The first game covered by Channel 4 back in the early 90's, Sampdoria vs Lazio. I had been watching Italian football for a few seasons and had become hooked. A few of my friends had fallen for the "Italian football is boring" that us Englishmen are very vulnerable to and it took a lot of persuasion from me to get them to watch the game.

It finished Sampdoria 3 Lazio 3 and the standard of football was amazing. All the friends I mentioned are now avid followers of Italian football and one of them, Paul, has stopped going to English games so he can save up to go to 3/4 Serie A games a year.


What is your favourite memory?

AC Venezia beating Fiorentina 4-1.

I suppose mine has to be the Peruggia/Juve game on the final round of the season when the star of the show was the rain! Did it finish 1-0 to Perugia? Anyroad...Juve lost the title to Sven Goran Eriksson's Lazio. Very dramatic and memorable day and, if memory serves, Channel 4 stayed with the game throughout the weather-induced delay, which was great.

I really enjoyed that very high-scoring Rome derby (Lazio heavily beaten) too in (I think) Roma's Scudetto-winning season. Was the score 4-1?

quote:

Originally posted by Spinoza:
if memory serves, Channel 4 stayed with the game throughout the weather-induced delay, which was great.

Unlike Roma's scudetto clincing game in 01/02 when they finished the coverage with 10 minutes remaining That was a terrible way to end a decade of coverage.

quote:

Originally posted by Leemc:

quote:

Originally posted by Spinoza:
if memory serves, Channel 4 stayed with the game throughout the weather-induced delay, which was great.

Unlike Roma's scudetto clincing game in 01/02 when they finished the coverage with 10 minutes remaining That was a terrible way to end a decade of coverage.

God I don't remember that at all! That forking blows!

Leemc's right - the problem was that Roma were winning the game comfortably, and by half-time, it was clear they were the Champions. Therefore, the second half was interupted by fans running onto the pitch to grab the players' kit as a souvineer. A shot of Vincent Candela frantically running towards the Roma bench in his underwear sticks in my mind, worryingly.
And yeah, C4 did stay with the Perugia-Juve game, despite half-time being about 45 minutes! I too remember that so well.

My favourite memory would possibly be Baggio's goal, in the last minute, for Brescia against Juve in 00/01, where he took the ball out of the air, took it round the keeper and scored, in two touches.

Not a Serie A memory, but Italian football nonetheless.

February 2003, Rimini v Florentia Viola, following updates on a webpage whose name now escapes me, but provided by the Fiorentina2000.net site if I remember rightly. 2-0 to la Viola and a huge step towards claiming the C2 title.

There have been bigger and better results for Fiorentina over the years I've followed them, Arsenal and United in the CL, but none that meant as much as the Rimini game.

I've never forgotten Juventus 1-0 Inter from 1998 despite the controversy. That day is particularly memorable because at the same time Leicester were destroying Derby 4-0. Oh happy days.

Del Piero's breakthrough season when he scored some crackers - especially remember one when he's wearing the blue away shirt with the yellow stars on the sleeves.

Recobas debut goals for Inter, too.

Getting back from the pub lashed and watching Mezzanotte.

Palermo 1 Juventus 0

Does Cannavaro's fingers up Totti's nose count?

No, ok in that case it would be Milan 1-6 Juve.

Enough said really.

I'd probably agree with you, Curva, about the Rimini result. My favourite Fiorentina Serie A memory would probably be the 4-0 win against Milan in January '01.

Weah's wonder goal, I think it was against Verona.

Also has to be Milan 1-6 Juve.

Weah's wonder goal is a standout, but Fiorentina beating Milan (circa 1996) when Batistuta brought out the 'tommy gun' in the San Siro was the fookin' nuts...

Hey folks, let's not forget, lest we forget, the Richardsonian funnies that often were far more entertaining than the footy!

Examples that spring to mind:

"Well Paul...at the end of the day, all credit to the lads."

and:

(to Joe Jordan on Morfeo): "like a hungry pauper, he likes a free role".

prior to eurosport and channel 4 there was skys coverage of serie A,fronted by the great John Inverdale,coverage which was never even remotely equalled by the other two,James Richardson not withstanding.The finest serie A moment for me was the magnificent Serie A showdown on 5th May 1991 between Inter and Sampdoria,ending 0-2 to Samp,with pagliuca playing the game of his life.That season also featured samp winning 4-1 at champions Napoli,an awesome display particularly from Mancini.I'm no samp fan but they were worthy champs that season

My best memory has to be the 3-2 win against Fiorentina in the Delle Alpi with ADP's wondergoal with the outside of right foot against Toldo. We were 2-0 down but 2 goals from Vialli in 3 minutes & Alex's goal 2 minutes from time was the icing on the cake!

For those that don't remember, see this

From this season:

- Trezza and ADP combining to beat Milan
- Cannavaro's fingers up Totti's nose
- Zalayeta's goal against Real
- Ibrahimoivc destroying Lecce single handedly
- Nedved saving us at Lazio
- Winning the CL group without breakign a sweat

Fondest memory is the last day of the season in the 2001/02 season. That image of Ronaldo crying will stay with me forever.

A special mention to Milan 1 - 6 Juventus.

BEST

Day in Udine Dels mentioned...
Del Piero golden goals vs Parma...begin of new era
Zidane goal in Calabria vs Reggina...one of the best moves I have ever seen...
Ale goal vs Viola...single goal which decided...
Ale magic in Tokyo
Vialli bicycle kick goals... Curva favourite
Baggio goal in Dortmund...it was UEFA Cup I think
Baggio goal in Udine( we beat them 3 - 0 )...you must see it, fantastic staff...
Fight vs police in Naples ( cant remember year, something like 1995. or so )
Fight vs Roma Boys in 2001.
Fight vs police in Genoa ( also cant remember year, but I was so scared and young )
Taking away Merda flags in city 'derby'

Bad memories...I had few ( supporting Juventus is usual connected with great memories )

Rainy day in Perugia
Fu...in Munchen game vs Dortmund
Fight vs some Greeks in Athens, 200 vs 20, we had not chance at all
Fight vs Police in Basilea ( CL )
Cagliari memories ...well police and home fans in cooperation can be lethal...

and so on...story of my life...