Laurent Blanc, France National Team Manager
Euro 2012: France v England 11 Jun 2012 18:00 Donbass Arena Donetsk, Ukraine
The French National Team will take on England in the opening game of Group D at Euro 2012 in Donetsk on 11 June. France v England Tickets EURO 2012 11 Jun 2012 18:00 Donbass Arena Donetsk, Ukraine.
The French national side are looking in very good shape under boss Laurent Blanc going into the European championships - being unbeaten in their previous 18 games.
France manager, Laurent Blanc's contract ends this summer. He was offered a four-year extension in September before qualification for the finals had been secured. However he declined to sign the extension at the time, citing the need to reach Poland and Ukraine first.
Blanc may walk away from his position as boss of the French National Team if an extension to his current contract remain at an impasse and an "exceptional challenge" is offered to him by a leading club side.
Chelsea are searching for a long-term replacement for André Villas-Boas. Both Chelsea FC and Internazionale Milan are reportedly interested in signing Blanc though the 46-year-old insists he has yet to be approached by any club side.
Chelsea are willing to offer the Frenchman a staggering £9 million pounds annually to take over the reins at Stamford Bridge, claim French newspaper Le Parisien.
The former Inter and Manchester United defender will, however, listen to potential offers if the FFF do not return to the negotiating table.
"It's always gratifying when big clubs show an interest in you. My objective remains the European Championship. I am concentrating on that competition. But I would say – and not because I'm putting pressure on anyone, but because I think it – that I often hear it said that it's the boss who decides whether or not to extend the contract of a player or a coach at the end of their deal. I'm fine with that, but don't forget the employee can also make decisions for themselves," said Blanc.
"My intention is to carry on with the France national team. I haven't changed my mind on that. But the situation is that I have not extended my contract. And I'm not the kind of guy who goes knocking on the door – that should be clear."
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Iker Casillas, Spain National Team
Euro 2012: Spain v Italy
Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas cried after Andres Iniesta scored the winner for Spain in the World Cup, and the Spanish captain was emotional after the first World Championship triumph for Spain. It was due to the excellence of Iker Casillas that Arjen Robben was denied twice from point-blank range which led to Spain's victory.
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Antonio Cassano and Giuseppe Rossi of Italy during the EURO 2012 Group C
Giuseppe Rossi Will Not Play For Italy EURO 2012
The sad news today is that Villa Real forward Giuseppe Rossi will miss Euro 2012 after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament for a second time.
The 25-year-old Rossi had been nearing a return to competitive action after first injuring his right knee during Interreal’s La Liga defeat by Real Madrid in October.
Villarreal announced on Friday afternoon that the player has torn his ACL again during a training session earlier in the day.
Rossi requires another operation on his knee and is expected to be out for another six months.
The news is a blow to Italy fans and for Azzurri boss Cesare Prandelli, who had been hoping that Rossi would make his comeback before the season’s end and thus give the coach an extra striking option for the country’s Euro 2012 campaign.
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Alexandre Pato, AC Milan
AC Milan Update - AC Milan Football Tickets
With both Pato and Ibrahimovic on the bench, AC Milan is reportedly in a crisis. The Serie A champions travel to Udinese on Saturday after three negative results in all competitions, having drawn with Napoli and suffered defeats to Lazio and Juventus.
AC Milan is in second place behind unbeaten Juventus at the top of the Italian Serie A table.
Rossoneri coach Massimiliano Allegri dismissed the idea that Milan are in crisis.
"I do not think Milan are in crisis," Allegri said. "We are still in the race in every competition, although Juventus are closer to the Coppa Italia final than us.
"It is hard to make predictions, but the important thing is to collect points again. We have lost three of our last five matches, we need to improve our results."
Milan needs to pick up the three points against Udinese this weekend. Milan have the best home record in Serie A, with 10 victories from 11 matches.
"Tactically speaking, it will be a hard match," Allegri explained. "We will need to be patient. We will have to be careful, both in attack and defence.
"A moment of distraction and we will be in trouble."
AC Milan superstar striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, will miss the game against Udinese as part of his three-match ban.
"He made a mistake and he is paying for what he did against Napoli," Allegri noted. "To get on his back would be unfair, also because he has been amazing this season.
"We will wait for him. We have until February 23 to find out the result of our appeal and if he will be able to play against Juventus."
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Watch top tier Italian Serie A football clubs play live. Serie A tickets, Juventus tickets, AC Milan tickets, Inter Milan tickets, Napoli tickets and Udinese tickets are available now online.
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Inter Milan Celebrates Victory over Sampdoria
Inter Milan 3-0 Sampdoria
Sampdoria's bottem place team bus was attacked with sticks and stones by fans when it arrived back in Genoa following their 3-0 defeat by leaders Milan, the relegation-threatened side said. Windows on the bus were broken and players received death threats.
"The situation is delicate but the only way we can get out of it is by remaining united."
