Marchisio: Italy will overcome off-field drama

Italy midfielder Claudio Marchisio is adamant the recent match-fixing allegations will not affect his side during Euro 2012.

Italian football has been rocked by reports of match-fixing in recent months, just six years after the Calciopoli scandal ended and numerous clubs received punishments, including Juventus being stripped of two Serie A titles and relegated to Serie B.

Marchisio, who plays for Juventus, admitted Italy’s squad for Euro 2012 had been talking about the ongoing scandal, but said it would not distract them from the European Championships, which start on Saturday.

“It was impossible not to talk about the match-fixing scandal,” Marchisio said.

“It was on every newspaper, so we talked about the matter and what annoys us in particular is that it is not the whole football world that is portrayed by the scandal.

“We’ll wait for the sentences and it’s fair that those who committed the crimes will pay for that.

“The only thing we can do is wait and trust that justice will give them stiff sentences, so that it will be harder to have the same situation again in Italian football.

“Aside from this, we are all great professionals and we all want to play an excellent European Championship.”

Marchisio also urged calm following the 3-0 friendly defeat to Russia, which was Italy’s only warm-up match before Euro 2012 starts in Poland and Ukraine.

“We obviously analysed the game and there were positives aspects,” Marchisio said.

“After two great years and with our excellent qualifying campaigns, such a defeat right before the beginning of the cup needs to be analysed carefully.

“But we need to remain calm, because we are strong, we are a close-knit group, and we know what needs to be improved and we also know what we have to do in order to achieve that.”

Reports have suggested Italy coach Cesare Prandelli will play a three-man defence at Euro 2012.

Marchisio said the players would handle whatever tactics Prandelli chooses.

“Some players are used to playing with a three-man defence and five in the midfield and others have never played with such a system,” the 26-year-old midfielder said.

“But it’s up to the coach to make that decision and the team will have to follow him in any decision he makes.”

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/marchisio-italy-will-overcome-off-field-drama/95878/

DC United v Juventus Friendly, Washington DC, Jul 28 2012 – Tickets Available Now!

D.C. United and Juventus, the Italian Serie A champion have confirmed their match at RFK Stadium on July 28 at 6 p.m. The match, to football fans delight is finally official.

The Turin-based team clinched its 28th Serie A title two weeks ago and recorded the first undefeated season (23-0-15) in the country’s top division since AC Milan in 1992. The club scored 68 goals and conceded just 20. This weekend it will seek the Italian Cup title against Napoli.

The squad included three of the greatest players of this Italian generation: goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, midfielder Andrea Pirlo and forward Alessandro Del Piero, 37, who isn’t expected to return after 19 years in Turin. Juventus forward Mirko Vucinic and United midfielder Branko Boskovic are teammates on Monte¬negro’s national team.

Juventus, heading into the regular season finale Saturday against Atalanta, is planning to play two or three matches on the North American tour. Other cities under consideration include Montreal and Las Vegas.

Juventus is also planning to play Real Madrid in Las Vegas and Paris Saint-Germain in Montreal on July 31 and Real Madrid in Las Vegas on Aug. 5.

Tickets, scheduled to go on sale next Monday, will cost $35 to $65 before service charges.

D.C. United is an American professional soccer (association football) club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer (MLS). It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.

Over the club’s history, D.C. United has been considered to be the flagship franchise of MLS, having won 12 international and domestic titles. Domestically, United has been one of the most successful MLS clubs. United has won the U.S. Open Cup twice, and holds an MLS record for most MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shields apiece, winning each honor four times. United was the also the first club to win both the MLS Cup and MLS Supporters’ Shield consecutively.

Juventus Football Club commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve are a professional Italian football club based in Turin, Piedmont. The club is the third oldest of its kind in the country.

Juventus are historically the most successful club in Italian football and one of the most laureated and important globally. Overall, they have won fifty-two official titles on the national and international stage, more than any other Italian club: a record twenty-eight league titles, a record nine Italian cups and four national super cups and, with eleven titles in confederation and inter-confederation competitions (two Intercontinental Cups, two European Champion Clubs’ Cup/UEFA Champions Leagues, one European Cup Winners’ Cup, a record three UEFA Cups, one UEFA Intertoto Cup and two UEFA Super Cups) the club currently ranks fourth in Europe and seventh in the world with the most trophies won.

