Fabio Capello has given his latest opinion on the national side and the state of Italian football as a whole, and believes that there is a fundamental issue with the way that youth teams operate in Italy: ‘You can’t demand the kids to follow the same programmes as the professionals’.

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The mood surrounding the Italy national team remains at an all-time low following Tuesday night’s penalty shoot-out defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which cost the Azzurri a place at the World Cup for the third tournament cycle in a row. 

Capello, speaking in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, believes that Italy had more than enough chances to win the game against Bosnia, but says that the defeat and the failure to qualify for three consecutive World Cups points to much deeper issues.

“We could have won the match against Bosnia because we made mistakes, but if we can’t qualify even after the expansion of the World Cup, it means that we have problems,” the former Milan, Roma, Real Madrid and England coach said. 

“We have to do something different, look for another way, because mistakes have been made and we’re paying for them. Failing to qualify three times in a row means that there is a disease that has not been cured.” 

Among the issues that Capello has identified is the fact that there is not enough cohesion between the Italy national side and the players’ domestic clubs. 

“Once upon a time, the national team was made up of ‘blocks’ from club sides, but now the players are scattered about. Without those blocks, there’s a lack of team spirit. Gattuuso tried to bring them closer together, he tried to create a group, but it’s difficult in these conditions.” 

Capello was asked if he thinks that Italy’s biggest issues come on a technical, physical or mental level. 

He replied: “The national team is the mirror of the national championship. In Italy, you walk and jog. In other countries they run and sprint. If they go and play a game where you have to sprint, they’re not used to it and get into difficulty. 

“They need to think first, have the technique to anticipate the passage of play, to control the ball quickly, all things that we do in Italy that are not up to the pace at an international level. 

Capello on Italy’s youth team problems: ‘You can’t demand the kids to follow the same programmes as the professionals’

Capello believes that Italy has a fundamental issue with its youth set-ups across the nation and believes that for years, there has not been enough focus on technique. He says that it is laughable that so many youth sides in Italy follow the same or similar training programmes as the senior professionals. 

“The most serious mistake lies in the youth sectors, where they’re coming up with ‘schemes’ at 12 years old. I enjoy it when I speak to some of them, I ask: ‘Do you have kids that enjoy playing football’, ‘Yes’. ‘Do they make the same schemes as the professionals?’, ‘Yes’, everyone replies happily. Well, I’d get rid of those coaches. 

“You can’t demand the kids to follow the same programmes as the professionals. Let them have fun, but teach them how to kick the ball. 

“Do you know what the issue is? It’s easier to come up with these diagrams than it is to teach technique. That’s where we’ve been lacking. We don’t have suitable teachers. They have to understand players’ defects, the changes in height, the difference in sizes of feet, not everyone is the same. Teach, watch, understand.” 

As for the national team, Capello admits that there is no guarantee of an immediate turnaround under the next head coach. 

“They won’t be able to do much, they will have to be lucky enough to have a group with the spirit and quality to put it all together. 

“Based on the characteristics available, they will have to invent a new team. The truth is that there is a lack of quality. To start again, we need a 10-year plan and to start on that immediately.” 

Capello admits that there is absolutely no chance that he himself becomes involved with the FIGC again, though: “At my age? Are you crazy?”

Former Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi insists that Italian football ‘will recover’ after the failure to qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row earlier this week, but has ruled himself out of the running to replace Gennaro Gattuso as head coach of the Italy national team: ‘I have another year on my contract with Al-Hilal’.

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The former Lazio and Inter head coach, currently in charge of Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League turns 50 today. He is approaching the end of his first season in charge of Al-Hilal, who are currently second in the Saudi  Pro League, five points shy of Cristian Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr with seven games of the season left to go.

“It’s a fantastic situation in Saudi Arabia from all points of view: The lifestyle, the sporting and non-sporting infrastructure, the calmness that accompanies you even in a stressful job like mine,” Inzaghi told Libertà in an interview published on his birthday. 

Inzaghi on Italy national team and personal future: ‘Fortunately, I didn’t need money’

The topic of conversation soon turned to Italy’s latest failure to qualify for the World Cup following their penalty shoot-out defeat away against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday evening.

“I’m very sorry that Italy won’t be at the World Cup for the third time in a row,” said Inzaghi. 

“I’m 100% Italian, my brother also won a World Cup. Italian football will recover, I’m sure of it. Having said that, I left Italian football for a number of reasons.” 

The most obvious of those ‘reasons’ is the significant hike in wages that Inzaghi reportedly received when he decided to move to the Saudi Pro League. He insists that this was not the only motivation behind his decision to leave Italy, though. 

“Wrong. Earning a lot is a pleasure, obviously, but other factors pushed me here. Fortunately, I didn’t need money. 

“The desire to try a completely new experience in a completely new environment. The years I had at Inter were very satisfying from a professional point of view, but also very stressful. I felt the need to experience football at a high level, but to unplug from a load of pressure that had become very heavy.” 

Inzaghi’s name has been mentioned by some outlets in Italy as a potential candidate to replace Gennaro Gattuso as head coach of the national team. He has effectively ruled himself out of the running, though. 

“I’m flattered, but as I said, I’m fine here and I have another year on my contract with Al-Hilal.” 

Cremonese have to make do without Jamie Vardy for the visit of Bologna in Serie A on Easter Sunday, as Marco Giampaolo looks to steer clear of the relegation zone while Vincenzo Italiano hopes to lift the Rossoblu closer to the European positions. 

Giampaolo led Cremonese to a massively important 2-0 victory away against Parma in his first match back in charge prior to the international break, which has the Grigiorossi sitting just above the relegation zone on goal difference ahead of kick-off on Sunday. 

Bologna were beaten 2-0 at home against Lazio last time out in Serie A, their second defeat in their last three league fixtures. The Rossoblu did defeat Roma over two legs of the Europa League round of 16 in the middle of that run, though. 

Italiano’s side find themselves in ninth place on 42 points from 30 matches in the league table ahead of kick-off. 

Milan Djuric replaces Antonio Sanabria in Cremonese’s only personnel change on Sunday. Vardy misses out with a muscular strain.

Bologna have made four alterations altogether, with Joao Mario and Jhon Lucumi returning to the defence in place of Nadir Zortea and Torbjorn Heggem, while Lewis Ferguson and Remo Freuler come into the midfield to replace Nikola Moro and Riccardo Orsolini. 

Kick-off is due at 14.00 BST.

Cremonese vs. Bologna: Confirmed line-ups 

Cremonese (4-4-2): Audero: Terracciano, Bianchetti, Luperto, Pezzella; Zerbin, Grassi, Maleh, Vandeputte; Bonazzoli, Djuric.

Bologna (4-3-3): Ravaglia; J.Mario, Vitik, Lucumi, Miranda; Sohm, Freuler, Ferguson; Bernardeschi, Castro, Rowe.

05-04-2026 14:00

MatchDay 31

Stadio Giovanni Zini

Cremonese

Bologna

Live

0 - 2

Player statistic

1st half

		3'		João Mário (Assist: Juan Miranda)
		16'		Jonathan Rowe (Assist: Juan Miranda)

Cremonese

Bologna

Starting lineups

1

Emil Audero

Goalkeeper

3

Giuseppe Pezzella

Defender

15

Matteo Bianchetti

Defender

5

Sebastiano Luperto

Defender

33

Alberto Grassi

Midfielder

24

Filippo Terracciano

Midfielder

27

Jari Vandeputte

Midfielder

29

Youssef Maleh

Midfielder

7

Alessio Zerbin

Attacker

90

Federico Bonazzoli

Attacker

9

Milan Djuric

Attacker

13

Federico Ravaglia

Goalkeeper

26

Jhon Lucumí

Defender

17

João Mário

Defender

33

Juan Miranda

Defender

41

Martin Vitik

Defender

11

Jonathan Rowe

Midfielder

6

Nikola Moro

Midfielder

8

Remo Freuler

Midfielder

23

Simon Sohm

Midfielder

10

Federico Bernardeschi

Attacker

9

Santiago Castro

Attacker

Substitutes

69

Lapo Nava

Goalkeeper

16

Marco Silvestri

Goalkeeper

2

Morten Thorsby

Midfielder

23

Federico Ceccherini

Defender

77

David Okereke

Attacker

6

Federico Baschirotto

Defender

38

Warren Bondo

Midfielder

4

Tommaso Barbieri

Defender

32

Martín Payero

Midfielder

55

Francesco Folino

Defender

22

Romano Floriani Mussolini

Defender

30

Mika Faye

Defender

11

Nouroudine Faye

Attacker

4

Tommaso Pobega

Midfielder

29

Lorenzo De Silvestri

Defender

7

Riccardo Orsolini

Attacker

16

Nicolò Casale

Defender

20

Nadir Zortea

Defender

28

Nicolò Cambiaghi

Attacker

19

Lewis Ferguson

Midfielder

14

Torbjørn Heggem

Defender

25

Massimo Pessina

Goalkeeper

5

Eivind Helland

Defender

82

Matteo Franceschelli

Goalkeeper

73

Francesco Castaldo

Attacker

Newspapers in Italy warn that the government will need to ‘accelerate’ if the Azzurri are to remain as one of the co-hosts of EURO 2032, as only one stadium is currently ‘ready’ to host matches at the final tournament.

Which venues in Italy are ready to host EURO 2032?

Back in 2023, both the Italian FA (FIGC) and its Turkish counterpart submitted a list of 10 proposed venues to host matches at EURO 2032. As the bid later became a joint venture, each nation will have to revise that list down to five each. 

Of the 10 venues that Italy proposed, only Juventus’s Allianz Stadium is currently ready to host matches with no further construction or redevelopment required. 

Some of the venues that Italy proposed have not yet been built, including proposed new grounds in Milan, Rome and Cagliari. 

The other six venues that Italy proposed all require major redevelopment before they are considered up to standard to host international tournaments. They are the Stadio San Nicola in Bari, the Stadio Maradona in Naples, the Stadio Franchi in Florence, the Stadio Bentegodi in Verona, the Stadio Dall’Ara in Bologna and the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa.

According to the latest reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Italy are behind Turkiye in terms of the infrastructure for the tournament and must ‘accelerate’ if they are to have everything ready in six years’ time. 

The FIGC will have to provide an update on the progress of their stadium works in July, and by September, they will have to inform UEFA which stadiums they intend to have host matches at EURO 2032. If all goes to plan, works on several new grounds and redevelopment projects are expected to start in March 2027.

Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis sends an Easter message to the Partenopei fans, promising the team will remain ‘competitive’ and consistent regardless of possible ‘unpredictable factors.’

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Napoli shared a message from their President, Aurelio De Laurentiis, on X on Easter.

“Happy Easter to our wonderful supporters, the players, the technical staff, the management, the employees, and collaborators of Napoli and Filmauro, and their families,” wrote the Italian businessman.

“A Holy Easter that falls in a tragic time due to ongoing wars and their consequences on the people directly affected, as well as the economic repercussions we will have to face.

“To our fans, I can assure you, however, that our management will remain prudent and responsible, allowing us to remain competitive at the highest level, as we have always done since I took over at Napoli.

“Unpredictable factors can influence matches and the course of a season, but what matters is the continuity we have always maintained. I can promise that we will keep it. For Napoli Sempre!”

De Laurentiis promised stability and consistency regardless of possible changes and unexpected events. Even if he didn’t mention Antonio Conte directly, it is clear that possible future changes might involve the Italian tactician as well.

According to Gazzetta, Conte is the leading candidate to replace Gennaro Gattuso as Italy’s national team coach.

Furthermore, the Partenopei boss is said to be tempted to return as the Azzurri’s head coach, with De Laurentiis not inclined to stand in the manager’s way, especially if Giovanni Malagò is elected as the new FIGC President.

Conte already coached the Italy national team from 2014 to 2016, leading them to the Euro 2016 quarter-finals before becoming Chelsea coach.

English striker Jamie Vardy is not available for Cremonese’s big home game against Bologna due to a muscle strain.

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Leicester City legend Vardy is not eligible for today’s Serie A match between his Cremonese side and Bologna at the Stadio Zini.

Cremonese have confirmed that the 39-year-old has suffered a muscle strain, which will be reassessed in the coming days.

Vardy hasn’t been called up for today’s match against Bologna at the Stadio Zini, which is crucial in the Grigiorossi’s race for survival.

Vardy has scored five goals and provided two assists in 25 Serie A games this term, and previously missed just two league matches due to minor injuries.

Cremonese are level on 27 points with Lecce and with the same goal difference (-19), but Vardy’s side is technically out of the relegation zone because of goals scored (44 to 40).

However, should the two sides finish the season with the same number of points, they’d meet in a relegation play-off to determine which team goes to Serie B.

Today’s match against Bologna kicks off at 15:00 CET and is the first home game for new Cremonese coach Marco Giampaolo, who won on his debut away at Parma before the international break.

La Gazzetta dello Sport argues that the FIGC will need to rely on Italy legends to revive football after a third consecutive World Cup play-off elimination.

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The likes of Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Del Piero and Demetrio Albertini have emerged as possible candidates for the FIGC Presidency.

A comment by Gazzetta dello Sport on Sunday argued that the FIGC will need one of their legends to revive the sport in the country, not necessarily as the President, but even as technical director.

“The football system has gone beyond its zero point, and to try to climb back up, the ball should also be touched by those who have already handled it, well, on the pitch,” wrote Gazzetta.

“Former players must be called upon to be more than just symbolic figures. In other words, creating a new leadership class should become the main goal. How should this revolution be designed? Two forces must be reconciled. One political, the other personal.

“A figure like Paolo Maldini would have a deeper purpose, precisely in this direction, as a technical director, rather than as a possible fallback for the Presidency.”

Other Italian legends were previously involved in FIGC projects, and ex-striker Roberto Baggio has been mentioned by many in recent days, given that the Football Federation largely ignored a document he wrote over 15 years ago.

“In the past, some things did begin to move, but then everything came to a halt: the revolution entrusted to Roberto Baggio, and not only him, ultimately led nowhere,” Gazzetta continued.

“At the time, we were indeed struggling, but not as much as we are now, and so the need to completely overturn the perspective was less strongly felt. Former players should no longer be seen merely as figureheads: everything should revolve around this idea.

“Those who lit up their careers in stadiums around the world should step forward: Italy is calling, and they should do so with the conviction of taking part in year zero. This time with no more chances to fail. Let them come together, reach an understanding among themselves and create a program capable of delivering a surge of energy.

“It is no longer enough to say that the problem exists because young people are drifting away from local youth centres or because such centres are becoming increasingly rare,” concluded Gazzetta.

“The stars of our football have a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The best opportunities come from a crisis. Those who listen to them should do so without prejudice or fear. Going beyond the zero point would mean the end. When a system is in distress, it’s necessary to rely on expertise and new resources, and we have them.”

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Inter, Juventus, Milan and Palermo will meet in Australia in August for three pre-season friendlies, including the Derby della Madonnina and the Derby d’Italia.

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Serie A giants Inter, Milan, and Juventus, along with Serie B side Palermo, will meet in Australia for pre-season friendlies in August.

According to Gazzetta, the plans will be officially confirmed in the coming days, but the schedule has already been determined.

According to the report, the Milan Derby between Inter and Milan will be played at Optus Stadium in Perth on August 5.

Three days later, on August 8, Juventus will take on Inter at the same venue. Milan will continue their pre-season elsewhere and won’t meet the Bianconeri in Australia. On the other hand, on August 11, Juventus will face Palermo, currently coached by Italy legend Filippo Inzaghi.

The Rosanero are owned by City Group, which also controls an Australian club, Melbourne City.

Plans to play a Serie A match between Milan and Como in Perth this past February fell through, but Italian football will still come to Australia next summer.

Milan defender Davide Bartesaghi, 20, admits he didn’t expect to receive so much playing time this season: ‘I owe everything to Massimiliano Allegri and his collaborators.’

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Milan talent Bartesaghi has played nearly 2,000 minutes with the Rossoneri this season, quickly becoming a regular starter despite the summer signing of Pervis Estupinan.

Bartesaghi has scored two goals and provided one assist in 26 appearances across all competitions this term.

Bartesaghi: Allegri and Milan gave me confidence

“In Milan, I’ve received more than I ever thought I would. I’m happy and lucky. I have the trust of my coach, staff members, and teammates,” Bartesaghi told Gazzetta.

“I owe everything to Allegri and his collaborators. They’ve given me confidence and helped me adapt to different roles. I like to play where I’m deployed today. In the future, I see myself in a three-man defence. I’ve learned that versatility is an added value.”

A product of the Milan Academy, Bartesaghi confirmed that Allegri has had very clear ideas since becoming the Rossoneri coach last summer.

“Last season’s defensive stats were not good, and the coach asked us to fix them immediately. He made simple requests: don’t concede goals and score. He repeats it frequently,” the defender said.

“If you work consistently every day and follow what the coach says, you’ll always add one brick on top of another.

“Allegri is a top person and coach. He’s always told me to stay calm. The staff supports me, and I have even more closeness with them. I knew I had a chance and that my moment could have come.”

Bartesaghi named the Milan teammate who has helped him the most in his first full season in the senior team.

“Gabbia is the first. I spend a lot of time with him, and we do so many things together,” he said.

“On the pitch, Maignan is our leader. Rabiot talks a lot to me too, Modric is making himself more followed with facts than words.”

Bartesaghi’s first approach to senior football came last season, when he was mostly deployed in the Milan Futuro team, playing in Italy’s third division.

“Without Milan U23 [Milan Futuro], I would have had to change club and city. I could not even settle in well and change again,” he admitted.

“The atmosphere elsewhere is different, inevitably. Milan Futuro was tough at first, but it turned out to be a crucial step. The club’s project is to make young players develop, and you can do it there. It’s not Serie A, but not even Primavera. There’s pressure, and you play against experienced teams.”

The second Milan team made its debut in 2024-25, but was relegated to Serie D.

“True, but without that experience, I would not be the player I am today,” insisted Bartesaghi.

“Had I gone, I wouldn’t be the one I am today.”

Tomorrow, Milan visit Napoli in a big Serie A match at the Stadio Maradona.

“It’s one of the most important games, fundamental in the final part of the season,” concluded Bartesaghi.

“We are preparing with all the emphasis it deserves. There will be emotion, but also great awareness. We are a strong side, and every team is within our reach.”

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Antonio Conte is tempted by a return as Italy’s national team coach while Napoli would not oppose his summer exit.

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Conte is emerging as the leading candidate to replace Gennaro Gattuso as Italy’s national team coach.

The Italian tactician’s contract expires in June 2027, and according to Gazzetta, Conte is more than interested in returning to the Azzurri’s bench for a second stint.

Conte already coached Italy from 2014 to 2016, reaching the Euros quarter-finals, where La Nazionale was eliminated on penalties by Germany.

According to Gazzetta, Conte has great memories of his time as La Nazionale’s coach, and everyone at FIGC feels the 56-year-old would be the right man to revive the Azzurri.

The Pink Paper claims that Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis would allow Conte to join the national team despite a contract expiring in one year.

According to Gazzetta, Aurelio De Laurentiis’ green light ‘would not be an issue’ especially if Giovanni Malagò is picked as the new FIGC President.

A caretaker coach, probably Silvio Baldini, will be appointed for the June friendlies, while the new Italy boss won’t be picked before the end of June/start of July, given that the new FIGC President won’t be elected before June 22.

