Italy got their Confederations Cup campaign off to a good start with a 3-1 Group B comeback win over ten-man United States in Pretoria.
USA 1-3 Italy
Italy were making their first-ever appearance at the Confederations Cup, and despite being the reigning world champions, they had a point to prove due to some indifferent form over the past nine months.
Coach Marcello Lippi had selected an experienced squad, and there were few surprises in his starting XI for the opening clash with USA, although captain Fabio Cannavaro was ruled out with injury and replaced by Nicola Legrottaglie. Mauro Camoranesi, Alberto Gilardino and Vincenzo Iaquinta started in a trident frontline.
The USA were the only team to stop Italy at the 2006 World Cup, drawing 1-1 in a group game best remembered for Daniele De Rossi's brutal red card elbow on Brian McBride. The Yanks believed they were in with a real chance of qualification to the semi-finals, and were pinning their attacking hopes on star man Landon Donovan.
First Half
The United States had the first effort of the game as Clint Dempsey lashed high and wide from a free kick, while Camoranesi wasted a good crossing position for Italy, slicing the ball out of play. Tim Howard made the first save of the game on 12 minutes, smothering a 25-yard shot from Gilardino.
Italy should have taken the lead on 20 minutes, as an Andrea Pirlo free kick from the right found Legrottaglie completely unmarked six yards out, but he somehow directed the ball wide of the post.
The Azzurri were on top, but they risked falling behind five minutes later as Pirlo gave the ball away, Bradley broke through, but the midfielder scuffed his shot and Gianluigi Buffon was able to gather at the second attempt.
The US missed an even better chance minutes later, as Jozy Altidore raced clean through on goal, but again scuffed his finish horribly.
After missing two fantastic opportunities, the US saw their hopes of winning receive a huge blow as Ricardo Clark was shown a straight red card for a late foul on Rino Gattuso. While the tackle was late, high and dangerous, a straight red was extremely harsh.
The USA's luck improved on 38 minutes, as Bornstein slid the ball into his own net from outside the area in freak fashion, but the goal was disallowed for a Camoranesi offside. Whether the Juve man was interfering with play was questionable.
Incredibly the US took the lead a couple of minutes later. Chiellini was adjudged to have held back Altidore, and the referee pointed to the spot. Donovan made no mistake with his penalty, sending Buffon the wrong way.
Second Half
Italy pressed from the start of the second half, but still struggled to create clear-cut chances. Iaquinta had a half-chance on 55 minutes as he headed wide from a corner.
Lippi then made a double change, introducing Ricardo Montolivo and Giuseppe Rossi for Camoranesi and Gattuso.
Rossi made an instant impact, as within seconds he had scored a screamer to put Italy level. The Villarreal man won the ball in midfield, strode forward and then unleashed a thunderbolt from 30 yards into the top corner.
Italy now came forward looking for a second goal. Rossi, Gilardino and Iaquinta all fired wide, while Tim Howard beat away a ferocious Pirlo strike.
With 20 minutes remaining, Italy did take the lead, and once again it was a stunning goal. De Rossi let fly with a vicious, swerving effort from fully 35 yards, that zipped off the ground into the bottom corner.
Italy had been a completely different team since Rossi's arrival, and Montolivo, who was also playing well, was the next to test Howard from long range. Chiellini also headed over from a corner.
It should have been 3-1 on 86 minutes as Grosso chipped the ball up to the back post for substitute Luca Toni, but the Bayern man headed straight at Howard.
Howard saved two one-on-ones from Rossi and Toni in injury time, but with virtually the last kick of the game Italy did find a third goal. Pirlo did brilliantly down the left, and lifted the ball up to Rossi, who finished clinically with a right-foot half volley.
Anthony Sormani, Goal.com
The Rossoblu are keen to add some further experience to their squad for next season.
Genoa managed to finish in fifth place in the Serie A this term, which has guaranteed them a spot in next season’s inaugural Europa League, formerly known as the UEFA Cup.
As a result, the Rossoblu are looking to add as much depth and experience to their squad as possible, and they have begun well by signing Sergio Floccari from Atalanta and Hernan Crespo from Inter.
The latest reports from Corriere dello Sport suggest that the most improved Italian club this season have added a further two players to their wish list: Juninho of Lyon, and Fernando Menegazzo of Bordeaux.
