By FRANCO PANIZO

A little over a week separates Italy from the start of their Euro 2012 campaign, and it appears the Azzurri have a lot to work on before then.

Italy suffered a surprising 3-0 defeat to Russia in Zurich, Switzerland on Friday in a friendly that extended the Italians' scoreless streak to 300 minutes.

OTP gives you the lowdown on all the Euro 2012 teams. 10 word description: In transition right now but always in with a shout. Coach: Cesare Prandelli The slick 54-year-old impressed in a five-year stint at former club Fiorentina before taking over from Marcello Lippi in 2010. He's just been handed a new contract, so [.

National team coach Cesare Prandelli has made the Azzurri's roster official, and communicated his list to UEFA.

Compared his previous version, the manager has left out Andrea Ranocchia and Mattia Destro. Doubts remain on the eligibility of Leonardo Bonucci, currently under investigation in the massive betting scandal surrounding Italian soccer this week.

National team coach Cesare Prandelli has made the Azzurri's roster official, and communicated his list to UEFA.

Compared his previous version, the manager has left out Andrea Ranocchia and Mattia Destro. Doubts remain on the eligibility of Leonardo Bonucci, currently under investigation in the massive betting scandal surrounding Italian soccer this week.

National team coach Cesare Prandelli has made the Azzurri's roster official, and communicated his list to UEFA.

Compared his previous version, the manager has left out Andrea Ranocchia and Mattia Destro. Doubts remain on the eligibility of Leonardo Bonucci, currently under investigation in the massive betting scandal surrounding Italian soccer this week.

National team coach Cesare Prandelli has made the Azzurri's roster official, and communicated his list to UEFA.

Compared his previous version, the manager has left out Andrea Ranocchia and Mattia Destro. Doubts remain on the eligibility of Leonardo Bonucci, currently under investigation in the massive betting scandal surrounding Italian soccer this week.

National team coach Cesare Prandelli has made the Azzurri's roster official, and communicated his list to UEFA.

Compared his previous version, the manager has left out Andrea Ranocchia and Mattia Destro. Doubts remain on the eligibility of Leonardo Bonucci, currently under investigation in the massive betting scandal surrounding Italian soccer this week.

National team coach Cesare Prandelli has made the Azzurri's roster official, and communicated his list to UEFA.

Compared his previous version, the manager has left out Andrea Ranocchia and Mattia Destro. Doubts remain on the eligibility of Leonardo Bonucci, currently under investigation in the massive betting scandal surrounding Italian soccer this week.

Cesare Prandelli trimmed down his squad list from 32 to 25 players for the friendly against Luxembourg on Tuesday evening at Stadio Tardini of Parma. Those that didn't "make the cut" are goalkeeper Viviano, defenders Astori, Bocchetti, Criscito, and midfielders Cigarini, Schelotto, Verratti.

Cesare Prandelli trimmed down his squad list from 32 to 25 players for the friendly against Luxembourg on Tuesday evening at Stadio Tardini of Parma. Those that didn't "make the cut" are goalkeeper Viviano, defenders Astori, Bocchetti, Criscito, and midfielders Cigarini, Schelotto, Verratti.

Andrea Pirlo has beaten Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Serie A's Player Of The Year in a Goal.com survey. Image: AFP PHOTO/JONATHAN NACKSTRAND. Isn't it about time some beauty guru/company created a miracle eye potion that truly erases the visible signs of aging (i.e. under eye bags and crow's feet)? We plan on carting around some serious Zlatan-esque demarcations [.

As we wave goodbye to another season of Serie A, Juventus can reminisce a wonderful campaign in which they claimed Scudetto glory and lost just once in all competitions. It may have ended on a sad note with the farewell of Alessandro Del Piero and the Coppa Italia final defeat to Napoli, but the work of Antonio Conte and all involved is to be commended.

When Alessandro Nesta announced his intention to leave last week, he revealed what had been his favourite victory as a Milan player: ""The best ever victory? Winning the Champions League for the first time against Juventus in Manchester". Many, if not nearly all, Milan fans will be able to recall that wonderful night at Old [.

Goodbye Gattuso: End of a Milan love affair is a post from: Just Football

by Christopher Akinrele

Gennaro Gattuso is to leave AC Milan when his contract expires in June. After a weekend in which AC Milan said goodbye to yet another era of loyal servants, a unique place was reserved in the fans' affections for the Rossoneri fighter who has finally hung up his gloves.