What: D.C. United vs Juventus
Where: RFK Stadium, Washington,DC
When: July 28, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. EST
Tickets: Available at TicketCenter.com

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/dc-united-v-juventus-friendly-washington-dc-jul-28-2012-tickets-available-now/95868/

Olic ruled out of Euro 2012

Croatia striker Ivica Olic has been ruled out of Euro 2012 with a thigh injury, the country’s football federation has announced.

Croatia coach Slaven Bilic had been sweating over the fitness of the Bayern Munich striker since he sustained a thigh injury in the 1-1 friendly draw against Norway at the weekend.

A scan has revealed a partial rupture of the biceps muscle of the 32-year-old’s right thigh, with an estimated recovery of four to six weeks.

Bilic has acted quickly to replace Olic, calling Dnipro’s 24-year-old striker Nikola Kalinic, who has 13 caps to his name, into the squad.

Croatia will kick off their Euro campaign against Republic of Ireland before taking on Italy and Spain.

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/olic-ruled-out-of-euro-2012/95843/

Trapattoni salutes Hungarian greats

Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has expressed his admiration for Hungarian football culture and history.

Speaking to the Irish Times ahead of his side’s friendly international with Hungary in Budapest on Monday, Trapattoni compared Hungary’s former football prowess to Europe’s modern elite.

“Honved and Hungary were great teams with so many great players,” Trapattoni said. “They were a fantastic side, like Barcelona now.”

“I played against them, also Florian Albert, who was a member of the second great Hungary team. I knew them later too because many defected to Spain after the Russians invaded.”

The 73-year-old also warned that the current Hungarian side should not be underestimated in the slightest bit.

“The Hungarians still have that great tradition and the current team is part of that,” said Trapattoni.

“Their football school is very beautiful; very technical and creative.”

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/trapattoni-salutes-hungarian-greats/95842/

Lippi: Azzuri will keep focus World Soccer Shop

Marcello Lippi is confident the Italians will be able to focus on football at Euro 2012, and forget about the latest match-fixing contraversy.

Lippi: Memories of 2006

The Azzurri, now coached by Cesare Prandelli, leave for Krakow on Tuesday for a Group C campaign which will see them face defending champions Spain, Croatia and the Republic of Ireland.

"It feels as though they are going through the same experience as that of 2006," said Lippi, who guided Italy to World Cup glory in Germany six years ago despite the huge distraction of a match-fixing scandal.

"I remember that week in Coverciano [ahead of the tournament in Germany] was not easy for us and there was the fear of what people would have said of us abroad.

"But no-one said anything in Germany. I believe that as soon as the national team travels to Poland, their only thoughts will be on football, on training and on the European Championship."

Italy lost 3-0 to Russia in Friday's warm-up friendly in Zurich.

Despite the below-par display, former Italy forward Sandro Mazzola believes Prandelli's team can do well at Euro 2012.

"I think the national team was conditioned by what happened during the week in their game against Russia, but in any case the performance was not good and they only had two chances of goal throughout the game.

"Regardless of that game, I believe the national team can be among the top four at the European Championship.

"I think it is a good thing that we will start against Spain as we have nothing to lose and it is a great opportunity to prove our worth," he stated.

The Azzurri begin their campaign against Vicente del Bosque's Spain on Sunday.

Source : http://soccer365.com//news/european_news/general/17737/lippi__azzuri_will_keep_focus

Stricken M´Vila to travel with France

The French Football Federation (FFF) has confirmed Yann M’Vila will remain with the France squad for Euro 2012 despite an ankle injury.

The Stade Rennais midfielder picked up a knock in France’s 2-0 friendly win over Serbia, and it was initially feared he could miss the European Championship due to the injury.

However, an MRI scan has revealed the 21-year-old’s physical problems are less serious than previously thought, and he will not have to withdraw from the squad for Euro 2012.