Massimiliano Allegri and Roberto Mancini have also been linked with the Italy job, but the Milan coach has said that he’s happy at San Siro, while doubts over Mancini mostly concern his 2023 exit, when he suddenly stepped down with a formal email just to be appointed as the new Saudi Arabia national team coach just a few weeks later.

• Read more – The possible Italy line-ups under Mancini or Conte

Jamie Vardy’s side, Cremonese, have surprisingly been involved in the Serie A survival race despite a stunning start to the season.

When Vady joined Cremonese on deadline day last summer, the newly promoted side had just shocked Serie A giants Milan at San Siro in the opening game of the campaign, securing a 2-1 victory.

Just a few weeks ago, Cremonese thought they were in a safe position, and very few would have expected to see them fighting for survival in the last two months of the campaign.

Yet this is exactly what’s going on as the relegation fight in Serie A is heating up, with sides like Cagliari, Lecce and Cremonese showing real fight and belief, proof that when the stakes are high, teams can rise to the occasion, much like choosing to play Rocketplay casino for real money and going all in on a winning run.

Vardy, a Leicester City legend, has scored five goals and provided two assists in 25 Serie A matches this term. Cremonese still expected a tough campaign, despite a very positive start to the season.

“We’ve always looked for hungry players, eager to keep the standard high,” Cremonese director Simone Giacchetta said in September, right after Vardy’s signature.

“One day, the idea came up to approach Vardy. We’re talking about a player who was a top scorer in the Premier League and has won so much.

“He knows sacrifice and thrives in adversity. I believe we are alike in this. He is an excellent embodiment of the philosophy that if you genuinely believe, dreams do come true.”

Cremonese sadly had to sack their coach, Davide Nicola, in mid-March, calling Serie A veteran Marco Giampaolo to replace him.

The Grigiorossi had gone 15 games without winning, collecting just four points in the process, so the decision on Nicola felt inevitable.

Giampaolo’s impact has already brought positive results as the ex-Milan coach won his first game in charge away at Parma, boosting Cremonese’s survival hopes, yet their job is far from finished.

Currently, Cremonese are level on 27 points with Lecce, technically just outside the relegation zone thanks to goals scored, but if the two sides find themselves with the same amount of points at the end of the season, then the team dropping to Serie B will be determined by a dramatic relegation play-off after the regular season.

Pisa and Hellas Verona’s fate seems already sealed as the two sides have earned just 18 points each and are currently nine points below safety.

Lecce and Cremonese, on the other hand, will battle it out with Fiorentina (29 points) and Cagliari (30), while Torino, Genoa and Parma look safer as they are much closer to the 40-point mark that usually means survival.

Lautaro Martinez and Matias Soulé return to action after over one month, as Inter host Roma at San Siro in a crucial Serie A match for both Nerazzurri and Giallorossi.

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It kicks off at 20:45 CET at San Siro this evening.

The Nerazzurri have not won any of the previous three Serie A matches, while Roma have just two victories in the last five.

Inter are the Serie A table leaders, with a six-point lead over second-placed Milan, while Roma are chasing a Champions League placement and are three points below fourth-placed Como.

Inter will be without the injured Yann Bisseck and the suspended Carlos Augusto, while Roma have travelled to Milan without Evan Ferguson, Manu Koné, Paulo Dybala, Artem Dovbyk and Wesley.

According to Sky Sport and other Italian media, Argentina stars Lautaro and Soulé will play their first match in over a month tonight.

Italy internationals Bryan Cristante, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Gianluca Mancini are expected to start for Roma, while Inter will look to Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni, Nicolò Barella and Federico Dimarco.

Another Italian player, Nicolò Pisilli, battles with Neil El Aynaoui for a starting spot in Roma’s central midfield, while either Konstantinos Tsimikas or Devyne Rensch will get the nod as a left midfielder for the Giallorossi.

Inter vs. Roma – where to watch on TV

The match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1, DAZN and HBO Max in the UK and Ireland and on Paramount+ in the USA. Football Italia will provide live coverage for all three Serie A games on Easter: Cremonese-Bologna, Pisa-Torino and Inter-Roma.

Inter vs. Roma – probable line-ups

Inter (3-5-2): Sommer; Akanji, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Zielinski, Dimarco; Thuram, Lautaro Martinez.

Roma (3-4-2-1): Svilar; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Çelik, Pisilli, Cristante, Rensch; Pellegrini, Soulé; Malen. 

La Gazzetta dello Sport

Exclusive Bartesaghi

Dear Milan, I owe you everything. Napoli are strong, but we…

Anguissa-Rabiot: the giants at the centre of the game.

The shield is Lautaro

Inter in the big match against Roma

The Scudetto fever rises. The captain returns to defend the top spot. Gasp relaunches Soulé. Chivu protects Bastoni: ‘But I don’t know if he’ll stay.’

Italy ask for Conte

Antonio tempted, and De Laurentiis would give the green light

Stadiums are behind: our crisis starts from here

Yildiz, World Cup form chasing the Champions League

An attacking Torino in Pisa, Bologna go to Cremona.

Corriere dello Sport

Scudetto and Champions

At San Siro (20:45), a decisive challenge for the championship

Easter’s Final

Inter, relaunch or danger. Roma chasing Como

Chivu: ‘Strange things around us, a public shaming after Juve.’ Gasp: ‘I want to stay, but everyone has to be satisfied. Direct and honest rapport with the owners, the team must be improved.’ Lautaro and Soulé return.

Juve, Lucio’s in a hurry

Parma hold Lazio

Fagioli drags La Viola

The collectionists

Napoli-Milan tomorrow: from the second spot to the anti-Inter role

Conte against Allegri: two careers worth 27 trophies combined. McTominay books the eighth goal and the overtaking. Max: ‘This round can be decisive. Coaching Italy? I’m very happy here.’

Tuttosport

Points for security against the Nerazzurri, an offer for the club within two months

Torino’s future from Pisa to London

Juventus’ World Cup

Spalletti: eight games not to fail to return to the Champions League

Genoa tomorrow: ‘Now it’s the priority,’ the coach says. ‘The renewal will come naturally.’ He’ll rely on Yildiz, who will go to America, and on Locatelli’s desire for revenge, who will extend as a real captain. ‘De Rossi is like a son, I care so much about him.’ Boga up front with the Turkishman and Conceiçao. Vlahovic and Milik ready from the bench.

Chivu complains: ‘We are hated.’

Allegri jinxes: ‘Scudetto? If Inter…’

Maurizio Sarri delivered one of his more candid and self-reflective post-match assessments after Lazio’s hard-fought draw with Parma, describing a deeply difficult season in characteristically dry terms, and admitting he could have done without the experience at this stage of his career.

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“I would call it a formative season,” Sarri told Sky Sport, via LaLazioSiamoNoi.

“It would have been better if it had come 15 years ago, because I had more need to be formed back then. At this point, I could quite happily have done without it.”

It was a telling admission from a manager who has operated at the very top of European football for over a decade, and a public acknowledgement of just how much this campaign has tested him personally.

Lazio 1-1 Parma – Sarri acknowledges difficulties in tight draw

On the match itself, Sarri acknowledged that Parma’s compact 5-3-2 had caused problems, particularly in the first half.

“Usually if you keep it goalless until the 70th minute against a setup like that, you win, unfortunately we couldn’t manage that,” he said.

“In the first half we played too much with the ball stuck to feet and without the right rhythm. The second half was better given the nature of the game.”

He was also keen to contextualise the result within the broader difficulties his squad have faced throughout the campaign.

Playing without Provedel, Patric, Gila, Zaccagni and Rovella, and in front of a significantly reduced crowd, the point felt more valuable than it might otherwise appear.

“Fortunately the group seems to have become a real group,” Sarri said. “Today’s reaction is testament to that, this was a match that could have ended very badly.”

On the striker situation, Sarri was measured in his assessment of January arrival Ratkov, noting that the forward is still adapting to a new country, language and style of football after just two and a half months in Italy.

“It is normal that he is finding it difficult,” he said. “He is a little behind where we need him to be right now.”

Carlos Cuesta made no attempt to hide his disappointment after Parma were denied all three points against Lazio by a deflected Noslin equaliser, but the Spanish coach was equally emphatic that his side had produced exactly the kind of performance needed to secure their Serie A survival.

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“What a shame, it is a real pity,” Cuesta told Sky Sport, via LaLazioSiamoNoi.

“We were strong not only defensively but offensively too. We produced a great performance, though we knew we would face a strong opponent with a lot of individual quality who could cause us problems.”

He was measured in his overall assessment, acknowledging that a point still moves the needle in the right direction.

“We could have won and taken three points, but the approach was right from the very first action, and that will be fundamental to picking up as many points as possible between now and the end of the season.”

Parma coach Cuesta: ‘We must focus on picking up points’

On the subject of survival, Cuesta refused to engage with any specific targets or calculations. “We do not make tables,” he said plainly. “We will be safe when the mathematics tell us so. We focus on the matches and on making points.”

The Parma head coach also took the opportunity to reflect on the broader principles underpinning his side’s identity.

“The fundamental concept of my football is compactness,” he said.

“And then there are many other aspects linked to the quality of the squad, which were at a high level tonight. We must maintain them and do even better, it is part of our journey. We need to take this restart after two bad defeats and become more aware of our strengths, and above all make sure our supporters can be proud of us.”

Massimiliano Allegri has spoken of his personal disappointment at Italy’s World Cup elimination while calling on football’s governing bodies to address the structural problems holding back the country’s young talent, ahead of Monday’s blockbuster Serie A clash with Napoli at the Maradona.

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The Milan head coach was in a positive mood as his squad trained in front of a enthusiastic group of supporters, acknowledging that the players had earned genuine goodwill from the fanbase through their performances this season.

“We are very happy that the fans came out today, because they won’t be with us in Naples,” he said, via TuttoMercatoWeb.

“I think this year the players have earned the respect and esteem of the supporters through their commitment and determination in matches.”

Milan boss Allegri: ‘We must help young players develop better’

On the World Cup, Allegri was measured but sincere. “I don’t know why we didn’t qualify, what I do know is that as an Italian I am very disappointed,” he said.

“From this situation, the relevant authorities must thoroughly examine solutions that can help young players develop into good footballers.”

It is a sentiment that echoes the broader chorus of concern from across Italian football in recent days, and notable coming from one of the country’s most prominent and successful coaches.

On more immediate matters, Allegri confirmed that Ruben Loftus-Cheek has returned to full fitness, with Matteo Gabbia the only absentee, the defender expected back on Tuesday.

The prospect of facing a Napoli side that has recovered its key players was greeted with respect rather than concern.

“Napoli are a strong team, especially now that they have everyone available,” Allegri said. “It will be a wonderful match and we will need a great team performance.”

A scrappy but tense affair at the Stadio Olimpico ended level, with Lazio failing to find a winner after Tijjani Noslin’s fortunate equaliser cancelled out Enrico Delprato’s well-taken opener in a result that does little to help either side’s objectives in the end of season run-in.

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Parma arrived in Rome as the more cohesive unit in the opening stages, moving the ball patiently and waiting for gaps to exploit.

Their reward came on 15 minutes when Delprato latched onto a free kick, controlled beautifully inside the box and directed a precise finish into the bottom right corner to give the visitors a deserved lead.

Lazio struggled to find their rhythm in the first half despite plenty of possession.

Edoardo Motta, deputising for the injured Ivan Provedel, was called upon to make a fine save from Emanuele Valeri late in the half, while Alessio Romagnoli met a corner with a well-directed header that Parma’s keeper did brilliantly to tip away.

The home side went in at the break needing a response.

Lazio 1-1 Parma – Biancocelesti improve in second half to snatch point

Maurizio Sarri made a triple substitution on 58 minutes, introducing Noslin, Lazzari and Cancellieri in search of greater energy and attacking threat.

The changes had the desired effect, and on 77 minutes Lazio levelled, although fortune played its part.

Kenneth Taylor picked out Noslin inside the box, and the Dutch forward’s effort took a significant deflection to wrong-foot goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and find the net.

Parma might have restored their lead late on when a penalty appeal was initially waved away, only for referee Matteo Marcenaro to consult VAR before ultimately deciding against awarding the spot kick, a decision that prompted considerable frustration from Carlos Cuesta’s players on the touchline.

A point each, then, though both sides will feel they had chances to claim all three.

For Lazio, it keeps them unbeaten at a critical stage of the season, although perhaps they should have been winning today, while Parma’s survival battle continues to hang in the balance with the gap above the relegation zone just eight points.

04-04-2026 19:45

MatchDay 31

Stadio Olimpico

Lazio

Parma

1 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

		15'		Enrico Delprato
		27'		Gabriel Strefezza
		32'		Mateo Pellegrino

2nd half

Tijjani Noslin (Assist: Kenneth Taylor)		77'
Tijjani Noslin		87'

Match statistic

61

Possession %

39

7

Total shots

7

3

Shots on target

4

3

Shots off target

1

1

Blocked shots

2

7

Corners

2

0

Offsides

1

12

Fouls

8

Lazio

Parma

Starting lineups

40

Edoardo Motta

Goalkeeper

77

Adam Marusic

Defender

57'

13

Alessio Romagnoli

Defender

17

Nuno Tavares

Defender

25

Oliver Provstgaard

Defender

27

Daniel Maldini

Midfielder

65'

32

Danilo Cataldi

Midfielder

7

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru

Midfielder

24

Kenneth Taylor

Midfielder

18

Gustav Isaksen

Attacker

58'

9

Pedro

Attacker

58'

31

Zion Suzuki

Goalkeeper

39

Alessandro Circati

Defender

14

Emanuele Valeri

Defender

15

Enrico Delprato

Defender

5

Lautaro Valenti

Defender

27

Sascha Britschgi

Defender

90'

10

Adrián Bernabé

Midfielder

80'

41

Hans Nicolussi Caviglia

Midfielder

71'

16

Mandela Keita

Midfielder

90'

7

Gabriel Strefezza

Attacker

81'

9

Mateo Pellegrino

Attacker

Substitutes

26

Toma Basic

Midfielder

23

Elseid Hysaj

Defender

55

Alessio Furlanetto

Goalkeeper

21

Reda Belahyane

Midfielder

20

Petar Ratkov

Attacker

71

Valerio Farcomeni

Midfielder

28

Adrian Przyborek

Attacker

99

Giacomo Giacomone

29

Manuel Lazzari

Defender

57'

22

Matteo Cancellieri

Attacker

58'

14

Tijjani Noslin

Attacker

58'

19

Boulaye Dia

Attacker

65'

66

Filippo Rinaldi

Goalkeeper

40

Edoardo Corvi

Goalkeeper

17

Jacob Ondrejka

Attacker

3

Abdoulaye Ndiaye

Defender

23

Nesta Elphege

Attacker

63

Marlon Mena Martinez

Defender

8

Nahuel Estévez

Midfielder

71'

24

Christian Ordoñez

Midfielder

80'

21

Gaetano Oristanio

Midfielder

81'

29

Franco Carboni

Defender

90'

22

Oliver Sörensen

Midfielder

90'

Inter are moving decisively to secure Guglielmo Vicario as their new first-choice goalkeeper ahead of next season, with sporting director Piero Ausilio having already made a trip to London to accelerate negotiations for the Tottenham stopper.

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According to CalcioMercato.it, the Italian international has been on Inter’s radar for some time, and the club are now ready to make their move ahead of what promises to be a busy summer.

Vicario’s valuation of between €15 million and €20 million is considered well within Inter’s reach, and the Nerazzurri are determined to move quickly before rival clubs can enter the race.

Vicario ready to succeed Sommer at Inter

The signing would signal the end of an era at the club, with Yann Sommer expected to remain but transition into a backup role.

The Swiss international has been a reliable and high-quality presence since joining the club, but the Nerazzurri’s hierarchy have decided the time is right to plan for the long term with a younger option between the posts.

Vicario has established himself as one of the Premier League’s more dependable goalkeepers since joining Tottenham and is considered ready to step up to a leading role at one of Europe’s biggest clubs.

With Italy’s goalkeeping debate set to intensify in the wake of the World Cup elimination, a move to Inter would also keep him in contention for the national team setup under whoever takes charge of the Azzurri.

Jurgen Klinsmann has delivered a stinging verdict on Italian football’s crisis, drawing on his deep personal connection to the country to make one of the most pointed observations yet about why the Azzurri keep failing to qualify for the World Cup.

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The former Germany manager and World Cup winner, who played for both Inter and Sampdoria during his career and whose son currently plays for Cesena, told the Corriere dello Sport, that the penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia left him sleepless and deeply saddened. “I suffered enormously with my Italian friends in Los Angeles,” he said.

“The night after I struggled to sleep.”

His diagnosis of the underlying problems, however, was blunt and unsparing.

“Italy is paying for a lack of leaders, a lack of players who take on opponents in one-on-one situations, and a lack of trust in young players,” Klinsmann said.

Klinsmann: ‘In Italy, they’d send Yamal and Musiala to Serie B to gain experience’

He then offered a comparison that cuts to the heart of Italian football’s conservatism.

“In Italy, Yamal and Musiala would probably be sent to Serie B to gain experience.”

It is a damning hypothetical but one that resonates powerfully given the ongoing debate about how few young Italians receive meaningful first-team opportunities.

Klinsmann also pointed to a deeply ingrained tactical mentality as a root cause of Italy’s decline. “Many coaches still work with the objective of not losing rather than winning at all costs,” he said. “And these are the results.”

Coming from a man who experienced Italian football firsthand and retains genuine affection for the country, the words carry particular weight, and add an authoritative international perspective to a debate that has, until now, been largely conducted within Italy’s own borders.

Fiorentina thanked several big David De Gea saves and a Nicolò Fagioli goal against the run of play, beating Verona to break away from the drop zone.

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This was a huge relegation dogfight, as the Viola were only two points clear of the drop zone and made the trip without Rolando Mandragora, Dodo, Fabiano Parisi, Manor Solomon, Niccolò Fortini, and Tariq Lamptey, but Moise Kean was risked from the start despite a recurring ankle issue.

Hellas were joint rock bottom with Pisa, missing Sandi Lovric, Armel Bella-Kotchap and Suat Serdar, although Domagoj Bradaric and Antoine Bernede were available again.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Fiorentina had a huge chance to take the lead in the fourth minute when the Nicolò Fagioli volley from the edge of the area smacked the top of the crossbar.

At the other end, David De Gea needed a sensational one-handed save to deny the Bernede scorcher at the near post, but Kieron Bowie scuffed from a promising position on the Rafik Belghali pull-back.

De Gea flew again to palm a Gift Orban strike out from under the crossbar, then had an even tougher save on Oyegoke after Bowie pounced on a Marin Pongracic error.

Verona kept pushing after the restart, as three times they flashed dangerous balls across the face of goal, with nobody able to get the tap-in, most dangerously when Bowie was inches away from getting his boot to it from four yards.

Bowie also cut inside to bend a left-foot finish just over the bar, but it was Fiorentina who took the lead completely against the run of play. Jack Harrison got down the right and laid it off for Fagioli to sweep in first time with the right foot from 14 yards. The home fans and players were furious, because only moments earlier the referee had stopped play for a Fagioli injury in a clash with Roberto Gagliardini.

