THE Eagles of Lazio will soar to even greater heights regardless of how they fare against Inter Milan in tonight's UEFA Cup final in Paris.
The Swede, Sven-Goran Eriksson, has transformed the Roman club since his arrival last summer from Sampdoria.
Beating AC Milan in the Italian Cup final achieved their first success in the tournament for more than two decades, third place in Serie A is all but assured, and victory over their Italian adversaries would confirm that they are again a power to be reckoned with.
For their supporters, starved of success and always overshadowed by their more famous city rivals, AS Roma, there is much to anticipate.
Lazio will be the first Italian club to float on the stock exchange with 20m shares to be sold. With the proceeds there are plans to move from the Olympia Stadium and purchase their own ground. The near-derelict Flaminio Stadium, with a 40,000 capacity, is the preferred option to renovate.
Their president, Sergio Cragnotti, has been the catalyst for the upswing in Lazio's fortunes.
The Chilean striker, Marcelo Salas, once linked with Rangers, has been acquired for #10m from River Plate, and Dejan Stankovic, one of the most gifted youngsters in Europe, will also arrive in the summer from Red Star Belgrade.
Millionaire Cragnotti insisted yesterday: ''At 19, Stankovic has already shown with Red Star Belgrade and Yugoslavia that he has the talent to become of the great players in the game.
''He is the player I believe will take Europe by storm and make Lazio one of the best teams.''
While Inter have spent vast sums by comparison, Eriksson brought in only Roberto Mancini, Alen Boksic and Vladimir Yugovic to take Lazio to their first-ever European final, eliminating the French pair Lyon and Auxerre and Atletico Madrid along the way.
Their achievements are in stark contrast to the scandal in the 80s, when they were forcibly relegated to Serie B for match-rigging involving half of their team.
The present regime is determined to be remembered for all the right reasons and, while Inter are favourites, their fade-out in the Scudetto makes them vulnerable to Lazio's impressive renaissance.
Perhaps the main reason Inter are the fancied side for the final is the fact that they have arguably the world's best striker at the moment in Ronaldo.
The Brazilian can earn his second European trophy in as many years tonight and he is determined to win his first trophy since his controversial move from Barcelona, for whom he scored the winning goal in the Cup- Winners' Cup final last year.
It is also the last game of significance ahead of Brazil's June 10 World Cup opener against Scotland. However, Ronaldo is refusing to look that far ahead.
''Now I have to forget everything and centre on the final,'' he said.
q ALESSANDRO Del Piero is set to end recent speculation surrounding a possible move to England by signing a new #12.5m contract with Juventus.
The structure of the new deal was set out during a weekend meeting between Del Piero's agent and leading club officials.
Del Piero is expected to earn around #2.5m a season for five seasons, with his agent Claudio Pasqualin claiming he is Italy's answer to Ronaldo and should therefore be paid something similar to the Brazilian's wages at Inter Milan.
The deal will be a blow to clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea, and Newcastle, who have all been linked with a move for the Italian international striker.
Del Piero has enjoyed his best ever season with the Italian champions, with his 31 goals a huge factor in sending Juventus towards their third title in four years and also the European Cup final, which will be played against Real Madrid later this month.
The 23-year-old is being tipped by Italy coach Cesare Maldini to be the main player in this summer's World Cup finals, although he has yet to show his true potential in a national shirt.
q NICOLAS Anelka's form in Arsenal's championship-winning season has seen him become one of five English-based players to be named in the 28-man party from which French manager Aime Jacquet will select his final World Cup squad.
Joining the 19-year-old Anelka from the Premiership are Arsenal team-mates Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit, West Ham United goalkeeper Bernard Lama, and Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf.
The mercurial talents of Tottenham's David Ginola have again been overlooked, despite showing scintillating form which helped keep Spurs in the top flight, and a recommendation from head coach Christian Gross.
There is no place in the squad, either, for West Ham's recent signing from the German side Karlsruhe, midfielder Marc Keller.
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