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SC Internacional hope that success both at home and abroad will finally earn them what has long been denied them: A place among the most revered clubs of Brazil.

The writing is, quite literally, on the wall of the massive Beira-Rio Stadium in Porto Alegre: “Campeão de Tudo” (“Champions of Everything” ). The storied club from Brazil’s southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul is, indeed, one of the few clubs in the world that can make such a claim, having won every trophy there is for a Brazilian club to win in their 101 year history: The Rio Grande do Sul State title on thirty-nine occasions, the Brazilian League title three times (1975,1976, and 1979), the Brazil Cup in 1992, the Libertadores Cup and the Fifa Club World Cup in 2006, the Recopa Sudamericana in 2007, and the Copa Sudamericana in 2008. Yet, somehow, the Colorados (as club supporters are known) have always noticed a lack of respect, both at home and abroad, for their club, feeling overshadowed by the likes of Flamengo, Vasco da Gama, São Paulo, Corinthians, and even cross-town rivals Grêmio – and they are unhappy about it. The good news for the long-suffering Inter supporters is that, with a bit of good fortune, 2010 could finally place Internacional on the pedestal with the better-known clubs from Rio and São Paulo for good.

Rise to Prominence

Brazil had already won the World Cup on three occasions (1958, 1962, and 1970) before the nation had an official regular season national championship at the club level. Instituted in 1971, the Brazilian Championship (“Campeonato Brasileiro” in Portuguese) was expected to be dominated by the Rio- and São Paulo-based giants, particularly the Pelé-led Santos side that had dominated not only the São Paulo State tournament during the 1960’s, but which had also displayed their superiority at the international level, winning two intercontinental titles and two Libertadores Cups. Yet in the first decade of the Brazilian national championship it was Internacional that dominated, winning three titles in five seasons, including the 1979 title after going undefeated – the only club ever to do so in the thirty-nine year history of the Brazilian league. Central to this success was attacking midfielder Paulo Roberto Falcão, whose departure to AS Roma in 1980 (after the Italians began readmitting foreign players to the league) coincided with Inter’s sudden – and devastating – fall from prominence.

False Hopes

After finishing runners-up to Uruguay’s Nacional in the Libertadores Cup in 1980, o Colorado spent most of the 1980’s and 1990’s languishing mid- to lower-table in the Brazilian Championship, and the club and their supporters soon saw themselves eclipsed by fierce cross-town rivals Grêmio, who won four Brazil Cups (1989, 1994, 1997, and 2001), two Brazilian League titles (1981,1996), two Libertadores Cups (1983, 1985), and one Intercontinental Cup (1983) to Inter’s lone Brazil Cup title in 1992. As if to rub salt into their wounds, Inter were eliminated from the Libertadores yet again, this time in the semifinals after they squandered their 1-0 away win over eventual runners-up Olimpia of Paraguay by losing 3-2 on home ground in the Beira-Rio Stadium, then dropping the eventual penalty shootout. Inter’s rivals throughout Brazil began to refer to the club mockingly as “Interregional”, as the club seemed incapable of succeeding beyond the Rio Grande do Sul State tournament, while arch-rivals Grêmio had enjoyed considerably more success. The Turn of the Millenium seemed to hold little promise for club, particularly as the club narrowly avoided relegation in 1999, when a last-gasp goal by former Brazil captain Dunga provided salvation in the last round, and again in 2002, when the Gauchos picked up three points in a tricky away venue against Paysandu in the final round, again avoiding the drop.

Enter Fernando Carvalho

The Twenty-first Century brought about major changes in the club’s structure. Under new club president Fernando Chagas Carvalho, emphasis was placed on strengthening youth programs, providing benefits (including free entrance to club matches) for club members, and encouraging fiscal responsibility. The results were immediately evident: In 2005, Inter, under Coach Muricy Ramalho, finished runners-up to Corinthians in a controversial campaign in which a match-fixing scandal caused eleven matches to be replayed, which directly benefitted the São Paulo-based club, to Inter’s detriment. Combined with o Colorado’s defeat to eventual champions Boca Juniors in the quarterfinals of South America’s secondary club competition, the Copa Sudamericana, most observers outside the club felt that Inter’s recent history of falling short was set to continue.

