Juventus Stadium facing
Lazio.
Without Nico and Teun, it is reported,
but with Tim back in the mix.
FORZA JUVE!!
It is reported that the
Premiership is
considering a rule that would force
the keepers to discard the ball after
a maximum of 6 seconds. This is
done in the name of avoiding wasting
time. I STRONGLY OPPOSE such a
rule, which is going to convert the
main player of defensive play in a
game to a stressed and constricted
robot, rather than let him play his
fundamental role as a human being.
The pressure before saving is really
high. Imagine making that pressure
even higher after the save (by imposing
extra stress, instead of the well-deserved
decompression), just to save a few
seconds that could be kept as extra
time by the referee anyway...
NO, BUT NO, THANKS!
Johan Neeskens is with us no more...
JUVE-CAGLIARI 1-1
What can one say? Many chances wasted.
And while it seemed that Douglas was in a
better place than he has been for the start
of the season so far, he makes again this
terrible mistake to concede two points...
Not a single person that follows Serie A closely
should be surprised at all that Simone declined
to discuss moving to Manchester United. Inzaghi
is a smart manager, knows that he has created a
powerhouse in Milano, the likes of which are
very
rare in Footballing History, and he is not going
to abandon this magnificent project, nor
sacrifice
himself and his work, to get involved in this
mess that the directorial and managerial teams
have created at United. His response is only a
firm confirmation and emphatic reaffirmation of
the qualities that all of us have been admiring
in this terrific, admirable, Italian Coach.
LEIPZIG-JUVE 2-3 
Unbelievable feat with a man down.
But unbelievably poor performance
by Douglas, who came in to make
things better and is faltering terribly.
A man about whom we have not been hearing a
lot, but whose contributions, whose
effectiveness
and whose impact have been much greater than
those of many others whom we have been hearing
about much more and who have been rewarded
disproportionately, in comparison, has decided
to retire from International football. All fans
and,
certainly, all those of Les Bleus, are going to
miss
this very talented and truly extraordinary
player
at International Competition.
GENOA-JUVE 0-3
A rather eerie atmosphere at the Luigi Ferraris
in Genoa, where the game was played without
any fans in the stands, due to the Coppa
Italia
fiasco between Genoa and Sampdoria
midweek.
The pieces at Juve's game are not falling very
well together. Without Locatelli and Cambiaso
things do not look good. And, also, in my view,
Mbagula may be a wiser choice than Nico, who
does not seem to be adapting very well. I still
believe, however, that, as in Max's era, the
American duo, Weston at the right of midfield
just behind Tim at the right flank of the
attack,
form the best solution and, if both are given
some freedom to roam when attacking, they
can be very difficult to defend against.
Let me also mention that Khéphren
may have
connections,
but wearing a heavy jersey at a
young age comes with a lot of responsibility.
So, unless he proves himself, like Nicolò
and
Nicolò
and Kenan,
the opportunities will start
diminishing, despite any advantage.
JUVE-NAPOLI 0-0
Totally erroneous move by Motta.
First, Dusan was impactful, whereas Nico
Gonzalez was again dead.
Second, Tim plays much better in Nico's
position than in Dusan's.
A complete miss and a fiasco with this
substitution that probably cost us in the
run of the game.
Totò Schillaci, a legendary striker of the
Bianconeri and of the Azzurri, is with us
no more...
JUVE-PSV 3-1
EMPOLI-JUVE 0-0
Guests at the Carlo Castellani in Empoli.
I know that they are fresh in the Team and
that, probably, they will improve with time,
but, the way they are performing right now,
I wish someone could explain what is the
reason for Luiz instead of Rabiot and for
Gonzalez instead of Chiesa. I cannot see,
for the life of me, why one would switch
from a high quality to something inferior
for a specific position.
FORZA JUVE!!
Nations League
France-ITALIA 1-3
FORZA AZZURRI!!
JUVE-ROMA 0-0
Some new faces at the bench today.
At the defensive line the Frenchman Pierre
Kalulu,
just arrived from Milan, and the Swede Jonas
Jakob
Rouhi, brought up from Juve Next Gen. At the mid
field, available are Francisco Conceicao on loan
from Porto, the Dutch Teun Koopmeiners just in
from Atalanta and the Argentine Nico Gonzalez
from Fiorentina. I hope there is a plan in which
each one fits in and that these purchases are
not
done in the haphazard ``get and give'' way that,
unfortunately, Juve has recently used with
heavy,
occasionally, losses and very little returns.
