Italy – Football Flame

Arsenal handed Riccardo Calafiori injury concern as Luciano Spalletti provides update

21Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Arsenal handed Riccardo Calafiori injury concern as Luciano Spalletti provides update

MILAN, ITALY - MARCH 20: Antonio Rudiger of Germany gives a pat on the head to Riccardo Calafiori of Italy as he receives treatment from medical staff during the UEFA Nations League quarterfinal leg one match between Italy and Germany at Stadio San Siro on March 20, 2025 in Milan, Italy. Arsenal have been handed a fresh injury concern after Riccardo Calafiori was forced off in Italy's 2-1 defeat against Germany on Thursday. Italy boss Luciano Spalletti included the Arsenal defender in his starting lineup for the UEFA Nations League quarter-final first leg. The Azzurri fell to a narrow loss at the San Siro despite taking the lead through Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali. To compound their misery, Italy were dealt an injury blow in stoppage time when Calafiori had to go off af...

Spalletti: Italy coach notes German football changed ‘after Guardiola’

19Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Spalletti: Italy coach notes German football changed ‘after Guardiola’

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 15: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Brighton & Hove Albion FC at Etihad Stadium on March 15, 2025 in Manchester, England. Italy coach Luciano Spalletti praises his German counterpart Julian Nagelsmann and notes German football ‘changed’ after Pep Guardiola: ‘They used to focus more on physicality.’ The Azzurri coach held a press conference on Wednesday to preview the first leg of the Nations League quarter-final between Italy and Germany. Spalletti provided the latest injury updates on the Azzurri front, revealing that he may only call up a replacement for Mateo Retegui for the second-leg game. A German reporter asked Spalletti about his thoughts on Germany coach Nagelsmann, and th...

England Secure Nations League Promotion, France Beat Italy

18Nov

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

England Secure Nations League Promotion, France Beat Italy

Harry Kane of England celebrates scoring his sides first goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League B Group B2 match between England and Republic of Ireland at Wembley Stadium on November 17, 2024 in London, England. England blew away 10-man Republic of Ireland 5-0 to wrap up promotion to the Nations League top flight as four players netted their first international goals on Sunday, while Adrien Rabiot scored twice as France beat Italy. Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick to help Norway also top their group in League B. Euro 2024 runners-up England secured top spot in Group B2 in interim boss Lee Carsley's final game in charge before the arrival of Thomas Tuchel as manager. "I wanted the England team to be exciting to watch and be attacking," Carsley told ITV...

Newcastle United Superstar Lauds Italy Mentality Ahead of France Showdown

16Nov

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Newcastle United Superstar Lauds Italy Mentality Ahead of France Showdown

Sandro Tonali of Italy celebrates his goal during the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League A Group A2 match between Belgium and Italy at on November 14, 2024 in Brussels, Belgium. Sandro Tonali inspired Italy to an all-important 1-0 UEFA Nations League victory against Belgium last night at the King Baudouin Stadium. After the game, the Newcastle United midfielder addressed the media. “We suffered, and we played. Our big change is that we approach every game,” the Italy superstar said, as reported by Gianluca Di Marzio. “Every training session does us good. Each of us can’t wait for the next camp to start. We enjoy ourselves on the field, and we’re in a good place off it as well. “Every match is different, and today we were up against a very strong team. We looked for specific spaces. We k...

Spalletti: ‘Italy could not have done more,’ takes blame off Pellegrini

11Oct

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Spalletti: ‘Italy could not have done more,’ takes blame off Pellegrini

Luciano Spalletti concedes the red card ‘threw everything out the window’ in Italy’s 2-2 draw with Belgium, but takes some of the blame off Lorenzo Pellegrini for that incident. ‘We could not have done more.’ They had got off to the ideal start at the Stadio Olimpico when Andrea Cambiaso put the ball in the net within 61 seconds, followed soon after by Mateo Retegui’s tap-in from another save on Cambiaso. However, with the Azzurri seemingly in complete and total control at 2-0, Pellegrini lunged into a red card offence on Arthur Theate and Italy went down to 10 men, allowing Maxim De Cuyper and Leandro Trossard to equalise for Belgium. “There are incidents that can throw everything you prepared and did out the window,” confessed Spalletti in his press conference. “We must be better at reac...

