Two questions dominate preparations for the forthcoming Serie A season: firstly, in the wake of their Herculean efforts to win last season’s title, will Napoli under new coach Rudi Garcia be able to reproduce anything like the high-intensity, dynamic football that won them the third title of their history with Luciano Spalletti?
Secondly, in the wake of the “Prisma” Plusvalenza (Capital Gains) scandal, are Juventus destined to decline under the weight of possible UEFA sanctions that could ban them from all European competition? The very real possibility that Juventus, who finished seventh in last season’s league, might be barred from the UEFA Europa Conference League may have far reaching implications for the club.
Already out of the Champions League because of a ten-point Italian Football Federation (FIGC) sanction imposed at a federation appeals hearing in May, heavily indebted Juventus can clearly ill-afford the loss of lucrative Champions League earnings. Without the points sanction, the Old Lady would have finished on 72 points alongside third-placed Inter and thus qualified for the lucrative Champions League.
In some senses, Napoli’s title win and Juve’s involvement in the Plusvalenza scandal represent the dynamically opposed lightning rods of today’s Italian football. On the one hand, we had a hugely popular celebration of a third
Esta historia es de la edición August 2023 de World Soccer.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición August 2023 de World Soccer.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Going for Gold in Paris- There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer
There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer
Face to face - Tom Sainfiet- The final goal is to reach the World Cup and write history - The Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer
The well-travelled Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer after taking charge of the Philippines-his 11th international coaching role
Inter cruise to title number 20
Simone Inzaghi's Internazionale shrug off all challengers before sealing the Serie A title in style against their biggest rivals
HAT-TRICK HERO
Ademola Lookman wrote his name into European football's history books with a hat-trick in the Europa League final
GOING UP
The story of Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres' career has been one of upward trajectory - and there's plenty more to come from the Sporting superstar
Palau soldier on alone
The isolated Pacific nation faces a long and lonely battle to improve football on the island
Brazilian clubs eye Copa number six
As the Copa Libertadores group stage concludes, a sixth consecutive Brazilian winner is looking likely
AI Hilal sweep to another Saudi crown
The first edition of the Saudi Pro League's glamorous new era ends with a familiar title winner
Disasters brewing
There is still a long way to go in World Cup qualifying, but dysfunction reigns at Cameroon, Congo and Nigeria after four matchdays in the group stage
Second round of World Cup qualifying underway
Favourites perform largely as expected, yet Cayman Islands dominate the headlines
