Prandelli unfazed by difficult preparation

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has played down talk of his country’s match-fixing scandal ahead of Euro 2012 being a case of history repeating.

Italy’s preparations for the 2006 World Cup in Germany were infamously disrupted by the Calciopoli scandal, but Marcello Lippi nonetheless led them to triumph.

Now, with Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine set to begin on June 8, Italy have been beset by the Scommessopoli probe.

Domenico Criscito was dropped from Italy’s squad for the European Championship earlier this week due to his alleged role in the scandal, while Leonardo Bonucci is also under investigation, but Prandelli is hopeful his squad will not be distracted by recent events.

“The comparisons to 2006 seem like a cliche to me. The situation’s different now,” Prandelli said at a press conference.

“They always say that Italy become more united in difficult situations, and I hope that is the case now, too. However, I don’t believe in the theory that we can only perform under pressure.

“We should be giving our best in a calm atmosphere as well. The important thing now is to show the people that we are determined to clean up football.”

Italy have been paired with Croatia, Republic of Ireland and champions Spain at Euro 2012 and start the tournament against the title holders on June 10.

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/prandelli-unfazed-by-difficult-preparation/95505/

Prandelli stands by Bonucci

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has named Leonardo Bonucci in his Euro 2012 squad despite his links to the Serie A match-fixing scandal.

Earlier this week, Prandelli dropped Domenico Criscito due to the Zenit St Petersburg defender having his apartment searched as part of a match-fixing investigation in Italy.

But while it has emerged that Bonucci will also be questioned as part of the investigation, Prandelli has decided to keep the Juventus defender in his final 23-man squad.

“As far as Bonucci is concerned, we know nothing about the news that is passing on at the moment, so we are relatively serene about it,” Prandelli said during his squad announcement on Tueseday.

“Obviously we need to wait, but I talked with the guy a moment ago and he knows nothing”.

Prandelli claimed that he left Criscito out of the squad for the player’s own good.

He believes Criscito would not have been able to handle the pressure at the European Championships as the match-fixing scandal continued in Italy.

“From the human point of view we were good at remaining close and making Criscito feel our support, but we’re working to get ready for a very important sport event and we need confidence and serenity,” Prandelli said.

Inter defender Andrea Ranocchia and Siena striker Mattia Destro also miss out from Prandelli’s initial extended squad.

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/prandelli-stands-by-bonucci/95475/

Bonucci selection under fire World Soccer Shop

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has defended his decision to include Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci in his Euro 2012 squad.

Bonucci: Retained in squad

Bonucci is expected to face questioning in the latest match-fixing investigation to hit the country with prosecutors interested in his time as a Bari player in the 2009-10 campaign.

However, he is not under any formal investigation at this stage and has denied any wrongdoing.

Italy omitted Zenit St Petersburg defender Domenico Criscito from the squad on Monday after he was handed an official notification by the police at the Azzurri's training headquarters in Coverciano, Florence, of being under investigation.

"The most annoying thing is that some people have linked Bonucci's issue with that of Criscito," Prandelli said to Italian TV station Rai.

"I reiterate that Bonucci has not received any type of notification from the prosecutors' office.

"This is why he will come with us to the European Championship."

The tournament will be played in Poland and Ukraine.

In 2006, a match-fixing scandal was a dark cloud over the Azzurri and Juventus were eventually relegated and stripped of two league titles after being found guilty of influencing referees.

Even so, the Italians won the World Cup in Germany.

"We want to play, to win and to come out clean," Prandelli said. "The similarities with that of 2006 are there but they say in the difficult times the group unites.

"I hope that will be the case but I don't believe in the theory that says that Italians only emerge in times of crisis.

"We also rise in times of calmness.

"Now the important thing is to make people understand our intention and that is to clean up football."

The country of Italy, meanwhile, has been rocked by an earthquake in the northern region of Emilia Romagna on Tuesday morning.

At least 10 people are known to have died in the 5.8 magnitude quake - the second to take place in the space of nine days in the same region.

Italy's friendly against Luxembourg in Parma that was due to be played on Tuesday night has been called off.

The Azzurri will face Russia in Zurich in a friendly on Friday.

Inter Milan defender Andrea Ranocchia and Siena striker Mattia Destro will not be travelling to Switzerland as they were dropped from the squad on Tuesday after Prandelli announced his final 23-man roster.

Source : http://soccer365.com//news/european_news/general/17375/bonucci_selection_under_fire

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/

Schelotto at home in adopted Italy

Argentina-born Ezequiel Schelotto said his commitment to the Italian national team should not be called into question.

The Atalanta winger’s inclusion in Cesare Prandelli’s preliminary squad for Euro 2012 raised a few eyebrows, not least because the 22-year-old was born in Buenos Aires.

However, Schelotto said while he has not forgotten his roots, he now feels Italian and would like to think that he proved as much during his seven outings for his adopted nation’s Under-21 side.

“My dream is to make my debut and to play with the Nazionale,” he told reporters at a press conference on Monday.

“I was born in Argentina and do not forget my country, but Italy has given and helped me and my family so much.

“I dedicate this call-up to my family, to the guys at Atalanta and to my great-grandfather, who was from Cogoleto. I did not know him but if it were not for him, I would not have a passport and the Italian shirt.

“I feel Italian and I will defend this shirt forever. I know the national anthem, I will sing it, as I already have done two years ago with the Under-21 side.”

Schelotto was a surprise inclusion in Prandelli’s provisional squad as he had never before been called up by the former Fiorentina boss, but the right-sided midfielder is coming off the back of a fine season in Bergamo.

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/schelotto-at-home-in-adopted-italy/95065/