[SERIE A PREVIEW] Juventus started the 2011-12 Serie A season with a new coach, Antonio Conte, and a new stadium andended it having never lost. It begins the 2012-13 season without Conte, suspended for 10 months in the latest game-fixing scandal. But such are the problems of Juve’s rivals that the loss of Conteshould pose […]
italy
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Sweden-Brazil, a farewell in more ways than one?
[INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES] There are 50-odd international friendlies on tap for Wednesday. Here’s a look at some of the big games … SWEDEN-BRAZIL. The Sweden-Brazil match is the farewell to Stockholm’s Rasunda Stadium, where Brazil beat Sweden, 5-2, to win the 1958 World Cup. It could also be thefarewell for embattled Brazil coach Mano Menezes, whose […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Montreal's Di Viao cleared to continue MLS adventure
The Montreal Impact can breathe a sigh of relief. Italian forward Marco Di Vaio was one of six players acquitted Friday of charges stemming from theScommessopoli scandal that resulted in bans for dozens of players. He tweeted in English, “Finally! I’m so happy! Now back with so much enthusiasm to my new adventure with my […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Juve coach Conte banned for 10 months
An Italian soccer tribunal has imposed a 10-month suspension on Juventus head coach Antonio Conte for his involvement in a match-fixing scandal. Conte, who led an undefeated Juventus to the Serie A title in his first season in charge, was accused of failing to report incidents of match-fixing when he was the coach of then […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Chicagoans win in homecomings
[SUMMER OF SOCCER] Michael Bradley returned home and made his U.S. debut for Roma in its 4-0 win over Zaglebie Lubin ofPoland in the first soccer match at Chicago’s Wrigley Field since 1984. Bradley, who made a name for himself as a youth player in the Chicago area, had an assist on the third Roma […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Roma finally seals Bradley deal
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Italian club Roma finally completed the deal for Micheal Bradley, acquiring the U.S. internationalfrom Chievo Verona for $4.6 million and Roma’s half-ownership interest in Romanian Adrian Stoian. The deal comes shortly before the Italian clubheads to the United States to play three games. In Scandinavia, Conor O’Brien and Josh Gatt both scored inweekend […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Nesta joins elite group of former World Cup champs
[MLS TRANSACTIONS] Alessandro Nesta, who played on Italy’s 2006 World Cup team, has signed with the Montreal Impact. The36-year-old Nesta is the sixth former world champion to join an MLS team, though none has played on a team that has advanced past the conference semifinals. Nesta, a four-time Serie ADefender of the Year, played a […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
Spain-Italy — a high-scoring final. Just kidding.
By Paul Gardner For tomorrow’s Euro final in Kiev, we get a reprise — Spain-Italy. We saw them play each other exactly three weeks ago, at the beginning ofthe tournament, and they gave us a cautious, exploratory sort of game that finished 1-1. Two teams that surely sensed the likelihood that this wasn’t for real, […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Mario Balotelli & Philipp Lahm (When they were children)
By Mike Woitalla Here are a few more glimpses into the childhoods of players starring at the 2012 European Championship: ‘Bad boy’ was fragile baby Mario Balotelli (Italy). Life-threatening complications of his intestines required Mario to undergo a series ofoperations after he was born in Palermo, the capital of the Italian island of Sicily, in […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Three Italians in fitness race for semifinal
Midfielder Daniele De Rossi and defenders Giorgio Chiellini and Ignazio Abate are undergoing aggressive treatment for injuries ahead of a EuropeanChampionship clash with Germany on Thursday. ”All three are making progress and we will do everything possible, right down to the last minute, to make them available,” team doctorEnrico Castellacci said Tuesday. De Rossi has […]