Pep Guardiola or Roberto De Zerbi would struggle to succeed with Italy s women s team, given the country s embarrassing attitude towards the women s game.
That is the view of former Azzurre coach Carolina Morace, who has called for the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) to enact a serious project after their disappointing World Cup campaign.
Italy slumped to an early exit in Australia and New Zealand, finishing third in Group G following a dramatic loss to South Africa in their third match, with the Banyana Banyana advancing in second.
While Italy have long been a powerhouse in the men s game, winning four World Cups and two European Championships, the women s team have never clinched a major title.
They are yet to progress beyond the quarter-finals of a…
While Europe s top-tiers might be halting due to the international break, we have a stacked midweek schedule from England s lower leagues. On that note, for those of you looking to stick on a Tuesday acca, we have found a handful of helpful tips that are worth keeping an eye out for.
Tuesday 23rd March
BST 19:00 Colchester United vs Tranmere Rovers
Starting with Tuesday s guests, while Tranmere might have watched Sunderland lift the EFL Trophy at Wembley earlier in the month, The Rovers have bounced back in an impressive fashion. With their sights still firmly set on securing an immediate League One return this year, Keith Hill s side were last seen over the weekend when putting on an eye-catching display. Picking up a 2-1 win against fellow top-seven contende…
Eddie Howe has told his Newcastle players they have to believe they can top their Champions League group after being pitched into battle with three of Europe’s giants.
The Magpies, who will play in the competition for the first time in 20 years this season, will face French champions Paris St Germain, seven-times winners AC Milan and 1997 champions Borussia Dortmund as they attempt to reach the last 16.
Nevertheless, TV pundit Owen Hargreaves, a Champions League winner with both Bayern Munich and Manchester United, insisted after the draw the Magpies could emerge from Group F as winners “if they get it right”.
Bring it on.
Eddie Howe on the group stage draw.
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC)
Howe said: “You have to believe that,…
Fulham manager Marco Silva claims it should have been “impossible” to allow Manchester City’s controversial second goal to stand in his side’s 5-1 loss to the champions.
The Cottagers had been holding their own against the treble winners at the Etihad Stadium when City went 2-1 ahead on the stroke of half-time with a Nathan Ake header.
Fulham argued long and hard that City defender Manuel Akanji, stood in an offside position, had played at the ball and impacted goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
Despite a VAR review and further lengthy protests, the goal was given and City went on to win comfortably with a second-half hat-trick from the prolific Erling Haaland.
Silva said: “The second half was not at the level that it should be. I tried to tell the players …
Lyon have claimed Bafetimbi Gomis inability to negotiate a move away has forced them to sell promising forward Anthony Martial to Monaco.
Gomis is considered surplus to requirements at the Stade de Gerland but rejected moves to both Swansea and Cardiff after fees had been agreed with Lyon.
And the Ligue 1 club have now accused the 27-year-old of creating a situation whereby the sale of the highly rated Martial became a necessity.
Having not been able to complete the move of any player approached for a transfer by June 30, notably Bafetimbi Gomis, the club considered Monaco s offer for Anthony Martial, a statement read.
The club completed Anthony Martial s move for five million euros plus an important share on a future transfer.
Gomis joined Lyon from Troye…
Patrice Evra has labelled French football pundits as bums and parasites , insisting that they are lying to France with their criticisms.
Evra has been a controversial figure since his involvement in the national bust-up at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and the 32 year-old feels the criticism he still receives is not reflected by the French people.
One of those criticising Evra was former France international Bixente Lizarazu, and Evra hit back at the 43-year-old s comments.
They want to lie to the people of France, saying Evra is unloved. Arrogant? This is not true, he told Telefoot.
When I meet people in the street they are super friendly. I have no problem with people, just with pundits. I took (French pundit) Michel Fernandel on a visit to Old Trafford in 2008, he …
Paraguayan forward Brian Montenegro could soon be making a move to Europe, his official representative has confirmed.
The 22-year-old, who had enjoyed loan spells with Leeds United and West Ham, has been in tremendous form this season, bagging 15 goals in 17 league outings.
Therefore, it is hardly surprising that clubs from Europe are casting admiring glances his way, with Benfica the first club to make their interest concrete.
Montenegro’s official representative has moved to reveal the names of interested sides, while pointing out that his client also holds an Italian passport.
“There is interest from Benfica, FC Porto, Genoa and Lazio,” agent Miguel Zelada . “Benfica are the only club to have presented a formal offer.”
Brian Monteneg…
Rafael Benitez is hoping Newcastle United s recent improvement will continue on his return to Liverpool on Saturday.
Newcastle have taken four points from home games with Swansea City and Manchester City over the past week but remain in the relegation zone, two points adrift of 17th-placed Norwich City.
The Magpies have lost all eight Premier League encounters away from St James Park in 2016 but Benitez is optimistic his players can arrest that slide at Anfield.
He said at Friday s news conference: We have to believe, I m very happy with the reaction of the team in the last two games. With that intensity, passion and character on the pitch, the players showed they believe and I hope everybody has the same feeling. We ll fight to the end.
It s the way…
Jupp Heynckes has insisted his age will not be an issue after returning for a fourth stint in charge of Bayern Munich at 72, joking that he will go for the Germany job when he reaches 80.
Heynckes will begin his latest tenure on Saturday when Freiburg visit the Allianz Arena, as the Bavarians look to bounce back from consecutive league draws under the dismissed Carlo Ancelotti.
Bayern go into the match five points behind leaders Borussia Dortmund after seven matches, and some have questioned whether the experienced coach will be up to the task.
But Heynckes has no worries about his advancing years or the fact he has been out of coaching since 2013, claiming his mind is more important than his legs as a manager.
Getting ready for !
— FC Bay…
Disgraced former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has denied allegations that he benefitted improperly from bonus payments over the last five years.
On Friday, lawyers conducting an internal investigation at world football s governing body claimed that Blatter and fellow disgraced former officials Jerome Valcke and Markus Kattner benefitted improperly from bonuses totalling 79million Swiss francs (£55m).
Law firm Quinn Emanuel believe two clauses in contract extensions granted to ex-secretary general Valcke and former deputy secretary general Kattner in April 2011, shortly before Blatter s re-election ahead of Mohammed Bin Hamman, contravened mandatory Swiss Law.
Quinn Emanuel stated that the evidence appears to reveal a coordinated effort by three former top officia…