On behalf of the Italy Offside, I'd like to congratulate Ronaldinho on his pregnancy. He looks about 4 months in. Can't wait to see him walking around the pitches of Serie A come August.

Various Serie A news from the day:

- Happy Birthday Antonio Cassano! Fantantonio turns 28 today.

COS contributor Oliver Davies takes a look at those top notch players who failed to make their respective World Cup squads.

Win the Club Shirt Of Your Choice Simply by Speaking Your Mind!

You may remember that a few weeks ago I made the best XI not at the World Cup, sporting a 5-3-2 and players like Ibrahimovic, Cech and Zhikov
It was a great team, but there was one fundamental flaw.

One of the shock events of the past week in Calcio has been the proceedings at Sampdoria regarding Antonio Cassano. The striker looks set to leave Genoa for one of the brighter lights of Serie A after a major falling out with club President Riccardo Garrone. It is reported that last week the two traded insults after Cassano failed to appear at the 'Silver Goal' celebration of club De.

It seems awfully early, but the FIFA ticker tells us it's only 38 days away. Must be lying? No, apparently not.

With the ticker ticking, squads will start coming fast and furiously. The provisional list of 30 must be sent in by May 11th, but there are excuses for midweek training which can call for choosing a squad rather early, like a free week between domestic games.

Shockly left behind are Marco Borriello and Giuseppe Rossi. Also absent are the usual suspects of Antonio Cassano and young Mario Balotelli both we already knew would never make the final list. Elder...
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By Eric Beard

Anyone watching the Spain-Germany match witnessed what seemed to be your average hooligan invading the pitch like a proper idiot in the first few minutes of the first half. However, this hooligan, Italian Mario Ferri, is actually cult hero in his homeland.

La rivoluzione azzurra è iniziata. In attesa di scoprire sul campo, nell'amichevole del 10 agosto prossimo contro la Costa d'Avorio, come si presenter , l'Italia di Cesare Prandelli è gi nata ed è composta, al suo interno, da tanbte facce nuove e tanti calciatori che non hanno vissuto l'era Lippi e quella Lippi bis per motivi più o meno condivisibili.

Having spent my Wednesday evening immersed in equal parts Werder Bremen v Sampdoria Champions League playoff and Jonathan Wilson's What is a playmaker's role in the modern game?, I find it abnormally appropriate to comment on Aaron Hunt's man of the match performance in Bremen's eventual 3–1 first leg home victory v Antonio Cassano and Sampdoria.

Can Tottenham hold on to their star player Gareth Bale who was awesome against Inter but average against Bolton, Spurs fan's will hope they can. Will United midfielder Owen Hargreaves hang up his boots after his LATEST INJURY only time will tell just like the gossip below will tell as we have a glance at the EPL gossip in todays Sunday Newspapers.

There is little doubt that when Antonio Cassano is in form, he is right up there with Francesco Totti as the most talented player in Italy. His technique and skill is just so sublime at times and he can really give defenders headaches. However, would you say that Cassano is the hardest working player on the pitch?

You know it's nearly World Cup time when players are being pushed out in front of all the world's media bulbs for the sake of national pride and publicity. Whether it's for marketers, charity or themselves, much has changed since the '06 landscape. Such as the slew of savvy photographers who happen to capture moments like Craig Moore relaxing on a private yacht in the Sydney Harbour for the Socceroos Nike kit launch.

I thought I'd skip over Tactics Wednesday this week and post this. Serie A has always been known to have some crazy president and owners. In fact, I think you'll find that Italy is home to the craziest owners and presidents in all of world football. I feel like Italy is the only place you hear about all these crazy antics by owners, in the EPL you don't even know who some of these people are.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi named his 29-man roster prior to the World Cup.
He did exclude players from both Inter and AS Roma as they will be playing in the final of the Coppa Italia. These two sides are also battling for the Scudetto as well. Inter meantime are looking to become the first Italian side to win the treble.