The latter midfielder is also being tracked by Parma at present, but the player himself affirmed the Rossoblu’s interest in him in a recent interview.
“Genoa have approached me on two separate occasions, and they seem to be very interested at the moment,” he stressed to Sud Ouest.
“Bordeaux have asked me to stay, and I have assured them I will; however, if the Italians offer more, then it will be difficult for my club to say no.”
Meanwhile, Juninho recently terminated his contract with the French giants Lyon, confirming that he will play his football elsewhere next term.
There were reports in the Italian peninsula a few days ago suggesting that the former captain was being tracked by Inter as well, but Genoa certainly seem to be the frontrunners at this point.
Adrian Del Monte, Goal.com
The Azzurri will wear a different look outfit at this month’s international tournament.
Italy are gearing up for what should be an intriguing Confederations Cup, which is set to get underway on June 14, when the hosts South Africa square off against Iraq in Johannesburg.
The Italians get their campaign underway a day later, when they do battle with the United States of America in Pretoria at 20:30 CET.
In the lead up to the competition, the Azzurri boss Marcello Lippi has announced that his players will be wearing a different look strip throughout, to honour the former coach Vittorio Pozzo and the Italian legends of the 1930’s, who won two world cups for the nation.
“The blue is a little paler than usual, but the important thing for us is that there are four stars on the shirt,” Lippi affirmed in an interview with Corriere dello Sport.
“We will honour it, and where it with pride, as we remember those of the past.”
Dark brown also features in the new look outfit, on the socks and the shorts, which Lippi added was all in respect for the champion side of the 30’s.
“This is also a tribute to those years, and even a little before Pozzo. Sometimes black was even used, but we have preferred dark brown this time around.”
Rest assured Italian fans, the Azzurri will only be wearing this kit for the Confederations Cup, as Lippi has confirmed that on August 12 against Switzerland, the traditional blue will return.
Adrian Del Monte, Goal.com
Barcelona 2-0 Manchester United
Players from both sides won their fitness battles to make the starting line-ups: Andres Iniesta and Thierry Henry for Barcelona, and Rio Ferdinand for Manchester United.
Otherwise, Sylvinho played in defence for the Catalan giants, with Sergi Busquets also starting. United made one change from the semi-finals: Ryan Giggs in for the suspended Darren Fletcher, with Park Ji-Sung again involved.
Barcelona 2-0 Manchester United
Players from both sides won their fitness battles to make the starting line-ups: Andres Iniesta and Thierry Henry for Barcelona, and Rio Ferdinand for Manchester United.
Otherwise, Sylvinho played in defence for the Catalan giants, with Sergi Busquets also starting. United made one change from the semi-finals: Ryan Giggs in for the suspended Darren Fletcher, with Park Ji-Sung again involved.
First Half
Manchester United, playing in white, made a positive start, with Anderson winning a free kick from Toure Yaya. Cristiano Ronaldo's ensuing delivery swerved low into the body of Victor Valdes and bounced clear, and the onrushing Park might have finished were it not for a strong block by Gerard Pique.
After six minutes, Ronaldo picked up the ball in space, drove forward and let fly from 40-yards, hitting wide of Valdes' left-hand post. Less than two minutes later, in space on the left of the area, the Portuguese powerhouse was able to pluck the ball out of the air with his chest and slash a shot wide of the far post.
For all that, Barcelona opened the scoring before ten minutes were on the clock. Iniesta pulled the strings as the Blaugrana probed United for the first time, releasing a killer pass. Samuel Eto'o then evaded Nemanja Vidic with ease and poked under the body of Edwin van der Sar, before wheeling away to celebrate emotionally.
Still, the Barca rearguard continued to look a little nervy, and Ronaldo was able to test it again after being released by Ryan Giggs. However, Pique body-checked him 25-yards from goal and was shown the game's first first yellow card.
Lionel Messi had his first crack at the other end, after 19 minutes, but his swerving drive was just high and wide.
At the other end, it was clear that Ballon d'Or holder Ronaldo was trying to do it all himself in the final third. He squirmed away from Toure Yaya, but his shot trundled wide of the same post again.
From then on, the pattern of play many had expected from the start began to manifest itself: Barcelona keeping possession in spells and United working very hard to quash their many threats, whilst struggling to make headway.
Chances were limited. Xavi went close with a free kick attempt, but generally the United defence were doing just enough to repel the waves of pressure.
