The year 2006 was one of contrasting fortunes for Italian football. The Azzurri, led by the dominate displays of captain Fabio Cannavaro and guided by the wise old head of Marcello Lippi, went all the way at the FIFA finals in Germany to win the country's fourth world crown. At exactly the same time, the [.

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.

Manchester City troubled striker, Mario Balotelli, has hit the news once again after his dismissal in the Europa League tie against Dynamo Kiev which saw his team failing to overcome the 2-0 deficit in the first leg. The red card incident followed with his antiques, arguing with a Kiev fans on the way home, cost the striker dearly as not only the press slandered him a lot, the Italian international was also "punished" by the national team coach, Cesare Prandelli.

In a stunning display of showmanship, both Balotelli and DeRossi are set to be axed by manager Prandelli for next weeks clashes against Slovenia and Ukraine (it's been reported). These bans fall under Prandelli's long advocated code of ethics policy which promotes a sense of responsibility and fair play amongst the Azzurri ranks.

Having a strong ambition in getting back into the Champions League next season, Tottenham Hotspurs have been heavily linked in making a move for several quality players to strengthen their squad in the summer, including Napoli's star, Ezequiel Lavezzi.

However, despite of the press rumors, the deal doesn't seem to occur as the Italian club's president, Aurelio De Laurentis, isn't keen on releasing one of his important players ahead of the Azzurri's upcoming Champions League campaign.

Another great review from Papai...
There were two Italias on display last night, each showcasing a facet of the Italian National team that we have come to recognise over the years. The team in white was clearly in semi-holiday mode, and taking things lightly as it was just a friendly. The team in green displayed the characteristics so admired in the classic azzurri squads – tenacity, tactically nullifying an opponent, organisation and taking full advantage of whatever chances that came their way.

Just shy of a year ago, Prandelli was handed the reins of the Azzurri following their most disappointing showing ever at a World Cup. Granted, the only place to go from there was up, but at least he hasn't inspired a Lippi recall like Donadoni did. [read more]

A very Happy Birthday to Paolo Maldini. Much has been written about his greatness by far more illustrious writers than me, so i will not repeat what everybody knows. Instead, enjoy these really nice videos of the Azzurri and Milan legend- [read more]

9th of July 2006. The fact that we won the World Cup meant very little to me, it was the way in which we won that made us special.

The cancer that still is Calciopoli had just been let loose. Italian football was entering a very dark place. Corruption and fraud were a common sight. Yet for one day we managed to win by overcoming our difficulties.

guest writer/Frank Tigani This week the Azzurri recorded a highly impressive victory over reigning World and European Champions Spain. Sure, it may have just been a friendly, however, considering the strength of the two line ups it was clear that neither Cesare Prandelli nor Vicente del Bosque took to the contest lightly.

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 [...]

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.

Now that we've reviewed both halves of the year- one a little bit depressing, one more optimistic- Marco and I thought it would be fun to have a post up where we predict the upcoming year for gli azzurri and Serie A. After the jump are five questions, in stand alone format for quick copying and pasting into the comments.

One of Italy's most beloved coaches, a man who brought the World Cup back to the peninsula after 44 years. A humble man, but a football man first and foremost. Enzo Bearzot was born in Aiello del Friuli, in the province of Udine on the 26th September 1927. His father was a bank manager and had no interest in football, instead he wanted his son to go to university and get a formal education.

Andrea Ranocchia, heir apparent to Alessandro Nesta, is officially an Inter player. The defender described the move as a "dream come true" and seems fully committed to his new club. How will this affect gli azzurri? [read more]

In episode 4.1 Adam and Walker travel south to Sicily and welcome Lorenzo Vicini (think I got that right this time) to the podcast. The boyz discuss all things Palermo as well as the full fixture list from Match day 21 of Italian Serie A. Lorenzo writes for the Palermo-offside and is dedicated supporter of the Azzurri as well.

Whilst perusing this enormous list of Italian transfers, two things become immediately apparent. One is that Italian clubs were very busy in January, and the second is that if you're a youngish Italian on the cusp of breaking out onto gli azzurri, you made a move.

It's nearly impossible to list them all here, so I'll merely link them.

Cesare Prandelli continued Italy's impressive unbeaten streak (lest we forget gli azzurri went over half of 2010 without a single victory) in a 1-1 draw against Germany. Below are five points that azzurri fans, as well as Prandelli himself, can take pride in. [read more]

Introduction.
Concern has begun to lift for the first time from the Azzurri camp in recent memory. Wednesday night @ Dortmund could be considered a return to form for our fabled Azzurri; not only did we achieve a positive Germany 1-1 Italy result, but we did it in spectacular fashion amidst a humungous German audience of which only the likes of Dortmund can offer.

Well that didn't take long, did it? Shortly after you guys thought you had seen the last of me, I rise once again, like Marcello Lippi re-taking over gli azzurri in 2008. But hopefully, you know, I'll be actually successful.

My name is Julian and I'll be taking over blogging duties from Francesco.