“The MRI confirmed that it’s a moderately serious sprain, without aggravating factors. It’s running its course, there are no complications,” an official statement from FFF read.

M’Vila will travel to Ukraine with the rest of the France squad on Wednesday, but he is unlikely to make a full recovery before their Group D opener against England on June 11.

After the England match, France take on tournament co-hosts Ukraine and then Sweden.

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/stricken-m%c2%b4vila-to-travel-with-france/95831/

Diego resigned to Wolfsburg return

Atletico Madrid loanee Diego believes that he will play his football at Wolfsburg next season.

The 27-year-old was shipped out to the Vicente Calderon on loan by the German outfit last term after falling out with coach Felix Magath just one year after arriving at the Bundesliga club from Juventus.

He enjoyed an impressive 2011/12 campaign with Atletico, helping Diego Simeone’s side win the Europa League and finish fifth in La Liga.

Despite recently admitting that he would like to join Atletico on a permanent basis, Diego looks resigned to return to the Volkswagen Arena.

“I think that I will be at Wolfsburg next season again,” he told Wolfsburger Allgemeine Zeitung.

“I still have two years on my contract.”

The Brazilian playmaker, who cost Wolfsburg 15.5 million euros, scored six goals in 42 competitive appearances for Atletico.

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/diego-resigned-to-wolfsburg-return/95622/

Green seeks talks with SFA World Soccer Shop

Charles Green wants to prevent the dispute between Rangers and the Scottish Football Association spiralling out of control.

Green: Wants talks with Regan

The Ibrox club won their court battle against an SFA transfer embargo after a judge ruled the disciplinary panel members acted outside of their powers.

Lord Glennie proposed that the case go back to the SFA appeal tribunal that upheld the initial decision by a judicial panel to impose a 12-month ban on registering players aged 18 and over as punishment for a failure to pay more than £13million in tax last season.

There is now talk of FIFA intervening but Green, the man fronting the consortium who are trying to take Rangers out of administration, told the Scottish Sun: "I want to have talks with (SFA chief executive) Stewart Regan to find a way out of this for the good of Scottish football.

"There is a balancing act here. We accept Rangers should be punished for the sins of the past. I am not disputing that, the SFA have an obligation to do that.

"But I have to stress that the fans of Rangers, administrators and myself feel the initial penalty given to the club was too harsh.

"Now there has to be a solution and a way out that doesn't cause carnage for the game in Scotland.

"There has been talk that if the SFA appeal to Lord Carloway, who rubber-stamped the original decision, then Rangers could be booted out of football for 12 months - or even for good.

"If everyone steps back from the understandable emotions of this for a second I can't believe anyone who loves the game in Scotland wants that.

"I want to speak with Stewart Regan to try and find the right path for Rangers and the game as a whole in this country."

Jim Boyce, vice-president of FIFA, told the Daily Record: "Neither FIFA nor UEFA like any clubs of their member associations becoming involved in legal action.

"If any club is not happy with its governing body they should seek to settle their dispute through the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

"The matter has not yet been reported to FIFA by the SFA but I expect they will keep each other informed.

"If the SFA are not happy with the situation I expect them to write to UEFA and FIFA within the next three days.

"This matter has to be resolved. It cannot go on."

Source : http://soccer365.com//news/european_news/general/17517/green_seeks_talks_with_sfa

Abete rejects suspension calls World Soccer Shop

FIGC president Giancarlo Abete has rejected the idea that football in Italy should be suspended in a order to weed out match-fixing.

Abete: Suspending football 'not a solution'

Italy's Prime Minister Mario Monti said on Tuesday that professional football in the country could benefit from a break of "two to three years" after the latest developments in an ongoing match-fixing investigation hit the headlines earlier this week.

Nineteen people, among them Lazio captain Stefano Mauri, were arrested on Monday and many others are due to be questioned by prosecutors, but Abete does not feel the way to clean up football is to issue a blanket ban.

"I understand and share Monti's bitterness. It is the bitterness felt when values are lost," Abete said on his federation's website, figc.it. "In a delicate moment for a country, we need to avoid the risk of generalisation and demonising.

