Siena – Napoli: nel gelo toscano va in scena il primo atto della semifinale di Tim Cup Di Paolo Esposito SIENA – Alla Montepaschi Arena Siena e Napoli si giocano una fetta di finale. Alle 20.45 bianconeri ed azzurri incroceranno i fioretti per la prima volta, mentre il ritorno è previsto al San Paolo tra circa un mese.

Diego Milito's quadruple known as a 'poker' against Palermo was a rare moment, in fact it was only the sixth time it's happened in ten years, but with Italy's final friendly before Euro 2012 looming it focused the eyes on the Azzurri's frontline. The Argentinian's four-step sent him into a comic book group that features ‘the little plane', Vincenzo Montella, twinkle-toes Christian.

Warning: NSFJW (Not Safe For Jealous Women)
Sometimes, we get so caught up in what divides us, we forget about that which unites us: gli Azzurri. But it's already 2012, and in a few short months, our beloved boys in blue will be competing for the distinction of being the best national team in all of Europe.

On October 11 last year in the provincial city of Pescara, Italy ended their qualifying campaign with a 3-0 win over Northern Ireland. It was the perfect ending as Italy finished top of their group. It was also just reward for coach Cesare Prandelli who managed to rebuild a strong Azzurri from the wreckage of the 2010 World Cup disaster.

Napoli – Inter 2-0: azzurri in semifinale grazie ad un super Cavani Di Paolo Esposito NAPOLI – Si chiude con un secco due a zero il quarto di finale di Tim Cup che vedeva opposti al San Paolo i padroni di casa e l'Inter. Il Napoli domina una partita che dal lato nerazzurro ha veramente poco da segnalare.

Napoli – Cesena 2-1: azzurri ai quarti Di Paolo Esposito NAPOLI – Sbagliava chi sosteneva che Napoli – Cesena sarebbe stata una formalit per gli azzurri. I bianconeri, in formazione ampiamente rimaneggiata, avevano dato un chiaro segnale, in partenza, di quanto poco fossero attratti dalla Coppa Italia, a tutto vantaggio di una sfida più che delicata, peraltro con pochissimo tempo a disposizione

I don't think we're in Udine anymore, Toto..

In the end, it was inevitable. For a coach as fair thinking as Prandelli, not to mention the deliberate "meritocracy" that Pranders has applied to the Azzurri, this seemed a logical choice. Okay, we've lost two centre forwards, and need a decent striker [read more]

... and all through the land, rumours, scandal and transfer talk were at hand! What better way to end the year here at Futbolita, at least where calcio is concerned, with a look at what lies ahead in the upcoming year?

Barbara Berlusconi – daughter of disgraced former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, member of Milan's board of directors, and Alexandre Pato's girlfriend – has been the subject of much speculation as of late, with many gossip magazines claiming the beautiful blonde is carrying Pato's child.

In the last few months, m'colleague Sam and I have exhaustively covered La Nazionale's options on most fronts, though there is one vitally important area that we, in our base human foolishness, have neglected to mention, the most vital position of them all, the position that, if it were not tended, would result in defeat of the most abominable scale.

The Italy PUMA EURO 2012 home jersey was released in November and was worn for the first time in the Azzurri's friendly win against Copa America 2011 champions Uruguay. Over the past few days we've has one of the latest Italy kits in our possession for an up close look. It is now available at [...]

[caption id="attachment_4685" align="alignleft" width="800" caption="Do you remember the first time?"][/caption]

While some (primarily English) observers consider Brazil's 1982 "jogo bonito" side to be the best team never to win the world cup (which is, in itself, ridiculous. The Grande Inter of the 1960s, just to name one, never won the world cup.

Agli "Atleti Azzurri di Italia" l'Atalanta sfiora il colpaccio contro il Napoli, in uno dei due anticipi serali di sabato, ma passata in vantaggio per prima con l'ex Denis (che sfrutta un erroraccio di Campagnaro per segnare il suo 10° goal stagionale in Serie A), subisce la beffa al 94′, ad opera del Matador partenopeo,Continua a leggere .

Atalanta – Napoli 1-1: gli azzurri si salvano in extremis Di Paolo Esposito All'Azzurri d'Italia di Bergamo è stata una partita molto intensa, ben giocata da entrambe le squadre, che hanno fatto di tutto per non cedere nemmeno un metro all'avversario. L'Atalanta è scesa in campo con il solito stile sbarazzino e gagliardo, che tanto ha reso in termini di risultati fino a questo momento.

