The GOAT still roams - My Italy Trip

Only this time, I went for it!

Disclosure - if you’re going over to Italy to watch some football, it would be remiss not to get as much in as possible, so three games were planned. Sadly, the train strikes scuppered the trip to the picturesque city of Como - where the ground sits on the lake - to take in Cesc Fabregas’s Como 1907 v Lecce and with ticket in hand, the only real disappointment of the trip occurred. 

A trip to Milan wouldn’t be the same without a visit to the iconic San, Siro and what better way than to do it in VIP style. Inter Milan v Genoa it was, and to say Italian football hits differently is an understatement.

It's just quite incredible: the noise, the passion, the incomprehensible size of the Giuseppe Miazza Stadium as it's also known. It was just something else, and Inter know how to put on a show, on and off the pitch.

Stadio Giovanni Zini, the field the GOAT now roams

When you think of Italian football teams, you think of big hulking stadiums like the San Siro from the previous day, yet the home of US Cremonese is the archetypical contrast, for it is a small provincial stadium in a quaint town.

Whilst it pales in comparison to the San Siro, Leicester City's King Power Stadium is at least a couple of notches up from Stadio Giovanni Zini in terms of size. But what the home of US Cremonese does posses, which is hard to come by in this age of modern day stadiums, is the unique character and charm that is so often missing these days.

The walk to the stadium from the train station was interesting. Whilst clad head to toe in black, the AC Milan ultras were being herded by a heavy police presence for the rivalry between the two sides that I was unaware of and surprised about, considering the stereotypical status of each side across the history of the Italian game.

Having been able to source a press pass via the helpful duo of Ivan Ghigi from the local newspaper La Provincia and US Cremonese's Media Officer, Lorenzo Coelli, the walk to find the right entrance yielded some familiar faces from back home, many in Leicester blue, others in the grey and red of US Cremonese.

Acquaintances renewed, it was time to see where the GOAT now roams.

Bittersweet but memories restored

GOAT watch was now in full force as I took to my seat in the main stand of I Grigiorossi (the grey and reds) as they are known. Out trotted the fabled former Leicester #9 amongst his new team-mates, very much at ease in his new surroundings and building up ahead of the match itself.

It wouldn't be long before the familiarity of Jamie Vardy and his style of play was on show, with his new team that had the faint whiff of a Leicester side from the glory days gone by.

Whilst second-best, the home side were up for the battle with their more illustrious opponents, chasing and harrying the likes of Luka Modric and Rafael Leao, frustrating the I Rossoneri (the red and blacks).

The final few seasons of Vardy at Leicester were, for want of a better word, stale - not because of the diminishing powers of the prolific striker, more because of a style change that often left the GOAT visibly frustrated and very much chasing shadows.

Here, as mentioned, there were definite connotations of a former Foxes period-style of soaking up the pressure before hitting teams on the break quickly and efficiently - only for this game, without the success that would ultimately cost them in the final few moments of the match

And Vardy was at the centre of these breaks on the Milan defence with quick bursts of pace, going down the line or making runs that, had the pass been successful, would have had him in on goal.

Of the opportunities US Cremonese did create, two good chances fell the GOAT's way. First, a volley from the edge of the box in the first half went narrowly wide, before a second-half chance was deflected just wide, with the shot very much on target.

And then it was over...

The surprised look gave it away as the #10 on the substitute's board on 66 minutes stood out; the frustration from Jamie was very much evident as his hands slapped his side.

Just like that, it was over once more, as he slowly walked off the pitch. It was arguably game over for me, too, having come to see the main man only. The result... two late goals saw Milan snatch the victory - arguably deserved, but very much made to work by a side punching above its weight.

I don't know if it will be the last time I see the GOAT in action in person, to be honest. If he stays next season, having kept US Cremonese in Serie A, I'd very much go back and see them again; of course to see Vardy in action, but also to see the friendly people of Cremona.

If he goes elsewhere, and who's to say he wouldn't given that he looks very much the fittest 39-year-old in the game, I'd be there, for just one more glimpse of the GOAT. And then one more, and one more... until it's finally all over!

Thank you Jamie, see you soon!