Διαβάζω και για τις μεγάλες
προσπάθειες και
τις πολλές διακρίσεις στη Δεύτερη Ολυμπιάδα
στο Παρίσι. Μας χαρίζουν συγκίνηση και
χαρά
όλα τα παιδιά με την προσπάθειά τους, ανεξαρ-
τήτως μεταλλίων. Μπράβο,
παιδιά!
VERONA-JUVE 0-3
We are not yet at the level of being convincing,
but we are doing very well and both the young
kids and the "veterans" have a clear appetite,
and show passion and promise.
FORZA
JUVE!!
FORZA
JUVE!!
JUVE-COMO 3-0
A good season opener at Juventus Stadium
against
Como, with new faces, Thiago Motta, Michele
Di
Gregorio under the posts, Juan Cabal on the
left
of the defensive line, K. Thuram on the left
of the
center field, and Samuel Mbangula on the
left of
the front line. Solid posture and some
really good
movement and combinations. We'll have to
wait
and see, of course, what happens against
better
equipped teams, but things look really
promising.
Also fresh from the bench, Nicolo Savona in
defense
and Douglas Luiz in midfield.
The Olympics should retain their Classic
character.
So only well-established sports should be
included
and the practice of
inserting and deleting "sports",
as if one was typing a text, should be
abandoned.
If those in charge do not realize and cannot
respect
this fundamental Olympic Characteristic, they
should
resign and let someone with better understanding
of the meaning, and respect for the tradition,
do the
job. Once this is decided, the problem
concerning
enforced standards for participation will not be
an
issue any more, since it is no issue for
recognized
and long-established athletic events, but has
become
a pseudo-issue as related to "sports" and other
innovations that have no place in the Olympics.
For those, one is free to have World
Championships,
Grand Prix, Meetings, street TV shows, strongest
man/woman exhibitions, etc., but keep them away
and out of the Olympics, PLEASE!
Η Ελισάβετ είναι νέα κοπέλα και συγχωρείται
βεβαίως και για κάποια ατοπήματα. Η ίδια μεν
κατατάσει το τένις στα ασήμαντα. Η οικογένειά
της, όμως, δε φαίνεται να έχει καμιά φαγούρα
να ασχοληθεί με τα "σημανικά" και πλουτίζει
απ' αυτά τα "ποταπά" και "ασήμαντα", όπως
εξάλλου και πολλοί άλλοι. Στη θέση της, πριν
μιλήσω δημόσια λοιπόν και "φιλοσοφήσω",
θα προσπαθούσα να πείσω εκείνους πρώτα
να ασχοληθούν με κάτι σοβαρό και να μην
πλουτίζουν από τα τετριμένα... Ας αφήσουμε
όμως τί πιστεύει η Ελισάβετ και, αν αυτά που
πιστεύει, τα έχει καλοσκεφτεί και συζητήσει
με το περιβάλλον της. Η ουσία είναι ότι οι
περισσότεροι, νομίζω η συντριπτική πλει-
οψηφία των Ελλήνων φιλάθλων, έχουν κατά
νου το καλύτερο για το Στέφανο και η
κριτική
που ασκούν είναι καλοπροαίρετη και, ας το
παραδεχτούμε, για κάποιες ακραίες συμπερι-
φορές, δικαιολογημένη. Ποιός
από μας δε
θα πανυγήριζε ασυγκράτητα αν ο Στέφανος
νικούσε σε ένα μεγάλο τουρνουά; Δεν
είναι
που θέλουμε να γίνει ξαφνικά Νόλε ή Ράφα.
Αντιλαμβανόμαστε τη δουλειά που χρειάζεται
και γνωρίζουμε ότι αυτά τα ρεκόρ είναι άπιαστα.
Αλλά, ακριβώς επειδή είναι πολύ πιθανό Έλληνα
τενίστα σαν το Στέφανο να μη ξαναδούμε για
δεκαετίες ή και για ακόμα παραπάνω, θα μας
στενοχωρούσε πάρα πολύ να μην τα καταφέρει,
πριν είναι πολύ αργά (λόγω ηλικίας), να φτάσει
σε ένα επίπεδο τέτοιο που να κερδίζει ένα-δύο
ανταγωνιστικά τουρνουά κάθε χρόνο για δύο-
τρία συνεχόμενα χρόνια. Ας βάλει αυτό σαν
επόμενο στόχο. Εμείς του ευχόμαστε κάθε
επιτυχία και, αν τα καταφέρει, εκτός από
τη χαρά και τα κέρδη τα δικά του και της
οικογένειάς του, θα είναι τεράστια και η δικιά
μας χαρά, κι ας είναι για κάτι τόσο ασήμαντο
όσο το τένις.