Nations League wrap: Belgium battle back in Italy

11Oct

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Nations League wrap: Belgium battle back in Italy

Italy were held to a 2-2 draw by Belgium after Lorenzo Pellegrini was sent off and they squandered a 2-0 lead but remained top of Nations League A Group 2. Italy scored in the first minute when winger Federico Di Marco fired a low cross into the box and Belgium keeper Koen Casteels saved the first shot from Andrea Cambiaso who bundled in the rebound. The hosts doubled the lead in the 24th minute when Di Marco volleyed the ball across the field to Cambiaso who was denied a second by Casteels before striker Mateo Retegui knocked in the loose ball. Coach Luciano Spalletti's team were cruising until midfielder Pellegrini was sent off for hitting Belgium defender Arthur Theate at the end of the first half, following a VAR review. The red card galvanised the Belgians and they immediately hit bac...

Italy probe eyes mafia link to AC Milan, Inter Milan ‘ultras’

30Sep

By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

SERIE A

Italy probe eyes mafia link to AC Milan, Inter Milan ‘ultras’

Italian police arrested 19 people accused of criminal ties with the powerful 'Ndrangheta mafia group in a move that decimated the fan clubs backing Serie A teams Inter Milan and AC Milan. STADIO OLIMPICO GRANDE TORINO, TURIN, ITALY - 2024/09/24: Official Serie A match balls Puma 'Orbita' are seen in a row prior to the Coppa Italia football match between Torino FC and Empoli FC. Empoli FC won 2-1 over Torino FC. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images) Prosecutors said at a news conference on Monday that possible charges include criminal association, with the use of "mafia methods," extortion, assault and other serious offenses. According to the wide investigation, the criminal ring was linked to 'Ndrangheta -- the Italian mafia organization that has emerged in recent...

Bastoni: ‘Italy feel strong’ after Nations League success

10Sep

By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

NEWS

Bastoni: ‘Italy feel strong’ after Nations League success

Alessandro Bastoni is happy to take on the mantle of the Italy defence and confirms they ‘feel strong’ after back-to-back Nations League victories. The Azzurri are flying in the Nations League, topping Group A2 with six points after their 3-1 win in France and 2-1 victory over Israel. Les Bleus beat Belgium 2-0 this evening, so they go into joint second place on three points apiece. “It was very important to follow up the win over France, which boosted our confidence so much and made us feel strong,” Bastoni told RAI Sport. “We want to continue like this and leave the embarrassment of the Euros behind us.” The Azzurri were determined to prove what they can do after a disastrous European Championship result, crashing out in the Round of 16 against Switzerland with a soulless performanc...

France and Italy cruise to win in Nations League as Norway’s Haaland scores decisive goal

10Sep

By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

NEWS

France and Italy cruise to win in Nations League as Norway’s Haaland scores decisive goal

Les Bleus breathed a sigh of relief with their 2-0 win against Belgium after a loss last week. Meanwhile Italy are on a winning streak with a victory over Israel. Italy kept up their perfect start to the UEFA Nations League on Monday, while France got the better of Belgium and Erling Haaland struck a late winner for Norway against Austria. The Italians built on an impressive win away in France at the weekend as they beat Israel 2-1 in a game played on neutral territory in Budapest due to the security situation in the Middle East. Goals in each half from Davide Frattesi and Moise Kean were enough for Italy to win in a subdued atmosphere at the Bozsik Arena, home of Honved. Luciano Spalletti's team have reacted well to their disastrous European Championship title defence, which ended at...