The tension spilled out when Tomas Suslov and Albert Gudmundsson got into a brawl before a Verona free kick, leading to them both getting sent off with ripped jerseys.

It was a tough slog, but Fiorentina leapfrog Cagliari in the standings and practically doom Verona to relegation.

Verona 0-1 Fiorentina

Fagioli 82 (F)

Sent off: Gudmundsson 85 (F), Suslov 85 (V)

04-04-2026 17:00

MatchDay 31

Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi

Verona

Fiorentina

0 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

Roberto Gagliardini

17'

2nd half

Victor Nelsson		79'
		82'		Nicolò Fagioli (Assist: Jack Harrison)
		84'		Nicolò Fagioli
Tomas Suslov		85'
		85'		Albert Gudmundsson
Rafik Belghali		88'

Match statistic

50

Possession %

50

21

Total shots

5

8

Shots on target

1

10

Shots off target

2

3

Blocked shots

2

9

Corners

1

1

Offsides

0

15

Fouls

7

Verona

Fiorentina

Starting lineups

1

Lorenzo Montipò

Goalkeeper

5

Andrias Edmundsson

Defender

2

Daniel Oyegoke

Defender

75'

3

Martin Frese

Defender

7

Rafik Belghali

Defender

15

Victor Nelsson

Defender

90'

24

Antoine Bernede

Midfielder

75'

11

Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro

Midfielder

63

Roberto Gagliardini

Midfielder

16

Gift Orban

Attacker

67'

18

Kieron Bowie

Attacker

43

David de Gea

Goalkeeper

6

Luca Ranieri

Defender

5

Marin Pongracic

Defender

15

Pietro Comuzzo

Defender

90'

27

Cher Ndour

Midfielder

80

Giovanni Fabbian

Midfielder

59'

44

Nicolò Fagioli

Midfielder

90'

21

Robin Gosens

Midfielder

76'

10

Albert Gudmundsson

Attacker

17

Jack Harrison

Attacker

20

Moise Kean

Attacker

76'

Substitutes

21

Abdou Harroui

Midfielder

34

Simone Perilli

Goalkeeper

14

Pol Lirola

Defender

36

Cheikh Niasse

Attacker

94

Giacomo Toniolo

Goalkeeper

73

Moatasem Al-Musrati

Midfielder

6

Nicolás Valentini

Defender

19

Tobias Slotsager

Defender

70

Fallou Cham

Defender

41

Isaac

Attacker

9

Amin Sarr

Attacker

67'

12

Domagoj Bradaric

Defender

75'

10

Tomas Suslov

Attacker

75'

25

Daniel Mosquera

Attacker

90'

1

Luca Lezzerini

Goalkeeper

53

Oliver Christensen

Goalkeeper

60

Eddy Kouadio

Defender

23

Eman Kospo

Defender

61

Riccardo Braschi

Attacker

63

Piergiorgio Bonanno

Midfielder

64

Lapo Deli

Midfielder

67

Edoardo Sadotti

Defender

91

Roberto Piccoli

Attacker

59'

22

Jacopo Fazzini

Midfielder

76'

62

Luis Balbo

Defender

76'

3

Daniele Rugani

Defender

90'

4

Marco Brescianini

Midfielder

90'

Inter are in talks for Sassuolo and Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic, claims Sportitalia transfer expert Alfredo Pedullà, also linked with Manchester United, Tottenham and RB Leipzig.

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It is no secret that the Nerazzurri need to revamp their defence next season, as veterans like Francesco Acerbi and Stefan de Vrij are set to leave, with Alessandro Bastoni heavily linked with a move to Barcelona.

Ironically, it is one of the players responsible for Bastoni’s Italy malaise who is their primary target, as pundit Pedullà claims Bosnia and Herzegovina centre-back Muharemovic is first choice.

Muharemovic has impressed Inter scouts

The asking price would be around €30m, but half of that would go to his former club Juventus, who retain a 50 per cent cut of the sell-on fee.

The 23-year-old first came to Italy for the Juventus youth academy in 2021 and made his mark with the Next Gen team, earning a move to Sassuolo in 2024.

The sale fee was only €2m because Juve knew they would profit far more from a big sale in future and that would seem to be happening this summer.

Inter face stiff competition from the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and RB Leipzig.

He would be considerably cheaper than the other option, which is Riccardo Calafiori from Arsenal, who’d be at least €50m.

Beppe Marotta is a specialist at laying the groundwork for moves early, so is already pushing hard with negotiations behind the scenes.

Lazio prepare to host Parma at the Stadio Olimpico this evening, as the Biancocelesti look to increase their winning run to four games.

Maurizio Sarri’s side pick up impressive wins before the international break, particularly against Milan and Bologna, as they quietly pushed up into 8th place in the table.

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The match kicks off at 20:45 local time (19:45 BST), and you can follow all the action, as it happens, on our Live Blog.

Parma, meanwhile, sit in 12th place – having failed to win in four games after a winning run of their own. Before the international break, a 2-0 home defeat to Cremonese saw the side booed by their own fans.

Lazio vs Parma – Official Line-ups

Lazio: Motta; Marusic, Romagnoli, Provstgaard, Tavares; Dele-Bashiru, Cataldi, Taylor; Isaksen, Maldini, Pedro

Parma: Suzuki; Delprato, Circati, Valenti; Britschgi, Keita, Nicolussi, Caviglia, Bernabé, Valeri; Strefezza, Pellegrino

04-04-2026 19:45

MatchDay 31

Stadio Olimpico

Lazio

Parma

1 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

		15'		Enrico Delprato
		27'		Gabriel Strefezza
		32'		Mateo Pellegrino

2nd half

Tijjani Noslin (Assist: Kenneth Taylor)		77'
Tijjani Noslin		87'

Match statistic

61

Possession %

39

7

Total shots

7

3

Shots on target

4

3

Shots off target

1

1

Blocked shots

2

7

Corners

2

0

Offsides

1

12

Fouls

8

Lazio

Parma

Starting lineups

40

Edoardo Motta

Goalkeeper

77

Adam Marusic

Defender

57'

13

Alessio Romagnoli

Defender

17

Nuno Tavares

Defender

25

Oliver Provstgaard

Defender

27

Daniel Maldini

Midfielder

65'

32

Danilo Cataldi

Midfielder

7

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru

Midfielder

24

Kenneth Taylor

Midfielder

18

Gustav Isaksen

Attacker

58'

9

Pedro

Attacker

58'

31

Zion Suzuki

Goalkeeper

39

Alessandro Circati

Defender

14

Emanuele Valeri

Defender

15

Enrico Delprato

Defender

5

Lautaro Valenti

Defender

27

Sascha Britschgi

Defender

90'

10

Adrián Bernabé

Midfielder

80'

41

Hans Nicolussi Caviglia

Midfielder

71'

16

Mandela Keita

Midfielder

90'

7

Gabriel Strefezza

Attacker

81'

9

Mateo Pellegrino

Attacker

Substitutes

26

Toma Basic

Midfielder

23

Elseid Hysaj

Defender

55

Alessio Furlanetto

Goalkeeper

21

Reda Belahyane

Midfielder

20

Petar Ratkov

Attacker

71

Valerio Farcomeni

Midfielder

28

Adrian Przyborek

Attacker

99

Giacomo Giacomone

29

Manuel Lazzari

Defender

57'

22

Matteo Cancellieri

Attacker

58'

14

Tijjani Noslin

Attacker

58'

19

Boulaye Dia

Attacker

65'

66

Filippo Rinaldi

Goalkeeper

40

Edoardo Corvi

Goalkeeper

17

Jacob Ondrejka

Attacker

3

Abdoulaye Ndiaye

Defender

23

Nesta Elphege

Attacker

63

Marlon Mena Martinez

Defender

8

Nahuel Estévez

Midfielder

71'

24

Christian Ordoñez

Midfielder

80'

21

Gaetano Oristanio

Midfielder

81'

29

Franco Carboni

Defender

90'

22

Oliver Sörensen

Midfielder

90'

Daniele De Rossi deflected questions about a potential Italy coaching role with characteristic dry humour on Friday, but the Genoa head coach made no attempt to hide the personal pain of watching close friends and former teammates suffer through another World Cup elimination.

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Asked at his pre-match press conference whether the FIGC had already been in touch about taking over as national team manager, De Rossi raised a smile.

“I wasn’t expecting that question, I thought you wanted to talk about Italian football’s programme,” he said, via TuttoMercatoWeb.

“I had prepared myself not to answer.”

He was equally reluctant to add his voice to the wave of public commentary that has flooded Italian football since the Bosnia defeat.

“I think too many people are talking: ex-players, journalists, butchers, delicatessen owners. I am focused on keeping Genoa up, and adding more words to this soup of chatter doesn’t feel particularly important.”

De Rossi: ‘Italy failure not a matter of a coach’s bravery’

His one concession to emotion was genuine and heartfelt.

“What I am left with is the sadness of seeing so many of my friends destroyed, and so many players I grew up alongside as teammates. That sadness stays with me.”

It was a reminder that behind the political noise and institutional drama, the human cost of Italy’s failure is felt most acutely by those closest to the players involved.

On the broader question of whether Italian clubs lack the courage to give young players meaningful opportunities, De Rossi pushed back against oversimplification.

“We could generalise and trivialise the concept if we spoke only about courage,” he said.

“Every player has their own path.”

He pointed to his own record at Genoa, promoting Fini and Venturino while protecting Ekhator from offers and fighting to keep Pisilli at Roma, who has since earned a senior international call-up, as evidence that the issue is more nuanced than a simple lack of bravery from coaches.

“The real courage comes in June,” he added, “when you start from 0-0 and fate tells you whether it paid off.”

Reports in Turkish media claim that Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio is a transfer target for Besiktas, but the idea would be to get him on loan.

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The shot-stopper turns 29 in July and is under contract in Turin until June 2029, having been purchased from Monza in 2024 for a total of €19m plus bonuses.

He had been their first choice goalkeeper, but that position has been increasingly put in doubt after some poor performances and costly errors.

Juventus not eager to keep Di Gregorio

Di Gregorio was dropped for a few games to make way for Mattia Perin, though neither of them are expected to be first choice next season.

Turkish reports claim that Besiktas have set their sights on the Italian, although because of the transfer fee expected to be around €14m, they would prefer to get him on loan instead.

He made 30 competitive appearances for Juventus this term, keeping 12 clean sheets and conceding 33 goals.

Lautaro Martinez returns to the Inter starting lineup for Sunday’s crucial Serie A clash with Roma having missed seven matches through injury, a run in which Inter won just two games, raising questions about their ability to close out the title race without their captain. The Argentine is determined to ensure those concerns are quickly forgotten.

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Speaking to DAZN, with quotes courtesy of FCInterNews, Lautaro was measured but purposeful in his assessment of a squad returning from an emotionally bruising international break.

Several of his Italian teammates were eliminated from the World Cup with the Azzurri, and Lautaro was keen to strike the right balance between empathy and urgency.

“We are always here to support them, whether things went well or less well,” he said. “The important thing is that their heads are completely on Inter. We need to turn the page, there are two important objectives ahead of us and no time to think about the past.”

Lautaro: ‘Inter dip in form not due to my absence, we need to learn to have fun again’

On Inter’s dip in form during his absence, Lautaro was diplomatic.

“I don’t think it was because I was missing, there were many matches in a short space of time and a dip can happen,” he said. “I don’t think in all our years together we have gone strong for an entire season. But now things need to change. We are still first, which means we have done things well.”

He also addressed Thuram’s recent difficulties, drawing a broader point about collective performance.

“When the team’s level drops, the individual struggles too,” he said. “We need to pull something from within, that something that has been missing in this period.”

His most striking message, however, was about rediscovering joy.

“We need to relax our heads, smile and enjoy ourselves,” Lautaro said. “That is what brought us the titles that had been missing for so long. We must learn to have fun again together, attitude is the most important thing for approaching matches in the right way.”

With the Scudetto and the Coppa Italia both still within reach, the captain’s words carry the weight of someone who knows exactly what this group is capable of when it performs at its best.

There are reports Milan legend Paolo Maldini is targeted to be the new President of the Italian Football Federation after Gabriele Gravina’s resignation.

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Italian football is in flux following the unprecedented failure to qualify for three consecutive editions of the World Cup.

There have been resignations from FIGC President Gravina, coach Gennaro Gattuso, and delegation chief Gianluigi Buffon.

Maldini among options to lead Italian football

The search is on for a new Federation leader who can enact reforms that help value Italian youth, and an intriguing candidate is Maldini.

According to La Stampa newspaper, as reported by MilanNews, the former Italy defender is the first choice put forward by Minister for Sport Andrea Abodi.

There is going to be an election for the new FIGC President on June 22, and new candidates have to be confirmed at least 40 days beforehand.

It might not be easy to convince Maldini to take the role, as he had always said his only job in Italian football would be with Milan.

He was the director of development in 2018-19, then became the technical director until he was unceremoniously sacked in June 2023.

The former defender is also a co-owner of Miami FC and amassed what had been a record 126 senior caps for Italy.

Luciano Spalletti shrugs off Juventus contract talk and is glad to reunite with ‘son’ Daniele De Rossi, but Italy players are ‘tied to disappointment like a leash’ after World Cup failure.

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The Bianconeri host Genoa on Monday at 17.00 UK time (18.00 CEST).

They went into the break for international duty in joint fifth place with Roma, three points adrift of high-flying Como, so it’s going to be a fight to the end for Champions League qualification.

Spalletti keeps focus on Juventus targets

“It is an important final sprint, but that’s a normal standard for us, so when you say there are eight Finals, that’s what it should always be for Juventus,” said Spalletti in his press conference.

“We must be ready to give our best, and there is no margin for error, as we’ll need to win practically every game to get there, starting with a very difficult Genoa.”

It had been reported that Spalletti would sign a new contract with Juventus during the break, but there is no announcement yet.

“I don’t understand why you care so much about this. We’ve got a perfectly fine rapport and there will be the opportunity to discuss it, we don’t need to do it all now. It has to come naturally.”

Vlahovic made his comeback a couple of weeks ago from that serious injury and could even potentially be in the starting XI on Monday.

“He trained well and is available, but I doubt he’ll be able to start. He could give us a hand,” added Spalletti.

“Jeremie Boga showed what he is capable of, he is a very quick player with these bursts of pace, but doesn’t love physical contact. We are happy to have him here.”

Genoa are now coached by Daniele De Rossi, who worked with Spalletti as a player at Roma.

“Daniele is one of my football children, and I care for him just as I think he cares for me. At the same time, as with all father-son relationships, sometimes I got on his nerves.

“It is a Genoa side suited to De Rossi, because you can see his characteristics and mentality in the squad.”

Inevitably, the questions turned towards the failure of Italy to qualify for a third consecutive edition of the World Cup, losing the play-offs to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

It was particularly pointed here, considering Spalletti started the campaign and was fired after two games to make way for Gennaro Gattuso.

“Obviously, those who did qualify returned to base happier and those who didn’t are tied to disappointment like a leash,” said Spalletti.

“I know everyone and how much love and passion they put into this. I am sad about what happened, but I also hope that people listen to all sorts of advice, and start to plan properly for the future.

“We need to ask ourselves if we really care about getting value out of talent. There are many foreign owners in Italian football now, and that is good, but we must ask if they want to make the most of Italian players. It is also only right to go and seek the best from the other nations.

“I think there are still many mothers out there who are churning out talents like those of Baggio, Totti, Del Piero and Cannavaro did in the past, and we must be in a position to use the talent that more mothers bring into the world.”

Cesc Fabregas is not hiding Como’s Champions League ambition as they visit Udinese and reveals the advice he received from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. ‘I wasn’t sure I was ready.’

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The Lariani are three points clear of Juventus and Roma in fourth place, and hope to expand that further when they visit Udinese on Monday at 11.30 UK time (12.30 CEST).

A run of five consecutive victories saw them surge up the standings towards what would be an extraordinary Champions League qualification.

Fabregas and Como not holding back

“Udinese are one of the most physical teams in Serie A, I like them and you can see how well they are working, so we must be very precise and keep a high tempo,” said Fabregas in his press conference.

“The Champions League place depends on us. We are here, we know who we are and what we want to achieve. In this league, you need to play at a certain level if you want to win any game.”

Some changes are forced, as Jesus Rodriguez sustained a knee injury, joining long-term absentee Jayden Addai on the treatment table, while Jacobo Ramon is not at 100 per cent either.

“This team has grown in mentality and has more options available, has become more mature and consistent. I always ask us to go at full pelt, that has to be our mentality,” noted Fabregas.

“A red card, a penalty, many things can happen, but we have to keep a positive attitude.”

Como are also in the Coppa Italia semi-final after the first leg with Inter ended 0-0, so it is turning into an extraordinary campaign for a side that was in Serie B just two years ago.

It all prompted the Bearzot Award for coaching to Fabregas, who is already being associated with jobs at clubs like Real Madrid and Chelsea.

“I want to grow. I will not be the same coach in 8-10 years as I am today, just as I am not the same now as I was when I started two years ago. I feel ready for anything, that is why I have no doubts on myself.

“This is what a leader has to do, convince a player to do one thing rather than another. I know that I must improve in certain areas, but we have paved the way, we just need to knock down that wall, keep winning and doing so convincingly.

“That also means at times enjoying the pressure, even if it’s not what we are working for.”

Fabregas also reveals he had some intriguing conversations with colleagues and former teammates before starting the Como job.

“I had spoken to Arteta and said I wasn’t sure if I was ready for this. He told me: ‘We are so competitive, that even if you are not ready, your urge to be competitive will push you to find solutions and give you that vision.’

“I can say that two years later, he was right. My staff helped with advice, but at the end of the day, I am the one who has to talk, to make decisions, to feel it within me. A coach has to be ready.”

Italy’s failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup prompted some to criticise clubs for not using Italian players, and Como are the worst offenders here, playing an Italian for one minute in Serie A this season.

“Obviously there are Italian players I like, but they are at Juventus, Inter, etc. I always liked Manuel Locatelli, while obviously I like Marco Palestra. The trouble is that if you go and ask for Palestra, they want €40m.

“I understand that we don’t have many Italians right now, but we did two years ago. We must all make our choices at the right time. There are many young players at the moment, we started from scratch two years ago, this is a different phase.”

Sassuolo turned it around after the Sebastiano Esposito penalty, as Ulisses Garcia and Andrea Pinamonti plunge Cagliari closer to the relegation zone.

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Both teams went into the break for international duty in poor form, as the Neroverdi remain comfortably mid-table, but scraped one point from three rounds after their squad was decimated by a whooping cough outbreak in the 1-1 draw at Juventus.

Daniel Boloca, Fali Cande and Edoardo Pieragnolo were long-term absentees, though Kristian Thorstvedt returned. Cagliari risked getting dragged back into the danger zone after two points in seven rounds, with Alberto Dossena suspended, Leonardo Pavoletti, Mattia Felici and Riyad Idrissi injured.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Thorstvedt’s chest and volley flashed just wide of the far top corner, while Sebastiano Esposito’s attempt was charged down from 12 yards.

Esposito tried to break through the middle, but Jay Idzes flicked the ball away from his knee with a hand while stumbling, and VAR spotted the handling offence to award the penalty. Esposito converted hard and low into the near bottom corner, despite Arijanet Muric getting his fingertips to it.