2006 would go down as one of the greatest years in the club’s history. The Gaucho club, built on the long-term project projected by the new directors, overcame storied opposition in Nacional of Uruguay, LDU of Ecuador, and Libertad of Paraguay to reach the finals of the Copa Libertadores, where they faced defending champions São Paulo, now under Inter’s former coach Muricy Ramalho. Inter shocked the champions 2-1 in the away leg through two goals by youthful prodigy Rafael Sobis, setting the stage for the emotion-packed return leg in Inter’s Beira-Rio Stadium in Porto Alegre, where o Colorado, playing a man short for the final twenty minutes of the match after midfielder Tinga received a second yellow, held on for a 2-2 draw, securing the title and ending any mention of “Interregional”.

Despite their recent success, however, few outside Brazil, and indeed outside the state of Rio Grande do Sul, considered the club anything but “an upstart”, one that would be easy pickings for UEFA Champions League winners Barcelona in the FIFA Club World Cup. Inter responded, first by defeating Egypt’s Al-Ahly 2-1 in the semifinals, then by upsetting the Catalonians 1-0 in the final through Adriano Gabiru.

2007 and 2008 would prove capstones for SC Internacional, despite the highly publicized departures of stars Rafael Sobis, Fernandão, Alexandre Pato, Luis Adriano, and Ting. The club continued in their winning ways, claiming both the Recopa Sudamericana, played between the Libertadores Cup and Copa Sudamericana winners of the previous year, and the Copa Sudamericana, respectively, completing the cycle of available titles. Still, however, something was lacking; Inter, while considered a very strong team in their own right, still lacked the label of “dynasty”, granted to more-popular clubs like Santos, Flamengo, and Palmeiras.

2010: The Final Chapter

Inter supporters’ dreams of a major title in 2009, the year of the club’s centennial, saw their hopes dashed, as the club failed to respond to the pressure, winning only the Rio Grande do Sul State Tournament. However, 2010 has proved far more promising. Several stars from the 2006 squad – including striker Rafael Sobis, midfielder Tinga, defenders Bolívar and Fabiano Eller, and goalkeeper Renan – have returned to join the base of the 2008 Copa Sudamericana squad, including popular Argentine imports, playmaker Andrés d’Alessandro and stalwart defensive midfielder Pablo Guiñazu. After a slow start under Uruguayan coach Jorge Fossati, which saw the Rio Grande do Sul State title pass to rivals Grêmio, Internacional advanced out the Group Stage in the Libertadores, where they overcame tough opposition in Banfield and Estudiantes of Argentina to advance to the semifinals, where they met São Paulo, their opponents from the Libertadores Finals in 2006, and eliminated the Paulistas on away goals in the to reach the finals again, this time against Mexico’s Chivas of Guadalajara. As Chivas are an invited club in South America’s premier club tournament, o Colorado are guaranteed in the FIFA Club World Cup tournament in December, where the Brazilians are already looking forward to a potential final against another “International” club, Italy’s Internazionale Milano. As Inter are also currently among the leaders of the Brazilian Championship, there are high hopes among the storied club’s faithful that 2010 will finally assure SC Internacional’s place not only among the greatest clubs in Brazil’s, but indeed the world’s, football history – a place long overdue for the supporters of the world’s “other Inter”.

"The goatee really accents my douche glare."

