Football-italia
Ventura: ‘Tactics, heart and determination’
Ventura: ‘Tactics, heart and determination’
Giampiero Ventura confirmed Italy “will change something” for their World Cup play-off with Sweden, but “we need tactics, heart and determination.” The first leg ended 1-0 in Solna on Friday and the decider is at San Siro on Monday at 19.45 GMT. Marco Verratti is suspended, while it’s reported he could scrap the 3-5-2 formation […]
Marotta: ‘Juve want Champions League’
Marotta: ‘Juve want Champions League’
Juventus CEO Beppe Marotta discussed investments, Blaise Matuidi, why VAR will “legitimise” their success and that Champions League ambition. The director spoke to Il Giornale newspaper and you can read the rest of his comments here. “Having the Agnelli family at the helm for 94 years gives a sense of belonging. Having an Agnelli as […]
Vrsaljko open to Napoli move
Vrsaljko open to Napoli move
There are reports Sime Vrsaljko has given the all-clear to join Napoli in January, so the club must agree terms with Atletico Madrid. The Croatia international was pin-pointed as an ideal addition to the squad after Faouzi Ghoulam sustained a serious knee injury. According to Il Mattino newspaper, Vrsaljko’s entourage has sent signals that he’d […]
Krafth: ‘Better Darmian than Insigne!’
Krafth: ‘Better Darmian than Insigne!’
Bologna and Sweden full-back Emil Krafth admits he was overjoyed when discovering he’d face Matteo Darmian rather than Lorenzo Insigne. Italy lost the first leg of the World Cup play-off, 1-0 in Solna, with Napoli winger Insigne only coming on for the final 15 minutes in a new central midfield role. “I’ve met Insigne a […]
Tonelli heading for Chievo
Tonelli heading for Chievo
Napoli could send Lorenzo Tonelli to Chievo in January as part of the deal bringing Roberto Inglese to the Stadio San Paolo. Tonelli worked with Maurizio Sarri at Empoli and made the move for €10m in the summer of 2016, but had a lot of injury problems. Curiously, he made just three competitive appearances for […]
Evra ‘won’t rule out Napoli’
Evra ‘won’t rule out Napoli’
Patrice Evra has no intention of retiring after his seven-month ban and, although “it would be complicated,” won’t rule out a move to Napoli. The France international terminated his contract with Olympique Marseille after he was banned to June 30 2018 from UEFA competition. It all arose from an incident in the warm-up for Marseille’s […]
Strama: ‘Ventura can’t play 4-3-3’
Strama: ‘Ventura can’t play 4-3-3’
Andrea Stramaccioni warns Giampiero Ventura cannot be expected to use a 4-3-3 system for Italy and he wouldn’t want Lorenzo Insigne. The Azzurri Coach has come under fire for his 4-2-4 system throughout the group stage and switched to 3-5-2 for the 1-0 World Cup play-off defeat in Sweden last night. Many state that 4-3-3 […]
Hysaj: ‘Right year for Napoli title’
Hysaj: ‘Right year for Napoli title’
Elseid Hysaj warns Napoli Coach Maurizio Sarri that “it wouldn’t be easy” for him to switch to left-back, but “it’s the right year for the Scudetto.” With Faouzi Ghoulam out for at least four months with a knee injury, there are precious few alternatives in the squad and right-back Hysaj has been tested out on […]
Ternana Coach: ‘Sweden Serie C side’
Ternana Coach: ‘Sweden Serie C side’
Ternana Coach Sandro Pocheschi went on a remarkable rant after Italy’s defeat to Sweden, who he claims are “on the level of a third division side.” The 1-0 loss in Solna put Italy on the verge of elimination from the World Cup for the first time since 1958, but can still be turned around at […]
‘Azzurri disaster if…’
‘Azzurri disaster if…’
Paolo Di Canio says it would be a ‘disaster’ for Italian football if the Nazionale fail to qualify for the World Cup. Giampiero Ventura’s team are in danger of missing out on world football’s showpiece event for just the third time in 100 years after a 1-0 defeat to Sweden in last night’s play-off first […]