[caption id="attachment_4624" align="alignleft" width="500" caption="Federico Marchetti in the hard days"][/caption]
The philosopher George Santayana once said that "those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it". While remembering the Azzurri's recent past, namely... that year between 2009 and 2011, two years after 2008, is as unpleasant as arguing with someone about anyone of the aforementioned philosopher's aphorisms, it is vital to remember this pivotal year, so as not to repeat it.

[caption id="attachment_4582" align="alignleft" width="600" caption="Feast your eyes on this."][/caption]
During the friendly against Uruguay, it was not only the style of play expectorated out by our boys in blue that caught the eye, nor simply Riccardo Montolivo's pale, cold, and bewitching face, and more than just Cesare Prandelli's jacket, it was the dazzling new blue shirts worn by the Azzurri that truly slapped the mind of this restless footballing warrior (apologies to Elton John for that metaphor) with the cold hand of seduction, perfumed on the wrist with a heady glamour tinged with the unearthly fumes of nostalgia, all the while softly intoning in a luscious Pisan accent a call for it's soft, azure fabric to be worn in sickness and in health, an irresistible siren's call from an antique realm.

3PM Extra: Watch Balotelli's wardrobe malfunction, a brilliant adidas ad and one of the funniest goals ever

Presenting quality football videos from the interweb, daily at 3pm. Here's today's collection: 1) Remember that time Mario Balotelli got all confused trying to put on a bib?

By Alan Duffy

Old shirt? New shirt? What's the difference?

"Why always me?" well, Mario, maybe it's because you're a bit of an eejit!

In Italy's 1-0 defeat at the hands of Uruguay, the City star came on as a second-half substitute wearing the Azzurri's old shirt, rather than the swanky brand new one which had been unveiled in the run-up to this game.

If you are ever planning a party, don't invite Uruguay. They famously scuppered Brazil's World Cup festivities back in 1950. And, on a much more minor scale, they burst the balloons blown up for the match to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Italian unification in Rome. It brought the Azzurri back down to earth after a victory over one of the hosts of next year's European Nations a few days.

If you are ever planning a party, don't invite Uruguay. They famously scuppered Brazil's World Cup festivities back in 1950. And, on a much more minor scale, they burst the balloons blown up for the match to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Italian unification in Rome. It brought the Azzurri back down to earth after a victory over one of the hosts of next year's European Nations a few days.

Time to sing "Everything you own in the box to the left!" to Diego Forlan because Uruguay have officially reaffirmed their commitment to their new national hero (handball and all), Luis SuaaaRez!

Of course, it's hard to ignore his four goals against Chi-le-le over the weekend but the Italians can sit down and relax because he won't be featuring against them tonight in the Italy-Uruguay international friendly.

The Italy PUMA Euro 2012 home kit has been officially launched ahead of the Azzurri's friendly with Uruguay in Rome on November 15th. The new Italy home kit will be used as the four-time World Cup winners' primary uniform during the 2012/13 international season.

The Italy PUMA EURO 2012 home kit has been officially launched ahead of the Azzurri's friendly with Uruguay in Rome on November 15th. The new Italy home kit will be used as the four-time World Cup winners' primary uniform during the 2012/13 international season. It will be available at World Soccer Shop, Tienda Fútbol Mundial, Onionbag.

Milan fullback Ignazio Abate has used the term ‘beautiful' to describe his debut for the Azzurri in their 2-0 win over Poland in Friday. "It was beautiful to start, and we had a good game," Abate told Rai Sport after the game. "Poland pressed high in the first half, but we hit them at [...]

Milan fullback Ignazio Abate has used the term ‘beautiful' to describe his debut for the Azzurri in their 2-0 win over Poland in Friday. "It was beautiful to start, and we had a good game," Abate told Rai Sport after the game. "Poland pressed high in the first half, but we hit them at [...]

Milan fullback Ignazio Abate has used the term ‘beautiful' to describe his debut for the Azzurri in their 2-0 win over Poland in Friday. "It was beautiful to start, and we had a good game," Abate told Rai Sport after the game. "Poland pressed high in the first half, but we hit them at [...]

Milan fullback Ignazio Abate has used the term ‘beautiful' to describe his debut for the Azzurri in their 2-0 win over Poland in Friday. "It was beautiful to start, and we had a good game," Abate told Rai Sport after the game. "Poland pressed high in the first half, but we hit them at [...]