Dyed his goatee that is.  Ahhh!  Gotchya!  Sorry for false alarm people. Jim Rome is not really dead. I know, I'm a jerk and a terrible person for misleading you. But if you're reading this don't act like you didn't wish for a moment that the title was true. Come on now! Deep down inside your twisted soul you were hoping to find out that Jim Rome had been found strangled to death in a horse stable by a disgruntled jockey he had been having an affair with when he found out Jim was only interested in "horseplay." (Disgusting pervert.)  Don't pretend you didn't get a few goosebumps! I bring your attention to this column as it's that time of the month. No. Not that time. One more week until that cycle begins. It's time for the hater of the month and this guy is well overdue.

The Urban Dictionary defines douchebag as two things:

1. An object used for vaginal hygiene.

and. . .

2. A student or instructor from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.

Well, Sir James Solomon Urban, I'd like to add a third definition to your esteemed and legitimately 100% factual dictionary that has been written, edited and glossed over by the most prestigious scholars of our generation. Mr. Jim Rome.

Dear mystical and all knowing YouTube. We beseech your unholy dark magic that you may allow us to see this impassioned soccer hater who is renown for his hatred of soccer in the very act of hating on soccer! Let me chant the forbidden seance in which to summon YouTube. . .“Mecca Lecca High Mecca Hiney Ho.”

*Poof*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg7VReZsM8U

The old 180 degree switch-a-roo! You son of a bitch! You reeled me in for a minute there Jimmy! And just like that you stabbed all of us Capri Sun lovers in the back with a protractor!

"Betrayed by geometric foolishness once again!"

I had a conversation with a friend a while back who told me that Jim was actually interested in soccer and had just interviewed Greg Berhalter of the Los Angeles Galaxy.  After having been been burned before by Jim I remained skeptical yet hopeful of the mans repentant heart.  I did a little research and here is what I dug up. 

 Wednesday, June 23, 2010. 1:41 p.m.

Like any other ordinary day in Canada, Francois DuBois was hunting bears atop his old yet trusty moose, Piedmont Saxony Oglethorpe, when suddenly the ground began to shake beneath him for a staggering 60 whole seconds. Thankfully, moose are not only a noble and brave creature but they are known for their sturdy limbs. Monsieur DuBois would survive.

"What was that all aboot, eh?"

Registering on the Richter scale at an Earth shattering 5.0 magnitude, Ottawa has just experienced one of the smallest and least devastating earthquakes in Canadian history. Meanwhile, halfway around the world in Pretoria, South Africa a different kind of cataclysmic event has just rocked the entire African continent. Canada's much stronger and sexier brother, America, advances off a "Holy shit I can't believe he just scored that goal!" by Landon "I'd do California if it had a vagina" Donovan. Thus, sending out a raucous jubilation throughout the African nations.  (Well, at least the nations that don't hate us.)

Later that day, back in Los Angeles, California we find a nervous and jittery Greg Berhalter in his home with some unwelcome Chechen strongmen holding him at gunpoint gearing up to do an unwanted interview via telephone with soccer nemesis Jim Rome of the imaginatively titled "Jim Rome Show." Very creative name you diabolical bastard.

Sorry, you have to kind of click on the link and listen to the interview Berhalter interview. I know, you hate me. Otherwise none of what I wrote makes any sense. Come to think of it. . .nothing I really write is very coherent.

http://kilt.cbslocal.com/2010/06/23/6232010-usa-advances/#more-6650

Other interviews include English journalist Martin Rogers and comedy legend Chris Rock. I did you people the favor of summarizing the important parts of those interviews.

Martin Rogers: Sorry to make you talk about soccer. [I'm a big pussy.] I know it's not your favorite thing but it's been a fantastic night here in South Africa. [I'm celebrating later with Russian prostitutes and a case of Castle Lager.]

Jim Rome: Yeah. You hit it right on the head. [My penis head that is.] It's not my favorite thing but I have to acknowledge it. [I hate you sponsors.] It really was amazing. [I'm a terrible liar and smell of sarcasm and Jim Brady's Stetson cologne.]

Later in the show. . .

Jim Rome: Are you in anyway caught up with what happened this morning? Do you even know what happened this morning with Team USA? [Because I would assume successful black comedians wouldn't know shit about soccer.]

