Lazio in the international media

Subject: Re: Lazio in the international media Thu Sep 25, 2008 4:11 pm

Blog: Laz entertainment

As Lazio continue to march on at the top of Serie A, James Sugrue wonders if anyone saw such a huge improvement coming

Who would have thought it? After four games of the Serie A season Lazio are second only to champions Inter in the standings - and that only by a solitary point while possessing a superior goal difference to the Nerazzurri. Just days before the season started I probably would have laughed at anyone who had predicted such a great start for the Biancocelesti, but even with the benefit of hindsight I'm struggling to avoid using the word miracle.

The capital club may have been hard at work in the summer to strengthen their squad, but so were a lot of clubs and no-one could have predicted that the likes of Stephan Lichtsteiner and Francelino Matuzalem could have such a huge impact - well I certainly didn't anyway! Likewise it was a shock to see Stefano Mauri and David Rozehnal dismissing their previous status as Olimpico flops to cement their places in Lazio's starting XI in such an assured and stylish manner.

The hardest part to understand though, is the mandatory blessing in disguise that goes along with any Serie A surprise story. Who would have thought when Tommaso Rocchi was injured in the Olympics that his absence would actually benefit the club? The experienced hitman has been the Aquile's most reliable source of goals for several years and all the predictions were that he would be badly missed by Coach Delio Rossi. It certainly wasn't on the tip of my tongue to say that injury would allow new boy Mauro Zarate to form an even better partnership with Goran Pandev and start banging in the goals for fun.

To remember a Lazio performance as good as the one which humbled Fiorentina 3-0 on Wednesday night you have to think back more than eight years to Sven-Goran Eriksson's Scudetto-winning campaign, but this team is starting to achieve similar results on a far inferior budget. Much of the praise has to go to Rossi after the merciless way he was hounded last term. If anyone deserves a bit of happiness in his career it is probably him. Who knows, the way things are going in the Giallorosso half of the city we could soon see the tactician dancing in the capital's fountains celebrating another derby win.

Subject: Re: Lazio in the international media Fri Sep 26, 2008 3:43 pm

26/09/2008 15:15
Calcio Debate: Pandev & Zarate - Best Attack In Serie A?

Lazio have enjoyed a fantastic start to the 2008/09 season thanks largely to their lethal striking partnership of Mauro Zarate and Goran Pandev. Salvatore Landolina asks whether the dynamic duo can fire the Aquilotti towards a fourth place finish but, more importantly, do Lazio have the strongest attack in Serie A?

Delio Rossi pulled off a major coup when bringing Mauro Zarate to the Stadio Olimpico this summer. Many had their doubts on whether the Argentine could cut the mustard but he has silenced the critics by already scoring four goals in as many games for his side. He has been helped massively by his Macedonian side-kick and striking sensation Pandev who has hit the net on three occasions.

As a result of their prowess up front, Lazio find themselves second in Serie A, just a point behind Inter. Their is real belief at Formello of a possible Scudetto hunt, as well as a Champions League finish, and no player believes in this more than Zarate.

"We want to finish in the top four," the 21-year-old told La Gazzetta Dello Sport. "I think our team is good enough to reach our objectives and I expected such a great start."

Lazio have scored more goals than any other team in the league, 10 in four games thus far and, comparing their attacking line up with the usual suspects, one would imagine they are on the right track for glory.

Before the season began, all the talk was on Amauri, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ronaldinho, Adriano and company. Few even recognised the existence of the two hit-men at Lazio, but now those players are reminding the rest of the Calcio world just how good they are. Take Pandev for example. He has been phenomenal in all the games he has played in thus far. He grabbed a goal against Fiorentina and set-up countless chances for his side with his vision. He was also on hand to do the business against Cagliari and Sampdoria, while he provided the assist for Zarate in the defeat to Milan at San Siro. Pandev is worshiped like a God in his homeland of Macedonia, and every day Goal.com receives requests asking for the forward to be recognized for his brilliance. Well, here you go!

Goal.com's Carlo Garganese already knew of Pandev's qualities, but he has been blown away by what he has seen from Zarate so far. "He is fast, skillful, creative, has a great brain, and is good at free kicks and penalties," said Garganese.

