The UEFA Cup has belonged to Italian teams in the '90s, so itwould make sense if the decade closed with an all-Italian final.
Bologna plays Olympique Marseille (France), and Parma playsAtletico Madrid (Spain) in the semifinals today.
Parma is favored, but Bologna is the underdog. Marseille,however, is not overconfident."Since the World Cup, French teams have gotten rid of theirinferiority complex when they take on the Italian sides, but they(Italian teams) have this capability to beat anyone," Marseillesweeper Laurent Blanc said.Defender Patrick Blondeau (knee) could miss the game forMarseille. Marseille's Italian forward Fabrizio Ravanelli, a veteranof many Serie A battles, has a wealth of inside information onBologna."I know the Bologna team nearly as well as I know my wife," hesaid. "You can bet they are going to play their match of the season,maybe of their life."Atletico Madrid will have a difficult time containing forwardsHernan Crespo and Enrico Chiesa, but Parma might have a tough timestopping Jose Mari Romero and Juninho, especially with Italiannational team defender Fabio Cannavaro suspended for the game.SHADES OF 1950: Dan Califf scored in the 11th minute Monday togive the United States a 1-0 victory against England in theAmericans' opener at the FIFA World Youth Championship in Kano,Nigeria.Califf scored off a pass from Francisco Gomez, and Tim Howardmade several big saves. The United States is tied for the Group Elead with Cameroon, which beat Japan 2-1. Humberto Perez,Sun-Times wires
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