really should be used to this right now. You know, losing in the most excruciating way possible. It has happened more times than I care to remember and it still stings just as much as the first occasion.
We should be desensitized to last-second losses and self-inflicted calamities but it still hurts at the end of the day.
We did everything but win the game against Atalanta on Sunday. We hit the woodwork four times, heck we even hit the crossbar before hitting the post… before conceding the winner.
We can now officially say that Inter has been afflicted with some kind of hex or hoodoo by Atalanta. I can state confidently that the dark arts are intricately involved.
So instead of closing the gap on Fiorentina and/or Napoli the Nerazzurri find themselves in sixth place after dominating the last 45 minutes of the second half.
It's not the first time nor will it be the last that we snatch defeat from the jaws of victory unfortunately.
Up next is Udinese, which is one of our former bogey teams that we have managed to conquer recently.
Inter took care of business at the Stadio Fruili running out 3-0 winners earlier in the season and I for one would be ecstatic if the boys could duplicate that result once again.
THE VITALS
Date: Thursday, March 27
Time: 3:45 EST
Venue: Giuseppe Meazza
BATTLE DOSSIER
Inter Probable Formation: 3-5-2: Handanovic; Campagnaro, Rolando, Juan Jesus; Jonathan, Guarin, Cambiasso, Hernanes, D'Ambrosio; Palacio, Icardi
Udinese Probable Formation: 3-5-1-1: Scuffet; Heurtaux, Danilo, Domizzi, Widmer; Badu, Pinzi, Pereyra, Gabriel Silva; Fernandes; Di Natale
Operation Bananas and Blow: To recover from the psychological blow at the hands of Atalanta's shock troops and inflict defeat upon the Udine invaders who are banging at the Meazza's gates.
Enemy Of The State: Antonio Di Natale is a consummate professional on and off the field and a guy who I can comfortably root for in every round except two. He is a super nice guy who happens to double as a silent assassin on game day. He's very good at what he does and has been doing it a high level for quite some time now.
Fear Factor: 6: Udinese is as scary as the first time you get back on your bike after crashing it spectacularly on the final turn of the previous race. It's anybody's guess how it will go.
Medal Of Honor: Mauro Icardi scored Inter's only goal of the game on Sunday but he will be remembered most for his inexplicable miss in the dying moments. Here's hoping the kid shows some mental fortitude and bounces back with a top-drawer display.
If Inter Wins: I will enjoy an evening chat with my Belgium buddies Bernardus, Hoegaarden and Duvel.
If Udinese Wins: Then Erick Thohir should take a long look at Francesco Guidolin if he decides to fire Walter Mazzarri in the summer.
Likely Outcome: The Nerazzurri played well last weekend, but missed too many chances and that ended up costing them dearly. That won't happen two matches in a row. The good guys squeak out a 2-1 victory.