Alessandro Deiola also tested Muric, but Armand Laurienté saw his free kick fingertipped over the bar by Elia Caprile and Domenico Berardi’s shot from a corner kick routine was blocked off.

Sassuolo equalised after the restart, as Yerry Mina cleared a corner to the edge of the D, where Ulisses Garcia was ready to control with his chest and sweep on the half-volley into the bottom corner. It was the first Serie A goal for the January signing from Olympique Marseille.

Juan Rodriguez prevented Domenico Berardi going clear after a give and go with Thorstvedt, but Deiola couldn’t keep his header down on a Marco Palestra cross.

Luca Lipani scored within minutes of coming off the bench, but was clearly offside on the Thorstvedt assist.

It was just a warning, as Sassuolo did turn the game around when Darryl Bakola flicked on a throw-in for Andrea Pinamonti, who gathered with his back to goal, turned and threaded the finish through a tiny gap into the near bottom corner from 12 yards.

Cagliari had a huge chance to equalise in stoppages when Muric fumbled a simple cross, but Adam Obert couldn’t keep the finish on target from a tricky angle when faced with the open goal.

Sassuolo 2-1 Cagliari

Esposito pen 30 (C), Garcia 50 (S), Pinamonti 78 (S)

04-04-2026 14:00

MatchDay 31

Mapei Stadium - Città del Tricolore

Sassuolo

Cagliari

2 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

30'

Sebastiano Esposito

2nd half

Ulisses Garcia		50'
Andrea Pinamonti (Assist: Darryl Bakola)		78'
Andrea Pinamonti		79'

Match statistic

50

Possession %

50

9

Total shots

11

2

Shots on target

3

5

Shots off target

5

2

Blocked shots

3

2

Corners

2

2

Offsides

1

14

Fouls

11

Sassuolo

Cagliari

Starting lineups

49

Arijanet Muric

Goalkeeper

19

Filippo Romagna

Defender

58'

21

Jay Idzes

Defender

6

Sebastian Walukiewicz

Defender

23

Ulisses Garcia

Defender

7

Cristian Volpato

Midfielder

58'

90

Ismaël Koné

Midfielder

69'

42

Kristian Thorstvedt

Midfielder

99

Andrea Pinamonti

Attacker

82'

45

Armand Lauriente

Attacker

69'

10

Domenico Berardi

Attacker

1

Elia Caprile

Goalkeeper

33

Adam Obert

Defender

15

Juan Rodríguez

Defender

2

Marco Palestra

Defender

26

Yerry Mina

Defender

32

Zé Pedro

Defender

83'

14

Alessandro Deiola

Midfielder

10

Gianluca Gaetano

Midfielder

75'

90

Michael Folorunsho

Midfielder

74'

8

Michel Adopo

Midfielder

90'

94

Sebastiano Esposito

Attacker

90'

Substitutes

12

Giacomo Satalino

Goalkeeper

16

Gioele Zacchi

Goalkeeper

13

Stefano Turati

Goalkeeper

24

Luca Moro

Attacker

44

Edoardo Iannoni

Midfielder

3

Josh Doig

Defender

40

Aster Vranckx

Midfielder

20

Alieu Fadera

Midfielder

80

Tarik Muharemovic

Defender

66

Pedro Felipe

Defender

25

Woyo Coulibaly

Defender

58'

18

Nemanja Matic

Midfielder

58'

35

Luca Lipani

Midfielder

69'

50

Darryl Bakola

Midfielder

69'

8

M’Bala Nzola

Attacker

82'

19

Andrea Belotti

Attacker

4

Luca Mazzitelli

Midfielder

24

Giuseppe Ciocci

Goalkeeper

12

Alen Sherri

Goalkeeper

27

Joseph Liteta

Midfielder

20

Agustín Albarracín

Midfielder

18

Othniel Raterink

Midfielder

29

Gennaro Borrelli

Attacker

74'

25

Ibrahim Sulemana

Midfielder

75'

9

Semih Kılıçsoy

Attacker

83'

28

Gabriele Zappa

Defender

90'

31

Paul Mendy

Attacker

90'

Fiorentina hope Moise Kean and Albert Gudmundsson can stem the injury crisis in a big relegation dogfight against Kieron Bowie’s desperate Verona.

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It kicks off at the Stadio Bentegodi at 17.00 UK time (18.00 CEST).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s three Serie A games on the Liveblog.

This is a pure battle to avoid the drop, because although there are 11 points between them, Verona are in 19^th place and Fiorentina in 16^th, the Viola just two points clear of the relegation zone.

It’s a last chance saloon for Hellas, as losing this basically dooms them to Serie B.

Sandi Lovric, Armel Bella-Kotchap and Suat Serdar are still out of action, though Domagoj Bradaric and Antoine Bernede are available again.

January signing Kieron Bowie has impressed with a goal and an assist in seven Serie A games since his January move from Hibernian.

Fiorentina are in the midst of an injury crisis, made worse by the fact there is a Conference League quarter-final trip to Crystal Palace coming up on Thursday.

Nonetheless, Moise Kean is risked from the start after returning from Italy’s disastrous World Cup play-offs, despite the ankle flaring up again.

Rolando Mandragora, Dodo, Fabiano Parisi, Manor Solomon, Niccolò Fortini, and Tariq Lamptey are also out of action.

It means Gudmundsson and Kean lead the attack, with Cher Ndour fresh from goals for the Italy Under-21 side.

Verona vs. Fiorentina line-ups

Verona: Montipò; Nelsson, Edmundsson, Frese; Oyegoke, Akpa Akpro, Gagliardini, Bernede, Belghali; Bowie, Orban

Fiorentina: De Gea; Comuzzo, Pongracic, Ranieri, Gosens; Fabbian, Fagioli, Ndour; Harrison, Kean, Gudmundsson

04-04-2026 17:00

MatchDay 31

Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi

Verona

Fiorentina

0 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

Roberto Gagliardini

17'

2nd half

Victor Nelsson		79'
		82'		Nicolò Fagioli (Assist: Jack Harrison)
		84'		Nicolò Fagioli
Tomas Suslov		85'
		85'		Albert Gudmundsson
Rafik Belghali		88'

Match statistic

50

Possession %

50

21

Total shots

5

8

Shots on target

1

10

Shots off target

2

3

Blocked shots

2

9

Corners

1

1

Offsides

0

15

Fouls

7

Verona

Fiorentina

Starting lineups

1

Lorenzo Montipò

Goalkeeper

5

Andrias Edmundsson

Defender

2

Daniel Oyegoke

Defender

75'

3

Martin Frese

Defender

7

Rafik Belghali

Defender

15

Victor Nelsson

Defender

90'

24

Antoine Bernede

Midfielder

75'

11

Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro

Midfielder

63

Roberto Gagliardini

Midfielder

16

Gift Orban

Attacker

67'

18

Kieron Bowie

Attacker

43

David de Gea

Goalkeeper

6

Luca Ranieri

Defender

5

Marin Pongracic

Defender

15

Pietro Comuzzo

Defender

90'

27

Cher Ndour

Midfielder

80

Giovanni Fabbian

Midfielder

59'

44

Nicolò Fagioli

Midfielder

90'

21

Robin Gosens

Midfielder

76'

10

Albert Gudmundsson

Attacker

17

Jack Harrison

Attacker

20

Moise Kean

Attacker

76'

Substitutes

21

Abdou Harroui

Midfielder

34

Simone Perilli

Goalkeeper

14

Pol Lirola

Defender

36

Cheikh Niasse

Attacker

94

Giacomo Toniolo

Goalkeeper

73

Moatasem Al-Musrati

Midfielder

6

Nicolás Valentini

Defender

19

Tobias Slotsager

Defender

70

Fallou Cham

Defender

41

Isaac

Attacker

9

Amin Sarr

Attacker

67'

12

Domagoj Bradaric

Defender

75'

10

Tomas Suslov

Attacker

75'

25

Daniel Mosquera

Attacker

90'

1

Luca Lezzerini

Goalkeeper

53

Oliver Christensen

Goalkeeper

60

Eddy Kouadio

Defender

23

Eman Kospo

Defender

61

Riccardo Braschi

Attacker

63

Piergiorgio Bonanno

Midfielder

64

Lapo Deli

Midfielder

67

Edoardo Sadotti

Defender

91

Roberto Piccoli

Attacker

59'

22

Jacopo Fazzini

Midfielder

76'

62

Luis Balbo

Defender

76'

3

Daniele Rugani

Defender

90'

4

Marco Brescianini

Midfielder

90'

Max Allegri gives an injury update on Rafael Leao and warns Milan and Napoli must focus on what is ‘in our hands,’ because the Scudetto race ‘depends on Inter.’

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It kicks off at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Monday at 19.45 UK time (20.45 CEST).

This is a real Scudetto showdown between third and second, who both moved to within reach of leaders Inter after the Nerazzurri went three rounds without victory.

At the same time, they are both looking over their shoulders at the battle raging for a top four finish.

Allegri focus is on Milan’s first objective

“When we are mathematically sure of being in the top four, then we can think about something else,” noted Allegri in his press conference.

“Football is fantastic, but in 15 days you can see seven months of work turned on its head. We mustn’t say that we want to win, because it doesn’t achieve anything. When you work at a club like Milan, you must have ambition, but having ambition and actually winning are two different things.

“So we must continue looking over our shoulders, especially as getting back into the Champions League is all in our hands, just as the Scudetto is in Inter’s hands.”

You can read more of Allegri’s comments here.

Can whoever wins on Monday between Milan and Napoli still hope of winning the title?

“That depends on Inter,” he replied.

“Napoli are a strong team, and the fact they are still there fighting despite all those injuries says a lot. The final result is all that most people judge a team on, though.”

As Rossoneri fans are banned from making the trip due to security fears, hundreds gathered at the training ground today instead to salute the players.

“It was a wonderful day, now the important thing is that we make it a wonderful Monday evening,” said Allegri.

“This was a great confidence booster, we were pleased to see the fans there. Tomorrow we’ll have a full training session and decide who will start in Naples.”

There are some injury concerns to deal with, above all for Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic, while Santiago Gimenez and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are back from long lay-offs.

“Leao is doing much better, Pulisic came back from international duty in good shape. Gimenez is eager, Niclas Fullkrug and Loftus-Cheek are doing better, so everyone seems fine. Matteo Gabbia should be back from Tuesday too.”

Allegri was asked whether Leao will be in the starting XI and kept his options open.

“We’ll see tomorrow, but especially now with changes in temperature and the tempo of the games, we need players who have sharp minds and great technique. Now we finally have two strikers with precise characteristics, Gimenez and Fullkrug, available.”

With that in mind, the Leao as False 9 idea could be scrapped in favour of a 4-3-3 formation at Milan.

“The system only means so much, but Alexis Saelemaekers is far more effective as part of a trident than as a full-back,” noted Allegri.

Max Allegri said he hopes to ‘be the Milan coach for a long time,’ but when pressed on taking the Italy job, responds ‘life is unpredictable and you never know what could happen.’

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The Nazionale are seeking yet another CT after Gennaro Gattuso walked away just eight games into his tenure, having failed to qualify for the World Cup.

Allegri has been named as one of the primary contenders for the role, but remains under contract with the Rossoneri and on track to reach the Champions League after one season.

Allegri asked about Italy ambition

During today’s press conference, he was asked outright if he would like to be the Italy boss in future.

“I haven’t thought about it yet,” replied Allegri.

“I am at Milan, I am happy here, and hope to be here for a long time. We started with the objective of qualifying for the Champions League, which is a fascinating tournament that I have not participated in for a while. I’d like to play it with Milan.

“The Nazionale problem is not just about the coach, but the entire system that needs to find solutions. It is not all to be thrown away, because even when things are going badly, there is always something you can build on.”

When pushed further, he did not close the door completely on the Italy job.

“Life is unpredictable, you never know what could happen…”

Allegri was also asked about the problem around Italian football as a whole, not just for the Nazionale, but also at club level where no teams made it to the Champions League quarter-final.

“I am sad about the World Cup, but I think everyone should take this as an opportunity to grow. There are those whose job it is to get together, examine the rules, see what can be done from the very foundations of academies to the first team.

“I don’t think it can all be sorted out in 10 minutes. We need time to create a united front of ideas so we can be in the best condition to reach the World Cup in 2030.

“We do have good players in Italy, and I think the future is in good hands. I repeat, it is not about the coach, there are many things to be examined before 2030.”

Among the potential ideas to fix Italian football is a change of rules to force Serie A sides to play local talent rather than foreign imports.

“It’s difficult, because you’d have to look at the statistics compared to all the other big leagues. I am sure that once they look into these things and take the time to not make any rash decisions, they’ll find the solutions,” replied Allegri.

Cristian Chivu reiterates his belief that ‘people line up to throw rocks at Inter’ and ‘stir up drama’ only against them, despite going into the game with Roma as Serie A leaders.

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It kicks off at San Siro on Sunday at 19.45 UK time (20.45 CEST).

The Nerazzurri went into the break for international duty with a run of poor results, as the Derby della Madonnina defeat to Milan was followed by back to back 1-1 draws with Atalanta and Fiorentina.

This was called a crisis, because it cut their lead at the top of the table to just six points with eight rounds left to play.

Chivu feels Inter singled out for criticism

“Everyone is aware we have a very tough final stretch of the season, where we must be ready, competitive, and do our best,” said Chivu in today’s press conference.

You can read the rest of his comments here.

“The league is a marathon race, and I say a streak of 18 games with 14 victories, three draws and one defeat is setting a very good rhythm.

“Some drama is only stirred up for a draw at Inter, but not for any other club. This is how a season goes. We wanted more, but we’ll take what we have earned so far, because we are top of the table and have surpassed expectations.”

Chivu went back to the controversy over Alessandro Bastoni’s celebration as Pierre Kalulu was unfairly sent off for Juventus, and again tried to suggest Inter were being unfairly singled out in the media.

“I’ve never seen a trial by media like the one after the Juve game. As long as it’s Inter, people want to line us all up and throw rocks. When it’s incidents that go against us, nobody says anything.

“This is something you need to question yourselves about, because I cannot give you the answers. We know that historically in Italy whoever is at the top gets hated, but we represent a glorious club and have marvellous fans.”

When Chivu was asked about which referees and VAR officials should be assigned to Inter games, he was bemused.

“I am a coach, my focus is on trying to pick the best starting XI for every game. If I am meant to start thinking about the referee, VAR, assistant referees, that’s not my job, nor am I interested. If we start analysing everything else, we are chasing ghosts and afraid of everything. I trust good common sense, so my only worry is my team.”

Roma have also been stuttering lately and dropped down to fifth place in the Serie A standings.

“Gian Piero Gasperini is a great coach who managed to impose his identity on Roma ahead of all expectations. There are eight games to go, but the most important is always the next one up.

“We must show belief and intensity, accept what Roma propose on the pitch, because it is never easy against one of Gasperini’s sides. We need courage and the right ambition to take a complicated result home,” continued Chivu.

The good news is that Lautaro Martinez looks ready for his comeback, having missed out since the first leg of the Champions League play-off with Bodo/Glimt in early February.

“Every individual player is crucial for us, whether it’s Lautaro Martinez, Luis Henrique or Andy Diouf. They all know what support they can give to the team and how important it is to have them all ready, both physically and mentally,” assured the Inter coach.

Cristian Chivu hints Alessandro Bastoni could leave Inter and Italy for Barcelona after the World Cup controversy. ‘I’m sure he will give over 100 per cent for us, whether it’s for two months or a couple of years.’

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The break for international duty saw many Inter players go off to represent their countries, but five returned with the deep disappointment of failing to book Italy’s ticket to the World Cup.

In particular, Bastoni was lambasted in the media and by fans for his red card in the play-off final to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Chivu tries to get Bastoni back on his feet

“I am dealing with great champions, above all on a human level, who have always shown they can get back on their feet after bitter blows,” insisted Chivu in his press conference.

“They learned that being part of a group in this squad means every now and then you stumble and don’t reach your objective, what counts is character, how you react and what you do for your teammates, respect for a club that represents the love of the fans.

“The supporters too know that disappointment is part of the game. I am not worried, because in these eight months they showed that this is a group of real men who I can trust.”

Bastoni had already been jeered by fans of other clubs in every game since admitting he simulated to get Pierre Kalulu sent off for Juventus, and urged the Federation to drop him from the Italy squad.

The costly red card against Bosnia therefore only added fuel to the fire.

“They all learned from the errors of the past and what matters is who we are today, and we always lift our heads up. I am talking about Bastoni here too, because when I last saw him, he was on crutches, and then was training with the Nazionale three days later,” said Chivu.

“These players accept all criticism, despite the difficult moments. When it comes to Bastoni, I know that football is lacking in gratitude, that people are always quick to point the finger of blame, to seek out things that have nothing to do with Alessandro’s true nature and values.

“What matters in football is respect for teammates, the work that you do, and what you are as a person. He is sad about what happened, but pleased to receive the support of his teammates both in the Nazionale and at Inter.

“He stepped up in a difficult moment and gave all he had to represent his country, trying to secure the dream of the Italian fans. Despite being nowhere near fully fit, as a man of sport, he recognised what it means and took responsibility.

“His teammates showed love and respect, because they know that despite not being in perfect condition, you did your bit.”

Does the coach have any advice for Bastoni?

“I just have to help him feel calm and confident. I cannot control the future or what he might do, but I know he is very happy to be part of this squad. His future is up to him to decide, just like all of us are responsible for our choices, but while he is here, I’m sure he will give over 100 per cent for us, whether it’s for two months or a couple of years.

“I’d be happy if he did stay, and if I stayed, because football is all about uncertainty. Whatever he decides to do, I am convinced the world of football will continue to enjoy a player of great quality.”

Not just Bastoni, but also Federico Dimarco and Francesco Pio Esposito were criticised for their performances for Italy.

“It isn’t the fault of the Inter players if the Nazionale failed. You can win or lose games, but you give your best and do your duty. I asked Pio if he wanted to take the penalty and he said yes. That’s enough in my mind to take on the responsibility, even if young and in such an important game.

“He will miss many more penalties in his career, I’m sure, but the important thing is to have courage and step up. It’s a good sign for us and for the Nazionale that Pio felt ready to take that responsibility.”

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Gian Piero Gasperini gives important Roma injury updates ahead of the trip to Inter, is vague about his future, and warns they are ‘into the final sprint, so let’s get pedalling hard.’

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It kicks off at San Siro on Sunday at 19.45 UK time (20.45 CEST).

The injury crisis drags on, as Wesley picked up a muscular problem with Brazil and will be out for a month, joining Manu Kone, Paulo Dybala, Artem Dovbyk and Evan Ferguson on the treatment table.

“The good news is that Matias Soulé has recovered and trained with the squad,” revealed Gasperini in his press conference.

“He’s been out for a long time, but over the last week he started to look like himself again. Wesley and Koné clearly are not ready tomorrow, but they are both feeling more positive than after the initial diagnosis.

“Without Wesley, either Devyne Rensch or Kostas Tsimikas can play there. Angelino is also improving, although he is still not entirely ready after such a long period out of action.”

Gasperini gives view of Italian football

Italy failed to reach the World Cup for a third consecutive edition, so as the last coach to win silverware when Atalanta took the Europa League, does Gasperini have any advice?