With the interval approaching, Messi did finally get his head down and pierce the opposition back-line, with Van der Sar spilling his eventual low cross.
Second Half
Sir Alex Ferguson had clearly noticed that Anderson had looked lost at times, not least in the build-up to the goal, thus he was hooked for Carlos Tevez.
The Red Devils started with energy, but the cooler heads of Barcelona fashioned an early opportunity. Iniesta picked out runner Henry from deep and, after cutting in from the left, the Frenchman's placed effort was blocked by Van der Sar.
Their hunger to win the 50-50 balls was evident, too, and soon Eto'o was clipping a ball to Messi at the far post. The Argentine was close to connecting, then appealed in vain for a penalty after feeling the presence of John O'Shea.
The pressure continued. Iniesta drove into the heart of United's defence and won a free kick just outside the area. Xavi stepped up to curl the free-kick round the wall, smacking the right-hand post.
United did stabilise eventually, and had a half-chance of their own. Wayne Rooney crossed from the right and Toure Yaya got just enough on the ball to take it away from Ronaldo and Tevez.
On the hour mark, Michael Carrick looked to play in Rooney again, but he overcooked his pass, much to the frustration of the burly forward.
Dimitar Berbatov came on for Park, and for a short spell United looked more purposeful. Just as they were building a head of steam, though, Barca hit them with a sucker punch.
Carles Puyol made a key interception on the half-way line, and back-pedalling United were never able to clear. Xavi then hung up a delicious cross for Messi, who headed back across goal from the left, leaving the 'keeper flailing as the ball nestled in the net.
Manchester United almost replied immediately. Tevez played across the face of goal from the right, only for Giggs to scuff an effort and Ronaldo to be blocked out by Valdes at the back post.
On-song Puyol rose to head powerfully into the arms of the 'keeper shortly after, but then United's frustration surfaced. Ronaldo's challenge on the aforementioned Barca captain and substitute Paul Scholes' late slide on Busquets were both met with yellow cards.
In the last ten minutes there were more near misses for the Spanish side; Iniesta and Puyol forced Van der Sar to think quickly in order to make two good stops.
Thus it finished, and Barcelona are the Champions League winners 2008-09.
Greg Ptolomey, Goal.com
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Barcelona defeated Manchester United 2-0 in the Champions League final in Rome on Wednesday. After the match, Blaugrana boss Pep Guardiola spoke about his delight at winning the trophy.
One of the first things he mentioned was the host city and a specific issue affecting Italian football at the moment; the retirement of defender Paolo Maldini.
"I dedicate this to Italian football and Paolo Maldini, who need not worry because he has the admiration of all of Europe," the victorious boss told RAI Sport.
The Milan captain was insulted by some Rossoneri fans during his final match at San Siro this past weekend, something that reportedly angered the former Italian international, who is on the verge of ending his 24 year career.
Guardiola knows Maldini from his playing days in Italy, where he had stints with both Brescia and Roma in the early part of the decade.
"I'm experiencing a great joy, it's been a pleasure to win it in Roma, a hug to all Italians," he added.
Meanwhile, in his extended post-match reaction to uefa.com, he elaborated, "I'm leaving straight away tomorrow. I can't do anything else to top this.
"We're aware that we've done something magnificent. I'd like to congratulate the whole club and the fans. We're not the best team in Barca history but we've played the best season.
"We've won three titles but it's also about how we've won them. As a player, it was great to win this trophy for the first time. Now, we have won three which isn't as many as other clubs but we're getting closer to a select group of mythical teams," he beamed.
Finally, he gave a brief assessment of how his Catalan superstars managed to overcome the Red Devils.
"We scored with our first chance and after that, we just tried to move the ball inside," he divulged.
"We noticed that in the semi-final last year, Messi had problems with [Patrice] Evra, so we decided to move Leo from out wide to have one more player in midfield.
"He's the best right now and he has written his name on the Ballon d'Or. Messi has real talent and will never hide. When the going gets tough, he really starts moving," he concluded.
Adam Scime, Goal.com
The news is now official: Diego Ribas da Cunha is a Juventus player. The talented Brazilian signed a five year contract which will see him at Juventus until the 30th of June 2014.
