Serie A Versus Bundesliga: Why Italian Fans Must Unite Behind Inter

The demise of Italian football has been well documented in recent years.

Of course, it all started with Calciopoli in 2006. Since then, many of Serie A's star players fled for the riches of the Premier League or La Liga. The loss of star players have led to dwindling crowds. In addition, stadia across Italy continue to be neglected when many are in dire need of renewal.

Four years after 2006 there are still major issues in Italian football.

Indeed, come this June Serie A will take another step back as Calciopoli 2 is set to re-open in light of new evidence. For Italian football, things have not improved.

When Inter plays Bayern Munich May 23rd in the Champions League final things could get much worse for Calcio.

Unless Inter wins the final without penalties, Serie A will be relegated to fourth place in UEFA's Coefficient Rankings. This will result in Calcio being allocated three spots for Europe's premier competition and the Bundesliga, the league that will move to third position, will be allocated four spots. This will take effect beginning in the 2011-12 season.

If the Serie A's lose its fourth Champions League spot it would represent the completion of Calcio's fall from grace. No longer would Serie A be able to claim they are the best league in Europe, nor one of top leagues.

Many would argue the downfall of Italian football has been coming for some time.

This is most certainly true.

Calcio has been its own worst enemy. It has been imploding since 2006 and, rather disbelievingly, is set to further implode in just few weeks time.

The internal problems of Italian football have no doubt been a major reason why Italian sides in recent years have failed to perform in Europe. Most notably, as a result of this internal strife, Italian teams have been unable to replenish aging squads with new talent which has left Italian teams less competitive in Europe.

With Italy facing so many problems and with another episode of Calciopoli about to take place, the last thing Italian football needs is to lose its third position in the UEFA Coefficient Rankings.

Such a loss would be a blow to the prestige of Italian football but more importantly, it would be mean financial losses that would present a very serious problem. In a league noted for financial issues in recent times, losing revenue that Champions League representation promises will only make the financial situation worse.

It is estimated that competing in group stages alone amounts to an average of 14 million Euros. This amount increases incrementally the further a team advances with a team possibly earning an estimated 15 million Euros.

With more funds allocated to the Bundesliga it'll be harder for Italian football to regain third spot in the future. For this money will no doubt be invested by German club sides in their own clubs. And this investment will be in the shape of new signings that will make the German sides only stronger.

With Calciopoli 2 set to take place, it's likely Italian teams will be financially weakened over the course of the summer and indeed in the long term as Italian football sets itself up for another major blow to its reputation.

Italian football has so many issues still to deal with.

Meanwhile, German football continues to flourish with its crowd attendances being the highest in Europe along with its clubs being amongst the most financially solvent.

Financial issues aside, it is on the pitch that UEFA’s Coefficient Rankings are ultimately determined. Here also Italian football faces another serious issue when it comes to trying to regain their lost status.

For there's little hope that Italian sides will be able to improve significantly to reclaim third spot in the UEFA Rankings. Because not only would Italian sides need to lift their game, but Germans sides would have to decline for Italy to have an immediate chance of regaining their current status.

Therefore, as you can see, this coming Champions League final is more than just Inter versus Bayern Munich or Mourinho versus Van Gaal. It is the Serie A taking on the Bundesliga. It is Italy versus Germany.

Anyone who considers themself a fan of Serie A, no matter their club allegiance, should unite together behind Inter and Mourinho and hope that they can do the business within 120 minutes of football. 

It is somewhat ironic that the hopes of Italian football rest on Jose Mourinho and his team of foreign stars. For Italy, lets hope they become European Champions.