This week’s Rivals Revealed comes from la Bella Italia!  Massimiliano aka Max Steel from www.forum-calcio.com  kindly provided me with his views on Saturday’s World Cup qualifier and some thoughts on Scottish and Italian football.

The original interview can be read here:  link to interview.

Thanks once again to Massimiliano (and to others from the forum) for giving me their views!

Which team do you support and how long have you followed them?

I’ve been supporting AC Milan since I was at primary school (the first half of the 80s).  No-one supported the ‘Rossoneri” at that time because the team was at its worst in its long history and had been relegated twice, once because of an unpleasant involvement in betting scandals.

I always tend to support the underdogs, and at that time, Milan was one of them.  A little while after that, the great Silvio Berlusconi (at present, president of Italy) relifted the team from the brink of failure and quickly returned it to the glory days of times gone by.

My patience has paid off!

Do you go to the games?

Recently, I’ve not been going to games very often – the last was the final of the “I Campioni” between Milan and Juve.  But a few years ago I regulalry went to to the San Siro (Milan’s stadium) with my friends and at one point I had a season ticket and went to away games too.

Just to compare Scotland and Italy a little,  how much does it cost to get into a game and how much does a season ticket cost?

I can tell you how much it costs to get into the San Siro; the tickets are from €19  in the ‘third tier’, that’s the highest one – up to €320  in the main stand.  A ticket in the ‘second tier’ - and that’s probably the best place to enjoy the game from - would cost you between  €25 and €40.  I can’t tell you anthying as far as season ticket prices go.

What do you know about Scottish football?  How many teams could you name?

When you talk about Scottish football it’s too easy just to talk about the historic dualism between Rangers and Celtic (I support Celtic, by the way).  The arrival of Italian players in your Leagues has however helped us get to know other teams too.  For example, the mythical Gattuso started off at Rangers as an undervalued talent, as did ‘bomber’ Negri or the gruff defender, Amoruso.  The Bonetti brothers even coached Dundee, if I remember correctly.  And what can we say about ‘the white feather’, Ravanelli?

Personally, other than those mentioned, I know Aberdeen, the two Dundee teams, Hearts and Hibernian and I’m fascinated with Inverness.

Who, for you, are the important Italian players in the game against Scotland?

As far as Italy is concerned, the strange thing against the game with Scotland is the line-up of stikers.  Lippi has chosen Cassano instead of Del Piero and has chosen the marvelous Roma strikeforce of Cassano, Totti and Montelli.  None of those three are really in great form at the moment whereas the young Gilardino is scoring regulalrly like he was a couple of years ago.

What’s also strange is the group of Palermo players (5 involed!) – a team from the passionate south - newly promoted and with great ambitions of playing in European football.

In your opinion, who are the known Scottish players in Italy? (if they actually exist)!

Personally, I don’t really follow what’s going on with Scottish players, but on this forum you often hear about Fletcher from Man United, McNamara and Ferguson.  From players of the past, there’s the great McCoist.

Del Piero is missing at the weekend.  Will his absence have implications on the game?

Del Piero is on form just now – eleven goals and many of these deciders.  However, he’s thirty and, rightly in my opinion,  Lipi went for the younger Cassano. 

I don’t think the absence of Del Piero will weigh too heavily on us given that up-front, the alternatives we have are numerous.  Our problem is midfield.

In your opinion, who are the best Italian players at present?

In Italy, the greatest at present are Nesta, Maldini, Buffon and Zambrotta.

Who are your favourites?

Maldini and Nesta,  But if we’re counting players from the past, I would say Franco Baresi.

How will the game finish on Saturday?

Maybe I’m going for too much of a ‘fan’s prediction’, but I’ll say 2-0, with Gilardino being one of the biggest protagonists.