"However, the thing I admire most about him is that he is two-footed. Players who can use both their right and left foot are difficult to play against because they are impossible to predict, and have no weaknesses. They are hard to 'get found out'. But lets wait and see if he can keep this form up in the coming months before calling him the 'new Messi'."

Praise for the pair has been almost universal. Daniele Perticari of Goal.com Italia commented: “The fact they are both doing so well is not a huge surprise, but it is a surprise just how quickly Zarate has acclimatized in Serie A..

“Pandev is one of the best strikers in Serie A, and perhaps deserves to play for a top team in the Champions League.

“Zarate and Pandev could be considered as the best attack in Serie A, even if Juventus' frontline would still get my vote as they have such depth.

“One important issue could be how Delio Rossi fits Tommaso Rocchi into the team when he comes back from injury, and whether this affects the partnership.”

Big things are now expected of Zarate and Pandev this term, but as Garganese said, we must look at the bigger picture and not forget that the season is still very early. Although Lazio have, potentially, the strongest attack in the league, not forgetting Rocchi, who is yet to return, they shouldn't get too carried away. Pandev and Zarate are outstanding individuals who have earned their corn but they still have a lot to prove.

The big question is will they be able to show consistency, and continue their great form against the big boys? The Biancocelesti have strolled to victories against struggling Cagliari away from home and against a Samp side who are clearly not in form and they beat Fiorentina. It wasn't the real Viola who turned up at the Olimpico as Cesare Prandelli's men just didn't perform.

There is no doubting the qualities of both hit-men as they have scored seven of the 10 goals Lazio have stuck away thus far but they need to keep their feet firmly on the ground to avoid landing with a nasty bump. Football, after all, is a team game, and it would be wrong to pile the pressure just on the two strikers. It would also be wrong to blame them for failure if the Aquilotti don't fly back up to the pinnacle of Calcio this term.

The long haul flight to the Champions League places has only just begun, but one thing is for sure amongst all the doubts, Lazio do have, potentially, the most explosive Serie A attack and, if the rest of the team can support Pandev and Zarate, the club are set to cruise into Europe and maybe, just maybe, cause a sensation and lift the Scudetto, just like Zarate suggested.

What are your views on this topic? Are Pandev and Zarate the best attack in Serie A? Can Lazio qualify for the Champions League? Can they even win the Scudetto, as Zarate has ambitiously suggested? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think...

Salvatore Landolina

(courtesy of goal.com)

Subject: Re: Lazio in the international media Mon Sep 29, 2008 11:28 am

The Daily Telegraph (Sport supplement page 11)
Monday, September 29, 2008

Zarate double strike hands Lazio top spot
By Patrick Nathanson

TWO goals from former Birmingham City loanee Mauro Zarate, taking his tally to six in five games, helped Lazio to a 3-1 win against nine-man Torino in Italy's Serie A yesterday.
Zarate's goals, the second from a penalty which led to a red card for the former Ipswich goalkeeper Matteo Sereni, put Lazio top of the table.

(There is a small picture of Mauro with his thumb up next to the article with the caption: Just right: Mauro Zarate celebrates his goal. Above the article are the European league tables with the Serie A top spot proudly claimed!)

Subject: Re: Lazio in the international media Tue Sep 30, 2008 7:23 pm

Thanks to all cooperating in this topic!!

and i add this...

Zarate the king
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Don't ask what SS lazio can do for you.
but what YOU can do for la SS Lazio!

Subject: Re: Lazio in the international media Tue Sep 30, 2008 8:47 pm

Here the translation to the Zarate's interview

A fan put on knees in front of me

In 1992 the Lazio’s “tifosi” had a song: "E segna sempre Signori", dedicated to the italian strike came from Foggia, that has a great start in the League: seven goalas in the first give games. Todat, after 16 years, they enjoy with someone with a production like the Beppe’s, Mauro Zárate. Maurito the nick of most of the local media, he made six, but had one penalty less. (3 – 2) than Signori. The fans now sing "E segna sempre Zárate". The argentinian is the cannoniere in an Italian league that has strong players like Kaká, Ronaldinho, Ibrahimovic, Shevchenko, Totti, Adriano and not counting to Crespo.