"I am in agreement that those that have done something wrong must pay, but to stop the leagues would mean to damage football.

"It would hinder those that are working in an honest way, which is the majority of our system as well as the loss of thousands of jobs. It's not a solution.

"The match-fixing and betting scandal is a very ugly chapter in our football.

"Several people have been accused of illegal acts that should be sanctioned at all levels should they be found guilty.

"However, Italian football is made of 1.4million registered members, of over 700,000 games a year, of thousands of honest professionals and in order to respect them, we must avoid the risk of generalising."

Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon has thrown his support behind Abete, insisting that the Prime Minister's comments should not be put into action.

Buffon was a member of the Juventus side that was stripped of two league titles and relegated to Serie B in 2006 in a match-fixing probe that found the Turin giants guilty of influencing referees.

"Monti is a capable person," Buffon said in a press conference in Italy's headquarters in Coverciano, Florence. "But I think the best answer has come from our federal president Abete."

Buffon added: "The players that earn a lot are only those that play for the top clubs and not the others. There are many players - the majority - that once their career is over they will have to find a job, reinvent themselves.

"But the question is whether you have certain values within you. I don't think I would have ever done those things even if I played in a smaller club because my family has taught me certain values.

"The situation in which our football is today has surprised me. I never thought it could go as far as it has. But if there was to be a break in football, 80 or 85% of the honest players would be penalised."

This week's operation was part of an investigation called "Last Bet", which is focused on 33 games played over the past two seasons, the majority of which were in Serie B.

Earlier this month, the FIGC released the names of 22 clubs along with 61 individuals that have been reported to the football authorities in connection with a match-fixing ring and betting investigation.

Source : http://soccer365.com//news/european_news/general/17459/abete_rejects_suspension_calls

Dempsey maintains Europe dream

Fulham attacker Clint Dempsey has reiterated his desire to play Champions League football sometime in his playing career.

The American signed for Fulham in 2007 from MLS club New England Revolution and enjoyed his most prolific season to date in the 2011-12 season, scoring 23 goals in all competitions.

His blistering form has reportedly attracted interest from the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham ahead of the off-season transfer window.

Dempsey has one year remaining on his contract and, while speculation surrounding his future continues to circulate, the 29-year-old insisted that he will give his all for his club.

“What I do is focus on the teams that I play for and I give my heart to them, work as hard as I can to try to make the most of my time and make the most of the career that I have left,” he told reporters.

“The transfer window is open until August 31. It’s no secret that I would like to play Champions League one day in my career.

“If it’s meant to be, it will be.”

Dempsey is currently training with the USA squad ahead of Thursday’s friendly with Brazil, and national manager Jurgen Klinsmann has encouraged the forward to look for a bigger club.

“His goal is the right goal,” the coach said last week.

“If he has the opportunity to go a Champions League team, that’s the creme de la creme in the world of club soccer, then you’ve got to do that.”

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/dempsey-maintains-europe-dream/95532/

Italian PM proposes Serie A ban

Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti has suggested suspending football for two to three years in light of the latest corruption scandal.

Just six years on from Calciopoli, the country is now coming to terms with an elaborate match-fixing plot which on Monday resulted in police making an early-morning raid on Italy’s training base at Coverciano to search the room of left-back Domenico Criscito.

The dramatic developments in Florence have now prompted Monti to call for drastic action.

“The news these days about the state of football causes a deep sadness and it seems that a chilling scenario is now unfolding,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

“In recent years we have seen so many shameful phenomena: we have recently witnessed an invisible blackmail of omerta, with the players of Genoa kneeling down in the face of who knows what kind of threats from hidden forces, and I also find it unacceptable that public money has been used, and is still being used, to settle the debts of football clubs.

“In light of such events, I am launching a proposal that is not a proposal of my government, but simply me thinking aloud: I wonder if a suspension of two or three years would not help this game.”

Zenit defender Criscito was subsequently withdrawn from Italy’s squad for Euro 2012 because of his involvement in an alleged attempt to fix a game involving former club Genoa.

