By Davidde Corran
January 26th 2010 @ 2:08am
Related coverage
Is this the greatest derby in world sports?
On Saturday, La Gazzetta dello Sport declared it the greatest derby in the world and the game hadn’t even happened yet. The pink sport daily had “analysed” all of Europe’s other derbies and decided none had as many titles between them, as big attendances or successful teams as the Derby Della Madonnina.
La Gazzetta’s liberal criteria aside, on Sunday evening spectators and television viewers were treated to an engrossing affair at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium.
In fact, it was a great weekend for Italian calico and it’s followers in general.
On Saturday, ‘Le Elephante’ in Catania continued to turn over a new leaf both on and off the pitch. Almost three years to the day after a policeman was killed outside the Stadio Massimino during the Derby di Sicilia, Catania entertained Parma in front a joyous and nearly full house without a hint of trouble.
Later that day, Claudio Ranieri returned to Juventus with his new club, Roma. It wasn’t the most aesthetic game of football but was nonetheless still entertaining football. 24 hours later and Marco Bresciano’s “Super Palermo” continued their climb in Serie A’s European places.
Then, of course, came the derby so important to ultra Catholic Milan they named it after the Christ’s mother and the latest edition was a corker.
After 90 minutes, two goals, two red cards and one saved penalty Inter Milan were victorious. As the stadium erupted the players celebrated like they had just won the Scudetto (though some in Italy feel they may have).
When interviewed after the final whistle Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar was so tired he couldn’t speak. Once the Brazilian finally sputtered out some words he claimed the title race wasn’t over but few believe him.
As if to further emphasise the point a group of Nerazzurri fans unfurled a banner that read “In Milan there are two great squads. Inter and Inter’s reserves.”
Unfortunately victory wasn’t vindication enough for Jose Mourinho with the Portugese’s post-match comments far from appropriate.
Mourinho implied there was foul play at hand when he said he’d “tasted something strange and smelt a strange odour” during the game.
Adding that, “this is your country, your championship. I will move on sooner or later, and the problem will remain yours.
“I believe we will succeed in winning this title one way or another. Now everyone can shut their mouths. This match was an embarrassment.”
It was negligent from Mourinho.
There are already enough people in Italy who have forgotten about Calciopoli and such accusations shouldn’t be banded about with reckless abandon.
So it’s a shame Mourinho couldn’t show the same kind of gracious restraint and respect his opposite number Leonardo did after the match.
Yet, while disappointing, it won’t overshadow a thoroughly delightful derby. In fact, it just further emphasises how one match summed up Italian football in all its paradoxically frustrating glory.
Ever since Kaiserslauten in 2006 many Australians, be they football fans or otherwise, have held a strong (yet mostly understandable) resentment against Italian football. But for them, more the pity.
Italian football is a flawed beast but even as it flops in Europe, Serie A continues to provide some of the most entertaining football in the world.
Change within “calico”, as always, are still necessary but at the end of the day all you can do is laugh at its flaws. Otherwise the frustration will stop you from enjoying moments like we saw on Sunday night.
Get Australia's best Football opinion emailed daily.
Like this content? Buzz it up!
Free Email updates:
Our daily emails are only sent if there is content for the sport or that author. You can subscribe to multiple daily emails; or get the daily Roar email with all our content in it. We value privacy. More...
(50)
Tifosi said | January 26th 2010 @ 5:05am | Report comment
Mourinho show restraint? HA HA good one !!
Being a Inter fan this was a great result as it gets us closer to another scudetto.
Its no doubt one of the worlds great sporting derby’s, though its not the greatest.
I still have to give that to Rangers v Celtic. They both genuinely hate each other !!!
Daniel King said | January 26th 2010 @ 7:45am | Report comment
You lot have obviously never been to Boston United V Gainsborough Trinity!
Midfielder said | January 26th 2010 @ 7:53am | Report comment
Barca V Real maybe
Davidde Corran said | January 26th 2010 @ 8:01am | Report comment
Arguably it would be if they were from the same city but they aren’t so it isn’t a derby.
Midfielder said | January 26th 2010 @ 7:54am | Report comment
Mariners V Bogan Scum (Newcastle)
macavity said | January 26th 2010 @ 11:44am | Report comment
dont you mean Newcastle v Gypos?
Tinnie said | January 26th 2010 @ 7:56am | Report comment
Great game, Milan unlucky not to score during the 20min onslaught at the start of 2nd half.