Samp finished fourth in Serie A last season but this campaign they got off to a bad start and could be about to have a very nasty end with the former European Cup finalists only a point above the drop zone with five games left.
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Italian Serie A Standings
| Team | GP | GD | Pts |
| 1. |
A.C. Milan |
34 |
37 |
74 |
| 2. |
Inter |
34 |
22 |
66 |
| 3. |
SSC Napoli |
34 |
20 |
65 |
| 4. |
Lazio |
34 |
14 |
60 |
| 5. |
Udinese |
34 |
22 |
59 |
| 6. |
Roma |
34 |
5 |
56 |
| 7. |
Juventus |
34 |
10 |
53 |
| 8. |
Palermo |
34 |
-3 |
50 |
| 9. |
Fiorentina |
34 |
4 |
46 |
| 10. |
Genoa |
34 |
-1 |
45 |
| 11. |
Cagliari |
34 |
0 |
44 |
| 12. |
Bologna |
34 |
-12 |
40 |
| 13. |
Chievo |
34 |
-3 |
39 |
| 14. |
Parma |
34 |
-11 |
38 |
| 15. |
Cesena |
34 |
-13 |
37 |
| 16. |
Catania |
34 |
-14 |
37 |
| 17. |
Sampdoria |
34 |
-12 |
35 |
| 18. |
Lecce |
34 |
-20 |
35 |
| 19. |
Brescia |
34 |
-16 |
30 |
| 20. |
Bari |
34 |
-29 |
21 |
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Antonio Di Natale, Udinese
ITALIAN SERIE A
Confederation: UEFA
Founded: 1898
Region: Italy
Number of Teams: 20
Level: 1
Current Champions: FC Internazionale Milano
Sponsors: Telecom Italia Mobile
The Italian giants are clashing at the top of Italy Serie A. Again this season, Inter Milan is in first place in Serie A. Internazionale is in second.
2010-2011 SEASON – STATS
Italy Serie A
First Place - Inter Milan
Second Place - Internazionale
Relegation Zone - Lecce, Brescia, Bari.
Top scorers: Antonio Di Natale (Udinese 26 goals), Edison Carvani (Napoli 26), Samuel Eto’o (Internazionale 26), Marco di Vaio (Bologna 19), Allesandro Matri (Juventus 18), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (AC Milan 14), Pato (AC Milan 14).
2009-2010 SEASON – STATS
Italy Serie A
Winners – Inter Milan
Runners-Up – Roma
Relegated – Atalanta Bergamo, AC Siena, AS Livorno.
Top scorers: Antonio Di Natale (Udinese 29 goals), Diego Milito (Inter 22), Fabrizio Miccoli (Palermo 19), Giampaolo Pazzini (Sampdoria 19).
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Mario Balotelli
Mario Balotelli Omitted From Italy Match Against Slovenia Due to Ethics
Twenty year old Mario Balotelli was escorted off the pitch after being red carded due to a reckless high kick in the chest of a Dynamo Kiev player in Manchester City's Europa Cup match against Dynamo Kiev last Thursday.
Reportedly Balotelli called Italy National Team manager, Cesare Prandelli, this week after he was omitted from the upcoming Italy match against Slovenia.
“He asked me for help,”
“He is sorry for what happened, he knows he was stupid and he asked how he can stop himself from destroying everything,” said Prandelli.
Prandelli dropped Balotelli from his Azzurri squad, which will play a European qualifier in Slovenia on Friday.
Roberto Mancini recently persuaded Manchester City to pay £22.5 million pounds, about $37 million, to sign Balotelli. Mancini benched Balotelli to the bench for City's match last Sunday against Chelsea, City lost the crucial match.
“Our ethical code goes on, at all costs,” said Prandelli.
He also ommited Italy’s experienced midfield hard man, Daniele De Rossi from his squad traveling to Slovenia after De Rossi was caught on video elbowing an opponent during the Champions League defeat that Roma suffered at Donetsk.
The principled Prandelli will not tolerate reckless, violent acts in his Azzurri.
“One must try to win,” Prandelli says, “but my project is focused on players of a certain caliber. To be credible, we must be loyal, and be sportsmen.”
The exclusion of both players is for one game only.
“We shall see for the game in Kiev.”
Balotelli was reportedly fined two weeks’ salary, almost £300,000, for his violent foul, and for letting the team down as well.
Super Mario was asked why he does not celebrate more when he scores a goal.
“Why should I smile because I score a goal?”
“It’s the job I am there to do.”
José Mourinho has described him as “unmanageable.” Mourinho won the Champions League, the Italian league and the Italian Cup last year, with Balotelli largely reduced to the sidelines.
Roberto Mancini, who gave Balotelli the central striker’s role at Inter when Balotelli was 17 and took him to Manchester City, speaks of feeling betrayed. “I trusted him 100 percent,” says Mancini. “But after this, it is very difficult to trust him. He has to stop losing control.”
Slovenia v Italy Tickets
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