Marcello Lippi announced the provisional Italian national team roster today on the FIGC website (official website notice here, Goal.com English summary here). Few controversies were expected, as the Italian squad won the last World Cup and looked to return most of that roster. There were however a few items of note:

• AS Roma stars Francesco Totti and Luca Toni were not on the 30-man roster.

So the top boss, Marcelo Lippi, has named his provisional squad for this summer's World Cup in South Africa. The usual suspects have been named in it, but there is controversy over the exclusion of a...
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In this aggravating time between the end of the Serie A season and the beginning of the World Cup, we can bide our time by looking back at the past Serie A season. As expected by many, Inter Milan won the title. In my series of posts reviewing the season, however, I want to begin by looking at those teams that surprised the experts.

Images via Hola.com.

Saturday

- Hottie with a body, Aitor Ocio, took his daughter Naia to EuroDisney in Paris. No, the child's mother Laura Sanchez wasn't there and yes, this man is very single.

- Raul and Mamen were spotted snapping photos of their twins, Jorge and Hugo, and stealing kissing from one another in NYC's Central Park.

Mario Ferri streaked the Netherlands Italy friendly back in November to tell Marcello Lippi, like every fan in the peninsula, Antonio Cassano needed to be on the team. As you may've heard, Lippi gifted Cassano the chance to make his nuptials instead of taking part in the 23 (21.

O espanhol Jaume Marquet, que no domingo invadiu o gramado do estádio Soccer City pouco antes da final da Copa do Mundo entre Espanha e Holanda, será acusado de tentativa de roubo da taça Fifa, segundo a polícia sul-africana.
Conhecido como Jimmy Jump, Marquet ganhou fama ao roubar a cena em diversas competições, como as finais da Eurocopa (2004) e da Liga dos Campeões (2007), além de eventos como o festival de música "Eurovision".

Italy boss Cesare Prandelli announced his 23 man squad for the friendly against the Ivory Coast which will take place on Tuesday in England. Many of the names chosen by Marcello Lippi were dropped.

Prandelli made some expected changes following the World Cup disappointment with Fabio Quagliarella the only striker remaining from the team selected by Lippi for South Africa 2010.

Italy boss Cesare Prandelli announced his 23 man squad for the friendly against the Ivory Coast which will take place on Tuesday in England. Many of the names chosen by Marcello Lippi were dropped.

Prandelli made some expected changes following the World Cup disappointment with Fabio Quagliarella the only striker remaining from the team selected by Lippi for South Africa 2010.

Five Champions League playoffs were decided yesterday, and five more will be decided today. Winners advance to the Champions League group stage (or: the Champions League proper, if we're being honest) while losers fall through the trap door into the Europa League, screaming "Aaaaarrrrghhh!" all the way down.

Italy named their squad for the upcoming Euro 2012 qualifying against Estonia and Faroe Islands. After an awful World Cup a lot of the squad was dropped for the recent friendly with Ivory Coast, and while new Italian manager Cesare Prandelli has recalled, arguably his two most talented strikers, Alberto Gilardino and Giampaolo Pazzini.

Finally Italy has clicked. While the comeback win against Estonia was a good result, this 5-0 win shows that Prandelli has found harmony within the team. Prandelli's home debut as the coach of the Italian National team is certainly positive, Cassano inspired the team, and he looks ready to face any opposition.

Antonio Cassano's biggest and most elusive fan, Mario Ferri, apparently survived the punishments of FIFA and the South African police for invading the Spain-Germany World Cup semifinal to celebrate the success of his crusade with Cassanno himself. Just after the opening kickoff of Italy's 5-0 win over the Faroe Islands in Florence on Tuesday, Ferri made his fourth Cassano-related pitch invasion.

Image: AF NIKOLAJ VRAA / STARLOUNGE.

It may only be mid-September, Kickettes, but footballers are falling into the baby-making festivities quite early this sporting season. Let's review, shall we?

After spending a weekend in their native Denmark, on-the-move man of the moment, Nicklas Bendtner and his fiancee, Caroline Fleming, were spotted out and about in London.

