Former Inter boss Roy Hodgson assesses the UEFA Cup Final

ROY Hodgson feels tonight's all-Italian UEFA Cup final between Lazio and his former club Inter Milan is too close to call.

But the Blackburn Rovers manager points to Brazil's Ronaldo as a possible key to victory for Inter.

Ironically, Lazio are coached by Sven Goran Eriksson, whose U-turn over the Ewood job enabled Rovers to return to Italy for Hodgson - their original choice.

Hodgson will be rooting for Inter with the memory still fresh in his mind of how he and the team were unluckily denied UEFA Cup glory at the end of last season when they were beaten on penalties by German club Schalke 04.

So how does he see the first of the three European finals developing tonight?

"It's 50-50, they both have good individuals up front who can win the game," he said.

"Lazio, in my opinion, have got a better defence but Inter with Ronaldo have probably got THE biggest potential matchwinner.

"I think it can go either way.

"Obviously I am for Inter, because I am still an Inter man and I think they deserve it.

"Last year we were really unlucky, we were better than Schalke in both games and certainly in the home game.

"It was just a pure hazard that we weren't three or four up at the end of the game. "They defended and battled very well and credit to them. But in terms of football we were so much better.

"And, of course, for the first game we were without three of our best players suspended.

"What that means is that, this year, if there's any justice they'll win it."

And Ronaldo is ready to settle an old score with Lazio.

Inter have had the worst of their League meetings with Lazio.

But the 30-goal Brazilian is hungry for more European success after winning the European Cup-Winners' Cup last season for Barcelona.

The 21-year-old warned: "We're ready to win. We've drawn and lost to Lazio in the League this season, but it'll be different in Paris.

"The most important match I've played for Inter is the second leg of the semi-finals against Spartak. But the best of all will be in Paris."

Goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca pointed out that, along with the trophy, a year's work is also at stake at the Parc des Princes.

"If we can beat Lazio and win the Cup, then we can rightly say we've had a great season. We've got to do everything possible - and even the impossible - to make sure we win.

"And if I could choose, I'd rather finish the season fifth from bottom in the League, but win the Cup than finish second in the table and play the Champions' League without having won anything." Lazio, making their first ever appearance in a European final, are looking to win their second trophy in eight days - having crushed AC Milan in the Italian Cup last Wednesday.

Roberto Mancini, their matchwinner against Milan, said: "Anything can happen in a final. League form counts for nothing. There's no justice in a final, and that's where its fascination comes from. I think this one will probably be decided by one flash of genius from one of the many great players on the pitch."

Mancini knows that the prime candidate for that genius will be Ronaldo. "He's certainly one of the best players in the world," he said. "But knowing that will help us keep our concentration going."

Lazio will be counting on Alessandro Nesta to keep a careful watch on Ronaldo once again.

"The secret is not to let him get into his stride," said Nesta. "You've got to get in there first, because once he's on his way, there's no catching him. If we've been able to stop him so far this year, it's also because we've been lucky."

The one curiosity of the final is that although both sides hope to win, neither plans to be around to defend the trophy next season.

Lazio will be in the European Cup-Winners' Cup, while Inter are through to the preliminary round of the European Champions' League.

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