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Best get better Improved Lazio sharp, ready to defend Serie A title
ROME (AP) -- Lazio knows there may be just one way these days to repeat as Serie A champion: Get better. In its preseason and early cup matches, the Rome club has looked stronger, faster and deeper than its 1999-2000 incarnation, which edged Juventus for the fiercely competitive Italian league soccer title in the final week of the season. It's no accident. Lazio owner Sergio Cragnotti was not about to be lulled into a complacent -- or thrifty -- offseason after the club's first title in 26 years. The Rome squad first acquired Argentina's wily forward Claudio Lopez from Champions League runner-up Valencia for 54 billion lire (US$27 million) at the end of last season. Unsatisfied with just one new Argentine up front, Cragnotti then set a "pre-Figo" transfer record by signing away Hernan Crespo from AC Parma in June for a then-record 110 billion lire (US$55 million) in cash and player value. "We take the best of the best. This is our slogan," Cragnotti said after completing his new one-two punch. "We have built a great squad. We're going to have fun." But on the eve of this weekend's kickoff of the Serie A regular season -- delayed a month by the Olympics -- Lazio is the clear front runner for the title as much for its heart and hustle as its new and improved luster. In fact, both Lopez and Crespo have missed several Champions League and Italian Cup games this past month with thigh injuries. And the second-string front line -- which includes the likes of Chile's Marcelo Salas, Simone Inzaghi and Fabrizio Ravanelli -- has kept the goals coming. On top of that is a star-packed midfield, featuring another Argentine, Juan Sebastian Veron, and Czech Pavel Nedved, a defense anchored by Euro 2000 standout Alessandro Nesta, and newly acquired veteran 'keeper Angelo Peruzzi in the net. Responding to comments that Lazio may be the best professional soccer club in the world, coach Sven Goran Eriksson smiled. "I don't know about that," he said. "We still have a lot to prove." Still, it's an unsettling picture for the other would-be kings of "calcio Italiano," including Juventus, AC Milan, Internazionale and AS Roma, which have all made changes of their own, but have stumbled as the Serie A season nears. Juventus Striker Filippo Inzaghi, about the only bright spot for the Turin squad this fall, sees this season shaping up like last. "We are strong, and Lazio looks very good again," said Inzaghi, who notched a hat trick in Juventus' disappointing 4-4 draw in its Champions League opener earlier this month. "I think these will be the two teams to fight for the title." Much has changed for both squads in the four-plus months since Juventus' controversial win in the next-to-last week of the 1999-2000 season looked to secure the record 26th title for the Turin powerhouse. While Juventus ran out of gas, losing to a mediocre Perugia in the final week, Lazio beat Reggina to claim its first title since 1974. From there, Lazio went on to claim the Italian Cup, the Italian Supercup, and has looked strong in the first round of the Champions League and this season's Italian Cup. Meanwhile, Juventus has looked like it still has yet to recover from its final-week defeat, topped off with its elimination this past weekend from the Italian Cup by Serie A newcomer Brescia. Star striker Alessandro Del Piero has been invisible at best, still suffering apparent psychological effects of his role as goat in Italy's European Championship final loss to France. Even such international superstars as midfielders Zinedine Zidane of France and Dutchman Edgar Davids have yet to fall into form. Perhaps the Turin squad's brightest new hope is French Euro 2000 hero David Trezeguet, signed after scoring the winning goal against Italy. AC Milan Alberto Zaccheroni's squad has been reinforced by the signings of Argentina's Fernando Redondo, and the apparent return to form of Brazil's Leonardo. Still much of the weight will fall on the young shoulders of Ukrainian scoring sensation Andriy Shevchenko, who led Serie A in goals in his first campaign last season. While German veteran Oliver Bierhoff remains a question mark after a poor showing last season and during Euro 2000. Internazionale Already knocked out of the Champions League, and with coach Marcello Lippi's job on the line, the Milan star machine is on the ropes before the opening bell has even sounded. A host of new signings, including Ireland's Robbie Keane and Turkey's Hakun Sukur at forward, and France's Sebastien Frey in goal, have yet to make up for the injuries to mega-stars Ronaldo and Christian Vieri. AS Roma Fabio Capello's crew suffered a humiliating elimination from the Italian Cup this weekend that nearly sparked a riot from the fervent "Romanista" supporters, and required ever-popular captain Francesco Totti to calm the masses. But much of Rome is putting its hopes with Argentina's Gabriel Batistuta, perhaps the biggest Serie A acquisition of the off-season, signed after nine years on Fiorentina's forward line. Roma's other top new addition, Emerson of Brazil, is out of action with a torn knee ligaments until December. Other Clubs Fiorentina, though losing Batistuta, held onto other top stars Rui Costa of Portugal and 'keeper Francesco Toldo. The Florence club will also feature Serie A's first Turkish coach Fatih Terim, who led Galatasaray to last season's UEFA Cup. AC Parma lost Crespo, but acquired Yugoslav forward Savo Milosevic, and midfielders Sergio Conceicao of Portugal and Matias Almeyda of Argentina. Among the newcomers promoted from Serie B, early attention will focus on Napoli, which won two titles with retired legend Diego Maradona, and Brescia, which signed active legend Roberto Baggio.
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