Five Milan players have been called up by Italian coach Cesare Prandelli. The Azzurri play a International friendly against Brazil on Thursday and then a World Cup qualifier against Malta five days later. A look at the five Milan players called up: Riccardo Montolivo Montolivo has been a vital cog in the Milan machine that has seen them surge up the Serie A table. He has controlled the midfield and become a central figure in this season’s new look Milan [...]
It was always going to be mission impossible for Celtic. Coming into the Juventus Stadium the Scottish side had to make up for allowing three goals at home against a opponent having allowed only three goals twice since manager Antonio Conte took over. Although Juve walked away with it easily, Celtic fans should be proud theirs was the ridiculous task. Juventus definitely had the better of the chances but that doesn’t mean that Celtic didn’t put the pressure on. Celtic [...]
Italy were pegged back for the second consecutive match as they drew 1-1 with Croatia in their Euro 2012 Group C encounter in Poznan. A vibrant Italy took command of the opening 45 minutes and were rewarded when Andrea Pirlo curled in a free kick, only for Mario Mandzukic to equalise with 20 minutes remaining. The result leaves Italy in a must-win situation against the Republic of Ireland. Italy started brightly, with Mario Balotelli and Claudio Marchisio each having chances [...]
A new look Inter and Roma hit five goals as they went on to win their weekend games against Genoa and Novara, respectively. Roma had five different scorers in their 5-2 victory over Novara while Inter’s Diego Milito claimed a hat-trick in a nine goal thriller to help see of the challenge of Genoa in what was the perfect start for their new manager, Andrea Stramaccioni, who just this past week took over from the sacked Claudio Ranieri. Inter and [...]
A date with destiny for both Chelsea and Napoli, who will do battle at Stamford Bridge for a place in the last eight of the Champions League. In winter 1066 Harold Godwinson was thrust to the forefront and took the throne of Anglo-Saxon England after the death of his predecessor Edward the Confessor. His reign was rather short lived and he died in the Battle of Hastings later that year. Harold earned his place in history after a stunning battle [...]
Unlike Notts County’s kit and Mister, the football term Derby used throughout Italy has largely diverged from its original English etymology. While fans in the Premier League still expect two-footed tackles and rabid commitment when local sides meet, some Italian derbies incur little or in the case of Sunday’s meeting between Fiorentina and Siena, no added enthusiasm. Only 700 Siena fans made the 70km trip across Tuscany for the early kick-off at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, while a portion of [...]
Recently we discussed the importance of deceleration in relation to high performance training and injury prevention. We learned about eccentric strength and the role it plays in reducing momentum. We also made reference to dynamic balance and the importance it plays in maintaining control while performing skillful athletic movements. In this segment we will discuss movement training. Looking at the demands of the sport of soccer, we clearly see the importance movement plays. Movements on and off the ball are [...]
In the last midweek action before the holiday break there was a plethora of goals in Serie A. Napoli hit six past Genoa, Atalanta hit four against Cesena and Inter Milan also notched four this time at home to Lecce. AC Milan ended the year as winter champions after Juventus were held 0-0 away at Udinese. Tuesday 20th December There were two games on Tuesday evening; the first game was Fiorentina away trip to Siena which ended up in a [...]
Many in Italy consider former Azzurri international Roberto as the greatest Italian player of all time. He may have never won the world cup though he did come very close to doing so, nor did he ever win the Champions League or the European Cup as it was called during his time. However, a few days ago the former Inter, AC Milan and Juventus striker, who is now attaining his coaching credentials claimed that Italian football is on the rise [...]
Adequate Provocation in the Heat of Passion is a legal phrase, used in the American court system to mitigate a crime from murder in the first or second degree down to voluntary manslaughter. Why bring this up now, in the context of writing about Napoli? Well, I confess, it’s because I’ve been having homicidal thoughts about some who don the azzurri kit. And when one sketches out a plan involving tricking Salvatore Aronica into getting a shampoo, and then holding [...]
This week’s round of Serie A games wasn’t exactly full of outstanding team performances. Napoli scored four but still managed to concede twice to relegation-threatened Lecce, Juventus and Milan recorded routine victories against struggling opposition and Bologna took three valuable points from Siena. On paper, Fiorentina’s 3-0 win over Roma seems the weekend’s most notable performance, but there was more to this game than met the eye. Both teams were in need of a win. New Viola coach Delio Rossi [...]
Tomorrow’s encounter at the Etihad stadium will prove to be one of Manchester City’s most important in its recent history, needing a win against an already-through Bayern Munich side as winners of Group A. Eyes in Manchester will also been on the Villarreal-Napoli tie where a Napoli win would eliminate the Citizens from the competition; otherwise, their Champions League adventure will be over with the Europa League beckoning. On the previous matchday, Bayern eased past a sinking Villarreal side on [...]