Chris Rock: Uh, I'm aware of what happened this morning. [But I was high as shit.] That doesn't mean I know. [What the hell are we talking about white boy?] I'm just aware that something good happened. [Right?]

Jim Rome: Good. Good answer. That's what I was hoping you'd say! [Here comes the erection.]

Chris Rock: You're aware of Miley Cyrus but you don't really know her music do you? [Man, I hope that was a good enough analogy for this asshole.]

Jim Rome: [Laughs and proceeds to fondle his erect genitalia as he his fully aroused.] Great point! Exactly. Exactly. [I wasn't sure he heard me say "Exactly" the first time.] Chris Rock joining us on the show. A perfect analogy. [Yes, Plato would be proud.]

End of show.

At this point you probably think I personally hate Jim Rome.  Not true.  I find him to be very pleasant to listen to and his goatee and voice are in no way irritating to me whatsoever.  He has a sense of humor and knowledge of sports that transcends cultures, genres, race and religion.  A true master of his craft. 

A true master of sucking cock that is.  I can't stand Jim Rome.  He's possibly the most annoying jizz stained twat I've ever seen in my life.  The sight of his very face makes me want to break into NORAD and pull the switch that will end all of mankind.  When he speaks it sounds like he's menstruating from his very mouth.  From his rapist looking goatee to his sorry excuse to try and be funny I honestly and truly believe he sucks at life itself. 

And incase you've never seen our fellow D-Wreck radio show here is D's interview with Jim Rome. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBP96VcGAlg

*For the Jim Rome fans out there who are actually reading this I ask that you calm down. Relax. Learn to have a sense of humor and not take this article too serious. I'm in no way bent over shape about someone who has no affect on myself or the game of soccer. We merely try to point out those who hate or make fun of soccer and make light of their complete idiotic rants. Now go run along to your "jungle" so I can have my Capri Sun and orange slices in peace.

"Sweet nectar of Mount Olympus."

Martin O'Neill

It was a foregone conclusion that Martin O’Neill had lost the dressing room. There was no camaraderie amongst the claret and blue and, unless you were a member of the gaffer’s chosen few, you rarely saw the pitch outside of the weekly inter-squad friendly at Bodymoor Heath. O’Neill routinely left players in the dark as to their position in the team rotation and, often times, refused to rotate the squad at all--fielding the same starting 11 whenever capable. Villa defender Curtis Davies recently spoke out about O’Neill’s methods of team selection and squad management:

"A lot of players have been frustrated with not having a fair crack of the whip – me myself, I am one of them".

O’Neill did however find little trouble in informing players that they had become surplus to requirements. Steve Sidwell, Luke Young, Nigel Reo-Coker, Habib Beye and Davies were all told that they were surplus to requirements and free to speak to rival clubs regarding their respective futures. All of this while Villa’s star midfielder James Milner had been less than silent regarding his want to leave Villa Park for the billionaire backed Manchester City. O’Neill routinely fired volley after volley of verbal epithets at City as well as the Villa board regarding the attempted transfer of Milner and refused to support the sale of his squads “most talented player” and out and out refused a £20 Million offer from City for the English International.This sale however would become necessary for O’Neill to even think of strengthening his side for the coming season.

Randy Lerner

In late February of 2010, Aston Villa’s American owner Randy Lerner, who also owns the NFL’s Cleveland Browns, instituted a Sell-to-Buy policy ostensibly hamstringing any attempts O’Neill would have at building the team that he had envisioned. Lerner, one of the few American owners in England that is not widely ridiculed by their team’s own fan base, has often received praised for his ability to keep Villa from entering into the financial minefields that other English football clubs have failed to avoid. Yet all of these ingredients made for a volatile mixture and it came to a head on August 9th when, in the aftermath of a proposed transfer offer of £28 Million as well as the contract for Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland in exchange for the want-away Milner, O’Neill had finally had enough and resigned his position as manager of Aston Villa. Lerner later issued a statement that read:

"As for explaining why Martin left, I can say only that we no longer shared a common view as to how to move forward.”