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/italian-pm-proposes-serie-a-ban/95471/

Italian PM wants league suspension World Soccer Shop

Italy's Prime Minister Mario Monti says domestic football in Italy needs a break of "two to three years" to let match-fixing to be cleansed.

Monti: Wants football suspended

A second match-fixing scandal in the six years is currently gripping Italy, with the latest stage of a probe carried out by Cremona prosecutors on Monday resulting in the arrests of 19 people, among them Lazio captain Stefano Mauri.

Also among those under investigation is Italy international Domenico Criscito, who was considered a certainty to make the Azzurri's Euro 2012 squad but was dropped on Monday.

"We must reflect and evaluate if it would not be useful to have a total suspension of the game for two to three years," Monti told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"This is not a government proposal, but it is something that I, who have been for many years a football fan, feel inside me.

"It is particularly sad when a world such as sport that should be an expression of high values, proves to appear a concentration of the most reprehensible aspects such as disloyalty, illegality and falseness."

Yesterday's operation is part of an investigation called "Last Bet", which focuses on 33 games over the past two seasons, the majority of which were in Serie B.

Earlier this month, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) released a comprehensive 48-page list naming 22 clubs along with 61 individuals that have been reported to the football authorities in connection with a match-fixing ring and betting investigation.

The latest inquiry is a big blow to football in Italy, which had gradually been recovering from the scandal that rocked the nation six years ago.

In 2006, a match-fixing probe led to Juventus being stripped of two titles and relegation to Serie B after they were found guilty of influencing referees.

"There is bitterness and sadness for what has happened," FIGC president Giancarlo Abete said. "It is totally unacceptable.

"This latest situation makes us reflect because there have been certain elements that have managed to enter the sporting system.

"Everyone will nevertheless have the possibility to defend themselves in the legal and sporting trials."

A trial carried out by a sporting tribunal will begin on Thursday and Lega Serie A president Maurizio Beretta hopes the process will not drag on.

"We hope it will be fast and that drastic punishments are handed out to those individuals that have stained a world that should focus on credibility and transparency," Beretta said.

Source : http://soccer365.com//news/european_news/general/17387/italian_pm_wants_league_suspension

Good news for Rangers

Rangers have received a boost in their bid to have their 12-month transfer ban overturned after a judge decided the ruling was unlawful.

The Scottish Football Association banned the Glasgow-based club from signing any new players for 12 months and fined them 160,000 pounds as a consequence of their descent into administration.

However, following a three-hour hearing in Edinburgh, Judge Lord Glennie accepted Rangers’ petition for a judicial review and proposed the case should be now be heard by the SFA appeal tribunal, which upheld the initial decision.

If Rangers can overturn the transfer embargo then they will once again be able to sign players aged 18 and over this summer.

The Glasgow outfit recently saw their hopes of re-signing Gennaro Gattuso following his departure from Italian giants AC Milan dashed due to the ban.

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/good-news-for-rangers/95465/

Hazard tipped to be a Prem hit World Soccer Shop

Belgium playmaker Eden Hazard has been backed by his international team-mates to be a major hit in English football.

Hazard: Heading for Chelsea

Hazard looks set to join Chelsea from French side Lille after he wrote on Twitter on Monday evening: "I'm signing for the champion's league winner".

There has been no official confirmation yet from either club about any deal, but reports have suggested the 21-year-old, who has been rated at £32million, has agreed a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge.

Despite his Twitter comments, Hazard - likely to feature for his country against England in Saturday's international friendly at Wembley - was giving nothing away to the cameras today at Belgium's training camp in Liege, responding to a question about Chelsea by saying: "I do not speak English".

Other members of the Belgium squad - and ones who already have Premier League experience under their belts - were more forthcoming on the matter, though, with Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen expressing his confidence that Hazard will become a big favourite of English football fans.

Vermaelen told Sky Sports News: "He is a great player with a lot of special qualities.

"I think he is a player people go to the stadiums for.

"People will love him and love watching him playing football, so I think he is a good player for the Premier League."