Serie A: Just Football's Team of the Season 2011-2012 is a post from: Just Football

by Nico H

In 4-3-3 formation....

GK: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)

A relatively easy call to make. 'Superman' has been back to his best form in Serie A this season and won his fair share of points for La Vecchia Signora with some outstanding personal performances.

Roy Hodgson announced his 23-man England roster for Euro 12 and, of course, there has already been criticism. When pressed on why he selected 18-year-old Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, his justification was a bit curious. From Fox:

"He's a very, very exciting player," Hodgson said.

England manager Roy Hodgson said Alex Oxlade Chamberlain made his Euro 2012 squad after impressing with his midfield performance against Massimo Ambrosini and Andrea Pirlo but the Ox didn't face either player. While AOC's stunning performance against AC Milan won him many plaudits, Hodgson saw him up against a different midfield than everyone else.

Lista definitiva de ItaliaPorteros: Marco Amelia (Livorno), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Sevilla).

Defensas: Andrea Barzagli (Palermo), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Fabio Grosso (Olympique Lyonnais), Marco Materazzi (Inter de Milán), Christian Panucci (AS Roma), Gianluca Zambrotta (FC Barcelona).

The Roy Hodgson era has begun for England with a slight stumble, and a delightfully promising one at that. He named his official 23 today, and two of the names garnering the most attention seem to be Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Andy Carroll, two youngsters with lots of potential, but actual contributions to the Euros up for liberal speculation.

The Roy Hodgson era has begun for England with a slight stumble, and a delightfully promising one at that. He named his official 23 today, and two of the names garnering the most attention seem to be Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Andy Carroll, two youngsters with lots of potential, but actual contributions to the Euros up for liberal speculation.

Guest writer and die-hard AC Milan fan, Anmol Ali, expresses her sadness to see such greats like Alessandro Nesta, Gennaro Gattuso, Clarence Seedorf and Filippo Inzaghi depart Milan. Revealing what many Rossoneri fans will be feeling around the world in this week of great change, Ali lays her heart out to bare, especially for her favourite man, Nesta.

It was back on May 28th, 2003, at Manchester United's Old Trafford. A Milan side consisting of Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini, Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo and Clarence Seedorf took to the field. It had been eight years since the club reached the final showpiece of the Champions League. For a club that had defined itself [.

It is time, yet again. In 2007, Milan said goodbye to Alessandro Costacurta. In 2009, it was Paolo Maldini. Last year, it was Andrea Pirlo. After making his announcement on Thursday, this time Milan will wave goodbye to yet another club legend; Alessandro Nesta. The warning was there. It was just a tad over a [.

La vittoria di uno scudetto è la vittoria di tutto un collettivo. E per tale si intende non solo il tecnico o il goleador, ma della societ con i dirigenti, i loro collaboratori, lo staff medico, e tutto l'entourage che circonda gli atleti. In tutti i modi c'è un calciatore di questa terza stella che penso che meriti una citazione particolare: Andrea Pirlo.

It will be a clash of Spanish and Italian champions on August 5th in Las vegas as Real Madrid and Juventus will meet at Sam Boyd Stadium. Sam Boyd only seats 36,800 so this game is sure to sellout.

The game, which is part of the 2012 World Football Challenge, is the first big soccer game ever to be played in Las Vegas, something Justice Entertainment Group President and COO Daren Libonati has been trying to make happen for nearly 25 years.

It will be a clash of Spanish and Italian champions on August 5th in Las vegas as Real Madrid and Juventus will meet at Sam Boyd Stadium. Sam Boyd only seats 36,800 so this game is sure to sellout.

The game, which is part of the 2012 World Football Challenge, is the first big soccer game ever to be played in Las Vegas, something Justice Entertainment Group President and COO Daren Libonati has been trying to make happen for nearly 25 years.

07.05.2012 - Después de la larga y oscura noche, volvió a amanecer sobre el cielo de la Vecchia Signora (Juventus). Sin figuras rutilantes y con un invicto que trasciende la misma Liga (41 partidos incluidos los de la Copa de Italia), la Juve inscribe su nombre en el scudetto por 28º vez y vuelve a mandar en el fútbol italiano.

A 2-0 win against Cagliari gave undefeated Juventus their first Scudetto since being forced down to Serie B after the Calciopoli scandal in 2006. Officially, this is their 28th title (not counting the two they were stripped of), but Juve have made it clear that they consider this to be a historic No.

