It was made known pretty early that the contracts of Julio Cruz and Christian Panucci were not going to be renewed by Inter and Roma at the end of the season. Both players were linked with a host of clubs but no offer became concrete and up until yesterday it was anybody's guess where Cruz and Panucci would wind up playing next season.

Click to continue reading...

Chiusa l'era con i giallorossi, poche ore fa è partita ufficialmente l'avventura con i ducali, con una delle squadre di calcio neopromosse in A. L'esperto 36enne difensore savonese Christian Panucci è stato presentato dal Parma di Ghirardi che, in pochi giorni di trattativa, è riuscito ad ingaggiarlo (a parametro zero) dalla società capitolina. Click to continue reading...

Finisce, con l'accordo raggiunto nella notte, un amore profondo, tra i tifosi e il giocatore, incrinatosi nell'ultima stagione per i comportamenti non professionali mostrati nei confronti della squadra e, in special modo, verso il mister Spalletti. Sul campo, 229 gare e 20 reti in giallorosso, tutte nella Serie A di Calcio. Click to continue reading...

First, if you haven't taken our weekend quiz, stop by this post and make your guesses, then come here for the answers. Thanks again to reader Ranjeet for providing this week's quiz. For future reference, anybody who provides me with quiz questions gets some serious Laurie's Offside Gold Stars. And we all [. Click to continue reading...

It really has been a nightmarish year on the pitch for AS Roma. From the last game of the 2008 season and it's painful end, to the start of this season Roma have struggled mightily. At this point i will gladly take a Uefa cup spot in light of how poor Roma have been.The contributing factors to this seasons decline are many. Click to continue reading...

Well Inter have done it for a fourth straight year.Ya-ya i know the first two were awarded because of Juve's revocation of Scudetti.But it doesn't matter Inter sit on their 17th straight Scudetto.Thanks to Udinese's revenge 2-1 win over Inter's dreaded derby rival Milan.
So Inter get to celebrate a fourth straight title in front of their home fans at the San Siro tomorrow. Click to continue reading...

It seems month after month I hear of a blowout involving Luciano Spalletti and a Roma player.A few months back it was Christian Panucci and Spalletti. Panucci refused to enter a game as a substitute against Palermo.What ensued was a month long battle that turned very ugly. That row nearly saw Panucci transferred to Torino of the Serie A and I think it was Hull City of the Premiership. Click to continue reading...

Thirty five year old veteran Roma defender wants to play out the final two years of his career in Rome.His words not mine.Panucci who has been with the club since 2001 and made over 250 starts finds himself limited in power.He is at a stage in his career that limits his options based on his age.He wants to start and can but with his contract expiring upon seasons end he needs to keep playing to prove his worth to any big club that needs his services. Click to continue reading...

If your a Roma fan like me you maybe unnerved by the thought of loosing Christian Panucci,Alberto Aquilani and Philip Mexes. With the month running out on us it is real concern Roma could loose one or all three players this month. Philip Mexes has been rumored to go to AC Milan,while Aquilani no doubt will find himself at a superclub somewhere. Click to continue reading...

Still getting caught up to what has been going on in Rumorville as another Italian National Team vet is linked with an MLS Club....
Courtesy of Tribal Football:
LA Galaxy are ready to snap up Roma defender Christian Panucci.
The former AC Milan and Real Madrid fullback is inside the final six months of his current contract and yet to open talks with Roma over a new deal. Click to continue reading...

Fabio Cannavaro, Carlos Tevez, Michael Ballack, Michael Owen, Mark Van Bommel, Fred... these are but a few of the players whose contract is set to expire at the end of the season. And with the january transfer window practically at our doorstep, it is time to give these "old timers" a chance they are still [. Click to continue reading...

Fabio Cannavaro, Carlos Tevez, Michael Ballack, Michael Owen, Mark Van Bommel, Fred... these are but a few of the players whose contract is set to expire at the end of the season. And with the january transfer window practically at our doorstep, it is time to give these "old timers" a chance to prove they [. Click to continue reading...

