Euro u21 2013 Final : Italy v Spain In a repeat of the Euro 2012 final, Spain take on Italy in the Euro 2013 u21 final in Jerusalem on Tuesday evening. The Spanish will be looking to defend their title while the Azzurrini will be searching for a record 6th u21 title. Following a dogged and brave performance in overcoming Netherlands in the semi-finals the Italians will be faced with an even tougher assignment in the final. While both sides […]
In a UEFA Champions League year defined by large scorelines, this blowout may be the most shocking. Barcelona came out looking flat and was blown out by an in-form Bayern Munich 4-0. The big news pre-game was that Barcelona would start the not 100% Lionel Messi, hoping that the creative forward would weave some magic through the slower Bayern backs. The move backfired spectacularly, as Messi looked tentative throughout the game and rarely tried to advance the ball when he […]
Italy were pegged back for the second consecutive match as they drew 1-1 with Croatia in their Euro 2012 Group C encounter in Poznan. A vibrant Italy took command of the opening 45 minutes and were rewarded when Andrea Pirlo curled in a free kick, only for Mario Mandzukic to equalise with 20 minutes remaining. The result leaves Italy in a must-win situation against the Republic of Ireland. Italy started brightly, with Mario Balotelli and Claudio Marchisio each having chances […]
A date with destiny for both Chelsea and Napoli, who will do battle at Stamford Bridge for a place in the last eight of the Champions League. In winter 1066 Harold Godwinson was thrust to the forefront and took the throne of Anglo-Saxon England after the death of his predecessor Edward the Confessor. His reign was rather short lived and he died in the Battle of Hastings later that year. Harold earned his place in history after a stunning battle […]
Unlike Notts County’s kit and Mister, the football term Derby used throughout Italy has largely diverged from its original English etymology. While fans in the Premier League still expect two-footed tackles and rabid commitment when local sides meet, some Italian derbies incur little or in the case of Sunday’s meeting between Fiorentina and Siena, no added enthusiasm. Only 700 Siena fans made the 70km trip across Tuscany for the early kick-off at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, while a portion of […]
Milan lost the weekend event 0-1 to city rivals Inter and word on the street is Pato ain’t going anywhere soon as owner Silvio Berlusconi has sent the word down he wants two upfront and that means, for the time being, a Ibra-Pato partnership must bloom. Team vice-president Adriano Galliani was quoted on the club’s official website as saying, “We’re still five points ahead of Inter though, and only a point from the top… continuing, It was a game that […]
Recently we discussed the importance of deceleration in relation to high performance training and injury prevention. We learned about eccentric strength and the role it plays in reducing momentum. We also made reference to dynamic balance and the importance it plays in maintaining control while performing skillful athletic movements. In this segment we will discuss movement training. Looking at the demands of the sport of soccer, we clearly see the importance movement plays. Movements on and off the ball are […]
Adequate Provocation in the Heat of Passion is a legal phrase, used in the American court system to mitigate a crime from murder in the first or second degree down to voluntary manslaughter. Why bring this up now, in the context of writing about Napoli? Well, I confess, it’s because I’ve been having homicidal thoughts about some who don the azzurri kit. And when one sketches out a plan involving tricking Salvatore Aronica into getting a shampoo, and then holding […]
Internazionale take on Genoa tomorrow evening looking to gain a crucial win in their quest for European qualification. The match has been rescheduled, after original tie was cancelled due to severe flooding in the region and the tragic loss of several lives. Ranieri wanted to pay his respects to those who lost their lives; he said: “I think a very important thing, more so than the game, is that people don’t forget. It is necessary that those in charge do […]
This week’s round of Serie A games wasn’t exactly full of outstanding team performances. Napoli scored four but still managed to concede twice to relegation-threatened Lecce, Juventus and Milan recorded routine victories against struggling opposition and Bologna took three valuable points from Siena. On paper, Fiorentina’s 3-0 win over Roma seems the weekend’s most notable performance, but there was more to this game than met the eye. Both teams were in need of a win. New Viola coach Delio Rossi […]
Tomorrow’s encounter at the Etihad stadium will prove to be one of Manchester City’s most important in its recent history, needing a win against an already-through Bayern Munich side as winners of Group A. Eyes in Manchester will also been on the Villarreal-Napoli tie where a Napoli win would eliminate the Citizens from the competition; otherwise, their Champions League adventure will be over with the Europa League beckoning. On the previous matchday, Bayern eased past a sinking Villarreal side on […]
Joint leaders atop Italian Serie A going into this weekend, managers Edy Reja and Antonio Conte both knew this was going to be a huge test of their scudetto potential. Juve’s Andrea Pirlo passed a last-minute fitness test to start, and the Olimpico audience welcomed back ex-Roma star Mirko Vucinic just like old derby days. Lazio were missing Stefano Mauri, Libor Kozak, Andre Dias and Francelino Matuzalem, while Djibril Cissè, as Tommasi Rocchi eventual replacement, kept things warm on to […]