Asked whether Hazard had sought advice from him about a move, Vermaelen said: "He didn't come to me for any advice. I think he has a lot of people around him, so they can give him good advice about which club he should go to."

Fulham's Mousa Dembele, an attacker like Hazard, feels his compatriot has the attributes to thrive in the English top flight - and any other competition.

"It is a good competition for him," Dembele said.

"I think he can succeed in every team because he is a fantastic player and I think they will like him very much in England.

"He has quality that not a lot of other players have and I think in every competition he goes, he will play very well - including the Premier League, even if it is the best competition in the world."

Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, who now faces the prospect of having to keep his fellow countryman at bay in the Premier League, admits Hazard will have a considerable weight of expectation to deal with, but expects to see him shine.

"I think Eden has the qualities and talent to play in England," Mignolet said.

"On his day, he can make the difference for his team.

"It is a big step from Lille to Chelsea and he is going to be under some pressure, especially with the money that has been spent, but I think he is a good player and if he is on his day, he can do a good job for Chelsea."

Hazard, who has been named Ligue 1's player of the year for the past two seasons, has become one of the most sought-after players in the game and has been linked with a host of European giants.

Manchester United and Manchester City looked to be favourites for his signature until Chelsea's surprise European Cup triumph last weekend.

Source : http://soccer365.com//news/european_news/general/17382/hazard_tipped_to_be_a_prem_hit

Versatile Perry refuses to choose

One of Australia’s most sought-after athletes Ellyse Perry says she would love to stay involved with both football and cricket.

The dual international, who is the first Australian woman to feature at a senior World Cup in two different sports, has split her time between football and cricket since the age of 16 after being selected to represent both sports at national level.

But earlier today Perry’s W-League football club, Canberra United asked her to commit full-time to them or play elsewhere.

However, the 21-year-old, speaking to Fox Sports News, declared her intention to continue playing both sports.

“Hopefully I’ll find a club and be able to be involved in both because as I said, it’s something I love doing and I’ve done it for the last four seasons with the W-League and the National Cricket League so hopefully I can keep doing it,” she said.

Despite Canberra’s stance, Perry said she enjoyed her time at the club and understood their position.

“I’ve loved playing for Canberra United and I think when I first joined the club, they were happy to adopt my situation and commitments to both cricket and football, meaning I might not be available for all the matches or be able to commit to every training session,” she said.

“As I said, situations have changed a little bit and that’s fine.

“If that’s how Canberra sees themselves moving forward in the future and a means by which they feel they can become more professional and more successful club, I understand that and fortunately for me there are a few other options that hopefully I’ll be able to entertain.”

Having successfully juggled W-League and National Cricket League for the past four seasons, Perry said she would focus on her commitments with the Matildas and the Australian cricket team in the coming months.

“We’ve got a few things coming up with some matches for the Matildas against New Zealand next month and then an ICC World Cup with Cricket in September in Sri Lanka,” Perry said.

“I guess they’re sort of my priorities at the moment and obviously I’d love to be involved in both of those things.”

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/versatile-perry-refuses-to-choose/95444/

Prandelli reduces squad by seven

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has cut seven players from his provisional Euro 2012 squad ahead of Tuesday’s friendly against Luxembourg.

It had been announced by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) on Monday that Zenit left-back Domenico Criscito would not be travelling to Poland and Ukraine after his room had been searched by police that morning as part of the investigation into the Scommessopoli match-fixing scandal.

Prandelli subsequently confirmed Criscito’s defensive colleagues Davide Astori and Salvatore Bocchetti had also been axed, though for football reasons.

Palermo goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano has also missed out, with Prandelli naming Morgan De Sanctis and Salvatore Sirigu to provide cover for captain Gianluigi Buffon.

In midfield, Atalanta duo Luca Cigarini and Ezequiel Schelotto have both been axed, as has Pescara starlet Marco Verratti, whose inclusion in the provisional panel had been something of a surprise.

Prandelli has not dropped any strikers, seemingly increasing the likelihood that he will retain all six of the forwards he named in his original 32-strong list when he announces his final squad on Tuesday.

