2010 was a bad year for Italian football. I tried to think of the positives, but very few came to mind. A disastrous World Cup in South Africa, a bad showing in the Europa League, and only a Champions League victory (guided by a Portuguese mastermind) which retains some dignity for Italian football. While […]

With Italy out of the 2010 World Cup, we have plenty of time to plan for the future and avoid any mistakes we made in this tournament. So it's important to know what Italy did wrong, the mistakes that cost us dearly in the World Cup, making us end up last in the group, behind […]

What should be considered a fair result; Slovakia were better, and Italy were poor, it's just as simple as that. In the end Italy ends up right where they deserve to end up, the bottom of the table, behind New Zealand, Slovakia, and Paraguay. Italy has not played well throughout their three games, only turning […]

Despite Italy's lackluster performance in their first two group stage matches, the Azzurri have the chance to advance into the next round of the World Cup with a win or a tie plus help.  Some excellent analyses of the Italian team's weaknesses have been published over the last few days, and the negatives about this Italian […]

By now you have undoubtedly heard about the injury to Gigi Buffon and his questionable status for the remainder of the World Cup.  Reading between the lines of the statements coming out of the Italian camp it looks like possibly the best keeper in the world could actually miss the entire World Cup.  And in […]

The biggest "win" in New Zealand soccer history was also a major victory for the Italian national team.  Slovakia was the better club for ninety minutes today, taking a 1-0 lead over New Zealand early in the second half on a goal by Robert Vittek.  The All Whites, who looked like a club playing in […]

The Azzurri have played their first match, and while some will view the 1-1 draw result as a bad thing, the match was actually filled with positives for Italy. Although we've seen Germany demolish Australia 4-0, I think that the Azzurri match was unique, it finally felt like I was watching a World Cup match. […]

The 2010 World Cup is coming fast, and the time has come where provisional squads are being announced from countries in the tournament. The FIGC (Federazione Italiana Giouco Calcio) or the Italian FA has revealed the 30-man provisional squad chosen by Marcello Lippi. Here are all 30 players in their positions and the clubs they play […]

If he were an opera star, he would be il divo.  If he were an American sports star, he would be called a prima dona (yes, Americans don’t speak other languages well) and be compared to Terrell Owens or various NBA figures.  If he was a politician, he would rise to stratospheric heights only to […]

With Brazilian striker Amauri close to becoming an Italian citizen, it looks like Bayern Munich's Luca Toni will find it quite hard to represent Italy in South Africa. Azzurri Boss Marcello Lippi has hinted on more than one occasion that Amauri will be very useful for the national team. The raging debate is whether more foreign born players […]

Kickoff for today's international friendly will be at 7:45 pm London time, and 2:45 pm on the east coast in North America as the Azzurri take on Brazil in a high profile friendly at the Emirates Stadium, the home of Arsenal Kaka will miss this encounter as well as compatriot Amauri who received a late call-up […]

Live from the Stadio Friuli in Udine Italy, Italy vs. Georgia in World Cup 2010 Qualifying.   Television coverage in North America is available on both Gol TV and Gol TV Canada, Sept 10th @ 2:45 pm EST, with a match repeat @ 9:00. (also available on RAI international) Five Point Preview – The 3 Man Attack Luca Toni to […]

SportsXhange – the sports news and betting information channel have the exclusive rights to air Italy's first match of World Cup 2010 qualification Saturday Sept. 6th 19:45 GMT. More... You can also watch it live on Sky Sports in the UK.  From the National Team website FIGC.it Doubts over Del Piero starting in the Cyprus match are circulating, still the player will fly […]

It took an own goal in the 67th minute by R. Özcan for the Azzurri to draw even after trailing 0-2 on Manager Lippi's return.  Italy were expected to ease past Austria in Nice, but Austria hadn't read the script and Emanuel Pogatetz and Marc Janko fired goals past Azzurri keeper Buffon to make it 2-0 by the 38th […]

The Azzurri return to the field this evening trying to forget their early departure from Euro competition earlier this summer.  Back with the team is World Cup winning manager Marcello Lippi who has warned his players this will not be an easy task facing Austria with many missing faces in team Italia's roster. It's half time in Nice France and […]