2011 Euro 2012

Italy Fans Video Rating: five / five

PRANDELLI WILL PICK CASSANO

Italian national team manager Cesare Prandelli has said that AC Milan striker Antonio Cassano is almost certain to be included in the squad for the Euro 2012. Antonio Cassano had to undergo a heart surgery during the middle of the campaign, which almost ruled him out of the Euro 2012. It was a massive disappointment for Italy considering that he is their best striker. However, the striker returned to the AC Milan first-team in the match against Siena recently. Many were expecting an ordinary performance from the striker, who has been out of the game for quite some time.

However, he surprised a lot of people by putting in a scintillating performance against Siena. Cassano not only scored a goal against Siena, but also set up two other goals for Zlatan Ibrahimovic as well. Following the match, Italian coach Cesare Prandelli has said that Cassano is almost certain for inclusion into the Euro 2012 squad. Only a few weeks ago, the 54-year-old manager said that he might look at the possibility of including troublesome Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli as a replacement for Cassano. However, following the recovery of the Bari-born striker, it is highly unlikely that Balotelli will be part of the Italian squad.

“I’m so glad he’s back. I didn’t expect him to be back so soon. For Euro 2012, I will make my assessments. But if he is ready for [Milan coach Massimiliano] Allegri then he is probably ready for us. He has a contagious energy, although I do not think he has the fitness required to play 90 minutes consistently yet,” Prandelli told La Gazzetta dello Sport after the Siena match. Italy have been drawn in the same group consisting of World Cup Champions Spain. Croatia and the Republic of Ireland are the other group members.

PATO WILL MISS SEASON

AC Milan have confirmed that striker Alexandre Pato will miss the rest of the season after worsening the injury by coming back too soon.

Alexandre Pato are set to miss the match against Barcelona. The second leg of the quarter-final Champions League encounter between the two clubs was extremely important for Milan. They are coming into the match after having drawn the first match 0-0.

Alexandre Pato, after unsuccessful attempts to recover from his injury problem at the Milan lab, went to the United States in order to get some medical advice. Rather surprisingly, he was included in the squad that faced Barcelona at the Camp Nou, as one of the substitutes.
He came on in the match with AC Milan requiring his goal scoring prowess in order to score two goals in the remainder of the match.

However, he was taken off after just 14 minutes in what appeared to be a redevelopment of the same injury problem. It was immediately thought that Pato was going to miss a long spell on the sidelines. It has proven to be the case, as AC Milan have now confirmed that the Brazilian forward will miss the rest of the season and the title challenge.

This the 14th injury of his career for Alexandre Pato, who is just 22 years old. In the summer, he was linked with a move to French club PSG, who were prepared to pay around € 30 million for the services. Milan rejected the bid. “Pato’s season is over. We are back to square one again. How can we permanently solve his muscular problems? We’ve taken him everywhere, from Germany to the USA. Loads of doctors have examined and treated him. I did not get a minute of sleep all night,” Meersseman said to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

LAVEZZI MIGHT STAY

Napoli striker Ezequiel Lavezzi’s agent has said that his client may not move clubs after all in the summer.

Ezequiel Lavezzi has been linked with a summer switch to other European clubs after achieving many things that Napoli over the last few seasons.

It is thought that the striker is looking for a new challenge. Chelsea, who were the opponents for Napoli in the last 16 stage of the champions league, are thought to be highly interested in securing the services of the striker. However, Ezequiel Lavezzi’s agent recently said that the possibility of his client moving in the summer may not be certain after all.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis recently revealed that there have been no offers for the striker. The Argentine has been linked with the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea over the last few months.

Ezequiel Lavezzi along with the likes of Marek Hamsik and Edinson Cavani have been the backbone for this spectacular Napoli side, which has left a strong mark in the champions league this season. They’re currently doing well on the Italian Serie A and are hoping to qualify for the champions league next season. There have been a few reports that Lavezzi was unhappy in the match against Catania during the weekend – a match that Napoli drew 2-2.

“The ‘three tenors’ [Lavezzi, Marek Hamsik and Edinson Cavani] may still remain at Napoli, they have long contracts and it will be De Laurentiis the one to decide. It is important, however, that the club play in the Champions League next season, so that malcontents do not arise,” Lavezzi’s agent Alejandro Mazzoni said in an interview given to Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli. Napoli are currently fourth in the Italian Serie A – three points behind third placed team Lazio.

PRANDELLI WARNS BALOTELLI

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli recently sent out a warning to Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli regarding his conduct off the pitch.

Now, Mario Balotelli’s club manager Roberto Mancini has also backed the claims by Italy coach Cesare Prandelli by saying that Mario Balotelli needs to listen to the advice from Cesare Prandelli.

The Italian striker was recently pictured coming out of a strip club in Liverpool in the early hours of Friday morning. Manchester City were set to face Bolton on Saturday, and Roberto Mancini was less pleased with the striker’s attitude and behaviour off the pitch.

Cesare Prandelli went one step ahead of Roberto Mancini by not only warning the player, but also dropping him from the squad entirely. Italy are set to face the United States national team in a friendly match on Wednesday.

However, Mario Balotelli will not be part of the squad, and it remains to be seen if Cesare Prandelli will be willing to stick with him if his behaviour does not improve. Italy have qualified for the Euro 2012, and are expected to be a dominant force at this European competition after failing to make any impact in the previous edition. Mario Balotelli is expected to be part of this squad, but Cesare Prandelli warned that his behaviour should improve in order to be considered for an inclusion.

“I think it (the warning) is correct. We know that Mario is a top player – but he should improve his behaviour. For the national team it is important. When you go to play in the European Championship and you only play three or five games, you should have good behaviour,” Roberto Mancini said ahead of the match with Bolton. Mancini will have Carlos Tevez coming closer to full fitness, and he adds to the competition for Mario Balotelli.