Italy’s 25-man squad: Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain).

Defenders: Ignazio Abate (AC Milan), Federico Balzaretti (Palermo), Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini (all Juventus), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Angelo Ogbonna (Torino), Andrea Ranocchia (Inter).

Midfielders: Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Alessandro Diamanti (Bologna), Emanuele Giaccherini, Claudio Marchisio (both Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Thiago Motta (Paris Saint-Germain), Antonio Nocerino (AC Milan), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus).

Strikers: Mario Balotelli (Manchester City), Fabio Borini (Roma), Antonio Cassano (AC Milan), Mattia Destro (Siena), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Sebastian Giovinco (Parma).

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/prandelli-reduces-squad-by-seven/95403/

Lamouchi takes Elephant ride World Soccer Shop

Sabri Lamouchi has replaced Francois Zahoui as Ivory Coast coach, the country's football federation (the FIF) have announced.

Lamouchi: New Ivory Coast boss

The 40-year-old former France midfielder has no previous coaching experience but has been asked to take over after Zahoui was today relieved of his duties.

A statement from the FIF read: "The Ivorian Football Federation informs that Mr Sabri Lamouchi has been named trainer and selector of the national team, replacing Mr Francois Zahoui.

"The FIF executive committee would like to express their thanks to Mr Francois Zahoui for his work during his time in charge of the Elephants."

Lamouchi's playing career brought Ligue 1 titles with Auxerre and Monaco in his native France before leaving for Italy, where he won a Coppa Italia with Parma and also played for Inter Milan and Genoa. He then returned home to Marseille before finishing his career in Qatar.

He won 12 caps for his country and was a member of their Euro 96 squad in England.

Source : http://soccer365.com//news/european_news/general/17306/lamouchi_takes_elephant_ride

Defoe keen to stay at Spurs World Soccer Shop

Jermain Defoe does not want to leave Tottenham, but the England striker admits he has to start playing regular football again.

Defoe: Just wants to play football

The 29-year-old netted 11 goals for Spurs in 23 appearances last season, which was enough to earn himself a call up into Roy Hodgson's Euro 2012 squad.

Nevertheless, Defoe has slipped down the pecking order at White Hart Lane, with on-loan Emmanuel Adebayor deployed as a lone frontman supported by Rafael van der Vaart.

Defoe believes he is in a dilemma.

"It is a difficult one. I have never said I want to leave the club, all I have just said is I want to play," Defoe told talkSPORT:

"As a forward you just want to get some sort of rhythm and a run in the team. That wasn't the case towards the end of the season.

"I am going to concentrate on England and go to the Euros, then see what happens.

"The most important thing for me is scoring goals and that is when I am at my happiest."

Spurs finished fourth in the Premier League, having eventually been overhauled by rivals Arsenal.

However, after Chelsea won the Champions League in dramatic fashion in Munich on Saturday night, it meant Harry Redknapp's men will now head into the Europa League instead.

It is scant reward for a campaign which for so long had promised so much.

"The main aim of the season was to finish in the top four, and we have done that. What happened with Chelsea was out of our hands and was just unfortunate," said Defoe, who is in his second spell at Spurs having been signed by Redknapp at Portsmouth in January 2008.

"There have been lots of ups and downs, but we all stuck together and still performed."

The loss of Champions League football for another campaign has again cast doubt over the future of some of Spurs' key men.

Wales winger Gareth Bale is said to be on the wanted list of a string of top European clubs, while Croatia playmaker Luka Modric has previously been strongly linked with a move to Chelsea, with Manchester United also potential suitors for the 26-year-old.

Spurs are also understood to be in talks with Adebayor over making his loan move from Manchester City permanent, although the transfer fee and wages of the former Arsenal frontman could well prove a stumbling block.

Defoe believes the White Hart Lane hierarchy must look to take the squad forwards with the current group.

He added: "In football you never know what is going to happen, but it is always important to keep hold of your top players.

"Some players like Luka Modric and Gareth Bale are players you cannot replace, so it is important to keep them."