“It is certainly not a single issue problem. The entire system isn’t working, yet there are so many kids who play football, so there is talent to choose from. We must all face up to the problem, including on a social level. It’s not cyclical, it’s a structural issue.

“This is much more important than any individual coach. I don’t think we’ve suddenly forgotten how to play football in Italy, especially with the glorious past this nation had in the sport. It’s the system.”

Roma slipped down the Serie A standings with one point from three rounds and were eliminated from the Europa League by Bologna, but did get back on track with a slender 1-0 victory over Lecce.

“The team did play well in the last few games, with good fitness levels and mentality, but they didn’t always lead to victories. The two Europa League games with Bologna were not exactly lucky for us,” added Gasperini.

“The fact remains, we are in the final sprint, so let’s tighten up the straps and get pedalling hard. We’re at a stage now where there’s less and less margin for error.”

There were reports of tension behind the scenes between the coach, directors Ricky Massara and Claudio Ranieri. Do they still share the same vision?

“We haven’t had recent meetings, as we are concentrated on the league. It’s the final sprint and we are up there, so we have to be totally focused,” shrugged Gasperini, rather avoiding the question.

“Look, we all hope to qualify for the Champions League, above all for the economic boost for the club. We are already working for next season, but it’s evident that the problems of the past are weighing on the directors in the present.”

This is only his first season at the helm, so Gasperini had been hoping to lay the foundations at Roma for what is a very different idea of football to its past.

“We’ll see where we are at the end of the season, but for now I can say that I am very pleased with how things are going. I’m happy about the rapport with the squad and that a big part of the fanbase has faith in me. The team always has the priority above everything else.

“I have an honest and open rapport with the club. I try to bring my ideas to satisfy the requests of the club. It is a fantastic experience for me, clearly there are also some difficulties, but my objective has always been to improve the team.

“Football gives valuable life lessons, it teaches you to lose and to not get ahead of yourself. The most important thing is to always want to keep improving.”

Some summer signings were so poor that they were already released, while he confessed that he “certainly expected more” from January arrival Bryan Zaragoza.

“We expected him to accelerate, but it’s never easy in January, so we hope he can start now to bring what we know he can to the team.”

Gasperini was asked if he will be the Roma coach next season.

“Well I certainly hope so!” he laughed. “Meanwhile, we’re playing against Inter. Roma are a good team, not to be dismantled, but to be strengthened. I heard some criticism that with this squad we’ll manage at best fifth or sixth place, but watch out, because some might only get 11^th or 12^th place too.”

With Italy needing to reboot yet again, players like Davide Bartesaghi, Luca Koleosho and Giovanni Leoni are ready to step into the senior squad, but Federico Chiesa might’ve had his last chance.

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The Nazionale is at a crossroads after an unprecedented failure to qualify for three consecutive editions of the World Cup.

A new coach is yet to be chosen following the departure of Gennaro Gattuso, but whoever takes over will have the task of bringing a fresh generation into the Italy shirt.

Italy hope next generation can revive fortunes

Some players are already impressing at Under-21 level and getting regular club football too, like Milan full-back Bartesaghi, Fiorentina midfielder Cher Ndour, Paris FC winger Koleosho and Atalanta’s Honest Ahanor, while Brentford right-back Michael Kayode has graduated beyond the Azzurrini.

Liverpool defender Leoni and Milan-owned Francesco Camarda were showing immense promise before their injuries cut this season painfully short.

Others showed great potential only to stall, and are no longer that young, such as Nicolò Zaniolo, Tottenham’s Destiny Udogie, struggling Torino midfielder Casadei, Milan’s 26-year-old Matteo Gabbia, and Fiorentina midfielder Nicolò Fagioli.

Even Antonio Vergara, who suddenly exploded onto the scene at Napoli during an injury crisis that left Antonio Conte no other alternatives but to play him, made his Serie A debut at nearly 23.

With the new generation, out goes the old, as Leonardo Spinazzola and Matteo Politano are likely at the end of the road for the Nazionale, especially if the 3-5-2 formation remains.

Chiesa may well have burned his final bridge by repeatedly rejecting the Italy calls from Gattuso and, unlike Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Mattia Zaccagni and Guglielmo Vicario, he went straight back to Liverpool after failing a fitness test rather than stick around to be a part of this experience.

Set to turn 29 in October and with injury problems now effectively chronic in nature, nobody can genuinely rely on Chiesa for the future of the Nazionale.

Inter and Italy defender Alessandro Bastoni is reportedly in talks with Barcelona over contract details, even though the Nerazzurri won’t accept offers below €60m.

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Bastoni is in advanced talks with Barcelona

Barcelona are pushing to sign Italy international Bastoni, who, according to several sources, is more than open to joining the Catalans at the end of the season.

Italian transfer expert Matteo Moretto provided the latest details on negotiations while talking to 3Cat (via Fcinternews.it).

Moretto said that Bastoni is “already discussing contract details” with Barcelona, and that the defender is very much willing to move to Camp Nou in the summer transfer window.

Moretto confirms that the two clubs still don’t have an agreement and that Inter won’t accept offers below €60m.

Sportmediaset reported on Friday that the Nerazzurri had already rejected an opening from the Catalans.

Bastoni scored two goals and provided six assists in 35 Inter appearances this season.

However, the 26-year-old has had a shocking start to the year.

First, he was booed at some Italian stadiums for causing and celebrating Pierre Kalulu’s sending-off during a Serie A match between Inter and Juventus in February.

Then he suffered a fibula injury in a 1-0 derby defeat against Milan the following March and, lastly, he was given a straight red card in the first half of Italy’s World Cup play-off Final against Bosnia and Herzegovina, contributing to the Azzurri’s elimination.

PSG vs Liverpool tickets are sure to be in demand as we gear up for what promises to be one of the most intriguing of this season’s Champions League quarter-finals.

BUY PSG VS. LIVERPOOL TICKETS

Read on for our guide to buying PSG vs Liverpool tickets as we also preview this big game between the reigning champions of France and England, who also both met in this competition last season.

It was very close last time as Luis Enrique’s side scraped through on penalties, and they of course went on to lift the trophy when they beat Inter Milan in the final later on in that campaign.

Liverpool underachieved in Europe but won the Premier League title, whereas this term, their lack of a meaningful title challenge perhaps means they’ll put extra focus into this competition.

How to buy Liverpool tickets

There’ll surely be plenty of Liverpool fans looking to get to this game, and an obvious first stop might be the club’s official ticketing page here.

Still, we can also recommend following our link here as a reliable alternative, which can be a safer bet because you won’t be behind season ticket holders and club members in the pecking order, as it were.

How to buy PSG tickets

PSG fans looking to get this game will likely be familiar with their club’s official ticket page, which can be found here.

Again, though, we highly recommend our dedicated hub here as a good alternative if you don’t want the extra cost and hassle of membership fees that come with dealing directly with the clubs.

How Liverpool could line up vs PSG

Liverpool have a few injuries at the moment that could hurt them in this big game, with the likes of Alisson Becker and Mohamed Salah out, while others like Conor Bradley have been long-term absentees.

Alexander Isak is thought to be nearing a return, but it’s not yet clear if he’ll make it back for this match, so starting at the Parc des Princes probably seems like a bit of a stretch.

It could be that we’ll see Arne Slot going for something like this…

Liverpool predicted XI: Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Kerkez, Van Dijk, Konate; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Wirtz, Gakpo, Ekitike.

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How PSG could line up vs Liverpool

PSG have a world-class squad, and provided everyone’s fit, Enrique will probably go with this as his strongest XI…

PSG predicted XI: Safonov; Hakimi, Mendes, Marquinhos, Pacho; Vitinha, Neves, Zaire-Emery; Doue, Kvaratskhelia, Dembele.

BUY PSG VS. LIVERPOOL TICKETS

Liverpool vs PSG head-to-head record

Surprisingly, these two big clubs haven’t played each other that many times, with just six meetings in total, and three wins for each side.

PSG won their first fixture 3-0 back in the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1997, though the Reds won the return fixture 2-0.

21 years later, Liverpool beat PSG 3-2 at Anfield in the Champions League, with that famous late winner from Roberto Firmino.

What about this season’s tie? Drop us your predictions in the comments below!

It’s still all left to play for in Serie A, from the title race to the fight for survival, and several candidates can claim the Capocannoniere crown for the 2025-26 campaign.

Inter star Lautaro Martinez is the current Serie A top goalscorer after 30 rounds, having netted 14 times so far this season.

Bookmakers at winspirit3.com see El Toro as the leading candidate to be crowned as the league’s top-scorer this term, but, as usual in Serie A, it’s fair to expect several twists and turns in the final games of the campaign.

Como’s Anastasios Douvikas is somehow a surprise in second place with 11 goals so far, and even the third-ranked Udinese’s Keinan Davis was not predicted to be so high in the standings at this stage of the campaign.

The former Aston Villa striker, who joined the Bianconeri for just €3m in 2023, has netted 10 goals so far, as many times as Rasmus Hojlund (Napoli), Kenan Yildiz (Juventus) and Nico Paz (Como).

Hojlund returned to Serie A from Manchester United last summer and had already spent one season in Serie A at Atalanta.

He’s technically on loan from the Red Devils, but the Partenopei have already decided to make his move permanent.

“We did everything we could to sign him. There were more storied clubs interested, but his will was crucial, and we are proud of it,” Napoli director Giovanni Manna said in December.

“We had no doubts. Rasmus is decisive with numbers and in how he interprets the coach’s input. This makes a difference.

“There’s an option to buy and an obligation to buy if we qualify for the Champions League. The player considers himself a Napoli player, and so do we. This is extremely important.”

Manna added that Hojlund’s permanent move to the Stadio Maradona was just a “formality”, so the Danish international will continue to wear the Azzurri jersey in the 2026-27 campaign.

The best Italian goalscorers in Serie A after Round 30 are Atalanta’s Gianluca Scamacca and Fiorentina’s Moise Kean.

The latter was the second-top goalscorer in Serie A last term, after Mateo Retegui, who is no longer playing in Italy’s top flight following a big-money move to Saudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah last summer.

The race for the Capocannoniere award in Serie A remains wide open with eight games remaining, and Lautaro Martinez remains the favourite to win the award despite being currently sidelined with an injury.

Lautaro, a 2022 Argentina World Cup winner, was already crowned the best scorer in Serie A during the 2023-24 campaign, contributing to Inter‘s 20th domestic title with 24 goals.

Leonardo Spinazzola was the only Italy player facing the media after Tuesday’s World Cup play-off Final defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina, while two of his teammates skipped mandatory post-match duties.

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Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso resigned after Italy’s failed attempt to qualify for the World Cup.

FIGC President Gabriele Gravina and Delegation Chief Gigi Buffon have done just the same, but players necessarily share part of the responsibility for another national team disaster.

La Repubblica has already reported that a group of Azzurri players tried to get a bonus for qualification for the World Cup, negotiating a sum with the FIGC just before the Final against Bosnia.

The Italian newspaper also notes that only one player “had the courage to face the cameras” after Tuesday’s defeat on penalties in Bosnia, Leonardo Spinazzola.

Technically, three players must speak with RAI, the official Azzurri broadcaster in Italy, after games, and while Spinazzola showed up for a post-match interview, two of his teammates refused to do the same.

According to Repubblica, Italian players asked Gennaro Gattuso not to resign despite the defeat in Bosnia, but the coach had already decided he’d leave and confirmed his exit on Friday.

The day after the defeat, captain Gigio Donnarumma was the only Azzurri player sharing a social media post and a message for Italy fans.

According to La Repubblica, before the World Cup play-off Final against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italian players sought a €300,000 bonus to be shared among the squad for World Cup qualification.

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Repubblica: Italy players wanted €10,000 bonus for World Cup qualification

La Repubblica reports that Italian footballers tried to negotiate a €300,000 bonus, circa €10,000 per player, before the World Cup play-off Final against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday.

According to the report, however, Gennaro Gattuso dissuaded the players from continuing negotiations with the FIGC, arguing that a bonus could have been discussed only after securing a spot at the World Cup.

Italy ultimately lost the Final against Bosnia on penalties, leading to Gattuso’s resignation on Friday.

“The sad ending proved Rino right, but sums up the mindset with which some Italian players got to the game that could have brought Italy back to the World Cup,” Repubblica wrote.

The Italian newspaper adds that players tried to convince Gattuso to remain in charge after the defeat in Bosnia, but the coach replied that he would not continue.

FIGC President Gabriele Gravina and Delegation Chief Gianluigi Buffon have also stepped down following Italy’s third consecutive exclusion from the World Cup.

Napoli star Kevin De Bruyne is happy he’s helped a new generation of Belgian footballers to ‘grow’ but admits Italy missing out on the World Cup is a ‘huge loss.’

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Napoli and Belgium star De Bruyne released an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport during which he obviously faced some questions about Italy missing out on the World Cup for the third time in a row.

De Bruyne on Italy crisis: Level in Europe ‘higher and higher’

“I think the level in Europe is getting higher and higher. It’s not easy to win every match, and even the smaller national teams can build decent squads and get results,” said the Napoli star.

“Of course, not going to the World Cup for a country like Italy is a huge loss. But there’s nothing that can be done about it.”

Is Italian football in a crisis?

“Maybe. If you don’t qualify for the World Cup three times in a row, maybe you are,” KDB replied.

“But I don’t know the details. I don’t know the structure or the philosophy, from the youth level up to the top. So I can’t really say.”

Belgium have qualified for the World Cup and have been placed in Group G with Egypt, Iran and New Zealand.

“It’s always special. Everything is moving in the right direction,” De Bruyne said.

“Representing your country is an honour. I know people expect a lot from me. I have to help this new generation grow so we can go far. It’s different from the past, but I like it.”

Serie A returns today after Italy’s World Cup flop with three matches: Sassuolo-Cagliari, Verona-Fiorentina and Lazio-Parma. Check out the probable line-ups for today’s games.

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Serie A Week 31 begins today, Saturday, April 4, with three matches: Sassuolo-Cagliari at 15:00 CET, Verona-Fiorentina at 18:00 CET and Lazio-Parma at 20:45 CET.

The Verona-Fiorentina match is a crucial one in the race for survival. Even if the two sides are divided by 11 points in the standings, their meeting at the Stadio Bentegodi is practically the last chance for Verona to boost their survival hopes, while Fiorentina will want to avoid defeat to move away from the bottom three.

Currently, the Tuscans only have a one-point lead over Lecce and Cremonese.

Italy international Moise Kean might start the game on the bench as he’s not fully fit after the March break.

All today’s games will be broadcast on DAZN in the UK and Ireland and on Paramount+ in the USA. Football Italia will provide live updates via a liveblog.

Sassuolo-Cagliari

Sassuolo (4-3-3): Muric; Walukiewicz, Idzes, Muharemovic, Garcia; Thorstvedt, Matic, Koné I.; Berardi, Pinamonti, Laurienté.

Unavailable: Candè, Pieragnolo, Boloca.

Cagliari (4-3-3): Caprile; Zé Pedro, Mina, Rodríguez, Obert; Adopo, Gaetano, Deiola; Esposito, Palestra; Folorunsho.

Unavailable: Felici, Idrissi, Pavoletti, Trepy, Dossena (suspended).

Verona-Fiorentina

Verona (3-5-2): Montipò; Edmundsson, Nelsson, Valentini; Belghali, Akpa Akpro, Gagliardini, Harroui, Frese; Bowie, Orban.

Unavailable: Serdar, Lovric, Bella-Kotchap

Fiorentina (4-3-3): De Gea, Comuzzo, Pongracic, Ranieri, Gosens; Fagioli; Harrison, Brescianini, Ndour, Gudmundsson; Kean.

Unavailable: Lamptey, Sabiri, Fortini, Dodo, Mandragora, Solomon, Parisi

Lazio-Parma

Lazio (4-3-3): Motta; Marusic, Romagnoli, Provstgaard, Tavares; Dele-Bashiru, Cataldi, Taylor; Isaksen, Maldini, Pedro. 

Unavailable: Gigot, Rovella, Provedel, Zaccagni, Patric

Parma (3-5-2): Suzuki; Delprato, Circati, Valenti; Britschgi, Keita, Nicolussi Caviglia, Sorensen, Valeri; Strefezza, Pellegrino. 

Unavailable: Frigan, Almqvist, Cremaschi, Troilo

Liverpool winger Federico Chiesa has attracted criticism in Italy as the 28-year-old pulled out of the Azzurri national team for the World Cup play-off, but will be available for Liverpool this weekend.

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Several fans on X have criticised Chiesa after Liverpool coach Arne Slot announced the Italian winger would be available for an FA Cup against Manchester City today, Italian sources, including Gazzetta, Repubblica and Corriere della Sera, report.

Chiesa, a former Juventus and Fiorentina star, had been included in the Italy squad for the World Cup play-off two weeks ago, but pulled out of the team before even taking part in his first training session with the national team.

Chiesa has not played for Italy since the 2024 Euros.

The FIGC and Gennaro Gattuso explained that Chiesa was not fit to feature for the Azzurri, but the Nazionale boss, who has now resigned, also added that Chiesa once again didn’t feel ready to play for the national team, so he returned to his club during the March break.

Other players who were not fit or even injured still joined the Azzurri; among them were Guglielmo Vicario and Gianluca Scamacca.

• Read more – Chiesa is not fully fit, but it’s not the only reason why he pulled out of the Italy squad

La Gazzetta dello Sport

The coach leaves, Baldini as caretaker coach, then Conte or Mancini

Gattuso gives up, Capello reports

‘In Italy we walk, the others run.’ Stadiums and bets, Gravina attacks the politics.’

Exclusive De Bruyne

Scudetto, we try

I’m okay in Naples. Our target is to win all games, then we’ll do the counting

We have paid for the many injuries. Hojlund will become a top player.

Modric to the max

Never in such shape, he launches Milan for a super finale

Inter Roma

Dumfries and Ndicka the key men for Chivu and Gasp

Vlahovic ready for the Champions League and the contract

Corriere dello Sport

Lautaro returns

Moment Toro

Serie A restarts after Italy’s flop: tomorrow at San Siro, a meeting for Scudetto and Champions

Inter for the +9, Roma risk it all

The Argentine returns after 49 days: without him, eight points in five games. He’ll partner with Thuram. Gasperini to do without El Aynaoui. Pellegrini and Soulé behind Malen.

Gattuso resigns: ‘Great pain.’

Italy revolution, Baldini on the bench in the two friendlies in June.

Napoli’s beauty: there’s gold in the Fab Four

Milan, Nkunku overtakes Leao

Spalletti and Juve until 2028.

Tuttosport

Spalletti: ‘Bonuses are over.’

Renewal awaited: the coach warns Juv: now the absolute priority is the fourth spot

No team has given more minutes to the national teams, but the speech to the players cancels all excuses: everyone is available and tasked with restarting without mistakes, starting on Monday against Genoa. Del Piero charges Yildiz.

Gattuso leaves too: ‘What a pain.’

In the meantime, in the aftermath of the FIGC President’s resignation, Sessa is named as special stadiums commissioner. Minister Abodi: ‘He’s already operative ahead of Euro 2032.’ No to the national team, but ready for Liverpool: Chiesa controversy.

Conte-Max: A national case

On Monday the Scudetto challenge, in June it will be one for the appointment as Italy coach

Toro sale: Fassone in action too

The financial counsellor and mediator has been seeking candidates to acquire the club since the end of 2024. The Grande Torino is at stake, too. Duvan, muscle problem: he risks being sidelined for three months.

Arsenal are set to return to Champions League action, and there’s sure to be plenty of interest in Arsenal Champions League tickets.

BUY SPORTING CP VS. ARSENAL TICKETS

The Gunners take on Sporting Lisbon in the quarter-finals of this season’s competition as they look to make it to the semis for a second year in a row.

Arsenal got past Bayer Leverkusen in the last round, while Sporting came from behind to win a thrilling tie against Bodo/Glimt, and we should be in for a fine quarter-final tie here.

How to buy Arsenal tickets

Arsenal fans will likely be aware of the club’s official ticket page here, but demand will be high for this big Champions League game, so it won’t be easy to beat season ticket holders and club members in the queue.

One way to give yourself a better chance of bagging a seat at the Estadio Jose Alvalade for this first leg in the Portuguese capital could be with our alternative link here. This is proving an increasingly popular destination for match-goers, as it gives them the chance to attend the games they love with an easy-to-navigate site, without the extra cost and hassle of club membership.

BUY SPORTING CP VS. ARSENAL TICKETS

How to buy Sporting Lisbon tickets

Meanwhile, the official page for Sporting tickets can be found at the link here, though you may encounter similar issues.

Again, we’d highly recommend our tickets hub here, a reliable and affordable alternative to the official channels, backed by a 150% money-back guarantee if, for whatever reason, you’re not happy.

How Arsenal could line up vs Sporting

As ever with Arsenal this season, injuries will be key to understanding how Mikel Arteta might line up for this game.

It’s not yet clear if Martin Odegaard will be available, while a host of other big names pulled out of international matches, though the likes of Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber are mostly expected to be available.

Piero Hincapie is less certain, while Eberechi Eze will also likely be out for a bit longer, and there’s perhaps a chance Noni Madueke will need a bit more time after going off injured in England’s game against Uruguay.

So, at a guess, perhaps an Arsenal XI something like this…

Arsenal predicted line-up: Raya; Timber, Gabriel, Saliba, Calafiori; Rice, Zubimendi, Havertz; Martinelli, Saka, Gyokeres.

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Arsenal vs Sporting players to watch

For Arsenal, it will be particularly interesting to see how Viktor Gyokeres performs as he prepares to take on his old club.

The Sweden international has had a mixed first season in north London, so he’ll be eager to prove a point in this big European clash, which will perhaps actually prove easier for him than some of the more fast and furious games he’s had to adjust to playing in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, it will be worth keeping a close eye on Sporting striker Luis Suarez, who is starting to make a real name for himself, having successfully replaced Gyokeres in the Lisbon giants’ attack this season with 33 goals in 42 games in all competitions.

Arsenal vs Sporting head-to-head record

This is not a fixture that’s happened too many times, with Arsenal and Sporting meeting on just seven occasions throughout history.

AFC have three wins from those seven matches, along with three draws and just one defeat, which came on penalties in their Europa League clash three years ago.

Most recently, Arsenal thrashed Sporting 5-1 at their ground when they met in last season’s league phase.

What’s your prediction for this one? Let us know in the comments!

The Italian players’ association, AssoCalciatori, has called for new legislation to mandate the use of Italian players in Serie A, with president Umberto Calcagno arguing that the federation currently lacks the legal tools to enforce any such requirement, and that political intervention may be the only way to change that.

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The proposal arrives at a moment of acute national soul-searching following Italy’s third consecutive World Cup elimination, and the timing is no coincidence.

One of the most frequently cited structural problems in Italian football is the dwindling number of Italians receiving regular first-team football at the top level, and no club exemplifies that trend more starkly than Como.

Despite their remarkable rise in Serie A under Cesc Fabregas, Como have used an Italian outfield player for just one minute across the entire season, a figure that encapsulates the scale of the problem.

It is an extreme case, but the broader picture across the division is only marginally more encouraging, with many clubs increasingly reliant on foreign players at every level of their squads.

AIC chief Calcagno: ‘Serie A needs reform, but this is not a war on foreigners’

Calcagno was careful to frame the proposal in measured terms. “The federation does not have the legal tools to require that Italians play,” he said, via MilanNews. “We hope that through political channels, regulations on this matter can be studied. But let it be clear, this is not a war on foreigners.”

The distinction matters. The argument is not that foreign players are damaging Italian football, but rather that the absence of meaningful opportunities for Italian players at club level is directly undermining the talent pipeline that feeds the national team.

Many figures from the world of Calcio have made similar points in the days since the Bosnia defeat, highlighting that talented young Italians are either being squeezed out of first-team football in Serie A entirely or forced to drop down the divisions to find regular game time.

Calcagno also struck a forward-looking tone on the broader rebuilding process.

“The disappointment must be transformed into positivity,” he said. “What is important now are the programmes, reaching agreement on them, and then we choose the person to lead.”

It was a clear signal that the association’s priority is structural reform in Serie A and beyond, rather than an immediate focus on who replaces Gravina or Gattuso.

Italy’s third consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup has left a void at the heart of the nation’s football calendar this summer, and while the rest of the world prepares to descend on North America for the tournament, the Azzurri must find a way to rebuild both on and off the pitch.

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The immediate programme offers little room for comfort.

With no World Cup to prepare for, a friendly against Greece in June fills what would have been a summer of anticipation.

It is a sobering fixture for a nation that has won the tournament four times, and the match will take place in an atmosphere shaped entirely by the fallout from the Bosnia defeat, likely with no FIGC president elected yet, a new head coach, and with questions about the entire direction of Italian football still very much unresolved.

World Cup exit may sting but Italy still have something to play for in 2026

The more meaningful action begins in September, when Italy enter UEFA Nations League Group A1 alongside France, Belgium and Turkey, a genuinely demanding group that offers both a stern test and a genuine opportunity.

The campaign opens at home to Belgium on 25 September before a trip to Turkey three days later.

October brings the biggest challenge of the group stage, with a visit to France on 2 October followed by a home return against Turkey.

The group concludes in November with Italy hosting France before travelling to Belgium.

Nations League Group A1 represents something tangible to play for.

The competition offers a route back to relevance, winners of the top group earn prestige and ranking points, while the Nations League also provides Euro 2028 qualification implications further down the line.

More immediately, it gives whoever takes charge of the Azzurri a competitive platform to begin the rebuilding process in earnest.

The challenge for Italy’s new leadership, both at federation level and in the dugout, will be to channel the anger and embarrassment of this summer into genuine structural reform.

Del Piero, Capello, Baresi and countless others have called for humility and a willingness to start from scratch.

The Nations League fixtures, unglamorous as they may feel right now, are where that process must begin.

Kimi Antonelli has added his voice to the national outpouring of disappointment following Italy’s World Cup elimination, saying the failure gives him extra motivation to keep representing his country at the highest level in Formula 1.

The 19-year-old Mercedes driver, speaking to Sky Sport fresh from back-to-back victories in China and Japan, was asked for his thoughts on the Azzurri’s playoff defeat to Bosnia, and reflected warmly on what Italian football has meant to him personally.

“Obviously it is a shame that we are not going to the World Cup this year,” Antonelli said, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb.

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“I have a wonderful memory of the Euros, I remember being at a karting race in Sarno when Italy were playing, and after winning my race my mother and I rushed home as fast as possible because we wanted to watch the final. That was a really beautiful period.”

Antonelli mourns Italy World Cup absent as stark contrast revealed

The image of a teenage racing prodigy sprinting home to watch the Azzurri lift the trophy captures something of the hold football has on Italian sporting culture, even for those whose own careers lie elsewhere.

Antonelli’s comment that Formula 1 is “a sport for amateurs” compared to football, offered with obvious tongue-in-cheek, drew a smile, but his sincerity about the wider national mood was clear.

“It really disappointed me not to see the national team qualify for the World Cup,” he said. “It is one more reason to try to keep flying the flag for Italy in my own field.”

It is a sentiment that resonates at a moment when Italian sport is grappling with a painful paradox, a nation that excels across multiple disciplines, from tennis to athletics to Formula 1, yet cannot qualify its football team for the world’s biggest tournament.

For Antonelli, who has emerged as one of the most exciting young talents in motorsport, the burden of national pride sits comfortably on young shoulders.

Alessandro Del Piero has delivered one of the most forthright assessments of Italy’s footballing crisis since the World Cup playoff elimination, calling for genuine humility and structural reform rather than the blame-shifting and self-preservation that has characterised the response from those in power.

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Speaking on Sky Calcio Unplugged, the Juventus legend did not mince his words on the gravity of a third consecutive absence from the World Cup. “The first time in 2018 was a shock, the second felt like a nightmare; the third is starting to become embarrassing to justify,” he said. “We were an enormous power and finding ourselves here for the third time is incredible.”

Del Piero was emphatic that the failure cannot be pinned on any single individual, insisting the problems run far deeper than Gattuso’s short tenure or Gravina’s presidency.

“There are many complex situations that have all converged to produce this result,” he said. “Behind all of this there is so much more.”

Italy legend Del Piero: ‘We only think about saving our own ass, that needs to change’

His prescription for recovery was equally clear, and pointed directly at the culture of self-interest he believes is holding football back in Italy.

“We fundamentally think only about saving our own ass. That needs to change.”

The 51-year-old drew inspiration from Italy’s previous moments of crisis, arguing that adversity has historically brought out the best in the national character. “In our greatest moments of sporting crisis, 1982, 2006, we managed to find energy, creativity, desire and solutions,” he said. “Even today, when we seem far from those solutions.”

On the path to rebuilding, Del Piero identified a fundamental cultural problem in how young players are developed.

“We tell youngsters too much what to do, and this kills their creativity,” he said. “They become good at executing instructions but the moment they step outside that system they make mistakes and get written off as poor players. That is not the truth, the problem is that they have only been taught one thing.”

His closing message for Italy was blunt. “Pride must be set aside. What is needed now is humility, a willingness to start again, to study and to analyse who is doing things well. We are no longer who we think we are.”

Rafael Leao has returned to full Milan training and is available for selection ahead of Monday’s crunch Serie A clash with Napoli at the Maradona.

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According to TMW, the Portuguese winger had been managing a pubic inflammation but trained fully with the group on Friday alongside his teammates, a timely boost for Massimiliano Allegri as Milan prepare for one of their most important fixtures of the season.

The only absentee from training was Matteo Gabbia, meaning the rest of the squad is fully fit and available for the trip to Naples.

Leao not guaranteed to start for Milan despite passing fitness checks

Leão’s return does not guarantee him a starting role, however, with Allegri understood to be weighing up a selection battle between the Portuguese forward and Christopher Nkunku for a place in the starting XI.

The Frenchman has impressed when called upon in recent times and will push hard for the nod.

With Milan six points behind Inter and time running out in the title race, Monday’s second versus third clash at the Maradona is a must-win fixture for Allegri’s side if they are to keep any realistic hope of overhauling the Nerazzurri alive.

Italy’s post-World Cup disaster overhaul is gathering pace, with Gabriele Gravina’s resignation confirmed and attention turning to who will manage the Azzurri in the immediate interim period before a permanent successor to Gennaro Gattuso is appointed.

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With two friendlies scheduled before the FIGC presidential election on 22 June in Rome, the federation faces a practical problem, Italy need a coach in place before a new president is even elected, let alone before a new permanent CT can be identified and appointed.

According to Sportmediaset, via CalcioMercato.it, the most concrete option at this stage is current Under-21 head coach Silvio Baldini stepping up on a temporary basis.

The Baldini solution appears the most likely outcome for now.

Italy to follow precedent with potential Baldini appointment

The scenario has a clear precedent.

In 2018, following Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup under Giampiero Ventura, Under-21 coach Luigi Di Biagio took interim charge for two friendlies against Argentina and England before Roberto Mancini was appointed as permanent manager.

Baldini would be filling an almost identical role eight years on.

The full shape of Italian football’s rebuild will become clearer over the coming weeks, with the presidential election on 22 June set to be the pivotal moment around which all other decisions, including the permanent managerial appointment, will ultimately revolve.

Barcelona have made their first formal move for Alessandro Bastoni, submitting an opening offer of €45 million for the Inter defender, a figure the Nerazzurri have rejected as well below their valuation.

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According to Sportmediaset, Inter are holding firm at a minimum of €60 million for Bastoni, whom the club consider a top-level defender regardless of the turbulent two months he has endured, from the controversial incident in the Derby d’Italia through to his red card during Italy’s World Cup playoff defeat to Bosnia in Zenica.

Crucially, this marks the first time Bastoni himself has shown a willingness to listen to an offer.

A previous approach from Chelsea was swiftly rejected by both player and club, but Barcelona’s interest appears to carry genuine appeal.

Barcelona prepare lucrative salary for Inter man Bastoni

The Catalan club are prepared to offer Bastoni a salary of €7 million per season, a significant step up from his current €5 million net at Inter, and the prospect of a new challenge at a club with similar ambitions to his current employers.

Despite the gap between the two clubs’ valuations, Sportmediaset reports that negotiations are continuing, with the conversation now formally open for the first time.

Inter will need to decide whether to stand firm at €60 million or show any flexibility, while Barcelona, well aware of their financial constraints, will need to significantly improve on their opening position if they are to have any realistic chance of securing one of European football’s most coveted defenders.

Juventus have made exploratory contact with agent Jorge Mendes over a potential free transfer move for Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva, with the Portugal international given until the end of April to decide the next chapter of his career.

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According to Tuttosport, the midfielder is certain to leave City this summer and his options range from staying in Europe to a move to MLS or the Saudi Pro League, with Juventus emerging as a credible contender for his signature after positive early soundings.

Bernardo Silva sets April deadline as Juventus weigh up wage demands

Silva wants to determine how much competitive hunger he still has before committing to any club.

He has not closed the door on the Bianconeri, showing willingness to discuss the possibility of joining the Turin club next season.

The financial demands are significant.

Silva earns around €10 million net per season at City and would not consider anything below €8-9 million. That would require the Serie A giants to make an exception to their internal wage structure, though the club consider his profile worthy of one.

Spalletti’s enthusiasm will ultimately determine whether Juventus push ahead. The De Bruyne-Napoli experience taught Italian football a lesson, players of this calibre only work when every component aligns. If the coach is fully convinced, Juventus move. If not, they walk away.

Barcelona defender Cancelo admits he’d like to see his compatriot Bernardo Silva, a Juventus target, join Barcelona or Benfica as a free agent in June.

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It is no secret that Portugal international Bernardo Silva has attracted interest from Juventus, who have already begun talks to sign the Manchester City captain as a free agent at the end of the season.

The midfielder’s contract expires at the end of the season, and according to various sources across Europe, he has already decided to leave the Premier League giants.

Al-Hilal-owned defender Cancelo spoke about Bernardo Silva’s future in his latest interview with Canal 11 (via AS): “I’d like to see him go to Barcelona or Benfica,” said the Portuguese full-back, who joined Barcelona on loan in the January transfer window.

Cancelo had been linked with a move to Inter before making his return to Camp Nou. His loan spell in Catalunya runs out in June, while his contract with Al-Hilal runs through 2027.

“It’s hard to say no to Barcelona or Benfica,” Cancelo explained.

“I’d love to play for Benfica, but I don’t know whether it can happen soon. Luckily, I’ve reached a salary level which Benfica can’t match. I’m not going to play for free, but at some point in my career, I won’t want to earn that much.

“Playing for Barcelona is like playing for Benfica,” he added. “You do it out of love. I have a year left in my contract. If I have to play in Saudi Arabia, I’ll do it. If I have to play in Europe, I’ll do it too. It depends on Al-Hilal. When Barcelona call, you can’t say no. I feel at home, and I’ve settled in well.”

Sassuolo coach Fabio Grosso, a 2006 Italy World Cup winner, is ‘happy’ for his player Tarik Muharemovic, but, obviously, sad for the Azzurri: ‘We need the right people with clear ideas. It’s a long road…’

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Italy World Cup winner Grosso, who scored the decisive penalty kick in the 2006 Final against France, spoke about the recent Azzurri defeat in the World Cup play-off Final.

“I felt the same as other Italians: we all wanted to be at the World Cup, which we’ve been missing for a long time, but unfortunately, we didn’t make it,” Grosso said on the eve of a Serie A match against Cagliari, via TMW.

“The question I’ve asked myself is: what would have happened if Pio or Kean had scored [the second goal]? It might sound like a simple question, but behind it are many things to say and explain.

“Obviously, I have a different role, and I’m so focused on what I’m doing, but we must be able to analyse what happens beyond incidents; otherwise, it will be about finding the guilty one every time.

“On the other hand, we must all contribute to a movement that we must try to revive. We need the right people with clear ideas. It’s a long road, but they need to know which road they want to take to restart.”

Sassuolo star Muharemovic was part of the Bosnia and Herzegovina team that beat Italy on penalties on Tuesday.

“Tarik is back, but I haven’t seen him yet,” Grosso said.

“I’ll do it today, with melancholy, because we are happy for him, but obviously sad for us. I also want to congratulate Idzes, who has been voted as the best player of the year in Indonesia.”

The FIGC announced on Friday that Gennaro Gattuso had terminated his contract by mutual agreement following Tuesday’s defeat in Bosnia.

Gennaro Gattuso leaves the Italy national team with a ‘heavy heart’ while Gabriele Gravina thanks the ex-coach for his ‘precious contribution.’

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The FIGC announced on Friday that Gattuso had terminated his contract with Italy national team.

“With a heavy heart, having failed to achieve the objective we set ourselves, I consider my experience as head of the National team to be over,” Gattuso said.

“The Azurri shirt is the most precious thing in football, and for this reason, it is right to facilitate future technical evaluations right away.

“I would like to thank President Gabriele Gravina, Gianluigi Buffon, and, with them, all the Federation staff, for the trust and support they have always given me.

“It has been an honour to lead the National team and to do so with a group of players who have shown commitment and attachment to this shirt. But my greatest thanks go to the fans, to all Italians who in recent months have never failed to show their love and support for the National Team. Always with the blue in my heart.”

FIGC President Gravina had resigned one day before Gattuso’s exit and a new head of the Italian FA will be voted on June 22.

“I once again want to thank Gattuso, because besides being a special person, he offered a precious contribution as a coach, managing brigning enthusiasm back around the national team in just a few months,” Gravina said.

“He passed on to the players and the whole country, the pride of wearing the Azzurri shirt.”

Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso has terminated his contract with the FIGC by mutual consent following a World Cup play-off elimination, the Italian FA confirmed in a statement.

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Gattuso and the FIGC have terminated their agreement by mutual consent, a statement confirmed on Friday.

Gattuso replaced Luciano Spalletti in June 2025 and made his debut as the new Azzurri coach in September 2025 with a 5-0 win over Estonia.

The FIGC thanked Gattuso and his staff for the “commitment and passion” they put in over the last nine months and wished them “the best for the continuation of their careers.”

Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row on Tuesday night, losing the play-off Final against Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties.

FIGC President Gabriele Gravina also resigned following Italy’s elimination, and so did Delegation Chief Gigi Buffon.

Italy have two friendly games in June, but it’s unlikely they’ll have a new coach by then, given that the new FIGC President will be elected in June 2022.