Matchday 29 begins in a matter of hours in Italy. Two coaches have also spoke about futures- one about his own, one about that of a player- as a club and a winger appear to be at a crossroads. As ever, Serie A remains fascinating.

• Former Roma boss Luciano Spalletti has distanced himself from the Juventus job, should Gigi Del Neri get sacked: "In Italy there's talk of me at Juve?

Just another day in calcio- schedule changes, loving coaches, and new ideas.

1.Inter are so impressed with Leonardo that general manager Ernesto Paolillo believes he will be at the club for a long time to come:

Leonardo will be the Coach of the future. He came to us for a long-term project and we want to introduce more young players.

AC Milan travel to face out-of-form Palermo at La Favorita this weekend defending a five-point lead over Inter Milan at the summit after 29 games. Inter host relegation-threatened Lecce on Sunday looking to make it nine league wins in a row at the San Siro. Napoli will try to consolidate third position in the standings when they take on Cagliari in Naples.

Napoli – Cagliari: Azzurri alla prova Donadoni Di Paolo Esposito La prima cosa che fa uno sportivo poco attento, prima di sintonizzare il televisore sul canale che trasmette una partita, è guardare la classifica. Quella attuale dice Napoli 56, con un margine di cinque sulla Lazio, ad oggi prima delle escluse nella lotta Champions'; Cagliari 39, non ancora matematicamente ma, di fatto, gi salvo.

As is the case prior to a European Qualification match, an Exhibition match, or any International match - C. Prandelli sat down at his solid oak desk on Sunday morning at FIGC WORLD HEADQUARTERS and made a couple long distance calls.

Here's who will be lining up for the Azzurri this week against Slovenia and the Ukraine.

The announcing of a new Italy squad nearly always goes over rather predictably with Azzurri tifosi. The reaction often consists of complaints and pure vitriol towards the coach, much like high-schoolers upon hearing the prom king and queen nominations over a loudspeaker. "No Ignazio Abate? This is an outrage!

There's quite a bit to look forward to today, even without calcio this weekend. Cesare Prandelli and Italy will play in two games as Italy look to return to a superpower. The Offside podcasts have been updated as well and feature some great new content.

There's no Serie A action this week as European leagues take a break for some international football.

Two juicy soundbites emerged today from Italy. Admittedly, one was from Facebook, and since that merely exists in a hypothetical cloud, it's not exactly from Italy, but both concern players' compatibility. Giuseppe Rossi? So compatible he could have his own Match.com. Marco Borriello?

Not so much.

Make no mistake about it: AC Milan put in the kind of performance that usually wins Scudetti. In the Derby Della Madonnina against Inter Milan, the top side in the league notched three goals to extend their lead to five points over Leonardo's side. Pato was exceptional throughout as he scored a brace; his first goal was in the very first minute and put the Nerazzurri under enormous pressure right from the beginning.

Juventus midfielder Alberto Aquilani says he is focused on doing well for the Bianconeri rather than his future with the Turin club.
The 26-year-old signed a season-long loan from Liverpool, but there has been recent discussion suggesting the midfielder may return to the Reds, as the Bianconeri refuse to meet the €16 million fee wanted by the English club.

Part two of this brand new feature sees the guys behind the wonderful ponderingcalcio.net, Lars and TT look at some more of the finest Danish players to grace Italian football. If you missed it you can find Part One here After the ban: Elkjær and Laudrup Along with all other foreign players, Danes were banned from calcio following the bad showings of Gli Azzurri at the 1966 World Cup, but they.

While the amazing events were unfolding on the pitch in Germany 2006, incredulous events were unfolding off the pitch at home. That 10-letter C-word was being rushed through the "justice" system in Italy. Embarrassed by the juxtaposition of sheer class of the Azzurri and the apparent lack of class of a handful of club teams, the FIGC rushed the trial through, came up with a punishment and tried to move on.

After Prandelli's call ups on Thursday, people have a lot of different opinions on the squad for next week and also some of the omissions. So as we eagerly anticipate facing Spain, I thought it would be fun to paint a portrait of the Azzurri using words to describe what you think about each player.

A year after he took charge of the Azzurri, Prandelli's Italy came of age with a highly entertaining 2-1 victory over the current World and European Champions Spain at the Stadio San Nicola at Bari. It was a victory of the Mister's convictions, and a new way of playing for the Italian NT - hopefully this sets the team on the course to become a true footballing power again.

Back in May life was good at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia in Bergamo. Atalanta had accomplished their mission of making an immediate return to the Italian top-flight by winning the Serie Bwin championship, coach Stefano Colantuono committed his future to the club and the players were looking forward to a well earned summer vacation.

With just a single point needed to qualify for Poland-Ukraine 2012, the Azzurri head back home to the Stadio Artemi Franchi to face Slovenia on Tuesday. But with a less than stellar performance on Friday, they have everything to prove. [read more]

Serie A blog: The strike is off but are the Azzurri still suffering its effects?

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. Today it's our new Serie A blogger, footballitaliano.

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.

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 [.