"Resolve"

Thats a word you would not normally associate with what won a football match, although always a key ingredient. But Inter prevailed over Chelsea last night (no pun intended ;-)) because their center backs - the World Cup winner Lucio and the Argentine, Walter Samuel - stopped whatever was thrown their way.

Watched the first-half this morning, and was glad to see a number of great blocks, tackles and slides that protected the Inter keeper. Even as the half wound down, Julio Caesar collected a nice easy goalward lob; with Lucio holding off Drogba from harassing the goalie. Good stuff to watch!!

When an Italian squad goes to London and comes away with that most honest of all scorelines - 1-0 - I dare to think that the world as I like it maybe down but not definitely out.

Ancelloti coaching Chelsea, Capello with the England top job, Mourinho in Italy, Brazilian-Argentine center back pairing at Inter, the Cameroonian Etoo hurting the London club in Catalan colors and now in the Inter away strip: Free trade, baby; Free trade!!