Football-italia
Napoli make first Vrsaljko contact
Napoli make first Vrsaljko contact
Napoli have reportedly initiated contact for Atletico Madrid full-back Sime Vrsaljko. The Partenopei have lost Faouzi Ghoulam to a cruciate ligament injury, and the Croatian international has been touted as a possible replacement. The former Sassuolo defender can play on either the right or the left, and already knows Serie A football. Now Rai is […]
Napoli consider Reina replacements
Napoli consider Reina replacements
Napoli are reportedly considering three goalkeepers to replace Pepe Reina, namely Mattia Perin, Geronimo Rulli and Bernd Leno. The Partenopei ‘keeper is out of contract at the end of the current season, and it appears he will not be offered a renewal. Real Sociedad’s Rulli was a target in the summer when it looked as […]
Agent: ‘Insigne could play up-front…’
Agent: ‘Insigne could play up-front…’
Lorenzo Insigne’s agent admits 3-5-2 “is not very suited to him” but “I think he could adapt to being the second striker” for Italy. The in-form Napoli man is expected to be left out of Giampiero Ventura’s starting line-up for tonight’s play-off first leg with Sweden, causing something of an outcry from fans. “There’s a […]
‘Italy, don’t give up Insigne!’
‘Italy, don’t give up Insigne!’
Pescara boss Zdenek Zeman has urged Italy not to overlook Napoli attacker Lorenzo Insigne for their World Cup playoff against Sweden. Insigne is expected to miss out when Italy take on Sweden in Friday’s first leg, with Ciro Immobile and Andrea Belotti tipped to start up top, but Zeman felt the Azzurri could not afford […]
Zaza, El Shaarawy out of Sweden-Italy
Zaza, El Shaarawy out of Sweden-Italy
Simone Zaza, Stephan El Shaarawy, Danilo D’Ambrosio and Leonardo Spinazzola are officially out of Italy’s World Cup play-off in Sweden. The first leg kicks off on Friday in Stockholm at 19.45 GMT with the decider in Milan on Monday. Although Coach Giampiero Ventura insisted today that Valencia striker Zaza was in the running for a […]
Kalinic, Perisic, Rodriguez on target
Kalinic, Perisic, Rodriguez on target
Nikola Kalinic, Ivan Perisic and Ricardo Rodriguez were on target as Croatia and Switzerland won their World Cup play-off first legs. There were several Serie A and specifically San Siro representatives in action this evening on the road to Russia 2018. Croatia have one foot in the tournament after flattening Greece 4-1 in Zagreb. Milan […]
Rubinho: ‘Szczesny can replace Buffon’
Rubinho: ‘Szczesny can replace Buffon’
Former Juventus goalkeeper Rubinho believes Wojciech Szczesny can replace Gianluigi Buffon next season. The Italy captain plans to retire after the 2018 World Cup, and Szczesny has been bought to inherit the gloves. Rubinho spent four seasons as third-choice ‘keeper in Turin, making two Serie A appearances, and the Brazilian spoke about the current goalkeeping […]
Maggio: ‘Napoli want the Scudetto’
Maggio: ‘Napoli want the Scudetto’
Christian Maggio confirms Napoli are aiming for the Scudetto this season, admitting “there’s no point hiding it”. The Partenopei are top of Serie A after a fine start to the season, but Juventus moved into second place at the weekend after Maurizio Sarri’s men drew with Chievo. “We hope [we can win the Scudetto],” Maggio […]
EDF: ‘Scudetto? We’ll see…’
EDF: ‘Scudetto? We’ll see…’
Eusebio Di Francesco says Roma “have to work hard to be worthy of the Scudetto” but “we’re there, we’re ready”. The Giallorossi finished second under Luciano Spalletti last season, and are currently five points off leaders Napoli with a game in hand. “We have to work hard to be worthy of the Scudetto,” Di Francesco […]
Happy birthday, Del Piero
Happy birthday, Del Piero
Today is the 43rd birthday of Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero, a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006. Born in Conegliano on November 9, 1974 the forward grew up in Saccon in the commune of San Vendemiano. Del Piero’s father, Gino, was an electrician while his mother, Bruna, implored the young Alessandro to play […]