- How do you take this Mauro?
- Easily, I don’t think in statistics. The most important I that the team is really good, we started the preseason thinking in the championship, we are leading and playing good. We realized that we have a team to fight in the top.

- And how do you feel with tifoi illusion?
- They are very passionate, in the capital more than in the rest of Italy. Theres 2 teams and half are Roma’s fans and the other half Lazio’s.

- What is the strongest thet you live?
- You can not imagine. One day a fan came to me and put on his knees in front of me and started to talk. I don’t know what he said because was too fast. I tried to understand him. He thank to me for the goals and said a loto f things. You can not imagine the shame I felt. Look, that doesn’t bother me, I like all that love, but …

- Basile called to Diego Milito (four goals in Genoa). Do you think that is bad for you do not have a befote expreience with the coach?
-Y don’t know. The day that they call me to the NT I will be happy. If not, I will stay giving my best to some day be called.

- Basile also called to DiMaría. Do you think that not being in the Olympics is bad?
- I cant think about that either. I think that is I stay doing the things in the good way, maybe some day ill have the call.

- Why do you think that are not paying the famous adaptation process to Italy?
-I cam knowing that wont be hard. Italy is similar to Argentin, people, football. Beside after being in Qatar I knew that wont be difficult to be in Italy. To use to calico is easy the Qatar side.

- Juan Pablo Carrizo is also praised
- Yes is very good. Against Torino he made six dribbles in front of an opponent. You don’t know what that was. He show to kick and made another dribble. I had the heart in the mouth. You see we were 3 – 0.

-Do you help the Lazio’s system of play?
- I had never play a 4-3-2-1. But im, very good as only central, with 2 attacking midlefielder as Foggia and Pandev

- The coach Rossi, ask you for something different?
- That also help in the defense, but he let me attack as I want

- Lazio has players to play the scudetto?
-I hope we don’t have that problem. The team must stay like this.

- What players surprised you more?
- I think that Kaka and Ibrahimovic, they put the difference.
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Subject: Re: Lazio in the international media Wed Oct 01, 2008 11:21 pm

Zarate is everywhere! For first time in years norwegian media writes something about Lazio that isn't about how bad our fans is.

http://www.nettavisen.no/sport/fotball/article2266189.ece

I could translate if anyone wants, but it's basicly the story how Lotito watched his youtube movies. Very Happy

Subject: Re: Lazio in the international media Thu Oct 02, 2008 1:12 pm

Subject: Re: Lazio in the international media Thu Oct 02, 2008 2:37 pm

Subject: Re: Lazio in the international media Thu Oct 02, 2008 3:59 pm

Again Lazio in the argentinian sport newspaper Olé

This one is about the game with Atalanta the title: If Zarate doesnt shout, Ledesma appear
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Subject: Re: Lazio in the international media Fri Oct 03, 2008 5:13 pm

http://www.ole.clarin.com/notas/2008/09/30/futbolinternacional/01770882.html

From Ole. A newspaper in Argentina.

It talks firstly about Zarate about how he was a prmosising player for the Argentina National Team. Then he want to Qatar and everyone forgot about him. Then he went to Birmingham and scored four times in 14 matches although this was not enough for them to remain in the Premiership. Nevertheless, Zarate has a chance to shine in top level football. Lazio was a club that was intrested in a striker and first was intrested Rodrigo Palacio but that came to nothing. So Zarate ended up the striker signed.

With six goals in five matches Zarate is the leading scorer in Serie A. The only game he has not scored was against Fiorentina which finished 3-0. Yesterday, 3-1 win away to Torino, the Macedonian Pandev socred first then Zarate added a brace. The first was a fantastic strike from outside the penalty area and the second was a penalty after the goalkeeper of Torino was sent off leaving Ventola in goal. It was the second brace, the first being against Cagliari.

Also Carrizo has impressed in goal for Lazio. Except for the match against Milan he has done good things. The match against Torino was the same.

