Italy scrap through the Group of Death

Italy qualified to the quarter-finals of the Euro 2008 after beating France 2-0. This victory signified the return of luck to the team after some ill-fated decisions against them in earlier games, or maybe it's just that France is more unlucky.

France lost Frank Ribery through injury, and had Eric Abidal sent off in the first 30 minutes of the game. Eric Abidal replace captain Lilian Thuram in the center of defense, who are being criticised after the Dutch game. Veteran Thuram and Willy Sagnol are both out of the starting lineup. But Abidal made a mess of the game when he conceded the penalty and got himself sent off for being the last man. To be frank, Abidal should not be solely responsible, as I feel keeper Coupet could have come forward to clear up the mess.

The resulting penalty, converted by Pirlo is touch of class for the midfield maestro. Pirlo is having one of his best performance for Italy, and his contribution to the team can clearly match those in the run to World Cup 2006. In fact, he is now the key man for Italy, creating chances and making visionary passes to his teammates. I would certainly agree with Italian press, who named him as the player of the match instead of the officially named Daniele de Rossi. De Rossi performance is good, showing his brilliance a move which he moved past a few French defenders, but his overall contributions, to me, is far less than Pirlo, even though Pirlo was substituted early 2nd half.

With Luca Toni still firing blanks and looked increasingly frustrated, coupled with Pirlo suspension against Spain, the Azzurri's challenge don't look promising as they face the in-form Spain in the Quarterfinals.



Italy coach Roberto Donadoni said that despite the outside pressures after two successive poor results, a 3-0 defeat by the Dutch and a 1-1 draw with Romania, there had always been inner belief in the squad.

Scolari turned Blues

Luis Felipe Scolari is the man to lead Chelsea next season! The current Portugal coach has been instrumental in turning Portugal into a force to be reckoned in world football, and now he is turning to club football for challenge.

With him being announced as Chelsea's new manager, there are speculations linking him to Kaka, with their Brazilian connection and Chelsea's seems-unlimited source of money. Milan's technical director, Leonardo, the man behind Kaka's arrival in Milan, has said Kaka will not change team, and will be in Milan until his career end. While Milan do have the attraction of keeping players, with most of his players being at the team for years, and decades, Chelsea's assault on Kaka cannot be taken lightly.

As for Scolari, he is one coach that have the winning touch and the tactical wits. Not many people know he is the coach that lead Brazil to the 2002 World Cup Winner title, as most people have take it for granted that with Brazil's pool of talents, whoever coach the team can win. But this myth has faded with Brazil early exit in quater-finals to the unfancied France. As for Portugal, Scolari has turn them into real force, storming to the semi-final before being ousted also by the French. In Euro 2004, he lead Portugal to the final, before being defeated by another unfancy team, Greece.

He is a real character and cunning in his tactical approach. With his inclusion to the Barclays Premier League next season, there will surely be more out of the world comments between the top coaches.

1st match day of Euro 2008

Well, for day 1 of Euro 2008, I watched both matches, for I feel obliged to watched them as a symbol of the beginning. Well, the 1st match between the host nation Switzerland and Czech Republic wasn't much of a spectacle. Czech beat the Swiss 1-0.

Though I wasn't expecting much from the host, as they are known to play the cagey way without much flair, I was disappointed with the Czech. I feel bad for the host for this defeat, as I feel that the host played well, and may well win the game if not for the luck to be on the Czechs' side, plus a towering goalkeeper named Cech.

As for the Portugal match, which they won 2-0 against Turkey, Portugal was the dominant side, dictating the play and give no chance to Turkey to threaten their goal. Cristiano Ronaldo hasn't shown his best, instead Pepe steal the limelight from him, scoring the opener after his goal was disallowed.

Euro is definitely one competition to make your name in one of the biggest stage in world football. And from the early stages of the competition, seems like there will be more stars in the making.

Azzurris on the move

Italy have a number of players in their Euro squad who are in the process of moving clubs. This has prompted coach Roberto Donadoni to said that he wanted transfer talk to be kept to a minimum as his side prepare for their first Group C match against Netherlands in Berne on Monday.

Italy's 2nd choice keeper Marco Amelia has left relegated Livorno and agreed a four-year contract with Palermo. Meanwhile, Palermo defender Andrea Barzagli has reportedly agreed a transfer to Germany's VfL Wolfsburg.

Full back Gianluca Zambrotta clinched a move from Barcelona to Milan days before the Italy squad flew out to their base south of Vienna. Genoa striker Marco Borriello is returning to co-owners AC Milan, with the deal due to be made official after the end of the tournament in Austria and Switzerland.

The Special One Landed in Milan

Jose Mourinho is back in management! The self-claimed Special One landed in Milan to take the Internazionale job after signing a three-year contract with Inter. Mourinho will replace Roberto Mancini, who may go the other way round to Chelsea to replace Avram Grant.

There has been talks for quite some time that Jose Mourinho will replace Mancini at Inter, who despite winning 3 straight Scudetto, failed to shine in European Champions League, and when city rival AC Milan won the Champions League last season, it has become bitter to swallow for the Inter chairman and board.

Mourinho's pedigree in Champions League has been impressive, despite his only win came when he is at Porto. In his time with Chelsea, they have reach the latter stages of the competition. Mourinho's arrival may also spurred the transfer market, and attract more stars to the Serie A.


On the other hand, if Roberto Mancini is appointed as Chelsea's coach, Italy should be proud that their coaches have been in well demand. Chelsea is also reported to be chasing Milan's Carlo Ancelotti. This is a sign that the World's Best Football League is recognising the ability of the Italian coaches, who they once deemed to boring!