La Polonia evoca dolci ricordi azzurri: la semifinale che ci aprì la strada della gioia al Mundial 82 fu proprio contro la squadra dell'est. Vincemmo per 2 a 0 con una doppietta di Pablito e ci andò molto bene perchè in quella Polonia non c'era Boniek, il bello di notte. Stasera sar ancora Polonia, certo [.

Italy, oh Italy! The world's eyes are fixated on their fallen president and wacky owner of AC Milan today... Botox Berlusconi! Well, everyone except the Azzurri of course, where it was 'Business as Usual' with medical checks at the team's training camp in Florence yesterday.

Vediamo, dunque, come si sono comportate le squadre della Serie A nel turno infrasettimanale, disputato ieri sera e cominciato martedì con la vittoria della Juventus (capolista in virtù della sconfitta dell'Udinese) sulla Fiorentina per 2-1, grazie alla rete decisiva di Alessandro Matri. ATALANTA-INTER (1-1): All'Atleti Azzurri d'Italia il match tutto nerazzurro si chiude sull'uno a [.

Rivera. Mazzola. Baggio. Mancini. Totti. Del Piero. Zola. The list could go on and on. Since Il Calcio became the sport of choice in the peninsula, the Azzurri have always been blessed with fantasisti, players that could define matches with moments of sublime skill, unerring vision or sheer audacity.

Italy finished off their qualifying campaign for Euro 2012 in fine fashion as they defeated Northern Ireland 3-0 with Antonio Cassano again the star. A superb volley for his first strike the Milan striker got his brace after a neat finish past the helpless Maik Taylor. His performance for the Azzurri reinforced one thing: this [.

Italian football blog: Prandelli's progressive approach is bad news for Northern Ireland but good news for Juve

For the new season, MirrorFootball is teaming up with some of the blogosphere's best new writers to bring you even more great football reads every single day.

Ah, leave it to the Azzurri to tour the football pitch in style! Seriously though, you could set up a fashion runway right in the middle of Belgrade's Marakana stadium and the Italian national team won't look an inch out of place. Work it, bellissimo!

06.10.2011 - Convocado por el entrenador Cesare Prandelli para jugar ante Serbia e Irlanda del Norte (eliminatorias 2014), Pablo Daniel Osvaldo se convierte en el 16° jugador argentino en vestir (oficialmente) la azurra de la selección italiana.
Osvaldo ya había jugado para el Sub-21 italiano (10 partidos y 2 goles, uno de ellos le permitió a los azzurri ganar el Torneo Esperanzas de Toulon, venciendo 1-0 a Chile en la final).

21 anni dopo l'ultima apparizione in Champions (allora Coppa dei Campioni), il Napoli si regala una serata magica ed emozionante, una notte europea di grande festa, desiderata e voluta da tutti i tifosi partenopei. Festa che è iniziata con l'ingresso in campo degli azzurri di Mazzarri, osannati dai 50mila del San Paolo, festa che è [.

If I were a manager of a football team, I would never be one to rest on my laurels. I would always be on the lookout for new talent and ways to improve my team. So as an Italy World Cup Blogger, I apply that same winning mentality to this blog, and today, I am very pleased to announce a new blogger who will bring to this blog what Fulvio Collovati brought to the Azzurri in 1982.

Sometimes I let my imagination get the best of me, and today is no exception. Perusing through pictures of the Azzurri, I wondered what various players would say about what it means to them to play for Italy. So without further ado, here is what they... I mean my imagination... [read more]

Napoli – Villarreal: azzurri in cerca di conferme in Champions Di Paolo Esposito Se è vero che il Napoli si esalta nelle grandi occasioni, questo è il momento di dimostrarlo. Al San Paolo c'è l'esordio casalingo della truppa di Mazzarri nella massima competizione internazionale. Sar la prima volta della famosa musichetta e del telone a forma di pallone che sventola a centrocampo.

We Milan fans are lucky. Many a night have we been blessed with magical moments in Europe's premier club competition, the Champions League. The greatest recent memory was the year of 2007. Italian football was a mess after Calciopoli reshaped and distorted the Serie A as a viably competitive league. Forget the Azzurri's triumph in [.

The good news is that Italy, with a 1-0 victory, have secured qualification to the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine next summer. The bad news it's not that bad is that the they haven't been living up to the hype recently. Italy have been compared with Barcelona an awful lot during Cesare Prandelli's tenure in charge of the Azzurri, but any viewers.