What's there to be said after Juventus was pipped by Lazio at the last game of the season? Read on for a personal comment from me for a team I so dearly loved, the Bianconero.

Team of 1999/2000
Goalkeepers: Andreas Isaksson, Michelangelo Rampulla, Edwin Van Der Sar.
Defenders: Alessandro Birindelli, Ciro Ferrara, Mark Iuliano, Zoran Mirkovic, Paolo Montero, Gianluca Pessotto, Igor Tudor.
Midfielders: Jonathan Bachini, Antonio Conte, Edgar Davids, Enzo Maresca, Sunday Oliseh, Alessio Tacchinardi, Gianluca Zambrotta, Zinedine Zidane.
Forwards: Alessandro Del Piero, Juan Esnaider, Daniel Fonseca, Filippo Inzaghi, Darko Kovacevic, Marco Rigoni.

Juventus F.C.
Founded: 1897
Honorary President: Umberto Agnelli
President: Vittorio Chiusano
Vice-President: Roberto Bettega
General Manager: Luciano Moggi
Club Secretary: Antonio Giraudo
Coach: Carlo Ancelotti
Medical Advisor: Dr. Agricola
Stadium: Delle Alpi (Capacity: 71,012)
Address: Piazza Crimea, 7-10131 Turin (Tel 0039-11-65631)
Team Strip: Black & white striped shirts, black shorts.

My Say

What a great season it has been. The renewal of Juventus this season has been nothing less than spectacular, taking into consideration last season's misery. The team tried very hard and every player contributed their all to the team. And finishing second after leading the Serie A for so long is still an achievement deserving utmost respect and honour.

Sure, they did not win the Scudetto but certainly it is not due to the lack of trying. Juventus have been gracious losers. The team did not complaint one bit after all that has happened. Every player in the team feels down as for almost the entire season, they fought and played their hearts out. Afterall, Juve has been the most consistent team for a major part of the season. They had the best defence in Italy with the likes of Iuliano, Ferrara, Montero, Tudor and Pessotto.

Although Lazio deserves the title and the congratulations, I can't help but feel they have not been fair to Juventus. When referee De Santis disallowed Fabio Cannavaro's goal against Juventus, perhaps he did made a mistake (although he insisted he saw a foul prior to the goal). But who hasn't made a mistake in his life? Referee's decisions are always final and what's worst have been Lazio incessant claims of foul play and that Juventus was the favourite even among the referees (something fishy?). That was an absolute insult to 100 years of tradition, passion, glory and history. Who are these people to insult Juventus in this way? If Juve had won the Scudetto, certainly 'those' people would have kept hurtling their insults and said that Juve won because the referee was on their side. At Juve, the team accepts the lost graciously. When, during the entire season, had Juve ever complained against others? When the team was being insulted, never once did Juve retaliate. This is the Juventus that I have comed to love and support for almost 10 years. And in my heart, Juve has always been the best, regardless of whether they win the Scudetto or not, for they have shown the character, 'on' and 'off' the pitch, of a TRUE champion. Congratulations to the entire team! Don't feel like you have let the fans down because you hadn't. We shared your joys and we too will share your sorrows. You can hold your heads high, Juventus!

No doubt that the current team has fallen at the very tail-end of the season but never have I doubted that still, this would be the team that will bring the Scudetto back to Turin next season. With the addition of Fabian O'Neill, Juve can only get stronger. And next season, we will win it, fair and square, and those who have always criticized and insulted us shall no longer doubt Juventus.

To Serie A and the Champions League, see you next season!

Latest News
1. New signings
During the close season, Juventus has made a couple of new signings and purchases. The new signings include Michele Paramatti from Bologna, Marco Zanchi (Italy Under-21 International) from Udinese and Fabian O'Neill. Players who had left include young goalkeeper, Morgan De Sanctis (to Udinese) and Juventus also gave up 50% of defender Marco Zamboni to Udinese in exchange for Zanchi. Several other youth players were also bought, including 3 players from Bologna.

2. European Championship 2000 in Holland and Belgium
All seven Juventus players who were called up to the training and preliminary Azzuri (Italy) national team made it to the final squad. National coach Dino Zoff has placed his trust and faith in Ciro Ferrara, Mark Iuliano, Gianluca Pessotto, Antonio Conte, Gianluca Zambrotta, Alessandro Del Piero and Fillipo Inzaghi. Hopefully, they will perform their best and try to bring the Cup back to Italy. Other Juve players who will be playing in the tournament are Edgar Davids and Edwin Van Der Sar (Holland), Zoran Mirkovic and Darko Kovacevic (Yugoslavia), Igor Tudor (Croatia) and Zinedine Zidane (France).