Source : http://soccer365.com//news/european_news/general/16920/defoe_keen_to_stay_at_spurs

Ronaldo: Real are better than Barca

Cristiano Ronaldo feels that Barcelona’s dominance is over after they were dethroned as La Liga champions by Real Madrid this season.

The Catalans dominated Spanish and European football in recent years, but Real star Ronaldo is adamant that his side are now the dominant force after their successful 2011/12 campaign.

“I think that the cycle has already changed. We beat Barcelona at home, which isn’t easy, but we managed to do it. We also ended nine points clear of them in the table, and that’s a big lead,” Ronaldo said.

“So I think the cycle has changed, and I hope that the situation will stay like this for many years. Barcelona are a magnificent team, but so are we. We have shown this year that we are the better team at the moment.”

Ronaldo also took the time to praise outgoing Barca coach Pep Guardiola for his work at the Camp Nou.

“He has done a great job and has won many titles. He built a great team. You have to appreciate what he did and I wish him all the best,” Ronaldo said.

The attacker then went on to discuss the Ballon d’Or, and admitted that he is very happy with his performances in the recent campaign but refused to declare himself a favourite to claim the accolade.

“I’m not the one who decides whether I deserve the Ballon d’Or. I think I’ve had a fantastic season, where I’ve won an important title like La Liga, which is very hard to win,” he said.

“We’ll have to wait and see, though. I’m focused on Euro 2012 now. I want to do well there. That will help my bid for the Ballon d’Or, too.

“Individually, my season has been a perfect 10. Collectively, it’s been a nine as we could have won more titles, like the Champions League for example.

“My goal is to do even better next year. I know that it will be very difficult to score more than 46 goals in La Liga, but anything can happen in football. I really believe that I can still improve. I know that it’s hard because of all the records that we beat, but you never know.”

The Portuguese also reiterated that he should not be compared to Lionel Messi, as he feels he is a different player to the Barcelona star.

“I always try to improve and become a better player, but it’s not a competition with Messi. It’s something between all the teams and players. People always compare us, but it’s impossible. You can’t compare a Ferrari with a Porsche or a Mercedes.

“We are different players on different teams. He is a magnificent player, and we’re always fighting – in a good way – to score more goals. All players compete with other players. It’s a good thing.”

The 27-year-old attacker netted an impressive 46 goals in La Liga this term, while Messi found the net 50 times.

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/ronaldo-real-are-better-than-barca/95074/

Pardew linked to Bolton´s Davies

Newcastle United are preparing a three million pounds bid for Bolton midfielder Mark Davies as they look to European football.

United want to sign the former Wolves player to bolster their midfield options ahead of a campaign that will include Europa League football.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew sees Davies as the ideal recruit to intensify the competition for places in midfield where French international Yohan Cabaye and Ivorian Cheikh Tiote struck up a formidable partnership last season.

The pair were instrumental in the fifth-placed finish in the Premier League that means Pardew’s side, who were relegated three years ago, could look forward to a return to European football.

Bolton manager Owen Coyle is reluctant to allow 24-year-old Davies to quit the Reebok Stadium following the Trotters’ relegation to the Championship but it is understood that the offer will be enough to prise him away from the Lancashire club.

“They have had their eye on him for some time now and so if all goes well then Mark will be a Newcastle player this summer,” a Tyneside source told Goal.com.

“They are talking about three million pounds for a player who did well for Bolton even though they went down.

“He is a bright, skilful and hard-working player who would fit nicely into Pardew’s team but it would be made clear to him that he would have to get past Cabaye and Tiote to get into the first team.”

Newcastle’s interest in Davies suggests that Danny Guthrie, who has been linked with Aston Villa, will be allowed to leave when the transfer window opens in June with his contract expiring in the next fortnight.

Former Manchester United full-back Danny Simpson, who is reported to be interesting Fulham, will also be allowed to leave having rejected a new deal.

Newcastle are also being tipped to sign 22-year-old full-back Romain Amalfitano from French Ligue 2 club Stade de Reims with a deal already agreed.

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/pardew-linked-to-bolton%c2%b4s-davies/95070/