Chiellini: “I didn’t hurt Van Persie”
November 19, 2009
Italian international Giorgio Chiellini denies he hurt Robin van Persie. A challenge by Chiellini led to torn ankle ligaments that will keep the Arsenal man sidelined for several months.
“Some people tried to stir up trouble to distract attention from the performance,” Chiellini said after the friendly match against Sweden (1-0 win) on Wednesday night. “I have never gone into a tackle to hurt anyone in my entire life and Van Persie said the same thing.
“If you look at the footage it’s clear it was not a nasty challenge. I was the first to be upset about Van Persie and hope he’ll recover as soon as possible. I was actually surprised he was injured from that situation,” the Juventus defender said.
Chiellini scored the winner against Sweden. It was his second goal in 27 internationals for Italy.
Paul Haring
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Italy considers vaccinating players for swine flu
September 25, 2009
Italian football officials are considering large-scale vaccinations for players to protect against swine flu.
Italy coach Marcello Lippi told the ANSA news agency Friday that “the possibility of vaccinating all the players on every team is being considered.”
Earlier this month, Italy announced its first swine flu victim was a 51-year-old man with chronic heart problems who died in a Naples hospital.
Italy expects swine flu to peak between December and January, with 1.5 million to 3 million cases. A vaccination campaign beginning Nov. 15 will immunize up to 40 percent of Italy’s 60 million people. The first wave of vaccinations will target 9 million, including health workers. A second wave will begin in February.
Abhimanyu Rajput
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Marchionni makes a return to Italy national squad
August 30, 2009
Winger Marco Marchionni returned from a three-year absence when he was named in the Italy squad on Sunday for World Cup qualifiers in Georgia and at home to Bulgaria.
The Fiorentina player, who switched from Juventus during the close season, picked up his last of three caps in a 1-1 draw with Lithaunia in Euro 2008 qualifying in Sept. 2006.
Otherwise coach Marcello Lippi, whose side top Group Eight, has resisted making major changes for the match in Tbilisi next Saturday and the home meeting with Bulgaria in Turin on Sept. 9.
However, notable absentee’s are midfielder Gennaro Gattuso has been ruled out of both matches after picking up an ankle injury in AC Milan’s 4-0 defeat by Inter Milan on Saturday, while fellow World Cup winner Luca Toni also misses out with a heel injury.
Defender Nicola Legrottaglie returns after being rested for the scoreless friendly draw’s in Switzerland earlier this month and AS Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi is also included despite being suspended for the trip to Georgia.
Young players Federico Marchetti, Claudio Marchisio, Domenico Criscito and Davide Santon have all been retained from the Switzerland game but Genoa defender Salvatore Bocchetti misses out.
Milan captain Massimo Ambrosini and veteran strikers Filippo Inzaghi and Alessandro Del Piero have again been overlooked while Brazilian-born Juventus striker Amauri is still waiting for an Italian passport.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Federico Marchetti (Cagliari)
Defenders: Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Genoa), Fabio Grosso (Olympique Lyon), Nicola Legrottaglie (Juventus), Davide Santon (Inter Milan), Gianluca Zambrotta (AC Milan)
Midfielders: Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Gaetano D’Agostino (Udinese), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Marco Marchionni (Fiorentina), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Simone Pepe (Udinese), Andrea Pirlo (Milan)
Forwards: Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Vicenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Fabio Quagliarella (Napoli), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal)
Abhimanyu Rajput
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Benaglio foils Italian job, as the Azzurri’s draw against the Swiss
August 13, 2009
World Cup holders Italy, who had an embarrassing Confederations Cup display in June, were foiled by Swiss goalkeeper Diego Benaglio in a 0-0 draw with Switzerland at Basel, in Wednesday’s friendly.
Benaglio helped Ottmar Hitzfeld’s team extend their unbeaten run to seven games while captain Fabio Cannavaro made a record-breaking 127th appearance for Italy, overtaking Paolo Maldini.
The keeper made two excellent close-range saves in the 13th minute and, although the world champions scrambled the ball home at the third attempt, the goal was disallowed for a foul.
Two minutes later Benaglio made another fine stop after debutant Claudio Marchisio was sent through by Giuseppe Rossi.
In between, Alberto Gilardino chipped over the bar after another incisive pass by the lively Rossi as Italy, beaten by Brazil and Egypt two months ago in South Africa, took early control.
Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was tested for the first time in the 24th minute when he tipped over Tranquillo Barnetta’s shot.
Both teams had chances in the second half, Barnetta wasting Switzerland’s best effort when he failed to make proper contact with Blaise Nkufo’s pass.
Benaglio again did well to stop an angled effort by Vincenzo Iaquinta, who also shot wide after breaking free of the defence.
The game petered out in the last 20 minutes after both teams made six substitutions.
Abhimanyu Rajput
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Is Cannavaro right about Italy and Serie A needing an overhaul?
June 24, 2009
Italy’s entire soccer infrastructure needs an overhaul, captain Fabio Cannavaro said after the world champions arrived home from their Confederations Cup nightmare.
Elimination in the group stages after defeats to Egypt and Brazil followed a difficult few weeks for Serie A, with AC Milan’s Kaka sold to Real Madrid and other top players threatening to leave the stuttering league.
“We need reconstruction and not just the national team. Let’s start with the infrastructure, the stadiums, but also the youth teams,” the 35-year-old Juventus defender told reporters.
Pundits have said Italy have too many ageing players and that coach Marcello Lippi is wrong to expect them to repeat their 2006 World Cup success in South Africa next year.
Domestically, Serie A clubs are losing out on revenue because, unlike English sides, they do not own their stadiums.
Milan have also said favourable Spanish tax laws make it difficult to compete in the transfer market with La Liga.
No Italian side reached the Champions League quarter-finals last season and few big name players look likely to head to Serie A for next term.
Promoting young Italians such as Inter Milan’s teenage fullback Davide Santon is the obvious answer but Cannavaro warned that the quality was lacking.
“Enough with this story about the oldies, if I really annoy people then my place is up for grabs but Lippi makes the decisions,” added the defender, who equalled Paolo Maldini’s all-time Italy caps record of 126 against Brazil.
“I don’t see any phenomenons around in Italian football. There are no more Tottis, Baggios or Del Pieros. Today it is enough for a defender to be tall, cute, blonde and a dribbler and they think that makes them a good player.”
AS Roma striker Francesco Totti has retired from international football while fellow World Cup winner Alessandro Del Piero, 34, has been overlooked by Lippi for almost a year.
PHOTOS: Italy’s Fabio Cannavaro (R) challenges Brazil’s Luis Fabiano during their Confederations Cup soccer match at the Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria June 21, 2009. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
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Italy, Sweden advance to semi’s at Under-21 Championships
June 24, 2009
Italy finish first at the UEFA Under-21 Championships, following a 2-1 win over Belarus. Hosts Sweden beat Serbia 3-1 to defend their second place.
Belarus momentarily headed for a surprise as Sergey Kislyak put them ahead after 44 minutes against Italy.
But in-form striker Robert Acquafresca levelled from the penalty spot a minute later and went on to score the winning goal with 15 minutes left to play.
The eventful match between Serbia and Sweden had the hosts take a quick 2-0 lead with two goals from Marcus Berg. Gojko Kacar pulled one back for the Serbians in minute 28 but Ola Toivonen restored the gap a minute later.
Things got even worse for Serbia when Nenad Tomovic was sent off in the 45th minute, followed by teammate Nikola Petkovic in the 68th.
In the semi finals, Italy face Germany while Sweden get to meet with Group B winners England.
Written by:
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Brazil take Italy apart at Confed Cup
June 22, 2009
PRETORIA (AFP) – Brazil sliced Italy apart with three goals in a devastating eight-minute spell to send the world champions crashing out of the Confederations Cup on Sunday.
Sevilla striker Luis Fabiano bagged a brace and Liverpool defender Andrea Dossena scored an own goal as Dunga’s flamboyant troops stunned their arch rivals with the triple blow just before the break.
It was the first time Italy has conceded three goals before half-time since 1957.
With the United States recording a shock 3-0 win over Egypt in Rustenberg, Italy missed out on goal difference with Bob Bradley’s men instead unexpectedly going through to the semi-finals with Brazil.
By topping Group B, Brazil avoid Spain and play South Africa on Thursday for a place in the final after the hosts finished runner-up in Group A.
The United States take on the European champions on Wednesday.
It was a lacklustre display by an ageing Italian team that has failed to shine with coach Marcello Lippi sure to face stinging criticism back home where he has been slammed for failing to make better use of his younger players.
