Forza Azzurre! The Italians That Made It to World Cup

There is one Italian National Team that made it to the football World Cup, even if we will have to wait one year to see it. Girl power restored our battered national pride yesterday as the Azzurre wrapped a sensational qualification to Women’s World Cup 2019 in France by beating Portugal 3-0, with goals by Cristiana Girelli, Cecilia Salvai, and Barbara Bonansea.

Meanwhile In Moscow: No Love In Russia for Ibra

The World Cup is getting close, and even if we Italians may still be in denial about the fact that the Azzurri will be watching it from home, the greatest show on Earth will still take place. In our "Meanwhile In Moscow" column, Swedish correspondent Arjun Sethi reminds us about some other big name who will not go to Russia: Zlatan Ibrahimović, or simply Ibra.

Take-It-All Juventus Win Fourth Coppa Italia In a Row

Juventus and their coach Massimiliano Allegri are like the Asso Pigliatutto (Ace-take-it-all), the key point in a popular Italian card game, which enables its holder to capture all the cards on the floor. The dominant Bianconeri didn’t leave anything to their opponents this year either, as they wiped out Milan 4-0 last night in a one-sided Coppa Italia final, to conquer their fourth domestic cup in a row.

Assi di Coppe: Roma Exit UCL With Heads Held High

All Roma fans could hope for yesterday was an entertaining match, conscious that coming back from three goals should be an exception, not the rule. Still, the Giallorossi went as close as possible to another sensational comeback, prevailing over Liverpool 4-2 in the second leg of a Champions League Semifinal. The Reds advanced on a 7-6 aggregate score, but Roma left the Stadio Olimpico with their heads held high.

Assi di Coppe: Roma Wake Up Late, Liverpool Rule

Liverpool had to score five times, led by a sumptuous Mohammed Salah, before Roma finally woke up and remembered they were playing a Champions League semifinal at Anfield Road. Late goals by Edin Dzeko and Diego Perotti saved the Giallorossi’s face, leaving a feeble qualification hope alive, but it will take another remuntada for Eusebio Di Francesco to come back from last night’s 2-5.

Koulibaly Disrupts Juve Plan, Battle for Scudetto Is Still On

Napoli has a new hero, and his name is Kalidou Koulibaly. With just one minute to go, silence fell over the Allianz Stadium as the Senegalese center back pushed the ball past Gianluigi Buffon to give the Azzurri their first win in Turin in 10 years, disrupting Massimiliano Allegri’s perfect plan. Napoli closed the distance, the gap with Juventus now reduced to one point only, with four matches to go.

Benevento Don’t Give Up! Epic Win In San Siro

The good news for Milan and Gennaro Gattuso is that they will never have to face Benevento again. The spell cast by Roberto De Zerbi’s Witches over the Rossoneri in the first leg continued to have effect, as the Giallorossi earned a stunning 0-1 win in San Siro last night, thanks to a lone goal by Pietro Iemmello. Benevento continued to fight against mathematics, and pushed relegation a few more hours away.

Donnarumma Drives Napoli Title Hopes Away

A phenomenal save by Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 92nd minute put a damper on Napoli’s residual Scudetto hopes, as the Partenopei were held onto a goalless draw by Milan in San Siro, thus seeing their gap with Juventus widening to six points. The 19-year-old goalie found the best way to celebrate his 100th Serie A cap, but his late exploit may cost much to the club of his hometown Napoli.

Assi di Coppe: Juventus’ Missed Miracle in Madrid

That hurts. Badly. Juventus’ match at Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid followed the script of a perfect movie, until its very ending – when direction passed in the hands of some sadistic horror movie regisseur. A penalty awarded in the 93rd minute saved Cristiano Ronaldo and his Blancos, after Juve had scored three goals, performing an incredible comeback, and putting the defending European Champions to the ropes.

Assi di Coppe: Remuntada Roma, Barca Demolished!

Some football fans live their whole life waiting for a night like this. Then, that moment suddenly comes, when the irrational becomes possible, and football turns into epic. Roma did what seemed impossible to do: Beating Lionel Messi’s Barcelona 3-0 to push them out of the Champions League, and advance to the semifinals of the top European competition for the second time in their history.

Assi di Coppe: Juve, It’s a Débacle! Real Win 3-0

Long gone are the days when Juventus used to be Real Madrid’s nemesis in Europe. The Galacticos delivered a painful hammering to Massimiliano Allegri’s Bianconeri last night, one year after last season’s Champions League Final. The 3-0 by which Real virtually put one foot and a half in the semifinal matured at the end of a gigantic performance by Cristiano Ronaldo, touched by grace in occasion of his second goal.

Survival of the Fittest in Turin as Juve Beat Milan 3-1

If Juventus end up extending their Scudetto streak to seven titles, Massimiliano Allegri and his boys will remember those minutes when they managed to switch the momentum of last night's match with Milan as one of those moments that made the difference. With a wheezing Napoli being held onto a 1-1 draw by Sassuolo earlier in the afternoon, the Old Lady widened again their gap versus them after beating the Rossoneri 3-1.