Author: The Cult of Calcio Staff

Rapinoe-Lavelle! U.S.A. Retain Women World Cup Title

Netherlands, U.S.A., Women Football, Women World Cup, Women World Cup 2019
The Women World Cup speaks American again. The U.S. retained the world title conquered four years ago in Canada by topping European Champions Netherlands 2-0 in the Final played on Sunday in Lyon. The USWNT, coached by Jill Ellis, triumphed via a penalty by their influential captain Megan Rapinoe, and a sharp left-foot shot by Rose Lavelle.
Continue reading

Italy U-21 Win vs Belgium May Not Be Enough For Semis

Belgium, Italian Football, Italy, The Azzurri, Under 21 European Championship, Under 21 European Championship 2019
The Azzurrini did their job, but their fate doesn’t depend on them anymore. Luigi Di Biagio’s Under-21 selection defeated 3-1 an already-eliminated Belgian side on Saturday, but Spain’s simultaneous 5-0 routing of Poland qualified the young Furias Rojas as first from Group A of the U-21 European Championship. Chances for Italy to advance as best runner-up are dim.
Continue reading

Poland Lone Goal Brings Azzurrini Back to Reality

Italian Football, Italy, Poland, The Azzurri, Under 21 European Championship, Under 21 European Championship 2019
Italy, it’s reality-check time already. A lone goal by Krystian Bielik gave Poland an unexpected win over Luigi Di Biagio’s Azzurrini in the second match of Group A of the U-21 European Championship. Italy are now at risk of missing the train to the next stage of the tournament. Even beating Belgium next Saturday could not be enough to book a place in the Semifinals.
Continue reading

Italy U-21 Defeat Spanish Nemesis with Chiesa Brace

Italian Football, Italy, Spain, The Azzurri, Under 21 European Championship, Under 21 European Championship 2019
Italy U-21 finally broke a spell made of multiple setbacks against the same-aged Spaniards, defeating Luis de la Fuentes’ side 3-1 on Sunday in their opening match in Group A of the U-21 European Championship. The young Azzurri came from behind to level Dani Ceballos’ lead with a double by Federico Chiesa, before setting the score with Lorenzo Pellegrini.
Continue reading

Azzurri Insigne, Verratti Bend Bosnia’s Resistance

Euro 2020, Italian Football, Italy, The Azzurri
The Azzurri have learned to suffer. It was a battle with no quarter on Tuesday at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, where Italy knocked down Bosnia with goals by Lorenzo Insigne and Marco Verratti, coming from behind in the second half to neutralize Edin Dzeko’s opener. Roberto Mancini's boys caught the fourth win in four Euro 2020 qualification games.
Continue reading

Italy Beat Mali To Seal U-20 World Cup Semifinal Spot

Italian Football, Italy, The Azzurri, Under 20, Under 20 World Cup 2019
Italy made it again to the Top Four. The Azzurrini beat Mali 4-2 today in Tychy, Poland to book a place in the Semifinals of the Under 20 World Cup, an achievement already reached two years ago by coach Paolo Nicolato’s squad. Italy’s next opponent on the way to the Final in Lodz will be Ukraine, which beat Colombia 1-0 earlier in the afternoon.
Continue reading

Assi di Coppe: Liverpool Clinch Champions League Throne

Assi di Coppe, Champions League, Europa League, Liverpool, Tottenham
Seven is a charm for Jurgen Klopp. The German coach finally clinched a European Cup title leading Liverpool to a 2-0 win over Tottenham to conquer the Champions League 2018-19, and breaking a curse made of six international Final losses. Liverpool took a rapid lead with a penalty by Mohammed Salah, and controlled the game until Divock Origi’s late goal.
Continue reading

Assi di Coppe: Sarri’s Chelsea Triumph In Europa League

Arsenal, Assi di Coppe, Chelsea, Europa League, European Cups
Maurizio Sarri came, saw, and won. The former Napoli coach led Chelsea to their first Europa League title, seeing off Arsenal in the Final in Baku with a storming second half. Eden Hazard scored a brace in what was likely his last match with the Blues, and goals by Jean Giroud and Pedro Rodriguez wrapped a comfortable 4-1 success against Unai Emery’s side.
Continue reading

Assi di Coppe: Tottenham Grab Last Minute Ticket to Final

Ajax, Assi di Coppe, Champions League, Tottenham
It happened again. Yet another last minute comeback, to further embellish a Champions League edition that could arguably end up being the most exciting ever. This time, it was Tottenham’s turn to pull out the most incredible of victories, stunning Ajax with a shocking 2-3 late win that projected them straight into their first Champions League Final in their history.
Continue reading

Assi di Coppe: Liverpool Score Four To Crush Barcelona

Assi di Coppe, Barcelona, Champions League, Liverpool
Mohammed Salah’s t-shirt was prophetical. “Never Give Up,” it read. Liverpool wrote another page of a history made of impossible comebacks as they trashed Barcelona to reach the Champions League Final once again. The scorecard at Anfield Road read 4-0 at full time, an outcome that completely overturned what happened at the Camp Nou one week ago.
Continue reading

Assi di Coppe: First UCL Semifinal Round Favors Ajax

Ajax, Assi di Coppe, Champions League, Tottenham
Ajax don’t want to stop. The white-and-red won 1-0 in London over Tottenham, and can now legitimately aim at reaching the Champions League Final for the first time in 23 years. A lone goal by midfielder Donny van de Beek stunned the Tottenham Stadium and the Semifinal debuting Spurs to secure his side a strong advantage in view of next Wednesday’s second leg.
Continue reading