An apathetic Italy slumped to a shock 1-0 defeat against Egypt in their last group game and Lippi made four changes to try and reverse the slide.
Out went Fabio Grosso, Gennaro Gattuso, Giuseppe Rossi and Fabio Quagliarella and in came Andrea Dossena, Riccardo Montolivo, Luca Toni and Mauro Camoranesi.
But it made very little difference against a Brazilian team that came out in attacking mode and took full advantage of Italy’s defensive frailties.
They were dangerous from the outset with Italy fortunate not to go behind after six minutes when Ramires hit the angle between the post and the crossbar after being put through by Fabiano.
In was a fast and furious opening period with Italy forced to get men behind the ball as the South Americans surged forward, Maicon and Kaka both having shots blocked and Robinho forcing a save from Gianluigi Buffon.
Italy were being stifled but eventually settled down with a first sniff of goal when Juventus midfielder Camoranesi hit a half-volley narrowly over the bar just before the half hour mark.
But the Brazilian pressure was relentless and Daniele de Rossi almost put the ball in his own goal when he stuck out a foot to meet a Lucio shot and it deflected onto the post.
Buffon was a busy man, forced into a fine save from Lucio seconds later to keep his side alive.
The breakthrough came eight minutes before half-time when Fabiano pounced on a scuffed shot from Maicon to drive the ball beyond Buffon’s reach with the referee waving away appeals for offside.
They doubled their lead six minutes later when Robinho and Kaka combined to feed Fabiano who made no mistake from close range.
With Italy on the ropes, Brazil delivered a knockout punch two minutes later after Robinho broke down the left and delivered a cross with Dossena turning the ball into his own net under pressure.
Italy finally woke up in the second half with substitutes Simone Pepe, Giuseppe Rossi and Alberto Gilardino all getting shots on target as they desperately tried to restore some pride.
Their best chance came when Pepe had a shot blocked with goalkeeper Julio Cesar stranded, but despite last ditch efforts they failed to redeem themselves.
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Quick Report: Italy 0-3 Brazil
June 22, 2009
Italy have failed to secure a spot in the semi finals of the Confederations Cup 2009, suffering a painful 3-0 defeat to group winners Brazil.
Although the Italians did create chances up front, they lacked the precision Brazil did seem to have.
Luis Fabiano scored the Seleçao’s first after 37 minutes and went on to add a second following a low left-winged cross in the 43rd.
And just before half time, Italy were further humiliated as a Robinho pass from the left was directed into his own goal by defender Andrea Dossena.
Written by:
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Under-21: Italy beat Sweden, Belarus and Serbia draw
June 20, 2009
Italy are close to a spot in the semi finals at the UEFA Under-21 Championships, following a 2-1 win over hosts Sweden. Belarus and Serbia drew 0-0.
Mario Balotelli but the Italians ahead after 24 minutes against Sweden, but was sent off 14 minutes later.
Despite the disadvantage of being a man down, Robert Acquafresca went on to make it 2-0 in minute 53. PSV’s Ola Toivonen got one back late on but it wasn’t enough for Sweden to get a point.
In the other Group B game, Belarus and Serbia held each other to a goalless draw that helps neither side.
Ahead of the last games in this group, Italy lead with four points. Sweden have three, Serbia two and Belarus are at the bottom with one point.
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Quick Report: Egypt 1-0 Italy
June 19, 2009
A single goal in the first half allowed Egypt to achieve a huge upset against Italy, beating the world champions 1-0 in their second group game.
Against Brazil, a last-gasp penalty cost Egypt a draw they probably did deserve, but things worked out better against the Italians.
After 40 minutes at a packed stadium in Johannesburg, it was Mohamed Homos to head home from a right-winged corner kick.
Following that goal, Italy did push for the equaliser but a solid Egyptian defense kept the Azzurri away from the goal on most occasions. The chances Italy did create were all masterfully stopped by keeper El Hadary.
Late on, what seemed to be a cross from Iaquinta ended up hitting Egypt’s crossbar.
The result means that an Egyptian win over the United States in their last group match, would mean that the African champions advance to the semi finals if Italy don’t beat Brazil. If Lippi’s men do beat the Brazilians and Egypt win as well, goal records are to decide which two teams qualify.
There was also bad news for the Egyptians, as star player Mohamed Zidan suffered an injury and needed to come off in the first half.
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