July 23 2011: Lazio-Slavia Prague 3-3, Friendly
- Dag Jenkins
- 3 days ago
- 7 min read
Defensive errors but good fighting spirit
A heavy legged Lazio come back to clinch draw before leaving mountain training camp
Also on this day:
The season so far
Lazio had narrowly missed out on Champions League the previous season with 5th place.
This year Edy Reja had been confirmed but there had been a few changes to the squad.
The main novelty was in goal, as Lazio had bought Federico Marchetti from Cagliari while Fernando Muslera went to Galatasaray, in Turkey. The other main new arrivals were defenders Abdoulay Konko (Genoa) and Lorik Cana (Galatasaray), midfielder Senad Lulic (Young Boys, a name to watch out for… Lulic that is), forwards Djibril Cissé (Panathinaikos) and above all Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich).
The other main player leaving was defender Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus) while others were midfielders Pasquale Foggia (Sampdoria - on loan with clause to buy), Christian Manfredini (end of Contract -Sambonifacese) plus forwards Sergio Floccari (Parma - on loan with clause to buy) and Mauro Zarate (Inter - on loan with clause to buy).
Lazio had started their pre-season training camp on July 7. The Biancocelesti had played four friendlies so far; Auronzo 16-0, Union Ripa 8-0, Pievigina 8-0 and Lucerne 5-1. Today was a step up in the quality of opposition. It was also the last friendly of this training stage as Lazio would then leave Auronzo.
The Serie A was supposed to start on August 28 but had been delayed until September 9 because of collective contractual television issues. Lazio had been scheduled to play Chievo at home but would now play Milan away on the 9th (and Chievo on December 21). In Coppa Italia Lazio would not play until January.
Slavia Prague like Lazio are a multi-sports club with Ice hockey, Futsal and Rugby Union sections. Football is obviously their most prestigious branch. By 2011 the "Sešívaní" had won 14 Czechoslovakian league titles, 3 Czech Republic league titles, 4 Czechoslovakian Cups, 3 Czech Republic Cups, 7 Intertoto Cups and 1 Central European Cup (1938). In 1975-76 they reached the UEFA Cup semi-final.
The previous season they had only finished 9th in the league and had reached the semifinals of the domestic cup. The manager was Michal Petrouš.
Petrouš was still in charge this season. The Czechs domestic league would start in six days time on July 29 so they were almost match fit. The Czech's main stars were defender David Hubáček, midfielder Lukáš Jarolím plus forwards Zbynĕk Pospěch and Stanislav Vlček.
The match: Saturday, July 22, 2011, Stadio Rodolfo Zandegiacomo, Auronzo di Cadore
A sunny day in the mountains for Lazio's farewell friendly in Auronzo.
The Biancocelesti were without Stefano Mauri who had a muscular problem and Miro Klose who had a stiff neck.
The Czechs immediately showed their superior fitness levels and also helped by Lazio defensive errors went two nil up.
In the 18th minute Javier Garrido hesitated and Lukas Jarolim took advantage and beat Federico Marchetti. In the 29th minute a misunderstanding between Marchetti and Giuseppe Biava allowed Zoran Milutinovic to double the score. Lazio 0 Slavia 2.
Lazio were apathetic and slow and created very little in the first half.
During the break Edy Reja decided to change the whole team while "Sešivaní" continued with their original line-up for the time being.
Lazio's so called reserves looked sharper and more interested. In the 58th minute Sergio Floccari pulled a goal back after a Pasquale Foggia cross. Lazio 1 Slavia 2.
Meanwhile the Czechs had made their first change in the 54th minute bringing on Stanislav Vlcek for Milutinovic. They would only make three more substitutions including one in the last minutes.
In the 64th minute Lazio earned a penalty which Simone Del Nero put away to level the score. Lazio 2 Slavia 2.
Another defensive blunder however gave Slavia the lead back after only a minute. It was Jarolim again who scored for his brace. Lazio 2 Slavia 3.
Lazio were reluctant to lose their last friendly in Veneto and equalised in the 70th minute. It was Floccari again as the Calabrian forward pounced again to improve his credentials as a reliable back up for Miro Klose and Djibril Cissé. Lazio 3 Slavia 3.
Both sides seemed content with the draw and for Lazio more changes followed as substitutes were replaced by other substitutes. Final score 3-3.
A decent kick around for Lazio who despite only ten days of training in their legs and some defensive errors had fought back twice to remain undefeated.
With more than a month to their first competitive game there was no need for excessive analysis of these type of games
Who played for Lazio
Marchetti (46' Bizzarri), Zauri (46' Cavanda), Biava (46' Diakité, 76' Stendardo), Dias (46' Stankevicius), Garrido (46' Scaloni), Brocchi (46' Cana), Ledesma (46' Matuzalém), Zárate (46' Rocchi), Hernanes (46' Del Nero, 81' Ceccarelli), Sculli (46' Foggia), Cissé (46' Floccari, 81' Kozak)
Manager: Reja
Who played for Slavia Prague
Čontofalský, Dostal, Kaufman, Hubacek, Trubila, Proseko, (65' Hurka, 90' Vyhnal), Jarolim, Petrak, Milutinovic (54' Vicek), Kores (62' Voracek), Pospech
Substitutes: Hanus, Vondracek, Simecek, Zakostelsky
Manager: Petrouš
Referee: Merlino
Goals: 17' Jarolim, 29' Milutinovic, 58' Floccari, 64' Del Nero (pen), 65' Jarolim, 70' Floccari
What happened next
Lazio finished 4th in Serie A but missed out on Champions League again to Udinese. Lazio qualified for the Europa League after 18 wins, 8 draws and 12 defeats. The highlight was winning both derbies 2-1. Top scorer was Miro Klose with 15 goals (12 in A).