With kick-off of the 2011 Premier League Season 3 days away this obviously puts Villa in an untenable situation. Aston Villa will attempt to see through the transfer of Milner to City and gain whatever funds possible to assist O’Neill’s successor, Villa reserve team manager Kevin MacDonald will operate the day-to-day duties as caretaker manager all while Lerner is forced to search for a replacement in short order.

Bob Bradley

One of the names that Villa Park has leaked out as being at the top of the list is United States Men’s National Team coach Bob Bradley. Lerner praised Bradley’s work with the U.S. Men’s team in South Africa and rumblings from within the club suggest that Bradley would be far more conducive to Villa’s long term outlook than current managerial favorites Sven Goran-Erikkson and Gareth Southgate. However, one must ask: What positives can Bradley bring to a premier league side that has finished in 6th place the past three seasons? Bradley’s man management skills as U.S. Men’s coach are highly touted and his style of coaching is seen as being highlycompatible with that of the English Game. Everton goalkeeper and U.S.International Tim Howard, when being asked prior to the U.S.’s Tuesday night match against Brazil, said:

“With his style, he’d be accepted by a lot of players,’’ Howard said. “The way things happen with managers in Europe, and certainly England, it’s pretty crazy. But overall, I think he’d be accepted, and that’s the biggest thing, is player acceptance.’’

In terms of style, Bradley has been likened to former Fulham and current Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson in his favoring of reviewing film and instilling a “back to basics” style of play. Using the quality of players that Villa has at its disposal would allow Bradley to craft a side rife with attacking finesse and hardnosed possession. A relationship between Lerner and Bradley could potentially become fruitful and would need to be given the enormous pressure placed upon EPL managers in the current era. There is no room for error for Bradley and, should he be named manager in a timely fashion, he would need to move quickly to strengthen his new squad should Milner vacate Villa Park and funds become available before the close of the summer tansfer window on September 2nd. Preliminary speculation has it that Bradley would make an audacious bid to bring his 22 year old son to England from German side Borussia Mochengladbach where the young American has made a name for himself as a hard-tackling, box to box midfielder. There has also been speculation in the wake of Everton’s David Moyes announcment that, although he would love to purchase him, there are no funds available to move the L.A. Galaxy’s Landon Donovan to his side permanently. Bradley could potentially  make a shock bid for Donovan and bring the 28 year old to the Midlands. Many of these suppositions are mere talk and fancy but they could become far more should Bradley make a motivated bid for the position and Randy Lerner appease the wishes of his board of directors.

Bradley, whose former positions include managing Princeton University’s Men’s Soccer team and the formerly known New York/New Jersey Metrostars (now the New York Red Bulls), would become the first American to manage in the English Premier League. The clock is ticking at Villa Park and it will be interesting to see whether Bob Bradley is given his first shot at European football by a fellow American.

Game: Liverpool vs Arsenal
Venue: Anfield
Date: August 15th 2010
Time: 16.00

Day 2 of the Premier League for the 10/11 season and theres some huge games over the initial 3 days, this one included!

Last season Arsenal has a "better than average" finish, Wenger and his men secured a 3rd place spot, although it's overly apparent that management and fans alike expected way way more... Speculation over Wengers excuses arose at the end of the season and even some players put their foot in it... but lets look forward, not back!

So what about their opponents? Well Liverpool will certainly be looking for a more stable season this year, after their turbulent blunders last season they won't want a repeat that cost them so dearly.

Finishing 7th in the 09/10 they would have preferred to have done better, maybe with the recent change of players will aid them to do just that.

Liverpool will sit in the comfort of their Anfield ground so this should do them a favor..

Lets see!

Other games this week:

Chelsea v West Brom

Tottenham Hotspurs v Manchester City

Manchester United v Newcastle United

Live odds: