When was the last time a winning World Cup bid did not include the country's third largest city?
Here are the third largest cities in order of World Cup going back to 1990, where I am stopping this quick study because I don't have city population figures that far back.
2006 - Munich, in bid. Click to continue reading...

Andrea Dossena has completed his long-awaited move to Napoli, the club has announced.
The former Liverpool stopper had been seeking an exit since the summer and he has been presented with the chance to begin a new adventure in Naples.
Dossena arrived in Italy from Merseyside on Thursday and successfully completed a medical. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool defender Andrea Dossena is just hours away from signing a deal with Napoli after landing in the city this afternoon.
Il Corriere Dello Sport reports the player arrived at Naples Capodichino international airport after boarding a flight from England this morning.
Dossena was with his wife, but he did not make any comment as he sidestepped the gathered press pack who were waiting for him. Click to continue reading...

If it's not Barcelona star Xavi claiming he decides when he plays or doesn't, it's Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik (the crazy looking guy above) saying he can drive whatever speed he wants and not get a ticket.

"In Naples I can drive over 140 km/hour, but the police will not punish me because they all recognise me," he was quoted as saying by the newspaper Pravda.

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Sometimes when a footballer spends many many years in a city and does well for its club, he becomes a local hero and gets reverence and perks usually reserved for a dignitary. This mostly happens when a player is older and more mature able to handle the power that comes with being placed on a pedestal.

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The position of a patron, that is to say owner of the club gives you limitless possibilities. Besides the reputation, it gives you a chance to assure everyone of your football knowledge, to sack managers, give players a hard time; simply put, you have a toy that you can even break and act as if nothing happened.

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The fact that Sampdoria are on top of Serie A after six rounds may be surprising to many people. Some will say it is luck. Some will mention Cassano as the power engine of the team that makes others better players and some might say that Samp used the starting failures of big clubs and things will eventually fall into place.

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Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli, commonly referred to as simply Napoli, is an Italian professional football club based in Naples and founded in 1926. The club has spent most of their history in the top tier in Italian football and recently finished in 12th position in the 2008/09 Serie A. SSC Napoli is currently managed by former [. Click to continue reading...

Since football knows no boarders and the intertwining of foreign players into Europe's top leagues leads to a melange of languages that need to be translated and sometimes translated again, there can be misunderstandings and unintended meanings to words and phrases that arise from time to time.

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The press continue to link Liverpool defender Andrea Dossena with a move back to Serie A and the player's agent, Roberto Laflorio, has confirmed interest from Napoli.
"Napoli like the player, but if they want him they must speak with the British club first," he told Radio Marte.
"I don't know if the English club really want to sell him. Click to continue reading...

Napoli coach Roberto Donadoni expects unsettled Argentina forward Ezequiel Lavezzi to turn up for pre-season training next week.
Lavezzi's demands for an improved contract were rejected by the Naples outfit and he has been linked with a move to Liverpool this summer.
But, when asked about Lavezzi, Donadoni said: "The club and I think, hope and are convinced that Lavezzi will be in Austria with the team on July 10 (for pre-season training). Click to continue reading...

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has hit out at Argentine striker Ezequiel Lavezzi and his agents, who are trying to get the player a pay rise, on the account of alleged Liverpool's interest in Lavezzi. The player has been linked with a move to Anfield even though Rafa Benitez has denied that he was interested in signing the striker, while Napoli sporting director Pierpaolo Marino stated that the club hadn't received any offers for Lavezzi.

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Another plane, another train
Another bottle in the brain
Another girl - another fight
Another drive all night

West Ham United will kick off their Asia Trophy adventure with an enticing clash against Tottenham. The draw sees the London rivals picked to face each other in the semi-final of this year's tournament, which takes place in Beijing between 29th-31st July. Click to continue reading...

Ezequiel Lavezzi's agent insists Serie A club Napoli have received an offer from Liverpool for the Argentina striker.
Napoli general director Pierpaolo Marino said on Thursday his club had not received any bids for Lavezzi while Reds boss Rafael Benitez has also denied any interest in the South American star. Click to continue reading...

While Napoli striker Ezequiel Lavezzi has shown signs of discontent in the last few months of the season, his future remains very much uncertain. Recent rumours linked him with a move to Liverpool, but this was quickly denied by Reds coach Rafael Benitez.
Nevertheless, today his agent Alejandro Mazzoni claimed that the English club have spoken with Napoli director Pierpaolo Marino about the player, and he also said Lavezzi now wants to stay at the club. Click to continue reading...

According to Sky Sports News, there is a report in Italy stating that Ezequiel Lavezzi's agent Eduardo Rossetto confirmed that Liverpool made a bid for Lavezzi. Gazzetta dello Sport wrote that Rossetto said,

"There is a definite proposal from Liverpool .

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Even the strayed Argentinean sailor will probably be compared to Maradona in Naples. In this part of Italy Diego is the measure for everything, bigger than life and yet sometimes despised like the trash, piling up by the gate of the magnificent bay.

Such comparison didn't pass Lavezzi by either, but unlike some of his previous colleagues, he managed to mark one part of Napoli history just like Maradona did.

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UPDATE: According to Toby Davis at Setanta Sports, Napoli president Pierpaolo Marino admitted that they will hold onto Ezequiel Lavezzi. He told Corriere dello Sport,

"I shall keep Lavezzi at Napoli ... I have nothing else to say .

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Argentina striker Ezequiel Lavezzi wants to remain at Napoli despite reported interest from Liverpool.
Lavezzi, who joined the Naples-based side in the summer of 2007, has scored seven goals for the Serie A club this season.
"Liverpool's offer? I want to stay at Napoli," said Lavezzi. Click to continue reading...

Everybody loves old school Cannavaro and his shoe-tying bitchface! This was a photo taken in 1991 when Canna was still at the Naples football academy. He's obviously come a long way since then, hairstyle and all.

It is confirmed that Canna will join Juventus again in July. But he doesn't expect a warm reception from the fans particularly after he "deserted" them three years ago for Royal Madrid.

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Press reports this week have claimed that Juventus have been in talks with Napoli striker Ezequiel Lavezzi over a summer move to Turin. Today's Corriere dello Sport alleges that the Old Lady could face competition from Premier League giants Liverpool.
It is suggested that Reds coach Rafael Benitez is ready to bid up to €25 million to take ‘El Pocho' to Anfield, where he could form a fearsome partnership with Spanish international Fernando Torres. Click to continue reading...

Rare defeat for Inter

By Glezos Alberganti, La Settimana Sportiva

Though Inter's defeat at Napoli might seem unexpected to some, facts look
very different. Mourinho's boys went to Naples tired after last wednesday's
Coppa Italia semifinal (which Inter won 1-0, but it was Sampdoria who
reached the final thanks to their astounding 3-0 win in the first leg).

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