Serie A was won by Juventus for their 28th title while Lecce, Novara and Cesena were relegated.
In Coppa Italia the Biancocelesti defeated Verona 3-2 at home in the last 16 but then lost 1-3 away to Milan in the quarter finals. The eventual winners were Napoli who defeated Juventus 2-0.
In the Europa League Lazio reached the round of 32 but lost 1-4 on aggregate to Atlético Madrid. Lazio had previously defeated Polish club Rabotnički 9-1 on aggregate in the playoffs to qualify to the group stage. They had then won 2 (Zurich 1-0 and Sporting Lisbon 2-0 at home), drawn 3 (Vaslui 2-2 at home and 0-0 away and Zurich 1-1 away) and lost 1 (Sporting Lisbon 1-2 away) but then in the next round the Colchoneros proved too good. The cup was then actually won by Atlético Madrid who defeated Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in Bucharest.
Slavia Prague finished 12th in the Gambrinus Liga. The manager Petrouš was replaced by František Straka on October 3 and then on March 8 Martin Poustka took over. In the domestic cup they went out in the 3rd round. Top scorer was Zbynĕk Pospěch with 7 goals (6 in league). Not a great season for the Czechs.
The Czech league was won by Slovan Liberec for their 3rd title.
Since 2011 Slavia Prague have won the league four more times (2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021) and the domestic cup another four times too (2018, 2019, 2021 and 2023).
Let’s talk about: Tommaso Ceccarelli
Tommaso Ceccarelli was born in Rome on June 2, 1992.
In 2009-10 and 2010-11 he played for Lazio U19s.
On March 19, 2011 he was called up for the Lazio vs Cesena Serie A game but remained an unused substitute.
In the summer of 2011 he took part in the pre-season training camp and played a few friendlies, under manager Edy Reja.
In January 2012 he was loaned to Juve Stabia (Castellammare di Stabia-Naples) in Serie B. The Gialloblù had Piero Braglia as manager and finished 9th. Ceccarelli played 2 league games.
He then returned to Lazio but was loaned to Lanciano in Serie B for the 2012-13 season. The Rossoneri finished 18th under Carmine Gautieri and Ceccarelli played 3 league games.
In the summer of 2013 he joined FeralpiSalò in a joint ownership deal. The "Leoni del Garda" were in Lega Pro Prima Divisione (3rd tier) and finished 8th unded Giuseppe Scienza.
In 2014 he was definitely sold by Lazio, to L'Aquila in Lega Pro. The "Valorosa" finished 7th under Giovanni Pagliari and then Nunzio Zavettieri. Ceccarelli played 15 league games with 2 goals. His teammates included former Lazio, Riccardo Perpetuini and Claudio De Sousa.
He then stayed on another season in L'Aquila and the Rossoblu finished 16th and relegated (after playouts). The managers were former Lazio player Carlo Perrone, Giacomo Modica then Perrone again. Ceccarelli played 18 league games with 2 goals plus 2 games in Coppa Italia.
In 2016-17 he briefly played for Lupa Roma in the Lega Pro. Ceccarelli played 5 league games under Davide Di Michele before leaving for Prato. The Romans ended up relegated.
At Prato in Serie C he played a total of 48 league games and scored 12 goals but the Biancazzurri were relegated in 2017-18 under Pasquale Catalano.
Ceccarelli's next club were Monza in Serie C in 2018-19. The Brianzoli finished 5th, first under Marco Zaffaroni and then former Lazio player Christian Brocchi. Ceccarelli played 33 league games with 5 goals.
Ceccarelli then returned to FeralpiSalò for two seasons. The Lombards were in Serie C and finished 6th and 5th. He played 61 league games with 11 goals. His managers were Damiano Zenoni and Stefano Sottili in his first season and Massimo Pavanel in his second.
In 2021-22 he joined Catania in Serie C but only until January. Ceccarelli played 11 league games and 2 in the C Coppa Italia. Towards the end of the season the Etnei were declared bankrupt. The "Elefanti" were then allowed to restart from Serie D the following season.
Ceccarelli had joined Juve Stabia (Castellammare di Stabia-Naples) in Serie C. He played 13 league games and scored 2 goals and the "Vespe" (Wasps) finished 10th under Stefano Sottili and then Walter Novellino. His teammates included former Lazio, Felice Evacuo.
In 2022-23 he started at Avellino in Serie C and played 8 league games under Massimo Rastelli but in January joined Picerno (Potenza) on loan in Serie C. The Rossoblù finished 6th under Emilio Longo and Ceccarelli played 17 league games and scored 3 goals
In 2023-24 he continued with Picerno and the "Leonessa" finished 6th again under Longo. Ceccarelli played 20 league games with 2 goals.
In 2024-25 he played for Chieti in Serie D. The manager was Daniele Amaolo and the Neroverdi finished fourth. Ceccarelli played 31 league games and scored 9 goals.
Ceccarelli is a winger or attacking midfielder. He is 1.78 and 70 kilos and was considered a promising player in his youth and played 4 games for the Italy U17s. He has had a decent career mainly in the 3rd tier and scored 53 league goals.
At Lazio he scored 47 goals in two and a half years for the Primavera, trained with the first team but never made his debut.
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