Gattuso comments on his Italy exit

“With a heavy heart, having failed to achieve the objective we set ourselves, I consider my experience as head of the National team to be over,” Gattuso said.

“The Azurri shirt is the most precious thing in football, and for this reason, it is right to facilitate future technical evaluations right away.

“I would like to thank President Gabriele Gravina, Gianluigi Buffon, and, with them, all the Federation staff, for the trust and support they have always given me. It has been an honour to lead the National team and to do so with a group of players who have shown commitment and attachment to this shirt. But my greatest thanks go to the fans, to all Italians who in recent months have never failed to show their love and support for the National Team. Always with the blue in my heart.”

Milan expert Carlo Pellegatti says Massimiliano Allegri might receive a call from the FIGC to offer him the Italy job, but the Rossoneri should make sure their coach is ‘not tempted.’

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Milan coach Allegri is among the possible candidates to replace Gattuso as Italy’s national team coach.

“A few months ago, and this is what will concern me in the coming hours, I was told that if Italy were to be eliminated, Allegri could receive a call to replace Gattuso,” Italian journalist Pellegatti said in his latest YouTube video via PianetaMilan.

“Be careful, because they could turn to Allegri and in the coming hours, I was also told that Conte is one of the candidates.”

One of the most experienced Milan journalists in Italy, Pellegatti gave advice to the Rossoneri’s management: “What might Allegri say? This is why Milan should follow his requests, give him credit, so he won’t be tempted if he receives a proposal.”

Gattuso has not yet resigned as Italy’s national team coach, but according to recent reports, the FIGC has asked him to remain in charge for two more games in June, before the end of his contract.

On the other hand, FIGC President Gabriele Gravina has resigned, and so has Delegation Chief Gianluigi Buffon.

A new FIGC President will be voted on June 22, so the Azzurri won’t have a new coach before that date.

According to Gazzetta, even Conte or Roberto Mancini could return to Italy once Gattuso leaves.

Sandro Tonali’s agent, Beppe Riso, is grateful to Newcastle and their fans for the support they’ve shown to the Italian star, but confirms interest from top Premier League clubs.

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Tonali’s agent, Beppe Riso, has confirmed interest from top Premier League clubs in his client.

“He’s a champion; first and foremost at a human level, and, therefore, on the pitch too,” Riso told Calcio&Finanza.

“The idea was to bring Sandro to a high level; it was intriguing. It turned out to be a winning choice even after what happened afterwards [the betting ban]. Newcastle fans and the club behaved incredibly with Sandro, supporting him every time.”

The reporter asked whether Tonali is now being targeted by Premier League clubs aiming to win the title.

“Exactly, this was the target. Obviously, he’s on their target. He’s doing really well,” the midfielder’s agent replied.

“This was the target and the vision when we made the decision [to move to Newcastle]. Make Sandro become a stellar player. The most valuable Italian player.”

Tonali joined Newcastle from Milan in a deal worth over €70m in the summer of 2023.

The Italian midfielder scored one goal and provided one assist in the Azzurri’s 2-0 win over Northern Ireland in the World Cup play-off semifinal last week.

Unfortunately, the Azzurri have failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time, losing the Final on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Tonali has scored three goals and provided seven assists in 47 appearances with Newcastle this season.

His contract at St. James’ Park runs out in June 2028.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Italian FA has requested that Gennaro Gattuso remain as coach for the June friendlies, with the Azzurri boss set to respond next week.

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FIGC President Gabriele Gravina and Italy’s Delegation Chief Gianluigi Buffon resigned after the Azzurri’s World Cup play-off elimination, but Gattuso’s time with La Nazionale may not be over yet.

As reported by Gazzetta, in fact, the Azzurri boss has been asked by the Federation to remain in charge until the end of his contract in June, taking charge of two friendly games that month.

According to Gazzetta, Gattuso hasn’t yet decided his future and will only confirm his decision after Easter, so next week.

Gattuso signed a one-year contract worth €800,000 in June 2025. Stepping down now would cost him around €120,000/150,000, but the matter is by no means a financial one.

Regardless of any decision over his short-term future, it’s unlikely that Gattuso will remain in charge of La Nazionale beyond June after such a disappointing result in the World Cup play-off.

The new FIGC President, to be voted on June 22, will appoint the new Azzurri boss, and if Gattuso refuses to remain in charge until June, U21 coach Silvio Baldini will oversee the first team for the next two friendlies in June.

• Update: Ultimately, Gattuso stepped down on Friday as the FIGC confirmed a contract termination by mutual agreement.

Federico Chiesa pulled out of the Italy national team during the international break, but will be available for Liverpool’s FA Cup clash against Manchester City on Saturday.

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Liverpool visit Gianluigi Donnarumma’s Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals tomorrow, and Chiesa will be part of the Reds squad.

Liverpool coach Arne Slot confirmed at a press conference that the Italian winger is eligible for Saturday’s match: “Federico indeed came back from the national team, where he wasn’t able to play. But he trained with us today, so he will train with us tomorrow again and will be available for the game on the weekend.”

Chiesa was initially included in Gennaro Gattuso’s 28-man squad list for the World Cup play-off, but returned to Liverpool before even training with his teammates.

Football Italia already examined Chiesa’s decision to return to his club from Coverciano, highlighting that his withdrawal was not only due to physical issues.

Therefore, it’s not entirely surprising to see him available for Liverpool, less than two weeks after his decision to pull out of the Azzurri squad.

Chiesa has scored three goals and provided three assists in 32 appearances across all competitions with Liverpool this season.

He has not played for the Italy national team since the 2024 Euros.

Atalanta’s Gianluca Scamacca and Fiorentina’s Moise Kean are the best Italian scorers in Serie A so far this season, but have only netted eight times, and Azzurri coach Gennaro Gattuso has a clear view on Italian forwards’ struggles in the league.

With eight goals scored each, Scamacca and Kean are the best Italian scorers in Serie A so far this season.

Both players were part of the Azzurri squad for the World Cup play-off earlier this month, but the apparent poor form of Italian strikers in the domestic league has been a concern throughout the 2025-26 campaign.

Questioned about the matter during a recent press conference at Coverciano, Gattuso said: “Abroad, they don’t defend as we do. This is the difference. The way we stay on the pitch, the defensive methods are different here.”

Only Brazil (five) have won more World Cups than Italy (four) in history, yet the Azzurri have not played in the competition since 2014 and have not played a World Cup knockout game since 2006 when they went on to lift the trophy with legendary players on the field, including strikers Alessandro Del Piero, Francesco Totti, Filippo Inzaghi and Luca Toni.

The Azzurri beat Northern Ireland 2-0 in the World Cup play-off semifinal on March 26, but lost the Final to Bosnia and Herzegovina, failing to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time.

Due to their history and status, the Azzurri were the favourites to progress to the World Cup, but the same was true in 2017 and 2022 when the Nazionale lost in the play-off to Sweden and North Macedonia, respectively.

Fans supporting the Azzurri have felt like on a roller-coaster in recent years, but they’ve never lacked adrenaline, much like playing https://rocketplay-win.com.

Regardless of the poor form of Italian strikers in Serie A, Italy’s goal production under Gattuso has been nothing short of impressive as the Azzurri have bagged 19 times in six games under the new coach.

Mateo Retegui, the 2024-25 Serie A leading scorer, now playing in the Saudi Pro League for Al Qadsiah, is the best Italian scorer under Gattuso, with five goals in eight appearances, and his prolific link-up with Fiorentina star Kean has surely been among the best news for Italy during Gattuso’s reign.

Italy, however, also needed to keep things tight at the back, as always in the Azzurri tradition, but La Nazionale have conceded ten times in eight games under Gattuso, with their 4-1 loss against Norway at San Siro in November surely seen as a huge alarm bell ahead of World Cup play-off, where all the pressure was on the Azzurri.

La Gazzetta dello Sport

Gravina hands in his resignation, but he’ll fight for three months.

Leaves and attack

FIGC breakthrough. Votes on the 22nd: run between Malagò and Abete. The departing president will press the Government regarding the lack of help. Buffon leaves, too.

Corriere dello Sport

Calcio chaos

Malagol

Gravina is out: elections on June 22, there’s a strong name

The ex-CONI No.1 has no rivals at the moment.

The FIGC President resigned yesterday alongside Buffon. Open crisis. Giovanni Malagò is well-seen by the components, but there’s some resistance from the Government.

Lucio 2028, Juve choice

Decisive hours for the renewal: a salary of €6m net. Hojbjerg emerges again in central midfield. Marseille value him at €12m.

Chivu, Inter’s group therapy.

Cristian will have to revive the Italians and Zielinski, disappointed by the eliminations. Bisseck is injured; he’ll miss games against Roma and Como.

Tuttosport

Juve-Silva: contact

Comolli and Ottolini have taken steps forward with Mendes, Bernardo’s agent. His salary goes beyond the Bianconeri’s parameters, but with Champions League qualification…Bremer, there’s a clause: 58m to leave. Perin can stay; renewal talks are ongoing.

Gravina has resigned, elections on June 22

About time, but it’s not enough

The future of Italian football necessarily passes through a radical change of ideas and priorities. The new FIGC President will decide Gattuso’s successor. The ex-FIGC President: ‘A convinced and pondered decision. I was misunderstood regarding non-professional sports.’

Buffon leaves too: ‘I would have done immediately.’

‘Now there’s just Toro, understand?’

There are reports Lazio have decided not to offer Toma Basic a new contract after all, despite previously seeming to agree a deal until 2030, so he’ll leave for free.

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The midfielder is one of several players whose contracts are running down at the Stadio Olimpico, but the club is pulling the purse strings tight and trying to lower the wage bill.

That means quite a few of them are going to be allowed to just walk away at the end of the season.

Lazio cool on Basic idea

Basic had been the one most likely to sign an extension, with multiple rumours an agreement until June 2030 had been worked out with the salary at €2.5m per season.

However, LaLazioSiamoNoi report that the club hierarchy changed their minds and are now ready to let the 29-year-old’s deal expire on June 30.

An injury in February saw him drop out of the squad and that lost the momentum he was building under coach Maurizio Sarri.

Basic joined Lazio in 2021 from Girondins de Bordeaux for €7.1m and so far this season had made 17 competitive appearances, scoring one goal and providing two assists.

An audacious name has been suggested for the Italy job next summer, because Pep Guardiola is expected to leave Manchester City and has a love for Italian football.

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Gennaro Gattuso is widely expected to leave the role after failing to secure World Cup qualification, after FIGC President Gabriele Gravina and delegation chief Gigi Buffon both tended their resignations today.

The names mentioned as potential candidates are current Milan boss Max Allegri, plus former Azzurri coaches Roberto Mancini and Antonio Conte, who are at Al-Sadd and Napoli respectively.

Guardiola dream for the Nazionale

An intriguing alternative was put forward by the Gazzetta dello Sport, specifically that of Guardiola, who is likely to walk away from Manchester City at the end of the season.

The Spaniard has been in that job since 2016, before that winning silverware with Bayern Munich and Barcelona.

It would be an interesting challenge for a coach with a very specific style of football that is in many ways the antithesis of Calcio tradition.

However, that doesn’t mean Guardiola is a stranger to Italy, far from it.

He played for two Serie A clubs, Brescia and Roma, still speaks excellent Italian, and regularly returns to these shores as a tourist.

Guardiola is also full of praise for several Italian coaches, such as Gian Piero Gasperini of Roma and Lazio’s Maurizio Sarri.

The last time Italy had a foreign CT was Helenio Herrera, but that was sharing the role with Giulio Valcareggi for only four games in the 1960s.

If Carlo Ancelotti can leave Real Madrid to take on the Brazil job, why not Guardiola in charge of the Azzurri?

Fabio Capello has urged Gennaro Gattuso to ‘wait for the next two games’ before deciding if he will quit as Italy coach. ‘We paid the price for an individual player error.’

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The failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup has seen an inevitable run of resignations at the top of Italian football, starting with FIGC President Gabriele Gravina and delegation chief Gianluigi Buffon.

Gattuso is widely expected to follow suit, but former England and Russia national team manager Capello is encouraging him to postpone that decision until June.

Capello would like to see more of Gattuso

“I would wait for the next two games before making any decision on Gattuso,” Capello told Sky Sport Italia.

“Let us not forget he took over the team with the qualifying campaign already begun under Luciano Spalletti, and he managed to bring character and determination to the side.

“Unfortunately, and it is sad to say this, but we paid the price for an individual player error that was elementary, otherwise we probably would’ve taken home the result.”

Italy were leading 1-0 in the World Cup play-off final against Bosnia and Herzegovina when Alessandro Bastoni was sent off for an ill-timed lunge.

When down to 10 men for over an hour, they scraped a 1-1 draw after extra time, losing the penalty shoot-out.

Gattuso had only eight games in charge for Italy, overseeing six victories, one defeat, and one draw with loss on penalties.

There are several names being mentioned to take over from Gattuso, including Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini, who had the job before.

“We’ll have to see not just what they won in the past, but also the way that some of them left the role. There are many things to be evaluated here,” warned Capello.

Buffon confessed he wanted to resign on the night in Zenica, but was asked to stall for time by Gravina.

“Gigi is very direct and is not someone who will lead you down the garden path. As they didn’t achieve their objective, he stood up and handed in his resignation. That is to be respected.”

As different names are put forward to take over from Gabriele Gravina as FIGC President, a big problem becomes self-evident in Italian football.

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Gravina has tended his resignation as President of the Italian Football Federation following the third consecutive failure to qualify for a World Cup.

New elections will be held on June 22 to find his replacement, ending a tenure that had lasted since October 2018, the wake of the first time the Azzurri lost the play-offs.

Italy coach will be chosen by new FIGC President

Gravina is 72 years old, and has been in and around Italian football for several decades, as he was also the Lega Pro President from 2015 to 2018.

He replaced Carlo Tavecchio, who died in January 2023 at the age of 79.

The President of the Italian Coaches Association (AIAC) Renzo Ulivieri confessed he had wanted Gravina to remain at the helm, and he is just turned 85.

The favourite to take over as FIGC President is Giovanni Malagò, who is a sprightly 67 and has been President of the CONI (Italian Olympic Committee) since 2013.

Another likely option is current Lega Nazionale Dilettanti (Amateur League) President Giancarlo Abete, who will be 76 in August.

Only today, Italy legend Gianni Rivera announced he was putting his name forward as a candidate to lead the FIGC, and he is 82 years old.

Dusan Vlahovic will be a free agent on July 1 unless he agrees a new contract with Juventus, but there are two big problems stalling negotiations.

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The striker recently returned from a long injury lay-off and remains eager to extend his stay in Turin, despite no shortage of other clubs interested in his services.

Those include Milan, where he’d reunite with Max Allegri, Arsenal and potentially also teams in Spain.

What Vlahovic wants from Juventus

According to the Gazzetta dello Sport, initial talks are on the right track, but there are still some significant blockages in the process, with another meeting planned next week.

It is hoped they can do a deal for a reduced salary of €6-7m per season from the current €12m including add-ons.

The biggest issue seems to be that agent Darko Ristic wants a significant commission if he is to organise this contract, seeing as he would earn a lot more if shopping Vlahovic to other clubs.

Juventus hope that the arrival of father Milos Vlahovic at the negotiating table will help smooth things over and reach a compromise.

Gianni Rivera has thrown his hat into the ring to become the next FIGC president, making an informal declaration of candidacy on the same day that Gabriele Gravina finally tendered his resignation following Italy’s third consecutive World Cup elimination.

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The 82-year-old, who in 1969 became the first Italian to win the Ballon d’Or, announced his interest during the radio programme Caffè on Rai Radio 1 Sport, via CalcioEFinanza.

“I am ready to become FIGC president because I have a very specific programme that I have developed with friends, including the son of Angelo Sormani,” Rivera said. “It is a model we are studying and preparing that could perhaps be useful for the federation.”

Rivera: ‘No surprise that Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup’

The former AC Milan legend was candid about the scale of the problems facing Italian football.

“There is no reason to be surprised about failing to qualify for the World Cup, I have to say that honestly,” he said. “At this moment there are serious problems that are difficult to overcome. We have shown that we have not overcome them.”

Any candidate wishing to stand in the election must submit formal documentation by 7 June, with the vote itself scheduled for 22 June.

The FIGC presidency is decided by an assembly of 516 weighted votes spread across Italian football’s various stakeholder groups.

The Lega Nazionale Dilettanti hold the largest share at 34%, followed by the players’ association at 20%, Serie A clubs at 18%, coaches at 10%, Lega Pro at 12% and Serie B at 6%. A candidate requires an absolute majority of validly cast votes, including blank ballots, to be elected.

Rivera’s candidacy is not yet official, but the intervention of one of Italian football’s most iconic figures adds a fascinating dimension to what promises to be a hotly contested race to reshape the game’s governing structures.

New Tottenham Hotspur coach Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed that he will stay at the club if they are relegated to the EFL Championship, after signing a five-year contract that he describes as the ‘most important challenge’ in his career.

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Speaking to the club’s official X account, the Italian gave a lengthy interview where he discussed why he chose to join Tottenham and what needs to happen to get the club out of their ‘difficult moment.’

“I’m very very happy and very proud to be here. I consider Tottenham one of the most important clubs in the world and so I’m very happy. I have a big responsibility but it’s a big challenge for  me and I look forward to start, work with the players and win some games.”

De Zerbi did not sugarcoat the challenge on his hands, making no light of the difficult predicament the North London club find themselves in.

Spurs are just one point above the relegation zone with seven games to play, and De Zerbi has been brought in expeditiously in order to help boost their survival chances.

“I watched a lot of games, especially in the last period. I know very well the players. I love football, so I watch many games per week. I know everything, I know its a tough moment for Tottenham. But I know very well it’s a tough moment. It’s a difficult moment for everyone in Tottenham. I think we have the right qualities to come out from this moment.”

De Zerbi: ‘I believe in the players’

One frequently recurring message of De Zerbi’s interview was the undeniable faith he holds in the squad.

“I believe in the players. I think we have to remember who we are, and who the players are because we have very big players. And we have to work with confidence in them and their qualities. They have to show what they are what they are used to playing.”

He then stressed the need to take it a game at a time, and not get too caught up with hypotheticals at this stage.

“I think we have to be focused just on the Sunderland game,  I don’t want to speak about the schedule or the Brighton game or the Wolves game. Game by game, we have to prepare the players to win the game and to be focused just on the game.”

Last time we heard an Italian talking about the ‘history of Tottenham’, Giorgio Chiellini became meme immortal. This time, De Zerbi was a little more serious.

“We have to play with courage. We have to play with the qualities of the players, because if I accepted this challenge, it is because I have a lot of confidence in the players and the history of Tottenham football is a very clear style of play.

“The fans in the last seven games, especially in this moment, are crucial. We have to be together, they have to stay close to the players and the players have to give the right mentality and the right attitude to give back to the fans satisfaction and what they want to see on the pitch.

“Because after this part of the season, I think we can become great in the future.”

De Zerbi talks footballing philosophy & confirms he will coach Spurs next season

De Zerbi was asked about his philosophy and what Spurs fans can expect from his style of play.

“I think it’s not the right moment to speak about my philosophy in football. I’m here now, at the end for the season because we have to win games. And in football, the style of play, the tactical disposition are important.. But it’s a mentality and I would like to help the players reach the best mentality we can show.”