Fair chunk of the Brazilian national team were on the pitch during that match, lol
I know a few people who consider this the worlds greatest derby, but i’d probobly go with Celtic/Rangers too. Liverpool/Everton is always big, Boca Jnrs/Riverplate is massive in S.America. The most insane derby that comes to mind is definately Zenit St Petersburg vs Spartak Moscow, truly mindblowing.
Punter said | January 26th 2010 @ 8:01am | Report comment
The 3 biggest derbies in the world;
Inter v AC Milan.
Rangers v Celtic Glasgow
Boca v River Plate Buenos Aires.
While Barca & Real are massive rivals, they are not Derbies as such.
zizou said | January 26th 2010 @ 9:57am | Report comment
Would agree that Boca and River is huge in Buenos Aires. Have been there once when it was on, city pretty much ground to a halt. However, the Flamengo-Fluminense clash in Brazil would have to run it pretty close.
MV Dave said | January 26th 2010 @ 8:59am | Report comment
ManU vs ManC have a tasty little episode of their Derby this week being the LC Semi 2nd leg. Now that City have become mega rich expect this Derby to become one of the biggest, fiercest and most meaningful (in the EPL may become the no 1 Derby in coming years).
BTW Cant wait for the 1st Melbourne Derby later in 2010! Should be full house and a great atmosphere.
Il Duce said | January 26th 2010 @ 9:55am | Report comment
surley if you are looking at derbys involving passion, hatred between players and supporters and the game that everyone looks to all season round the “derby di capitale” between Lazio and Roma has to be up there. I do agree that Milan V inter, Boca V River and Celtic V Rangers are also up the top in this.
Al said | January 26th 2010 @ 6:33pm | Report comment
Lazio vs Roma, the fascists versus the fascist lites. Lazio is a disgusting disgrace of a club.
agga78 said | January 26th 2010 @ 10:06am | Report comment
Celtic vs Rangers is easily the biggest derby in World Sport, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. Catholics and Protestants stop for the game in 3 countries. Maybe other derbies have better quality on the pitch, but in terms of passion and atmosphere nothing beats the old firm. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmWbfkHbt9Q No other football match has such meaning to people outside of the particpating city.
Al said | January 26th 2010 @ 12:28pm | Report comment
I agree. Having been to Ibrox for an old firm derby around five years ago, the atmosphere not just inside the ground but throughout the entire city is intense, you can literally feel the hatred in the air. Rangers lost 2-1ensuring Celtic had wrapped up the title and I wasn’t going to hang around after the final whistle.
Shay said | January 26th 2010 @ 10:09am | Report comment
Six paragraphs until it’s actually revealed what derby is being talked about. And even then it takes a few more to make sure of it. When the word “this” is used in a headline, try explaining what “this” is in the first two pars or you lose half your readers. (Sorry, just a high school Journalism teacher with a bee in his bonnet)
Justin said | January 26th 2010 @ 12:24pm | Report comment
Agree completely.
Davidde Corran said | January 27th 2010 @ 1:03am | Report comment
I’ll refer you to the first paragraph:
“The pink sport daily had “analysed” all of Europe’s other derbies and decided none had as many titles between them, as big attendances or successful teams as the Derby Della Madonnina.”
Thanks for the feedback however.
MV Dave said | January 26th 2010 @ 10:16am | Report comment
All those listed above are no doubt great derbies but there are so many around the world in places such as India, yes India..the Kolkota Derby which draws 100,000 crowds, Tunis, Triploi, Casablanca, Tehran etc. Check out some of the atmosphere from some of these other derbies;
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=833890&page=20
Truly the World Game!
Davidde Corran said | January 27th 2010 @ 1:02am | Report comment
MV Dave, too right. Kolkota, Tehran and Cairo are all on my wish list of derbies I’d like to see in person one day.
Ben of Phnom Penh said | January 26th 2010 @ 10:37am | Report comment
My understanding was that the biggest derby, statistically, is the Galatasaray v Fenerbahçe stoush
MV Dave said | January 26th 2010 @ 12:05pm | Report comment
What do you mean statistically Ben? Having seen footage of some games on Youtube probably as intense atmosphere as any…certainly tough for the away side facing such hostility from the stands!
