The number if Italians plying their trade abroad is steadily increasing. Yet despite this, there wasn’t a single Italian named on the Balon ‘dor short list last week. In one way this isn’t entirely surprising given the common disregard Serie A is held in nowadays. Since the hey-day of the last 80′s early 90’s, financial resources of Italian Serie A clubs have decreased significantly. The world’s top players are more likely to play in Spain’s primera for clubs like Real [...]
If you are ever planning a party, don’t invite Uruguay. They famously scuppered Brazil’s World Cup festivities back in 1950. And, on a much more minor scale, they burst the balloons blown up for the match to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Italian unification in Rome. It brought the Azzurri back down to earth after a victory over one of the hosts of next year’s European Nations a few days earlier. In truth, nobody was getting too carried away about [...]
Italy and Uruguay face off in just a few hours, and, providing the two sides don’t resort to the type of defense necessary in a match termed a “friendly”, this one promises a bit of excitement. Think about it: Mario Balotelli and Luis Suarez on the same pitch, facing off against each other. The possibilities for an epic showdown involving biting, kicking, tantrums and possibly a choreographed dance routine featuring ribbons, darts and balloon is immense. Now, if you’ve come [...]
Guest writer/Matthew Coccoluto With international break again upon us, a few European countries will be squaring off in the Euro 2012 playoff rounds. The rest will be using these upcoming friendlies to further prepare for the tournament in June. Cesar Prandelli will be without some key players as they face Poland on Friday and host Uruguay on Tuesday. The big news leading up to the international break was the loss of Giuseppe Rossi and Antonio Cassano for six months. Rossi [...]
Inspired performances by Andrea Pirlo and Antonio Cassano lead Italy to a memorable 3-0 victory over an ordinary Northern Ireland side in Pescara. Qasa Alom reports AC Milan’s Antonio Cassano was warned prior to the match that this would be his last chance in the national set-up after offensive comments to a journalist last week – and FantAntonio really didn’t disappoint with a brilliant brace. However it was his striker partner and this years form player Sebastian Giovinco who started [...]
Gazzetta dello Sport Ranieri in Gazzetta
On Friday, Italy will travel to Belgrade to play Serbia in their penultimate Euro 2012 qualification match. The game comes just under a year since the events in Genoa on 12 October 2010 which saw Serbian hooligans forcing the game to be called off, and leading to harsh punishments being meted out against the Serbian National team. The Italians have come a long way since then and under Cesare Prandelli have secured qualification swiftly - Italy’s best ever performance in [...]
The good news is that Italy, with a 1-0 victory, have secured qualification to the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine next summer. The bad news - it’s not that bad - is that the they haven’t been living up to the hype recently. Italy have been compared with Barcelona an awful lot during Cesare Prandelli’s tenure in charge of the Azzurri, but any viewers tuning in to see a Catalan imitation tonight will have been left feeling unsatisfied, confused [...]
guest writer/Frank Tigani This week the Azzurri recorded a highly impressive victory over reigning World and European Champions Spain. Sure, it may have just been a friendly, however, considering the strength of the two line ups it was clear that neither Cesare Prandelli nor Vicente del Bosque took to the contest lightly. The Azzurri’s triumph in Bari was a statement of intent that this Italian team is back. South Africa is now a long time ago and since then, under [...]
Guest writer - Frank Tigani In a matter of hours the reigning World and European champions, Spain, will take on four time World Cup winners Italy in Bari’s San Nicola stadium. For a match that pits the two latest winners of the world cup, the difference between them could not be greater. After years of underachievement the Spanish national team have been exhibiting a brand of football that is game changing. Similarly, yet not coincidentally, like what Barcelona have done [...]
the question(s) is, will Guiseppe Rossi show up in Italy at a club side this summer or are those feet firmly planted in Spain? will Antonio Cassano find his scoring partner at Milan and in doing so transfer that partnership to the national squad, if yes who will Mister X be? and will Andrea Pirlo find rejuvenation at mighty Juventus during the 2011-2012 season as both club and player look for a renewed respect? Can only wait and see the [...]
The Serie A Weekly crew are very happy to welcome Football-Italia.net writer Susy Campanale to the show. Susy graciously made herself available for this recording while under the weather so big applauds for our guest as she enlightens on the progress of the Italian National football squad under manager Cesare Prandelli. In the second segment Susy, Adam and Kevin discuss Milan success but more to the point the Inter and Juventus shortfall. Podcast Powered By ForzaFutbol.com Standard Podcasts: itunes | [...]
