The Cult of Calcio - Page 1476 of 1481 - Italian Football and Serie A News in English

Rifinitura: Chancy Away Tests for Inter and Napoli

November 25, 2017 The Cult of Calcio Staff AC Milan, Atalanta, Benevento, Bologna, Cagliari, Chievo Verona, Crotone, Fiorentina, Genoa, Hellas Verona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Lazio, Napoli, Parma, Rifinitura, Roma, Sampdoria, Sassuolo, Serie A, Spal, Torino, Udinese

Round 14 of Serie A will not feature any big match. Yet, top ranking Inter and Napoli should better not underestimate their away games in Cagliari and Udine. A recent coach change did bring some benefits to the Islanders, whereas Udinese will see their new trainer Massimo Oddo debut tomorrow. Juventus have good chances of reducing their gap with the lead as they face Crotone at home.

Assi di Coppe: Atalanta Advances by Playing Pokerissimo

November 24, 2017 The Cult of Calcio Staff AC Milan, Assi di Coppe, Atalanta, Champions League, Europa League, European Cups, Juventus, Lazio, Napoli, Roma

We are running out of adjectives to describe Atalanta’s sensational European campaign: Gian Piero Gasperini’s Nerazzurri had started their run in Europa League Group E with a clear 3-0 home win against Everton. Last night, they secured their presence in the Round of 32 after humiliating again the Toffees with a fabulous pokerissimo – five goals scored at Wayne Rooney’s home.

Bar Sport: Napoli Secures Lead for One More Week

November 20, 2017 Diego Ottaviano AC Milan, Bar Sport, Napoli, Serie A, Uncategorized

Napoli won again, maintaining the leadership of Serie A for at least one more week. The Partenopei beat AC Milan 2-1, showing a less shining and sparkling football than usual, due to a courageous and well-trained opponent side. As claimed by coach Maurizio Sarri, Saturday night at San Paolo Napoli played a slightly atypical game for their standards: For the first time this season, his boys finished with a less ball possession than their opponents.

Federchaos! Italian Football President Tavecchio Quits

November 20, 2017 Matteo Carnevale FIGC, Italy, Tavecchio, The Azzurri

He grasped onto his position despite the shame of Italy failing to qualify for the next World Cup, but in the end he had to take the step back that most Italians were asking him to take. Carlo Tavecchio called it quit today and resigned as President of FIGC – The Italian Football Federation, aka Federcalcio, at the end of an urgent advisory board meeting where he had to acknowledge that he no longer had the majority of it on his side.

Insigne Inspires, Zielinski Zaps: Napoli Tops Milan 2-1

November 19, 2017 The Cult of Calcio Staff AC Milan, Napoli, Serie A One comment

As soon as he stepped foot on the pitch again, Lorenzo Insigne didn’t wait a minute to spark more regrets at his missed deployment in the Italy-Sweden World Cup Playoff. The boy from Frattamaggiore scored the first goal last night, before Piotr Zielinksi doubled the lead to help Napoli top Milan 2-1 and retain their Serie A lead, regardless of the outcome of the remaining matches from Round 13.

Rifinitura: Rome Derby, Napoli-Milan in Post-Apocalypse Weekend

November 18, 2017 The Cult of Calcio Staff AC Milan, Atalanta, Benevento, Bologna, Cagliari, Chievo Verona, Crotone, Fiorentina, Genoa, Hellas Verona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Lazio, Napoli, Rifinitura, Roma, Sampdoria, Sassuolo, Serie A, Spal, Torino, Udinese

Now that the worst has happened – to quote Federcalcio President Carlo Tavecchio, who a few weeks ago had prophetically cautioned that failing to qualify for the World Cup would be comparable to an apocalypse – it’s up to Serie A to alleviate the pain of a Country which suddenly woke up with the nightmare of having to make alternate plans for next Summer. Calcio lovers will have a rich program in Round 13 to drown their pain in.

Russian Roulette: Azzurri, It’s Over! Italy Misses World Cup Pass

November 14, 2017 Matteo Carnevale Italy, Russian Roulette, The Azzurri, World Cup 2018

When preparing to deliver the very last corner kick in Italy-Sweden, just moments before referee Mateu Lahoz blew the final whistle, Alessandro Florenzi kissed the ball. He put all his hopes, as well as one nation’s hopes, into that ball. It didn’t work. The Swedish fort held a few seconds more, and the score remained set on 0-0. Italy failed to overturn their 0-1 loss from three days ago in Solna, and missed the last train to Russia.

Bar Sport: What’s Going On, Mr. Ventura?

November 11, 2017 Diego Ottaviano Bar Sport, Italy, The Azzurri, World Cup 2018

What’s going on, Mr. Ventura? We are talking about last night, of course, as we are not sure what happened. For the full time of our match against Sweden, the verve was missing among the Azzurri. We simply appeared weak, confused, and disorganized. Italy forgot they were Italy – and, what’s worse - it looked like they also forgot that chances to make it to World Cup 2018 were at stake.

Russian Roulette: Azzurri Fate Hangs by Thread After 0-1 Loss

November 11, 2017 Matteo Carnevale Italy, Russian Roulette, The Azzurri, World Cup 2018

Italy lost 0-1 to Sweden in the first leg of their World Cup playoff match, making their road to Russia extremely complicated. While the goal that put the Suedes ahead originated from a Daniele De Rossi’s unfortunate deflection on a shot by Jakob Johansson, the Azzurri never gave the impression of being able to pose any real threat to the opponents’ goal.

Russian Roulette: Sweden and Bitter Biscotto Memory

November 8, 2017 The Cult of Calcio Staff Italy, Russian Roulette, The Azzurri

Two days left before the match that can determine Italy’s chances to participate to the upcoming World Cup in Russia. The seeding pots delivered to the Azzurri Sweden as their final opponent on their way to Moscow, for a two-leg playoff that will be played in Solna this Friday, and then in Milan on November 13.

Serie A Recap: Juve Gets Closer as Napoli, Inter Slow

November 7, 2017 The Cult of Calcio Staff AC Milan, Atalanta, Benevento, Bologna, Cagliari, Chievo Verona, Crotone, Fiorentina, Genoa, Hellas Verona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Lazio, Napoli, Roma, Sampdoria, Sassuolo, Serie A, Spal, Torino, Udinese

The first third of Serie A 2017-18 ended with Juventus reducing the gap versus capolista Napoli, and surpassing Inter to catch the second position in the table. This looked like a simple round on paper for the three leading forces, yet both Napoli and Inter were forced to halt their march and settle for a draw. Juventus did get the three points, but suffered much more than expected against Benevento.

Bar Sport: Will Short Bench Limit Napoli Ambitions?

November 6, 2017 Diego Ottaviano Bar Sport, Napoli, Serie A

Ok, we didn’t win today. Still, Napoli are on a non-losing streak in Serie A since 20 matches, with three draws and 17 wins. Today, Inter didn’t get more than a draw either, and Juventus got three points against Benevento winning only for 2-1. We go back home with one small point, but we still hold the first position with a +1 advantage versus Juventus, which are now second alone.