European Daydreams!!!

By: Alberico | September 18th, 2008

I am at work early, and I don’t know why. It’s probably because I woke up this morning excited that my beloved SAMPDORIA returns to Europe today in the first leg of the 1st round of the UEFA Cup at home against the Lithuanians of Kaunas FC. I cannot express to you how much this means to us fans. We are not the Inters, the Milans, The Juves, or The Romas. We don’t get to feel this every year (but we sure hope to starting now). We don’t know what it means on a regular basis to play mid-week so this is special. And we need this. We need this to erase last Sunday’s debacle and to jump start our campaign. I know if we win today, morale will be and we will start firing away on our cylinders. Today is Cassano’s day, it has to be.

Today’s opponent is pretty decent, an opponent that eliminated Rangers in the previous round, Rangers being last year’s runner-up in this competition. So there is danger here but our tactical superiority has to come through. The midfield will have to do a better job of getting involved in the offense and Bonazzoli just has to show up for once dammit. He looks like a beast but plays like a fragile piece of glass. Basically we have to come out of today’s game at the Marassi with at least a 2 goal lead in the aggregate. I think we will win today 2-0. And it seems that it will probably be, barring any late changes or injuries from people falling of the bus or something like that, Mirante in goal, Lucchini, Gastaldello and Bottinelli as our back line, Palombo, Sammarco, Stankevicius, Pieri and Franceschini (even though i think Dessena may get the nod), and Savior Cassano up top with champagne glass Bonazzoli.

I can tell you one thing. The stadium will be electric, flags everywhere, the SUD will explode and chant all game, and I am salivating here waiting for the start of this game and am ferociously searching a live streaming link so i can actually watch this game. If I can’t, I will curse all computers and all American television channels for not carrying the game, and then put my tail between my legs and just listen to it on the local radio of Genova or read it online through live commentary, which by the way is a great thing, but it’s really depressing. There is nothing worse than reading the commentary of a game you really want to see. But despite all this depression, I am in a great mood because today, UEFA signs will be all over the Marassi, the European anthem will play, special jerseys will be worn, and the dream will continue. FORZA SAMP! ALWAYS! I will tell you all about my dream tomorrow and hopefully I can have a good night after the final whistle.