Unfortunately, as with everything else in life,
these Olympic Games have had many negatives
among the many more positives, which should
be mainly remembered and celebrated. Starting
from the Competition itself, unfortunately, even
in the Greek Team, we had a
suspected doping
incident, which is not acceptable. After
one
succeeds going to the Olympics, a clean 20th
place, with honest effort and sacrifices is a
much
more Worthy Achievement than a 5th on steroids.
Today, we heard that the
Romanian Gymnastics
Team appealed to be given back a Bronze medal,
not because there was a mistake in the decision
in substance, but because of a 4 seconds
deviation
from a technicality in a rule, allowing appeals.
Even though they might have been legally right
and according to the letter of the law, I think
that
what they did contravenes the Olympic Spirit
and,
if I had been heading the Romanian Delegation,
I would have insisted that they refrain from
that
action or sought a different way for compromise.
Finally, I cannot detail all, but we all heard
organization glitches, misfortunes and plain
missteps that, even though, unavoidably, happen
in every competition of that size, they seem, in
this event, to have surpassed the average and to
have caused some disruptions beyond what one
would deem acceptable.
Finally, but very importantly, let me close by
reiterating my wish that the
Olympic Games
will return sometime soon permanently in
Greece, and that, to celebrate that
decision,
an accompanying
International Olympic
Ceasefire Treaty will be signed that
would
ensure that, during the Month of Competition,
All Nations, which are gathering together in
Peace, with Respect One for the Other, and
to showcase their best and most admirable,
would
stop all skirmishes and fighting for
the duration of these Games and to give
Peace, Humanity & Fraternity a Chance
after the Games. WE CAN DO THIS. WE
SHOULD DO THIS. IT IS THE RIGHT THING.
The Dream Team outclassed the Hosts, who
fought a good fight against insurmountable
odds, to bring home another Gold in a team
sport. If only NBA basketball had been as
much a Team Effort as was the first half of
the Olympic Final for Team USA... Unfortunately,
the individuality and lack of defensive effort
in most NBA games have relegated our
domestic competition to a show rather than
a sport. On the flip side, on the one hand, our
college competitions and, on the other, that
same individuality, are producing players
that are unbeatable, when they cooperate,
on the World stage. BRAVO,
TEAM USA!!
Our girls did
what they were supposed to do and brought
home again the Olympic Gold in Football. The
Team is still
very young and the quality, admittedly, is not
yet close to
that of the monumental era of Julie Johnston and
Carli Lloyd.
But they are on their way, with high quality at
the back,
based on the unparalleled Naomi Girma and Emily
Fox,
and a very good mentality in all lines, with
stubbornness
and workhorse feistiness, with players of
superior skill,
such as Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman and Crystal
Dunn.
Where inexperience shows is mainly at the
development
of the game, the organization, the imagination
(or lack
thereof), and the final touches. But, I am sure
those will
come with time, as Ms. Hayes and the girls keep
working
on it. BRAVO TO THE WHOLE TEAM for what they have
accomplished. You have made us proud!
It makes one wonder sometimes whether the
most exhilarating feeling is that one won in
the Olympic Games or whether one beat an
athlete of the
caliber of Simone Biles. And I
do half-think and half-imagine that the same
exact overwhelming sentiments took hold of
the Winners in Ancient Greece. In a relatively
restricted geographical area, with a relatively
few City States, the news must have spread
fast and the Spirit of Friendship and Compe-
tition must have been all around, despite much
slower means of travel and of communication.
But the Achievements and the accompanying
Glory and Fame of some must have inspired
Others to Overcome, to Train and to Surpass
to accomplish their Goals like nothing else,
like an invisible, all-powerful uplifting force.
What Motta is doing is incomprehensible.
He was not hired to dismantle and totally
destroy the team; he was hired to build
on top of existing strengths. Putting up
for sale Wojciech, Federico and Weston,
arguably three of the best players in the
last few seasons, does not make sense
at all. Another disastrous passage, it
sounds like... And then what? Back to
Max to fix the rubble?
Μόλις έτρεξε και η Πολυνίκη.
Μεγάλες επιτυχίες στο νερό μας δίνουν
μεγάλη χαρά και πώς θα μπορούσε να
ήταν διαφορετικά άλλωστε; Αλλά και οι
μεγάλες προσπάθειες των παιδιών στο
στίβο και αλλού πάρα πολύ συγκινητικές.