The loss of Internazionale means Lazio now is the leader of Serie A. Although Lazio does not have a extensive squad of Internazionale, Milan or Roma, Zarate assures Ole: "We have a team to go for the Scudetto. I do not expect us to feal tiredness." The coach Delio Rossi played a 4321 formation with Foggia and Pandev playing behind Zarate as the lone forward. "It is the first time I have played in that system and I feel very confortable" affirmed Zarate(not called by Alfio Basile).

Lazio has won two scudetto's the first in 73/74 and 99/00. In the second one starring Veron next to Simeone, Almeyda and Sensini.

I hope I translated that corrected. My Spanish is really not very good at all. Someone may check if they have time.

Subject: Re: Lazio in the international media Fri Oct 03, 2008 5:29 pm

I had translated that in a previous page ... your english is better than mine Very Happy

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Subject: Re: Lazio in the international media Mon Oct 06, 2008 4:53 pm

Subject: Re: Lazio in the international media Fri Nov 14, 2008 3:04 pm

Lazio, and Maurito again in argentinian spor newspaper, 2 days ago

http://www.ole.clarin.com/notas/2008/11/11/futbolinternacional/01800194.html

La gente sabe que soy de palabra", declaró ayer el presidente de la Lazio, Claudio Lotito. Así, ratificó que el club comprará el pase definitivo de Mauro Zárate, que pertenece al Al Sadd de Qatar y está a préstamo en el club romano. "La negociación está cerca de terminar", dijo el dirigente. Según informes de prensa, a los tres millones de euros que se pagaron por el préstamo anual, se le sumarían otros 18, lo que daría un total de 21.

Mauro viene de un golazo de tiro libre y de una asistencia ante el Siena (3-0). Tras el partido, los tifosi le recordaron a Lotito que debía comprar el pase del argentino, de 21 años, que no está en la primera lista de Maradona en la Selección y lleva siete goles en la Serie A.

Lotito said that will buy Zarate's pass that now own Qatar's Al Sadd. He said that the business is almost done. Lazio will pay 18 millones more.

After Sienna, tifosi remind Lotito that he must buy the Zarat'es pass, who's not in Maradona's list even he socred 7 times in Serie A.
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Subject: Re: Lazio in the international media Fri Nov 14, 2008 6:49 pm

Just hope he can hold this level but its hard to play REALLY good a whole season but against merda he can play at his best. Twisted Evil

And thanks Mafalda for the translation...my spanish is not so good Neutral

But i have learn spanish some years ago, cant remember much ^^

Avanti Lazio !

Subject: Re: Lazio in the international media Mon Nov 17, 2008 7:31 pm

http://www.ole.clarin.com/notas/2008/11/17/futbolinternacional/01804541.html

Algo dejaron

Que Maradona sepa que Carrizo llegará a Escocia después de una buena tarea. JP le tapó un cabezazo bravo a Vucinic y un mano a mano a Mexes. En el gol de Baptista, irreprochable: el mérito fue del brasileño al meter el frentazo que desvió el buen centro de Totti (5' ST). El único error fue un mal rechazo casi desde la mitad de la cancha, que generó un contraataque que se paró con foul. Lo frustrante para el ex River fue la derrota en su primer derby en Italia, cuando su equipo no lo merecía.

El clásico romano fue con mucha tensión. La Lazio no se entregó ni por la expulsión de Cristian Ledesma (21' ST), por doble amarilla. Mauro Zárate tuvo tres claras y dos desbordes que Inzaghi y Lichtsteiner no cabecearon con precisión. Aunque la más fácil la falló Pandev, cuando Doni le tapó el zurdazo.

Maurito había anunciado dos goles. Se quedó con las ganas, aunque su esfuerzo, generalmente desde la punta izquierda, fue irreprochable.

It say that Maradona should know that Carrizo will arrive Scotland after a good game, he catched sure goals to Vuvinic and a hand to hand to Mexes. The Baptista's goal wasnt his fail. But is frustated because lost his first derby in Itakly, when his team didnt deserve.
The derby had a big tension. Lazio didnt give up even after Ledesma's red card. Mauro Zárate had 3 clear balls, and 2 pivots that Inzaghi and Lichsteinner couldnt hit well. But the easiest was lost by Pandev.
Maurito said will score twice but he couldnt but his effort was very good.
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