Roma 3 - 1 Chelsea Game Highlights Highlights  individual goal highlights can also be found at SAPO UEFA.COM MAGAZINE INTERVIEW with Luciano Spalletti AS Roma's Luciano Spalletti says hosting the UEFA Champions League final in Rome gives his side extra motivation Bookmark to: Click to continue reading...

Will Juventus be ready for visitors Palermo? Check the Serie A On TV page for local Serie A coverage. Bookmark to: Click to continue reading...

Third time's the charm for AS Roma. After the (bad) draw vs. Napoli on matchday 1, the (worse) loss vs. Palermo on matchday 2 (and the disaster vs. CFR Cluj in the UEFA Champions League), the Giallorossi can smile again. Three unanswered goals will do that to ya... On the grass of the Stadio Olimpico of [. Click to continue reading...

NEL MOMENTO PIÙ DIFFICILE,PARLA LA MATRIARCA GIALLOROSSA
«Voleremo insieme alla Roma»
Maria Sensi: «A Bordeaux io o Rosella torneremo a seguire la squadra in trasferta. Ci
riprenderemo. Alla messa m'aspettavo più tifosi, ma la famiglia romanista c'era tutta»
Di PIETRO TRIA
«A Bordeaux, io o mia figlia Rosella torneremo
a seguire la squadra in trasferta
». Click to continue reading...

Man, I never woulda had Roma losing to Cluj, a Romanian side, at home.
Christian Panucci had the favored side up 1-0 with a header in the 17th minute, but Emmanuel Culio bagged the next two with goals at 28' and 49' to give the visitors a shocking win.
It wasn't undeserved either, the underdogs played well enough to win and deserved the three points in Group A. Click to continue reading...

There's an old 1962 movie with Charlton Heston (don't ask me how I know that) that has a very appropriate title for this match: "The Pigeon That Took Rome". CFR Cluj being the pigeon, a.k.a the David that no one knew but who at his first UCL appearance defeated the big Roma Goliath. Italian manager [. Click to continue reading...

IL TERZINO HA PARLATO A "GUARDA CHE LUPA",IL CENTRALE A SKY SPORT 24:DOMANI POTREBBE TOCCARE NUOVAMENTE A LORO
Panucci:«Non sarà una partita facile»
«Il calcio romeno ha tradizione, ed hanno molti sudamericani». Loria: «Mi farò trovare pronto»
Di FRANCESCO ODDI
«Il nostro non è un girone facile, e la squadra
romena non va sottovalutata. Click to continue reading...

Marcos Senna is being celebrated as a find, a player finally giving teeth to the much maligned Spanish defence, a noteworthy ally in its potent attack. But he is in a minority because this Euro shone a spotlight on the number of flatfooted defenses which became red meat for swift counter attacks.

Click to continue reading...

Italian sports newspapers Gazzetta dello Sport rated the Azzurri players at the end of their European adventure. Along with Gigi Buffon, positive scores were obtained by Chiellini and Grosso. All the strikers flunked the test, while some midfielders could have done better. The overall form however, was never great. Click to continue reading...

Since I'm in an "uploading-pictures" kind of mood, here are selected snapshots of Euro 2008's France vs. Italy match two days ago. Emphasis on "selected" (i.e. by me, because I thought they were funny and because I just can). Also, since every self-respecting picture should include a caption, I have provided two for each. Click to continue reading...

Los campeones del mundo sufrieron bastante para igualar a un tanto contra el conjunto de Rumania, los goles fueron obra de Adrian Mutu al 55 y un minuto después igualó Christian Panucci. El árbitro anuló una anotación que era válida al goleador italiano, Luca Toni, y al minuto 81 marcó un penal a favor de Rumania, [. Click to continue reading...