Θα παραλείψω πάλι μερικούς αθλητές,
άθελά μου, αλλά διαβάζω για το Χρήστο,
την Παναγιώτα
και την Τατιάνα,
τη Ζωή
και τη Μιλένα,
τον Πέτρο
και τον Αντώνη,
το Μιχάλη,
τη Χριστίνα
και την Ευαγγελία,
και, φυσικά, τον Απόστολο
και τον άλλο
Απόστολο
και τις ομάδες
μας που προ-
σπαθούν με πείσμα και επιμονή για ό,τι
καλύτερο. Μέσα στις τραγικές
και απάν-
θρωπες συνθήκες στη γειτονιά μας, η
Ολμπιάδα και τα παιδιά μας μας δίνουν
λίγο κουράγιο, λίγη χαρά και λίγη ελπίδα.
Μπράβο, Θοδωρή!
Μπράβο και στον
Απόστολο και στη
Δώρα,
πρώτα απ' όλα βεβαίως για τις θυσίες και
για την τεράστια προσπάθεια και μετά, αλλά
όχι δευτερευόντως, όπως σωστά
το θέτει ο
Δήμος, γιατί, παρά την φυσιολογική για
εκείνους, λόγω των ατομικών τους στόχων
και προσδοκιών, απογοήτευση, δε ψάχνουν
δικαιολογίες και δίνουν σιωπηρά την υπό-
σχεση για συνέχιση της μεγάλης προσπάθειας.
Για μας, και για την προσπάθεια της χώρας
μας κάποια στιγμή να Φιλοξενήσει ξανά
μόνιμα τους Ολυμπιακούς Αγώνες, η
Ευγένεια, η Ειλικρινής Προσπάθεια,
το
Ολυμπιακό Πνεύμα
και το Ευ Αγωνίζεσθαι
είναι πάνω απ' όλα, και Μέγιστη Επιβράβευση
και Μέγιστη Ικανοποίηση είναι όλοι οι Αθλητές
και οι Αθλήτριές μας να είναι Αδιαπραγμάτευτα
Πιστοί Εκπρόσωποι αυτών των Αξιών.
In singles, both Stefanos and Maria advanced
to the next round. Unfortunately, in doubles,
Petros and Stefanos were not able to overcome
Nuno Borges and Francisco Cabral's pressure
and were eliminated after putting up a good
fight.
I hope this rumor is completely unsubstantiated.
Juve would make one of the worst mistakes in its
recent history, if they let Federico go. His
style
of play and his effectiveness on the field are
unparalleled, not only for Juve, but for any
Italian
winger or attacker at present. He may not be a
flashy or a selfish player or one of those super
egos that could claim to change a game on his
own, but he is very very dangerous and causes
silent but clinical trouble to opposing
defenses.
Like Kenan, he is definitely a player to hold on
to.
This is long overdue. Only drug cartels in
certain
failed states and certain sports
"organizations",
including FIFA and UEFA, are behaving in such
an outrageous way. They are grossly abusing
power and they are demanding "independent"
status (that is, to behave as a "state within a
state") and forcing, due to their de facto
position
of dominance and monopoly, Governments to
allow them to "self-regulate", which includes
the de facto right to impose their will and to
abuse, with immunity and impunity, those that
they deem below them in rank and whom they
can subdue and manipulate based on finances.
THIS HAS TO STOP.
UNFORTUNATELY THOSE
THAT HAVE THE POWER TO DO THIS, REMEMBER
THAT IT NEEDS TO BE DONE ONLY WHEN THEIR
INTERESTS DO NOT COALESCE AND NEVER ON
PRINCIPLE, IN A PERSISTENT AND UNWAVERING
WAY. STOP THIS NOW. DO
NOT WALK BACK.
It is reported that Juve has difficulties
in finding
a main shirt sponsor after the contract
with Jeep
expired after 12 years. LavAzza is based in
Torino,
it was founded in 1895, two years before Juve,
and has some kind of commercial partnership
already in place with Juve. I am thinking, just
thinking, that, perhaps, one of the best Brands
in the World and one of the best and most
Historic Clubs in the World, which happen to
share the same Heritage and the same City,
could come together to a mutually beneficial
long term agreement on reasonable terms.
Jasmine Paolini advanced to the Final at
Wimbledon. Bravo, Jasmine!
Yamal is still very young. So some degree of
immaturity is to be expected and can be
forgiven.
Nevertheless, he should know that, like with all
other footballers (and humans), there are two
roads opening in front of him. One is that of
arrogance, delusion, more words and much
less quality in practice (Neymar style), which,
in general, make one unlikable, inhibit hard
work and destroy careers, ending them much
below expectations and fanfare. The other
(Vini style) is that of a lower profile, less
words and braggadocio and more action,
leaving answers and demonstrations on the
field and refraining from unnecessary and
damaging provocations. I hope that Lamine
consciously chooses the right path; it is not
a choice that comes randomly and by chance.
