A sublime free-kick from Andrea Pirlo and a second half strike from Mario Balotelli allowed Italy to kick-off their Confederations Cup campaign on a winning note. The Azzurri opened their campaign and Pirlo won his 100th cap at the legendary Maracanà stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Both the Italians and Mexicans came into the match off the back of two disappointing draws. It was the Italians though who overcame the pressure to perform. They dominated large spells of the game […]
Italy swung by Haiti to play an international friendly for charity and the result was a 2-2 draw against a poor opponent. Enzo Misuraca breaks down the performance and grades some players. It’s the end of the line for an Italian legend, as Massimo Ambrosini will not have his contract renewed with Milan. A casualty of the club’s attempt to get younger, the captain joined the team in 1995 and has played with them ever since, save one season on […]
This week’s issue of ESPN the Magazine in the states has an article examining race, culture, and racism in Serie A. By Wright Thompson, the well-researched story examines different parts of Italy and how changing demographics have led to some of the recent (and historical) ugly incidences in Italian soccer. I think it is unfair that the article does not fully put the issue into a European context, and as a consequence makes Serie A look less racially tolerant than […]
The curtains have been drawn on yet another exciting Serie A season which, of course, makes way for months of transfer talk. Indeed, transfer rumors are something that can excite and turn off people in equal measure. Some of rumors out of the rumor mill seem outlandish while a few and just a handful of them have some amount of substance. But that is the general norm, papers have to be sold, transfer speculation has to be made. How else […]
Sampdoria completed the double over Juventus with an incredible 3-2 win at Marassi with goals from Eder, Lorenzo De Silvestri and Mauro Icardi. Juventus travelled to Genoa to face Sampdoria in their final Serie A fixture of the season with seemingly little to play for on both sides with the Doria safe from relegation and the Bianconeri having successfully retained their title. However there was a motivation for Juve to win this game as Sampdoria won the previous meeting between […]
Juventus missed the chance to set a new record points total as a great solo goal from Victor Ibarbo held the Champions to a 1-1 draw in Turin. Juve had already clinched the Scudetto title last week with a win against Palermo but were now targeting the 91 points record set by Fabio Capello’s Juventus team in the 2005/06 season, despite this title later being stripped from the club during the Calciopoli scandal. Cagliari meanwhile had little to play for […]
Juventus tightened their grip on the Serie A title with a 1-0 victory over an uninspiring AC Milan at the Juventus stadium. A second half penalty converted by Arturo Vidal proved not only to be enough for Juventus but also the only highlight in an uneventful encounter. A match that had promised so much offered so little. After all the controversy that surrounded last year’s meeting between the two sides and with Milan’s fight for Champions League football, the match […]
A brace from midfielder Arturo Vidal gave Juventus a 2-0 victory over Lazio in Rome to move another step closer to a second successive Serie A title for the Bianconeri. Juve came into the game knowing a win would put them 11 points clear at the top of the table while Lazio were looking to keep their slim chances of a Champions League place for next season alive. The home squad welcomed Juventus to the capital’s Stadio Olimpico and also […]
Mauricio Isla was somewhat of a surprise signing by Juventus prior to the 2012-2013 season. His arrival seemed to be welcomed by some, while questioned by others. With the season coming to a close the discussion has arisen about whether or not, Juventus will keep him, sign him outright, or send him back to Udinese. It was early on in the transfer window when Juventus announced the signing of Kwadwo Asamoah and Mauricio Isla from Udinese on a co-ownership deal. […]
Kwadwo Asamoah hasn’t quite been the unstoppable force he was at the very start of the season. The Ghanaian has looked jaded since returning from the six weeks he spent at the African Cup of Nations with Ghana. Primarily bought in during the summer so as to add depth to the Juventus midfield, keeping in mind the club would be battling on three fronts. Asamoah, though, was converted into a wing-back by Antonio Conte. And he took that role like […]
Italy recommence their World Cup qualifying campaign with a trip to the National Stadium in Malta Tuesday evening. Italy are currently top of a tough Group B, one point ahead of Bulgaria and with a game in hand. The Azzurri will be looking for a fourth successive victory in the qualifying campaign. Cesare Prandelli’s men come off the back of an inspiring 2-2 draw against Brazil in Geneva last Thursday evening. A strong second half display enabled the Italians to […]
The international break is upon us and many Juventini are away on international duty. While Juventus will not be in action this weekend, there is always plenty to talk about. Italy and Brazil as well as Pogba The two most storied footballing countries in the world will faced off yesterday. Prandelli has typically used friendlies as an excuse to try as many players as possible, but Andrea Pirlo promises that Italy will take this friendly seriously. The match was once […]
