Italy coach Luciano Spalletti wants his side to embrace a more “modern” approach as he tries to spring some surprises ahead of Euro 2024.
The Azzurri face Venezuela in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, before travelling to New Jersey to take on Ecuador, and Spalletti has promised a more progressive style from the defending European champions.
He is set to field a back three and trial two attacking players behind a central striker and has made it clear he is looking for a more fluid dynamic than his side have become used to.
“We need to do something modern,” he declared on the eve of the Venezuela meeting.
Miami
— Nazionale Italiana (@Azzurri)
“There is an openness now to being footballers who know how to interpret multiple syst…
Erling Haaland missed Manchester City s game at Leicester City on Saturday after the Norway international s early midweek substitution in the Champions League.
The former Borussia Dortmund striker left the action at half-time against his former club, with manager Pep Guardiola subsequently stating the striker was nursing a foot problem and a fever.
Haaland, who has scored a breathtaking 17 Premier League goals in 11 games already this term, had hoped to pass a late fitness test to feature for his side s trip to the King Power Stadium.
But with the teams in, it was revealed the 22-year-old had lost the battle to feature, with Guardiola instead favouring a front three of Julian Alvarez flanked by Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish.
TEAM NEWS
XI | Eder…
Atletico Madrid have agreed a deal worth 45 million euros for the transfer of Radamel Falcao and Ruben Micael from Porto.
Liga Sagres champions Porto announced the agreement to the Portuguese stock market on Thursday.
Both transfers are subject to the successful completion of medicals, while the players are yet to agree personal terms with La Liga club Atletico.
The transfer values Colombia striker Falcao, 25, at 40 million euros, with the fee potentially rising to 47 million based on performance-based clauses.
Real Madrid and Chelsea had both been linked with moves for Falcao, who scored 38 goals in all competitions last season as Porto won the Portuguese league championship, Portuguese cup and the Europa League.
The former River Plate forward j…
Leonardo and Kaka meet up in Paris
Paris Saint-Germain have shown interest in Real Madrid playmaker Kaka, according to Canal +.
The Brazilian is reportedly unhappy with the lack of playing time at Santiago Bernabeu and he could be open to January exit.
Jose Mourinho is not too keen on keeping the Brazilian in the squad as Mesut Ozil has been in scintillating form since his arrival from Werder Bremen.
Paris Saint-Germain are looking to take advantage of the situation and they are preparing a January bid for the highly rated midfielder.
The Saints’ sporting director Leonardo has built a very good relationship with the player during his time at Milan and he will try to persuade Kaka into joining Paris Saint-Germain.
The pair reportedly met…
Leicester City owner Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha says he needed convincing before gambling on Jamie Vardy but was happy to be proven wrong about the non-league journeyman turned Premier League title-winner.
The Foxes sealed a remarkable league championship triumph when Tottenham failed to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Monday.
Leicester s march to glory has been full of improbable individual success stories, but none more captivating than that of Vardy, who was signed from Fleetwood Town for £1million in 2012.
The 29-year-old was this week named Football Writers Association Footballer of the Year for 2015-16, having set a new record for scoring in 11 consecutive Premier League matches early in the remarkable campaign.
And while he may have been instru…
Coke s double enough to send the Reds crashing out / Image via zimbio.com
Sevilla have been crowned Europa League champions for the third time on the bounce after coming from behind to beat Liverpool 3-1 in the final match in Basel.
It all started so well for Liverpool who opened the scoring through Daniel Sturridge ten minutes before the break with a wonderful effort with the outside of his boot, but Liverpool failed to use the momentum and build up on the lead in the second term against the rampant Spaniards.
Sevilla levelled the score just 17 seconds after the restart as Alberto Moreno misfired a clearance to be nutmegged by Mariano in the build-up for Kevin Gameiro’s goal.
Liverpool were behind just after the hour mark as Coke pushed in a first tim…
According to reports in Italy, AC Milan are a big part of the race to sign Marseille defender Boubacar Kamara. The 19 year old has been with the French club since way back in 2005, which should be enough to showcase what a remarkable journey he’s been on. Boubacar hasn’t made all too many appearances for the senior team since debuting back in 2017, but even so, he’s done enough to convince a series of top European clubs that he could be something special in the future.
Kamara is also considered to be a primary target of Premier League clubs Chelsea and Arsenal, although Milan seem to be showing the most intent right now.
Scouts from the Italian club have even gone to the effort of going to see him play, and although January is in the rear view mirror, there’s ce…
Derby County are closing in on the signing of Leicester City midfielder Tom Lawrence, according to the Mail Online.
The Wales international is undergoing a medical at Derby’s Moor Farm training base and could complete the switch within the next twenty-four hours.
Rams boss Gary Rowett is keen to add more creativity to his midfield before the transfer window slams shut, not least after taking just one point from their opening two Championship games.
Lawrence moved to Leicester in the summer of 2014 but has played for the Foxes just four times in total, spending much of his time since out on loan.
He spent last season with Ipswich Town, racking up thirty-six times in all competitions, scoring eleven goals – more than any other player in Mick McCart…
Jadon Sancho s recent dip in form could have been caused by the incessant transfer speculation surrounding him during pre-season, according to Borussia Dortmund coach Lucien Favre.
Sancho was the subject of intense transfer rumours in the close-season as Manchester United reportedly attempted to prise the England international away.
Dortmund maintained early on that Sancho was not for sale once an August deadline passed, and they successfully resisted United s apparent attempts to make a deal happen.
But, while no move transpired, Favre suggests it was not a case of no harm being done.
Sancho has only had a hand in two goals (two assists) in four Bundesliga matches at the start of 2020-21, a somewhat disappointing figure by his usual stand…
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looks like he has already decided to pursue an Arsenal exit, according to Manchester United great Rio Ferdinand.
Having already inspired Arsenal s FA Cup semi-final win over Manchester City, the Gabon international scored both goals as the Gunners came from behind to defeat rivals Chelsea 2-1 in Saturday s final at Wembley.
It capped a superb season for the club captain, who has scored 29 goals across all competitions and been prolific ever since signing from Borussia Dortmund in January 2018.
The future of Aubameyang has been intensely debated as he is out of contract in 12 months, with the Gunners not in next season s Champions League, though this win ensured they do at least reach the Europa League.
In an on-pitch interview pr…