Sorín bidding for supremacy

As Argentina captain, Juan Pablo Sorín fully expects to be lifting the FIFA World Cup in July, so there is no way he will be intimidated by the task of overturning a 2-1 deficit against FC Internazionale Milano in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

'Quality footballers'
However, the Villarreal CF defender accepts that he and his team-mates must not only play well but defeat a side built around a nucleus of clever, experienced Argentinian players, including Javier Zanetti, Esteban Cambiasso, Juan Sebastián Verón and Walter Samuel. Fourteen South Americans started last week's first leg at the San Siro, with four of Sorín's countrymen lining up for Inter and three in the yellow of Villarreal. "It's always good to play against your international colleagues in the Champions League and it's true that Inter are full of high-quality Argentinians," Sorín said.

Aiming high
"But for me, it's not a special game for that reason, rather for the fact we are playing at an advanced level of the most important and exciting club competition in the world," continued the left-back. "I know that in my country the Copa Libertadores may be considered more important, but on a world stage the Champions League is the one. It is important to win against Inter, and not just enjoy being at this stage. It is a pleasure and a privilege for us Villarreal players to be in the quarter-finals, but it cannot be enough for us to reach this round."

'Cup atmosphere'
The 29-year-old anticipates an open, exciting match at El Madrigal, saying: "However the game goes, there will be a real cup-tie atmosphere. We need to be at our best but we also need to be careful because Inter have dangerous players throughout their team. A lot of people regard Italian sides as the most difficult to play against in Europe, because Serie A teams often win or get to the final of this competition. Personally, I don't think you can call Inter a particularly Italian side.

'Attacking football'
"Firstly, they are full of different nationalities and are capable of selecting a team without any Italians [Francesco Toldo was the only one deployed in the first leg]," continued the former S.S. Lazio man. "Secondly, their coach Roberto Mancini loves to play attacking football, so we have to take advantage of whatever space they allow us. I'd say whichever team can keep a cool head will win and get to the semi-finals." Arsenal FC or Juventus - clubs boasting no Argentinian players - await the victors.