Ben of Phnom Penh said | January 26th 2010 @ 1:49pm | Report comment
I’m trying to remember, MV, however I recall this topic was brought up before on The Roar by Mike Tuckerman and the Istanbul derby was largest in terms of crowd attendance and some other rating (or something along those lines). There was also talk of how one of our players in days of yore went to the ground 8 hours before the match to find it already three quarters full.
Certainly the Phnom Penh Crown v Naga Corp game doesn’t make the grade, though since the entire league is based in Phnom Penh I guess technically every game is a derby.
David V. said | January 26th 2010 @ 2:05pm | Report comment
Until recently the same could be said for Uruguay or Paraguay. Not to mention Rio de Janeiro.
Ben of Phnom Penh said | January 26th 2010 @ 2:19pm | Report comment
It appears it wasn’t on this forum, MV, so I’ll just have to put it down to too much whiskey at Robbie Burns night last evening. However we have discussed this topic before
http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/02/20/which-is-the-best-derby-in-world-football/
David V. said | January 26th 2010 @ 12:08pm | Report comment
The Midlands derbies, Bristol derby, South Wales derby, even Hartlepool v Darlington, all worth a mention.
The hatred in Forest v Derby and any of the West Midlands derbies is very real and raw.
Al said | January 26th 2010 @ 12:18pm | Report comment
Chesterfield vs Mansfield!
David V. said | January 26th 2010 @ 1:51pm | Report comment
Hibs v Hearts is noteworthy. Contrary to popular misconceptions it is not a sectarian issue- only one of geography. Hibs are based around Leith in Edinburgh’s east, Hearts around Gorgie in the west. The two clubs also have a shared contempt for the Old Firm, who they term “soap dodgers”.
Al said | January 26th 2010 @ 3:36pm | Report comment
Linfield vs Glentoran, always a fair bit of crowd trouble when those two Belfast clubs play each other.
David V. said | January 26th 2010 @ 10:17pm | Report comment
The Irish League once flourished when Belfast Celtic were there too, their withdrawal a body blow for the part-time league.
The Irish League did enjoy spells in the 60s and early 80s when their top clubs could hold their own against more professional European sides. Those days are but a distant memory!
apaway said | January 26th 2010 @ 3:57pm | Report comment
I’m a bit biased, but Sheffield Wednesday vs Sheffield United is a huge derby. they have played each other in the first, second and third tiers of English football. On Boxing Day 1979, a game between them in the old 3rd Division drew 55,000 spectators to Hillsbrough. An FA Cup semi final between the two sold out Wembley Stadium in 1993. It’s not a derby born out of religious affiliation, like the Glasgow derby, just an intense dislike for each other. there’s not even a clear divide in the city as to where supporters live. They just don’t like each other.
Rellum said | January 26th 2010 @ 6:29pm | Report comment
Congrats David for the article. It is good to see people writing positive things about calcio again. Things are slowly turning around for Italian club football. Hopefully there will be more to see and appreciate in the Aussie media than just the EPL.
Roma v Lazio is the most passionate derby in Italy, maybe followed by the Sicilian derby. Derby Della Madonnina is probably the most watched, but I have no proof to back that up
Al said | January 26th 2010 @ 6:30pm | Report comment
Why do the Italians give their derbies such stupid names?
Il Duce said | January 26th 2010 @ 10:18pm | Report comment
Why they stupid names? beacuase they are in another language and dont translate well into another langauge, having been to 2 derby di capitale (the capital derby) when I was living in rome (which thankfully Lazio won both) the atmosphere was intense the whole month leading up to the game and about 50 times more intense inside the stadium, the displays pre game by both sets of supporters where something to behold and chanting all game by both sets was fantastic, I also have never felt so nervous/scared going and leaving a game before but it was certianly something I thoughly enjoyed.
Rellum said | January 27th 2010 @ 9:18am | Report comment
After the world cup and cheering on the Aussies, my next football trip will be to Rome to go to the derby di capitale. Being a Roma fan all my life, I will be hoping for a different outcome
I don’t think naming Derbies after freeways is a great trend for the A-League.
Davidde Corran said | January 27th 2010 @ 12:56am | Report comment
Il Duce, agreed. They are hardly stupid names.
Davidde Corran said | January 27th 2010 @ 1:00am | Report comment
Thanks Rellum. Certainly the Derby Della Madonnina is the most popular. The whole nation basically stopped on Sunday. Right across the country people were tuning in. Even last night there were two TV programs on at the same time dedicated to discussing the game.
