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.

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]

PC or Mac, Jose or Pep, Marozsan or Cramer, Champions League or Scudetto, marmite or not marmite. All these great multiple choice just-tick-either-box-please questions that Western civilization has devised in a futile attempt to keep itself sane pale in comparison to the greatest dilemma of all; Alessandro Matri or Mario Balotelli.

Gigi Buffon ha fatto 112. 112 Presenze con la maglia azzurra. La storia è ai suoi piedi dopo che, con l'amichevole giocata contro l'Uruguay, ha eguagliato il numero di presenze in nazionale di Dino Zoff. Altro portierone con la consonante finale, quasi che per essere un portiere di livello nazionale il tuo cognome deve finire [.

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli is expected to start today's friendly fixture against Uruguay. The 21 year old striker who been instrumental in City's recent form will earn his 6th cap for the senior side in a match that could cement his position in the Italian squad.

After his amazing performances against Poland last Friday, Prandelli has decided to stick with Balotelli.

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.

In un momento della storia dove la brutta notizia ed il clima di brutte notizie arrivano puntuali più del caffè alla mattina, riceviamo invece delle ottime nuove dalla nazionale italiana di calcio e speriamo che, questa ventata di fresca aria azzurra, possa avere quell'efftto di virata dai problemi e dagli spartiti della crisi, che ebbe [.

Guest writer/Matthew Coccoluto With international break again upon us, a few European countries will be squaring off in the Euro 2012 playoff rounds. The rest will be using these upcoming friendlies to further prepare for the tournament in June. Cesar Prandelli will be without some key players as they face Poland on Friday and host Uruguay on Tuesday.

Bad news for Italy's coach Cesare Prandelli, as one of his most talented forward could miss Euro 2012, on the next June. Antonio Cassano has suffered a small ischaemia after the winning of AC Milan against Roma last saturday. When it happened the player was with his teamates on the airplane, coming bacfrom Rome to Milan.

Bad news for Italy's coach Cesare Prandelli, as one of his most talented forward could miss Euro 2012, on the next June. Antonio Cassano has suffered a small ischaemia after the winning of AC Milan against Roma last saturday. When it happened the player was with his teamates on the airplane, coming bacfrom Rome to Milan.

Mancano poche ore all'ultimo impegno azzurro per quanto concerne il Girone di Qualificazione ad Euro 2012. L'Italia, gi qualificata per il prossimo campionato europeo, in programma in Polonia ed Ucraina, e leader del raggruppamento con 23 punti (Estonia seconda con 16 punti ma anche con una gara in più, terza la Serbia a 15) si [.

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!

This isn't a final grade for Prandelli going into Euros, but rather a progress report of sorts. Now that we are qualified next summer, I want to know how everyone thinks he's done so far. [read more]

"Cesare portaci in Europa". Questo il messaggio che i tifosi azzurri, questa sera al Franchi (20 e 45, diretta Rai Uno), presenteranno a Prandelli e all'Italia che cercher , contro la Slovenia, di chiudere il discorso qualificazione e brindare anticipatamente all'ingresso a Euro 2012. Una vittoria, contro la nazionale di Kek, garantirebbe, senza fare troppi conti, [.

Gazzetta dello Sport Juve double assault Prandelli says "If Cassano stays at Milan, will be a regular" Galliani applauds Montolivo-Aquilani "They are Mr X and Mr Y" De Laurentiis to go to Spain for Rossi Inter: Tevez or Lavezzi on the way Eto'o perhaps in Russia by August 21 De La Pena goes, offer increased for Osvaldo Gilardino for Genoa, Maxi Lopez towards Florence .

mer·i·toc·ra·cy /meriˈtäkrəsē/ n. a system in which the talented are chosen and moved ahead on the basis of their achievement.
This was Prandelli's chosen platform. No more leaving someone out of the squad because of a personal grudge. No more leaving someone out because they weren't currently playing in Italy.

Dopo aver parlato dei Gironi Europei e, in particolare, del sorteggio che è toccato all'Italia di Prandelli, in relazione ai prossimi Mondiali, in programma nel 2014 in Brasile, andiamo ad occuparci di altri continenti e, nello specifico di Africa, Asia e Oceania. Per quanto riguarda quello più grande, ovvero l'asiatico, 4 o 5 (c'è lo [.

With Emiliano Viviano's unfortunate injury, Prandelli is forced to venture from his favorite 3 and call up a third keeper to provide necessary depth. And while people consider Buffon untouchable, remember last year's back injury? Seeing Marchetti between the sticks was worse than watching a deer in the headlights.

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.

Sia ben chiara subito una cosa, l'Italia che analizziamo è quella vista a Modena contro l'Estonia venerdì sera, mentre il gruppo vacanza andato in Belgio ad aspettare che il cronometro arrivasse al novantesimo e sancisse così l'inizio delle vacanze di tutta la compagnia azzurra, non lo consideriamo.

Prandelli coglie l'occasione delle due gare della nazionale per mettere in chiaro alcune questioni morali per lui importantissime. A Coverciano dunque, più di allenare le gambe, per questa volta Cesare preferisce approfondire l'assetto comportamentale, fondamentale per lui e per un'Italia che sappia prima di tutto essere un gruppo coi fiocchi prima che una squadra di [.

Marcello Lippi, despite a disastrous second spell in charge of the Italian National team, will always be held in high esteem by Italian worldwide. After all, this is the man that nearly immediately redeemed calcio in the face of a match-fixing scandal in the best way possible: by winning the World Cup.

ARTICLE THREE.
Written by Paolo.
IN PRANDELLI WE TRUST!

Following the disastrous showing at the 2010 World Cup, Italian fans young and old were looking for redemption. Their cries for youth on the squad had gone virtually unheralded by Coach Marcello Lippi. And although he had brought them supreme glory in 2006, he was now the scapegoat for all that was wrong with the National Team.

Anche ieri diverse nazionali sono scese in campo per le gare di qualificazione ad Euro 2012. Dieci le gustose sfide che hanno regalato, come sempre, grandi emozioni ma anche risultati di una certa importanza. A partire dai due pari che, nel Girone C dell'Italia di Prandelli (vittoriosa in amichevole contro l'Ucraina per 2 a 0), [.

La democrazia ateniese raggiunse il suo massimo splendore con Pericle, nel V secolo a. C,e, quegli anni furono poi definiti l'et d'oro di Atene. Ora non sappiamo se la nazionale di mister Prandelli vivr o meno un'et d'oro, i prossimi europei ucraino-polacchi del 2012,ce lo riveleranno. Intanto scopriamo con piacere che è una nazionale davvero [.

Prandelli's men resume their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign for the first time in the new year. With previous matches against the likes of Estonia, Faroe Islands and Northern Ireland, the first place Azzurri will face their toughest challenge yet in Group C. Italy travel to Ljubljana to take on a talented and emerging Slovenia side who have garnered a name on the world stage.

Slovenia
-
Italy

25/03/2011
Ljubliana
Continental Qualifier

The stage is set for our first European Qualifier of the 2011 calendar year. Coming off a very respectable performance against the Germans in February at Dortmund, Prandelli and Co now travel to Slovenia to begin the daunting task of continuing their dominance of Group C.

Tra gare di qualificazione a Euro 2012 e appetitose amichevoli internazionali sar un weekend ricco di grande calcio nonostante l'assenza della nostra Serie A. In campo anche l'Italia di Prandelli (20 e 45 a Lubiana dopodomani sera) che affronter la Slovenia di Handanovic, uno dei grandi protagonisti nella scatenata Udinese di Guidolin.

Solo due punti. Questo il gap che separa l'Inter dal Milan, in Serie A, dopo il ko dei rossoneri a Palermo nell'anticipo, e la vittoria di ieri, sofferta, dei nerazzurri con il Lecce, grazie a Pazzini. Tra due settimane, dopo la sosta del campionato per via degli impegni della nazionale di Prandelli, ci saranno degli [.

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.

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.

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.

Gazzetta dello Sport NovItalia Prandelli launches Cassano and Pazzini in Dortmund Debut for Thiago Motta Editorial: Wednesday of Lions Pirlo alarm: This is how he can leave in June Milito story: A black year for the Prince Del Piero says 'yes': He'll sign a new deal in the next seven days Corriere dello Sport Cavani: 'Naples, you have to believe.

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.