Italy could not defeat Northern Ireland in their third match during Euro 2010 qualification and had to settle for a scoreless draw Friday. The Azzurri's problems extend beyond injuries which deprived the team of key players such as keeper Gigi Buffon. It might be strange to mention Buffon since he is a long-term absentee but his surgery and the time he is still expected to miss has affected.

Reports in the Italian press on Saturday suggested that Sampdoria are ready to terminate Antonio Cassano's contract after the enigmatic Italy international was involved in a heated exchange with Sampdoria president, Riccardo Garrone at the club's training ground.

However, Cassano uncharacteristically released an apology to Garrone and the club.

By TRAVIS CLARK

English starlet Jack Wilshere has been rewarded for a promising start to the 2010-11 Premier League season, signing a new long term deal with Arsenal on Monday.

The 18-year-old, who has started eight times in the Premier League this season, has been at the club since he was nine years old, and has matured into a fixture with the second-place team in the English Premier League.

If you've been reading Italian calcio news over the past week, you may have seen the word "Cassano" at least 1,000 times. Yes, after more than 2 years of being a good boy, Cassano has graced us all with another one of his famous "Cassanate". His last Cassanata dates back to March of 2008, when he decided to throw his jersey at referee Pierpaoli and tell him he'll wait for him after the game.

It's funny how quickly transfer speculation spreads. Two weeks ago, Gareth Bale was just an in-form left-winger playing for Tottenham. It was a simple as that. Now, he's the hottest property in Europe and has to ‘clarify' his future in regards to interest from Barcelona, Real Madrid and friends.

Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina) Montolivo is planning to have surgery later this month to correct an ankle injury Ezequiel Matis Schelotto (Cesena) The Argentine-born winger who has played for Italy's Under-21 National Team, is wanted by the big clubs Zlatan Ibrahimovic (AC Milan) The Swede reportedly got into a fight with American teammate Oguchi Onyewu that forced coach Massimiliano.

By Chris Wright

Whilst Barcelona were busy making come-hither eyes at Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas all summer, there were a few peripheral rumours also doing the rounds that seemed to suggest Inter Milan were quietly sneaking up on the rails rumours that still persist to this very day.

This weekend is a big one; in all three leagues (Serie A, English Premier League, and La Liga) we have some big matches. What we also have this weekend is the FIFA World Club Cup Final between TP Mazembe and Inter Milan, and it is the first time that an African side has reached the final of this tournament.

There isn't many days left in 2010 and that can only mean one thing... a massive New Year party is in the offing, no wait, something much more important than that! The January transfer window. Even the Christmas festivities hasn't stopped the rumour mill from producing a never ending batch of transfer stories and here at Serie A Weekly we pick through a selection of them, so you have an idea of the.

UEFA's annual popularity contest, the UEFA.com Team of the Year 2010, is up and running for your perusal and vote, and they apparently did a solid job this year. Of course maybe it's the lack of coffee so far, but there doesn't seem to be a terrible snub popping off the page at the moment.

With the transfer window now ready and open for business Soccerlens looks at the possible comings and goings at some of Europe's top domestic leagues.

Italy, Serie A

AC Milan look to be one of the busiest clubs in Italy this January as they prepare themselves to tie down Antonio Cassano from Sampdoria.

Plenty of rumour-tism this morning so here's a quick round up of the most prominent.

A Babel in it's natural habitat

Rumour No. 1: Birmingham have inquired about the availability of Liverpool winger Ryan Babel. There is rumoured to have been a £9 million bid on the table from Brum but it fell some way short of the £12 million that Liverpool have the gall to value the Dutchman at.

Like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day, Italian soccer has returned to our airwaves, and this week's matches saw the return of David Beckham, the goal of the year, and some good calcio as well. As reports roll in of players leaving Italy in transfers, the question is what moves will the contenders make in the next few weeks to boost their run at the scudetto or a European competition.

Every year around this time the Oscar del Calcio award ceremony is held in Milan. The awards ceremony has been held since 1997 and awards the best players in the peninsula from the previous season. Last year Zlatan Ibrahimovic cleaned house as he won Best Foreigner and Best Overall Player, as well as Goal of the Season.