BRAVO to Kylian and to Marcus and all the other
players of the Tricolore, who did not mince
their
words and who did not hold back any punches
when the
time came to talk about political
developments in their State and in our
Continent.
In my view, there is no point in stating all the
nice
things, "football unites", "no to racism", "no
to
nationalism" and "no to extremism", on the one
hand, and, in this way, pretending to care and
to
contribute, like UEFA and FIFA do, and, on the
other, when this counts the most, during
elections
that determine the direction that Humanity will
follow and the Values that Humanity is to adopt,
refraining from actively participating, and from
unequivocally and vocally siding with these
same Ideals and using one's influence to sway
voters and the public to follow them in
practice.
BRAVO TO THE KIDS OF THE TRICOLOR!!
Όσα καταγγέλλουν οι αθλήτριές μας είναι
σοβαρά και καταδικαστέα. Κατά τη γνώμη
μου, επειδή υπάρχει μεγάλη ζηλοτυπία και
ζηλοφθονία γενικά στην κοινωνία, που
εκφράζεται με τέτοιες ενέργειες και παρε-
νοχλήσεις, και επειδή ο αθλητισμός ειναι
αναπόσπαστο μέρος της κοινωνίας, αυτά
τα φαινόμενα πολύ δύσκολα θα εξαλειφθούν.
Αυτό, φυσικά, δε σημαίνει σε καμία περίπτωση
ότι θα πρέπει να γίνονται ανεκτά, να αγνοούνται
ή να μην καταδικάζονται ή καταγγέλλονται.
Η συμμετοχή, η προσπάθεια, οι διακρίσεις
και οι επιδόσεις των αθλητών μας, παρά
τα προβλήματα, τις πιέσεις και τις ενοχλήσεις
που δέχονται και την ανάρμοστη συμπεριφορά
των άλλων, που αναπόφευκτα τους επηρεάζει,
είναι η σιωπηρή, αλλά και καλύτερη απάντηση.
Όσο μπορείτε, προσπαθείστε να αγνοείτε
αυτούς που η Κατερίνα αποκαλεί "άσχετους"
και να συγκεντρώνεστε στην πρροσπάθεια,
στον αγώνα και στην επίτευξη των στόχων σας.
Step-by-step the kids that have booked a ticket
for the Olympic Games in Paris this summer
are preparing
for the monumental competition.
I would like to re-express my hope that the
Competition will, once again, in the not too
distant future, return permanently to Greece,
where it belongs. I wish the Team Health,
Strength and the Best of Luck in their games
and/or individual battles, and encourage them
to enjoy the events and Stand for the Highest
Ideals, both during Competition and outside.
Participate in the Spirit
of Fraternity and Unity.
Καλή δύναμη. Ούριος άνεμος
στα πανιά σας.
Ανόητο και αηδιαστικό πληρωμένο παπαγαλάκι
οικονομικων και διαπλεκομενων συμφεροντων.
Με μια φράση, βλαξ με περικεφαλαία, αλλα απο
τετοιους, με το βιο και την πολιτεια τους,
τίποτα
καλύτερο δεν πρέπει κανεις να περιμένει.
Almost there, EURO
2024 from Germany.
A page for the Champions of
Luciano Spalletti.
FORZA AZZURRI!!
Μετά τα
άλλα παιδιά, εξαιρετική εμφάνιση
και από τον Μανόλο, που έκανε κι εκείνος
το καθήκον του και, όπως και η Κατερίνα,
πάλεψε για να ξεπεράσει προβλήματα.
Μπράβο, Εμμανουήλ!
Μπράβο, Μίλτο! Μπράβο, Κατερίνα!
Μπράβο, Πολυνικη!
Bullsh*t, lack of moderation and disgusting
shenanigans from the very beginning...
Pity for such a coach, showing such huge
immaturity and such insecurity, despite his
age and despite his record... Pure Mourinho.
A special case indeed...
The season concluded with Real winning
2-0 in the Champions
League Final against
Borussia Dortmund at Wembley, to bring
home its 15th Trophy in the competition.
Even though they were not the better side
throughout the game, the experience of
Maestro Carlo and of some of its players,
Courtois, Carvajal, Nacho and Kroos, among
others, and the explosiveness of some of its
youngsters, such as Vini, were more than
enough to overpower the opponents, who,
however, also played powerfully and with
determination and offered high-quality and
admirable football and exquisite plays in
an unforgettable evening in London.