He then confirmed that he will be in charge next season, even if the club are relegated.

“I signed 5 years of contract because for me it’s a big challenge and I will be the coach of Tottenham next season, no matter what.”

The Italian did briefly touch upon his outlook on play and what he expects from his players, but stressed the need to tailor and adapt to what he has available to him in terms of players.

“I love keeping the ball, I love ball possession. I love creating chances, the chance to score. But in the same time, I love 11 defenders when we don’t have the ball because in this time of football we have to attack with 11 players, the keeper as well, and we have to defend with 11 players when the ball is not with us.

“I think in this moment we do not have time to work too much in more principles, but we have to know what we have to do on the pitch. We have to have good organisation with and without the ball. 

“We have to consider the qualities of the players.We are lucky, I am lucky because I have big players with big talent and my work is to help the players to show their qualities.”

Finally, De Zerbi concluded with a touching homage to the sport

“Many times I’ve said football is my life and my life is football. But it’s true because football is my work. I respect football because football gave me everything. And for me, it’s not real work, it’s a passion.

“If I stay at home I watch football, If I work I watch football and nothing changes. For me, Tottenham, especially in this moment, it’s maybe the most important challenge in my career. I’m ready to start this challenge and I go to work with my characteristics, passion, vision of football and knowledge as well.

Lega Serie A President Ezio Maria Simonelli warns the top flight clubs ‘must have a primary role’ in reforms after Italy’s World Cup flop and Gabriele Gravina’s resignation.

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The failure to beat Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-off and therefore miss a third consecutive edition of the World Cup is prompting an inevitable earthquake in the Italian football authorities.

Federation President Gravina resigned today, followed by Italy delegation chief Gigi Buffon, and coach Gennaro Gattuso is expected to follow.

An election has been scheduled for June 22 to appoint a new FIGC President, and the 274 delegates will vote with a system that gives Serie A 18 per cent of the power in this decision.

There is also 6 per cent to Serie B, 12 per cent Lega Pro, 34 per cent for the Amateur League (LND), 20 per cent the Players’ Association, and 10 per cent the Coaches’ Association.

Lega Serie A wants to take charge

“As the Lega Serie A, we must have a primary role, acting as a guide for all the teams,” Simonelli told reporters.

“Like all fans, we are disappointed, but we need to work on reforms, youth, reinforcing the governance and patrimony of the clubs, so we can get back to the past glories.”

The Lega Serie A had fought the main reform proposed by Gravina, which was to reduce the top flight from 20 clubs to 18.

Several names have been mentioned to become the new FIGC President, but the favourite would seem to be ex-CONI (Italian Olympic Committee) chief Giovanni Malagò.

“We didn’t even talk about names during the meeting,” insisted the Lega Serie A President.

Gabriele Gravina resigned as FIGC President today and assured it was ‘a personal, convinced and carefully meditated’ decision after Italy failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

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The head of the Federation had been expected to hand in his resignation straight after the penalty shoot-out defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday night, but he waited until today’s emergency meeting of the Italian football authorities.

He was swiftly followed by delegation chief Gigi Buffon, and coach Gennaro Gattuso is widely expected to follow, as the failure to reach a third consecutive World Cup inevitably sparks an earthquake in Calcio.

Gravina explains resignation

“After many years, there is a feeling of sadness, but also of calm,” Gravina told reporters as he left the Federation headquarters.

“I have to thank all the elements of the Federation, who again today showed great support, great respect, affection, and also insisted that I should continue, but I made my decision, it was a personal and carefully meditated one.

“You will be able to read the rest in a statement. We’ll see each other over the next few days, Happy Easter to everyone.”

Gravina had been the FIGC President since October 2018.

There was also a great deal of confusion, as just minutes after the FIGC announced that a planned presentation to the Government would go ahead on April 8, the Commission for Sport instead confirmed that the event had been cancelled.

Elections will be held on June 22 to elect a new President of the Federation, and only after that will Italy likely choose a new coach too.

There are 274 delegates who choose the new President, with 18 per cent of the vote going to Serie A representatives, 6 per cent Serie B, 12 per cent Lega Pro, 34 per cent for the Amateur League (LND), 20 per cent the Players’ Association, and 10 per cent the Coaches’ Association.

Roberto De Zerbi has given his first interview as the new head coach of Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur today, after he was announced as Igor Tudor’s replacement on a five-year deal.

Speaking to the club’s official social media accounts, De Zerbi broke his silence on the backlash he has received after his handling of Mason Greenwood at Marseille.

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Reports this week revisited comments the Italian coach made at the end of last year, where he praised Mason Greenwood’s character and sympathised with the former Manchester United forward.

Greenwood was charged with attempted rape, assault, occasioning actual bodily harm and controlling and coercive behaviour in 2022. All charges were dropped the following February.

De Zerbi: ‘I never wanted to downplay the issue of violence against women’

Speaking in Italian, to make himself as clear as possible on the issue, which has caused Tottenham Hotspur supporters groups to express concern with his appointment, De Zerbi said:

‘I have never wanted to downplay the issue of violence against women, or violence against anyone more broadly. 

‘In my life, I’ve always stood up for those who are more vulnerable, more fragile. I’ve consistently fought and taken a stand to be on the side of those who are most at risk. 

‘Those of you who know me well will know that I’m not the kind of person who makes compromises to win more games or to win an extra title. Im sorry if I offended anyone’s feeling with this subject matter. 

‘I have a daughter and I’m very sensitive to these things, and I always have been. I hope that over time people will get to know me better and will understand that at that moment I didn’t mean to take a stance.’

There are growing reports that Al-Sadd tactician Roberto Mancini is confident he’ll be called back as Italy coach, especially if Giovanni Malagò becomes FIGC President.

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The failure to qualify for a third consecutive edition of the World Cup is prompting a radical reshuffle of the authorities in Italian football, with Federation President Gabriele Gravina and delegation chief Gigi Buffon tending their resignations today.

Gennaro Gattuso is widely expected to follow suit, so the search is on for both a new coach and a new President of the FIGC.

Mancini eager for Italy return

According to Calciomercato, figures close to Mancini say he is confident of being at the top of the list, especially if Malagò is chosen to lead the Federation.

Currently under contract with Al-Sadd after a brief experience as coach of the Saudi Arabia team, Mancini had won the EURO 2020 tournament during his spell with Italy.

That ran from 2018 to 2023, when he abruptly resigned just a couple of weeks before the EURO 2024 qualifying campaign began.

The presence of Malagò would be crucial, as he was President of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) when he had to take temporary control over the FIGC because it was unable to elect a new President in 2018.

Massimiliano Allegri faces a significant attacking headache ahead of Sunday’s crucial Serie A clash with Napoli, with both Rafael Leão and Christian Pulisic serious doubts for a fixture that could have major implications for Milan’s second-place finish and their fading title hopes.

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According to Pazzidifanta, Leão has been managing a pubic inflammation that forced him to train separately in the days before the international break.

The Portuguese winger spent much of the break in Portugal, with the club’s agreement, undergoing specialist medical assessments, and his availability for Sunday remains uncertain.

Pulisic, meanwhile, endured a difficult spell with the United States national team and is considered unlikely to start even if he is passed fit.

Fullkrug & Nkunku could partner up for Milan against Napoli

The absences of two such important and distinctive attacking players represent a considerable challenge for Allegri, who must find a way to unlock Conte’s well-organised Napoli defence without his most creative wide options.

Niklas Füllkrug is the most likely candidate to lead the line, having started against Torino in the last Serie A fixture.

Should Pulisic miss out entirely, Christopher Nkunku, who has not started since February’s match against Como, could come in alongside the German, offering greater movement and quality between the lines.

Santiago Gimenez is another option after the Mexican made his return from injury as a substitute against Torino, though his fitness levels after months on the sidelines make a starting role a stretch.

The most probable outcome is Nkunku partnering either Füllkrug or Gimenez, two players more comfortable linking play with their back to goal than the dynamic, direct duo they would be replacing.

Politician Ignazio La Russa has a revolutionary idea to revive the Italy squad. ‘If Brazil can hire Carlo Ancelotti, why can’t we get a foreign coach like Jose Mourinho?’

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The failure to qualify for the third consecutive World Cup means that there will be a transformation of the Nazionale behind the scenes.

We have already seen FIGC President Gabriele Gravina and delegation chief Gigi Buffon hand in their resignation, with Gennaro Gattuso widely expected to follow suit.

Mourinho thrown into mix for Italy coach

Now the search is on for who will start the new era of the Italy squad, with names like Antonio Conte, Max Allegri, Roberto Mancini and Simone Inzaghi all mentioned.

“If Brazil can hire a great and foreign coach like Ancelotti, why can’t we get someone like Mourinho?” asked politician and Inter supporter Ignazio La Russa in the Corriere della Sera newspaper.

Mourinho has been linked with the Portugal job over the years, but is currently the coach of Benfica, having split with Fenerbahce in August 2025.

He had two experiences in Serie A with Inter and Roma, but was sacked from the latter role in January 2024.

La Russa was extremely critical of the ‘incredible’ failure to get past Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-offs, losing on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

The fact they were down to 10 men for much of it due to Alessandro Bastoni’s red card was also blamed on Gattuso.

“How can you let a youngster like Pio Esposito take the first penalty, when he doesn’t even take them for Inter? And why was Bastoni played out of position to accommodate Calafiori in centre-left of defence? This in turn penalised Dimarco on the same flank.”

Atletico Madrid have agreed personal terms with Atalanta midfielder Ederson, claims transfer pundit Fabrizio Romano, with a reported €40m fee wanted for the Manchester United and Manchester City target.

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The Brazil international has gone from strength to strength since the move from Salernitana to Atalanta in 2022, as he was instrumental in the Europa League triumph, and sorely missed this season during an injury lay-off.

His contract only runs to June 2027, so for some time it has seemed inevitable that a sale would arrive this summer, when the player will mark his 27^th birthday.

Ederson expected to leave Atalanta

There is no shortage of interested clubs, as Inter and Juventus had seen offers rejected in the past, while Manchester United and Manchester City both remain ready to make a bid.

However, Romano claims that Ederson considers Atletico Madrid to be his favoured destination, and has already agreed personal terms.

The Colchoneros still need to work out a deal with Atalanta, but the contract situation means the fee is going to be no more than €35-40m.

These two clubs already did business several times in recent months, doing deals for Ademola Lookman, Giacomo Raspadori and Matteo Ruggeri.

Gianluigi Buffon has confirmed that he has resigned from his role as the delegation chief of the Italy national team following the departure of Gabriele Gravina as FIGC President. 

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Heads are rolling within the Italy national team set-up. FIGC President Gabriele Gravina officially resigned on Tuesday, Buffon has confirmed that he has stepped down and head coach Gennaro Gattuso is expected to follow as well. 

The departures of the senior figures of the Italy national team are leaving in the wake of the penalty shoot-out defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Tuesday night’s World Cup play-off final, which cost the Azzurri a place at the World Cup for the third time in a row. 

Buffon, in a long statement posted to his Instagram story, confirmed that he offered his resignation immediately after the Bosnia defeat on Tuesday night, but was asked to hold off from making any formal announcements. 

Now that Gravina has officially resigned, Buffon has made his decision public as well. 

Buffon had served as the head of the delegation of the Italy national team from the summer of 2023. 

What Buffon said about Italy resignation

“Resigning just after the end of the match against Bosnia was an urgent act, one that came from deep within me. As spontaneous as the tears that ache in my heart, and which I know I share with all of you,” Buffon wrote in a statement on Instagram. 

“I was asked to stall until everyone had the time to reflect. Now that President Gravina has chosen to step back, I feel free to do what I feel is the responsible act. Despite my sincere belief that I have built so much in terms of team spirit with Rino Gattuso and all of my collaborators in the very short time available to the national team, the main objective was to bring Italy back to the World Cup. And we didn’t succeed.

“It’s right to leave those who will follow me to choose the person they deem best to fill my role. 

“Representing the national team is an honor for me and a passion that has consumed me since I was a boy. 

“I have tried to do my role by putting all my energy into it, wanting all sectors to be linked, a link for dialogue and synergy between various youth teams, striving to structure a project that starts with the very young lads and reaches all the way up to the U21 national teams. This was to rethink the way in which the talents of the future senior national team are developed. 

“I requested and obtained the inclusion of a few key, highly experienced figures, who are bringing out these necessary chances with a medium and long-term vision. This is because I believe in the policy of meritocracy. It will be up to those in charge to judge the wisdom of these choices.

“I hold everything in my heart, with gratitude for the privilege and the lessons learned, even if it is a painful epilogue. 

“Forza Azzurri sempre.” 

The representatives of the Players’ Association (AIC) and Coaches’ Association (AIAC) express hope Gabriele Gravina’s resignation can finally spark reforms to revive the Italy squad.

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Gravina handed in his resignation this afternoon during the emergency meeting, which was organised in the wake of Italy’s failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.

Coach Gennaro Gattuso and team manager Gigi Buffon are widely expected to follow suit, prompting a radical overhaul of the way Italian football is run, with elections for a new President of the Federation (FIGC) on June 22.

Meanwhile, Gravina will be heard in the Commission for Culture, Science and Instruction to give the Government an update on the health of Italian football.

Italy reforms expected after new election

“Finally there is talk about something we’ve been pushing for a long time, which is that Italians don’t get much playing time,” President of the Italian Players’ Association Umberto Calcagno told reporters outside the meeting.

“The Federation does not have the legal groundwork to impose a number of Italians on the field, so we hope politicians can study suitable norms to relaunch Italian football.”

Not everyone was entirely happy about Gravina’s resignation, even if it seemed inevitable after these failures.

“Gravina still has the trust and respect of the federal components, but we are aware of the difficult moment and that we must all roll our sleeves up. We’ve got to transform disappointment into positivity,” insisted Calcagno.

“Football is the biggest sport in Italy, but we are not able to get sufficient value out of all that we do. This is not a war against foreign players, as other countries with the same rules like Spain still manage to get homegrown players making up 60 per cent of the team.

“We must also teach football in a different way to kids, but ultimately the refinement of talent is not the job of the Federation, but of the clubs.”

Renzo Ulivieri, former Bologna coach and President of the Italian Coaches’ Association (AIAC) also commented that he was sad to see Gravina go.

“It was his personal decision, we expressed our solidarity, now we will try to start fresh with the elections on June 22. It is too early to say who will take over, the same goes for Gattuso and the Italy coach. If asked, we’ll give our opinion.

“It was a very sad meeting, because it’s the end of an era, but also the results were disappointing. We’ve been struggling since 2006, it’s not a new problem, so we’ll see what can be done.”

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has offered his full support to the recently-resigned FIGC chief Gabriele Gravina, and says that politicians are the ones who should take most of the responsibility for Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup three times in a row.

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Gravina has officially resigned from his position as President of the FIGC following Tuesday night’s penalty shoot-out defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which cost Italy a place at the World Cup for the third tournament cycle in a row. 

Ceferin was in the stands alongside Gravina in Zenica for the play-off final against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The pair have worked closely alongside each other as part of UEFA’s executive committee, of which Ceferin is the President and Gravina the first vice-President. 

Ceferin gave his thoughts on the current situation surrounding Italian football and the calls for Gravina’s head in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, which was published on Thursday morning, a few hours before Gravina’s resignation was announced.

UEFA President defends Gravina and slams Italian politics

Ceferin found it difficult to decide whether or not it was a ‘surprise’ that Italy failed to get past Bosnia and Herzegovina in Tuesday night’s World Cup play-off final.

“In one way yes, but on the other hand, Bosnia have a young and strong team that played at home,” he said. “There was much more pressure on Italy. Bosnia deserved to go to the World Cup, Italy lost after having a man sent off.” 

Ceferin admits that it is no surprise that fans had called for Gravina to step down in light of Italy’s third consecutive World Cup failure.

“When I was the President of the Slovenian federation, I always said to the coach: ‘If you win, you and the players will be the heroes. If you lose, the blame will fall on the two of us’. 

“It is absolutely not Gabriele’s responsibility and I wouldn’t allow myself to attack either the players or the coach. Perhaps it is the Italian politicians who should ask themselves why Italy has one of the worst footballing infrastructures in Europe.” 

Ceferin hinted that he thinks members of the Italy national team set-up were effectively hoping for Gravina’s downfall.

“It makes me angry and sad that there are people who stay ‘hidden’ and wait for something to go wrong and then jump out and start criticising. They don’t support Italy, they just support themselves. 

“Tell me one Italian player who wasn’t called up that should have been? It’s football, and even with the best players on the pitch, anyone can lose a game.

“Gabriele is my first vice-President and he’s very important to me. But the biggest loss would be for the FIGC. It won’t be easy to find a gentleman who loves football and Italy as much as he does. But I’m not so naive as to believe that some of these self-centred people, who were just waiting for something to go wrong, will be thinking about it. They don’t care.” 

Ceferin has previously accused Italy of having insufficient infrastructure in place, which is a concern ahead of EURO 2032, which will be co-hosted by Italy and Turkiye.

“Euro 3023 is scheduled and will take place. I hope the infrastructure will be ready, otherwise the tournament will not be played in Italy.” 

And giving his final comment, Ceferin said: “Italy is one of the biggest footballing nations and will return to the top. The biggest problem in Italian football is the relationship between football politics and ‘normal’ politics. If everyone fell into line, they’d soon become European and world champions again. And if the negativity continues, then things in football will go terribly wrong.” 

The contents of a 900-page report presented by the legendary Roberto Baggio have cropped up in conversations among supporters in the wake of Italy’s third consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup. Here is what we know about the report and the changes that were recommended over 15 years ago. 

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Back in August 2010, Baggio was appointed as the head of the technical sector within the FIGC set-up and in December of 2011, presented a 900-page report that proposed a major overhaul of the federation’s training methods and its pathway for young talents. 

Baggio resigned from his position in 2013, claiming that the recommendations that he brought forward had been completely ignored. 

What was in Baggio’s 900-page Italy report?

As per La Gazzetta dello Sport, Baggio had called for ‘adequate’ sporting facilities and wanted 100 different training centres to be operated by the FIGC.

Baggio also wanted to change the approach that the FIGC had to training coaches and managers. He wanted to focus on coaches who were well educated, preferably with degrees and with different professional experiences, not necessarily within football. 

He also wanted to implement a permanent study group, made up of FIGC members and university researchers, that would have been in ‘constant contact’ with coaching and backroom staff. 

Baggio also called for a vast improvement of data collection within the youth sector. 

He wanted 100 different training centres in 100 different districts of Italy, with three FIGC coaches assigned to each one. His aim was to have 50,000 matches per year for young Italian talents to prove themselves. 

Baggio also felt that there was too much attention being paid to tactical approach rather than technique, which is a topic that continues to come up in 2026. 

These suggestions were completely ignored 15 years ago, but now, with a major overhaul of the FIGC and national team set-up expected, Italy might be wise to revisit some of the topics that Baggio addressed all the way back in 2011.

Inter have confirmed that Yann Bisseck will miss Sunday’s Serie A clash with Roma after sustaining a muscular injury during the international break.

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The German defender underwent clinical and instrumental examinations at the Humanitas Institute in Rozzano on Thursday morning, with results revealing a mild muscle strain in the flexors of his right thigh.