[ITALY SPOTLIGHT] The USA isn’t the only team hobbling. Italy will be without all its big-name strikers for Wednesday’sfriendly in Genoa. American-born Giuseppe Rossi (knee injury) and Antonio Cassano (heart ailments) both face long-termlayoffs. Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli, the bad boy of Italian soccer, is “a little agitated” for Coach CesarePrandelli‘s liking and wasn’t […]
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Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Pirlo and Buffon head Azzurri squad
[ITALY-USA] Seven players from Serie A leader Juventus — including World Cup 2006 champions Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Pirlo — head the 23-player squad Italy coach Cesar Prandelli named for Wednesday’s friendly against the USA in Genoa(TV: 2:45 pm ET, ESPN, ESPN3.com, Galavision). DEFENDERS: Ignazio Abate (AC Milan), Davide Astori (Cagliari), Federico Balzaretti (Palermo), AndreaBarzagli […]
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Klinsmann sets roster for Italy clash
[USA MEN] Coach Jurgen Klinsmann has called in a 21-man roster with 17 foreign-based and four MLS players for the USA’s friendly against Italyin Genoa on Feb. 29 (TV: 2:45 pm ET, ESPN, ESPN3.com, Galavision). The MLS contingent is comprised of attackers Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle, defenderGeoff Cameron, and goalkeeper Nick Rimando. Mexico-based midfielder […]
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Did Villas-Boas commit 'career suicide'?
[WORLD VIEW] It was not a good day for two of European soccer’s richest clubs in the UEFA Champions League. Chelsea blew a 1-0 lead at Napoli and lost, 3-1,adding to the woes of its embattled manager, Portuguese Andre Villas-Boas. Real Madrid missed several golden chances in the second half and had to settle for […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Another hat trick by Cristiano Ronaldo
[GOLEADORES] Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo scored his sixth hat trick in 22 games and upped his La Liga-leading total to 27 goals. … Forleading scorer updates in Europe’s major leagues and video of Ronaldo’s brilliant third goal in the 4-2 win over Levante that stretched Real’s lead over Barcelonato 10 points … Spain La Liga […]
Posted inSoccer on TV, Story
Soccer on TV
Michael Bradley is in action on Thursday as Chievo Verona travels to Novara in Italy’s Serie A. Jonathan Bornstein‘sTigres hosts Union Espanola of Chile in the Copa Libertadores. (All times Eastern unless noted. TV programming is always subject to change. Check yourlocal listings.) THURSDAY, February 2 FOX SOCCER Italy NOVARA-CHIEVO (live) 2:30 pm. FOXDEPORTES Copa […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Inter Milan's Milito regains his touch
A month after being awarded the 2011 Bidone d’Oro (the Golden Dustbin) handed out to Italian soccer’s worst performer by Radio Rai 2, Diego Milito hasregained his touch. The Argentine scored to give Inter Milan a 1-0 win over AC Milan in their derby match that moved the Nerazzurri into fifth place, just six points […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Donadoni isn't looking over his shoulder
Parma coach Roberto Donadoni isn’t worried about relegation, despite his new team’s winless streak that was extended to six games when it lost to InterMilan. The loss left Parma in 15th place, seven points ahead of the relegation zone, and prompted the decision to fire Franco Colomba, the 11thcoaching casualty of the season. “This is […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Jones sent off in Schalke cup loss
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Jermaine Jones was sent off in defending champion Schalke 04’s 3-1 loss at Borussia Moenchengladbachin the round of 16 of the German Cup. Jones was sent off in stoppage time after picking up his second yellow card to leave Schalke with nineplayers. Top scorer Klaas-Jan Huntelaar went off in the first minute of […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Italian Serie A coaching casualties
[MAKING A LIST] Italian clubs don’t mess around. Nine Serie A coaches have been fired or resigned under pressure since August. Devis Mangia‘s firing at Palermo on Monday came only three months after it dumped Stefano Pioli without coaching a single league match. Like Palermo, Cagliari is on its third coach of the 2011-12 season, […]