I would have preferred using 'The Italian Job' as a title but unfortunatly because of a number of factors all the Italian teams have been eliminated from the Champions League... and we haven't yet arrived at the quarter-finals stage! On the one hand English football has registered an impressive en plein with Chelsea, Liverpool, Man Utd and Arsenal qualifying for the quarter-finals but all three Italian teams, namely Juventus, Inter and Roma have been eliminated uncerimoniously by the current greatness of English football.
The signs have been there for quite some time that Italian football is losing its allure when compared to the English and Spanish leagues. Teams from these two leagues have been dominating in Europe for the last few years, taking over from what was once an undisputed dominance from the Italian teams.
Even though the English teams have an advantage financially-wise when compared to teams from other countries when it comes to money derived from television rights, what is needed is an overhaul in the Italian football culture. New, modern and more comfortable stadiums where whole families can watch a game without the risk of violence erupting are badly needed, less exasperation when it comes to dealing with referees and relations between Italian teams have to improve. Also English and Spanish teams put alot of faith in young players while this is rather lacking in Italian teams, with the odd exception here and there.
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