Though the “Derby D’Italia” between Inter and Juve often holds even more national interest. Though again, despite the name, it isn’t technically a derby.
jimbo said | January 26th 2010 @ 10:24pm | Report comment
Is Caludio Ranieri any relation to Claudio Ranieri?
Davidde Corran said | January 27th 2010 @ 12:55am | Report comment
Jimbo many thanks for picking that up and it has now been changed. Out of curiosity I googled “Caludio Ranieri” and came up with these:
- Caludio Ranieri admits he’s still bitter about Chelsea exit …
- Caludio Ranieri — Blogs, Pictures, and more on WordPress
- Caludio Ranieri | UCF Journo
- “After putting us through to the quarter finals and Friday’s draw, Caludio Ranieri admitted his tactics were probably wrong, as he started with a 443 which …”
Nice to know I’m not alone in my incompetence…
jimbo said | January 28th 2010 @ 9:05pm | Report comment
Davidde,
not incompetent, just a typo.
Keep up the good work.
Davidde Corran said | January 29th 2010 @ 4:29am | Report comment
Ta!
westy said | January 27th 2010 @ 12:05am | Report comment
i think football has the mantle the big games in say American major league baseball to my knowledge are inter city rather than between two local franchises within a city.. My understanding is the New York Yankees loathe the Boston Red Sox much more than their crosstown rivals the Mets.
westy said | January 27th 2010 @ 12:12am | Report comment
The A league may well derive some genuine traction in developing a derby between Sydney FC and its Sydney rival. Welcome it do not limit it. It is something the FFA must embrace. The new Sydney franchise needs to understand its potential supporter base. It would be a mistake to try and be be all things to all people. . Sydney FC has already tried and failed at this business model.
Towser said | January 27th 2010 @ 9:45am | Report comment
Davidde
By definition Derbys can never be”The greatest in the world”. Quite simply because they are generated locally & its impossible to understand as an outsider the passion generated from two sets of local born fans.
As one born & brought up on the” Steel City Derbys” its a joke to me to proclaim that any other derby throughout the world measures up. Wednesday v United the greatest derby to me. I should imagine the same for AC & Inter Milan fans.
David V. said | January 28th 2010 @ 8:45pm | Report comment
Well said. It’s hard to imagine how much it means to two sets of fans unless you grew up there and/or know the environment around it, or get in the thick of the passion. I cherish great Everton wins over Liverpool – ‘78, ‘84, ‘86 and ‘88 being some of the very best, and in the 90s when we were garbage we could always be up for a game and win derbies. And of course the Cup tie last season, and the Cup tie in ‘91.
Derbies tend to take on significance too when the two teams aren’t doing particularly well- the Sheffield derby in ‘79 was one when the two clubs were in the Third Division and altered the team’s fortunes for the next few years.
I recall the Forest v Derby games from the late 80s were choc full of passion, between the two sets of players- so much that Brian Rice took issue with Ted McMinn being on the ground because he thought McMinn was acting!
Davidde Corran said | January 29th 2010 @ 4:30am | Report comment
That is a great point Towser.
PG said | January 27th 2010 @ 10:37am | Report comment
Agree with McCavity about Newcastle Jets vs the Train Seat Hoggers though
Art Sapphire said | January 28th 2010 @ 10:15pm | Report comment
I watched the Milan Derby earlier this week. Great game. Great Opera. But I don’t think the Milanese fans hate each other enough. Mourinho looked more passionate than most of the crowd.
Roma – Lazio – now thats what you call a derby with intense passion and rivalry. Forza Giallorossa!!
Davidde Corran said | January 29th 2010 @ 4:32am | Report comment
It certainly is a fierce rivalry. Every time I am in Roma and meet a Giallorossa fan, if I don’t declare that I hate and loathe Lazio, I become a second class citizen in their eyes. You can actually see their opinion of you and the way they treat you change. Not for supporting Lazio but for not hating Lazio enough!
NCB619 said | February 5th 2010 @ 12:04pm | Report comment
What the hell is ‘calico’?
CJ Marji said | March 8th 2010 @ 5:59am (6 days ago) | Report comment
Being a Serie A fan for the past 23 years, i haveto say that Inter X Milan is an amazing tie, it is probably the greatest derby in the world. And beign a LAZIO fan for 20 years i shiver just thinkin about Derby Di Capitale…
PS: ROMA MERDA