GdS: ‘A global challenge’ – Inter vs. Milan a battle involving 19 countries | OneFootball

Inter versus AC Milan has become an increasingly global clash, with players from all corners of the globe representing each side.

La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) talk about ‘a global challenge’ that starts in Milan, flies to Paris, travels around Europe to Yerevan (Armenia), touches the Middle East (Iran) and then descends into Chukwueze’s Africa (Nigeria), to then cross the Atlantic Ocean and roam through the Pampas, climb up to Mexico and to the United States.

The derby between Inter and Milan is no longer a city event, but a worldwide one. In addition to Italy of course, in fact, there are 19 nations represented by the players that will/could take the field tonight, from all over the world.

Colony

There are six Frenchmen: two Inter players and four Rossoneri. On one side there will be Pavard, who is expected to start for the third time in a row, after the return match against Bayern and the Easter match in Bologna.

However, Thuram is still struggling with fatigue in the adductors of his left thigh that already prevented him from participating in the trip to Dall’Ara. As a result, he is not expected to even make the bench.

At Milan, the colony is represented by three internationals from Les Bleus: goalkeeper Maignan, full-back Theo Hernandez and midfielder Fofana, all starters. On the bench, however, the latest Frenchman to arrive at Milanello, Bondo.

Curiously, Thuram was born in Italy (Parma) and also has citizenship of Guadeloupe like his father Lilian, formerly of Parma and Juve, while Maignan has origins in French Guyana, Fofana in Mali and Bondo in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In short, the flags could be even more than the 19 (20 with Italy). After France, England is the most represented country, but only by one team. Milan in fact have four players who could leave a mark on St. George’s Day: Tomori, Walker, Loftus-Cheek and Abraham.

Continents and traditions

As mentioned, the derby is not limited to Europe. Asia, Africa, South, North and Central America are also represented. Inter have an Argentine captain, Lautaro Martinez, heir to a certain Javier Zanetti, a compatriot who wore the captain’s armband the year of the treble.

Today Milan have fewer Dutch players than their cousins, even if the only Rossoneri player – Reijnders – is having his best season yet. Even his Oranje teammates on the other side of the Naviglio, De Vrij and Dumfries, would say so without any problem.

What is missing? Compared to about fifteen years ago, the number of Brazilians has drastically dropped. The times of Julio Cesar, Maicon, Lucio and Co. against Thiago Silva, Pato, Ronaldinho etc. are long gone.

At present, we have to settle for Carlos Augusto and Emerson Royal. Both owners are American, but for now only Milan have two players made in the USA: Musah and Pulisic. Who knows, maybe Inter will add a star-spangled favourite to the list at the next derby.