Recovering Inter seek last success in memorable year (News Feature)

By Alberto Cagliano Dec 13, 2010, 11:07 GMT

Rome - The older fans of Inter Milan still remember it, and the younger ones have seen it recalled in local media as the Nerazzurri gear up for the Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

It is the line-up of the Great Inter that 45 years ago lifted the Intercontinental Cup, a trophy reserved to the winners of continental titles in Europe and South America.

Hoping to follow the wake of Sarti, Burgnich, Facchetti etc., who won the cup in 1964 and 1965, is a team that has struggled in recent months after closing the past season in May with triumphs in the Champions League, the Italian Serie A and the Italian Cup.

The Nerazzurri lost the European Supercup 2-0 to Atletico Madrid in August, and are set to revamp their dismal 2010-11 season when they tackle South Korea's Asian champions of Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma Wednesday in Abu Dhabi.

They enter the tournament at the semi-final stage, while Seongnam sailed past the quarter finals by trouncing 4-1 Al Wahda Sports Club of Abu Dhabi.

Also vying for the final Saturday are semi-finalists TP Mazembe Englebert, of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Brazil's Sport Club Internacional.

The Great Inter, manned also by Bedin, Guarneri, Picchi and Jair in 1964 lifted the cup after beating Argentina's Independiente in a 1-0 a play-off match in Spain, which followed an away loss and a win.

Aggregate scores and away-goal rules were not in vogue in the 1960s, but the following year Inter avoided a third game as they beat the same Independiente 3-0 in Milan and drew 0-0 in Avellaneda.

Corso, Peirò and Mazzola were the scorers of those years and this week will root for Inter along with striking mates Domenghini and Suarez.

The tournament, meanwhile switched to a single-match format in 1980 and after 2004 gradually turned into a mini tournament involving teams from all world federations.

Regardless of the format, Inter president Massimo Moratti made clear that he wants to follow his father Angelo's path and bring back the cup into the club's trophy room.

Probably even keener on lifting the cup is coach Rafael Benitez, who has been almost constantly under fire since taking over from Jose Mourinho in July.

His firing has often seemed imminent as Inter stuttered, but qualified for the from the group phase, in the Champions League and fell 13 points behind Serie A leaders AC Milan - although the Nerazzurri have a game in hand.

'I hear many names going around, but the coach of Inter is myself,' Benitez said last week from Abu Dhabi. 'And if we win the (Club) World Cup I will be here for a long time.'

His prospects seem rosy as most his men are available after a period marked by an incredible list of injuries.

Good news came from star goalkeeper Julio Cesar, who has struggled for weeks with a muscular injury.

'Thanks to God I am fine and I want to play,' the Brazilian international said. 'I think that (Wednesday) I will be available. We all are aware of the chance we have.'

Argentine striker Diego Milito, another long-time absentee, said he feels 'ready and charged' to play next to Cameroon star Samuel Eto'o, who is fit rested thanks to a suspension received in the Serie A on November 21.

Serb midfielder Dejan Stankovic noted that 'it must have been 100 days since we last were all on the (training) pitch.

'We had two consecutive training sessions (in Abu Dhabi) with 22 team-mates. When we can train together, we all want to improve. There is more intensity, commitment and concentration.'

Stankovic and his comrades will need all their best qualities beginning Wednesday to make sure their fans will never forget their names.

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