Juventus will finish on top of the league table regardless of the result of Week 38. The Bianconeri defeated Cagliari 2-0 while Milan lost 2-4 to Inter to confirm Juve as this season's champions. Below is a list of the most important factors behind Juve's triumph:

a) Andrea Pirlo: The Italy midfielder has been perhaps Juve's most influential player this season.

szólj hozzá: ca - ju

Mirko Vucinic's cool finish and Marco Borriello's strike ensured Juve's 28th Scudetto as Inter played spoiler in the San Siro derby. It was their first Scudetto since the 2006 Calciopoli scandal saw them stripped off their title and resulting in relegation.

The title was also coach Antonio Conte's first and it came in his debut season with Juventus.

La Juventus de Turín ganó este domingo su título número 28º de campeón de Italia, ocho años después del último y seis tras el escándalo de partidos amañados del ''Calciopoli'', gracias a un plantel con alma de ganador, liderado por jugadores emblemáticos como Gianluigi Buffon.La victoria contra el Cagliari (2-0), acompañada de la derrota del Milan en el derbi contra el Inter (4-2), hace que los turineses ya no puedan ser alcanzados por los ''rossoneri'', cuando sólo queda una jornada para el final del campeonato en el ''Calcio''.

The headline is not a typo. It indeed occurred: Marco Borriello scored the only goal as Juventus defeated Cesena at the Stadio Dino Manuzzi on Wednesday to remain three points clear at the top of Serie A. Days after their demolition of Roma in which Arturo Vidal, Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio were superb and found all found the target, they as well as their teammates – looked flat in.

Juventus eased past Roma in a 4-0 home triumph to take advantage of Milan's earlier slip, the Rossoneri barely managed a 1-1 home draw against Bologna thanks to a late Zlatan Ibrahimovic equalizer.

The Bianconeri are now three points ahead of Milan. Juve remain undefeated in the league and are still on course to achieve a precious domestic double if they can maintain this high level of intensity.

Juventus made a significant step towards clinching their first Serie A title in 7 years with a resounding 4-0 win over AS Roma at the Juventus Stadium to move 3 points clear at the top of the Serie A table.

Juve's win stretches their unbeaten run in the league to 33 which matches Fiorentina's record set in the 1955/56 season and just one short of Milan's leading record of 34 set back in the 1991/1992 season.

Italy Euro 2012 Puma Home Football Shirt - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

The Italian National Team are one of the favourites to win the Euro 2012 tournament. The Azzuri last tasted success at the 2006 World Cup and are always one of the main contenders for every major tournament.

Italy Euro 2012 Puma Home Football Shirt - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

The Italian National Team are one of the favourites to win the Euro 2012 tournament. The Azzuri last tasted success at the 2006 World Cup and are always one of the main contenders for every major tournament.

Not sure what Alessandro Del Piero and Paul Scholes are drinking, both these two veteran players are driving Juventus and Manchester United to their respective league titles.

After AC Milan's 1-0 win last night, Juventus needed to respond in kind, and they did just that thanks to a late free-kick from Alessandro Del Piero, who was playing his 700th game for Juventus

Simone Pepe gave Juventus the lead after 30 minutes when he drifted in behind the Lazio defence, collected Andrea Pirlo's clipped pass and acrobatically fired in from close range.

szólj hozzá: JUV

Can anyone doubt Juve's quality in midfield when you have the creative spark of Andrea Pirlo, Claudio Marchisio, and Mirko Vucinic combined with Alessandro Matri and Fabio Quagliarella's attacking instincts? It's all clicking for Juve at the right time. Today, they ousted a gritty Palermo side with goals from Leonardo Bonucci and Quagliarella and went on top of the Serie as Milan were shocked by laggards Fiorentina.

The best part about being away from your feeder club (i.e. AS Roma's Bojan) is the inevitable fact that you become its Ambassador! When Bojan scored in the 62nd minute of Roma's 5-2 victory over Novara yesterday, he lifted his shirt to reveal this message : "All the strength of this goal is for Abi" (Eric Abidal).

Three matches and three rivals vanquished (even if Adriano Galliani does not completely agree) – Juventus enjoyed a successful week which rejuvenated their Scudetto bid and saw them reach the Coppa Italia final. The week-capping victory over Inter made Juve forget the provincial struggles which has threatened to ensure a potentially unbeaten season likened more to Perugia 1978/79 than Milan.