If not for defender Christian Panucci poaching a goal and keeper Gigi Buffon making a fabulous penalty save, the World Champions would already be packing for home. Highlights from the Italy vs. Romania match on Day 7 Footytube Italy 1 -1 Romania Italy: Buffon; Zambrotta, Panucci, Chiellini, Grosso; Camoranesi (Ambrosini 85), Pirlo, De Rossi, Perrotta (Cassano 56); Del Piero Click to continue reading...

Forget that Group C is the 'Group of Death,' I AM THE KISS OF DEATH!!

Not only has Italy failed to win a game so far but in every other game that I wanted a team to win - they haven't!!

In yesterday's games Chelsea players past and present had significant contributions.

Click to continue reading...

Italy 1, Romania 1
Holland 4, France 1
Any questions? Holland continued their dream run through the Group of Death with a 4-1 win over France. The win clinches the top spot in Group C for Marco Van Basten's men after a sweep of the finalists from the 2006 World Cup. As they did in their opener, Holland took the early lead but never let up on the pressure. Click to continue reading...

Italy 1, Romania 1
Holland 4, France 1
Any questions? Holland continued their dream run through the Group of Death with a 4-1 win over France. The win clinches the top spot in Group C for Marco Van Basten's men after a sweep of the finalists from the 2006 World Cup. As they did in their opener, Holland took the early lead but continued to press from there. Click to continue reading...

Italy 1-1 Romania. The Azzurri ain't out of Euro 2008 just yet, but there's not much keeping them in. Their defence is still shaky, the midfield looked a little better but quickly ran out of ideas (especially Pirlo), and Luca Toni still cruelly remains goalless. Well... to be honest he did score today, but the [. Click to continue reading...

VIENNA - Italy go into tonight's game with Romania desperate for a win after getting thumped 3-0 by the Dutch in their opening game. Coach Roberto Donadoni looks certain to bow to public demand by ditching his unsuccessful 4-3-3 formation and bringing in old favourite Alessandro Del Piero to support Luca Toni in attack. Click to continue reading...

Quite the little controversy over Ruud van Nistelrooy's goal yesterday. RvN was blatantly beyond the Italian line of defence when connecting with Giovanni van Bronkhurst's shot/pass, but the big question was whether RvN was being played onside by Christian Panucci or not. Panucci had been knocked off on his arse the field and by his own keeper Buffon.

Click to continue reading...

Premier League referees' chief Keith Hackett said that the goal Van Nistelrooy scored was okay after all.He looked a mile offside when he knocked the ball past Buffon.
But it appears he was played onside by defender Christian Panucci, who was lying off the pitch at the time.Take a look at the picture.

Click to continue reading...

From BBC (re. van Nistelrooy's goals vs. Italy)
But what looked a desperately poor decision was, in fact, a brilliant piece of officiating, according to the chairman of Austria's refereeing commission Gerhard Kapl and Premier League referees' chief Keith Hackett.
Both said Van Nistelrooy was played onside by Italy's Christian Panucci, who had been injured seconds earlier and was lying behind the goal when the Dutch striker scored. Click to continue reading...

...And as if by magic, the Dutch and the Italians arrived. Barely half an hour after I finished writing about a match that was described (accurately) by Alan Hansen as "one of the worst games of football I've ever seen", they kicked off in Berne for a match that has finally kicked some life into the body of Euro 2008. Click to continue reading...

Italy have received the late boost that Fabio Cannavaro will be able to give a captain's contribution from the dug-out.

The Azzurri skipper, who is already on the road to recovery following last Wednesday's ankle operation, has been given the go-ahead by UEFA to participate in Euro 2008 from the bench. Click to continue reading...

As Holland and Italy gear up for their opening Group C match against each other, both teams are suffering from fresh injury setbacks. As reported earlier in the week, Italy's leader Fabio Cannavaro is out. Robin van Persie has been ruled out for the Dutch as well. Today, fans of Holland will be devastated to find out that Arjen Robben has now been ruled out due to injury. Click to continue reading...