The midfielder who was in Turin yesterday for the medical tests and the signing of the contract returned to Germany where on Saturday the 30th of May he will be playing for Werder Bremen in the final of the German Cup against Bayer Leverkusen. Before returning to Bremen he stated: «I am very enthusiastic and proud of signing for Juventus, such a prestigious club which I dreamt of since I was a child. After the experience in Portugal and the Bundesliga I will be able to test myself in a championship of very high level and I am sure that with Juventus I will be able to reach great goals. Now, however, I want to concentrate on Saturday’s final: I really want to leave the supporters of Werder in the best of manners because it is also thanks to them that I improved in the last years up to the extent of deserving this new opportunity».
Juventus will pay Werder Bremen €24.5 million divided into three installments in bank guarantees: €14 million on the 1st of July 2009, €5.5 million on the 1st of July 2010, €5 million on the 1st of July 2011. The price can rise by a further €2.5 million in case of the fulfillment of established sports objectives in the next five years.
«Due to his technical characteristics – declared Juventus general manager Jean-Claude Blanc – Diego is a fundamental player for the strengthening of the squad. We always said that our objective is to bring together youngsters and champions and Diego falls into both categories: notwithstanding he is only 24 years old, he is a player of great experience with more then 7 years of professional football at high levels. I am sure that his contribution will be important to continue helping the improvement of Juventus and to make a further step ahead in view of the next objectives».
«By depositing this contract – added sports director Alessio Secco – we have brought to a definite conclusion an agreement on which we have been working for months. Diego is a unique player and to bring him to Juventus we had to compete with some of the major European teams. His addition to the squad increases the team’s potential and allows the experimentation of new formations. His performances in the last seasons and his personality which distinguished him in German and in Europe are a confirmation of his qualities. He will be another weapon with which to face the next Champions League, for which we qualified mathematically last Sunday».
Diego Ribas da Cunha was born in Ribeirão Preto, On the 28th of February 1985.
The attacking midfielder with a compact and fast physique has excellent technique and vision of play. He is a complete player who is good at dribbling, sudden changes of pace and creating numerical superiority. He is very precise with long balls, has a powerful shot and is particularly skilled at taking free-kicks, capabilities which make him a great finisher.
After having made his debut with Santos in 2002 at 16 years of age he was transferred to Porto after two years during which he won 2 championships. At Porto he spent 2 seasons winning the Intercontinental Cup, a championship and a Portuguese Supercup before being transferred to Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga. In Germany Diego’s career exploded winning a League Cup and being named best player of the championship in 2007.
In the meantime he has been winning himself more and more space in the Brazilian national team with which side he won two Coppa America (in 2004 and 2007) and a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
Season 2008-09
Championship : 20 appearances – 12 goals
European Cups: 8 appearances – 6 goals
German Cup : 4 appearances – 2 goals
Champions Inter Milan came unstuck on the road, while AC Milan slipped up at home in a five-goal thriller.
Juventus secured a morale-boosting success in their first game without Claudio Ranieri and Fiorentina maintained their grip on fourth spot.
The biggest shock of the day came at Cagliari, though, where Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan slipped to a 2-1 defeat.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic fired the Nerazzurri in front after just eight minutes, but saw that advantage wiped out by Andrea Cossu 11 minutes before the interval.
Robert Acquafresca that sealed a first win in six outings for Cagliari when he grabbed the winner after 71 minutes.
AC Milan slip to third in the Serie A standings after a 3-2 defeat at home to Roma.
John Arne Riise's 36th minute opener looked for a long time as though it would prove to be the decisive strike in the contest.
However, a frantic last 15 minutes saw Massimo Ambrosini level matters, Jeremy Menez restore Roma's lead (80) and Ambrosini restore parity once again (81).
Roma talisman Francesco Totti then put the seal on a topsy-turvy encounter when he lashed home a fabulous free-kick five minutes from the end.
With tempers running high, Ambrosini then spoiled his afternoon when he was given his marching orders on 88 minutes.
Juventus secured a first win in eight games after they prevailed 3-0 at Siena, moving them up to second.
An Alessandro del Piero penalty on 33 minutes, a further effort from Ruben Olivera (48) and a second from Del Piero (89) handed caretaker boss Ciro Ferrara the perfect start to life in the Juve hot seat.
Udinese had claimed six consecutive victories heading into their game at Sampdoria, but could not build on that success as they were held 2-2.
Gaetano D'Agostino had Pasquale Marino's side in front from the penalty spot on 13 minutes, but a Mauricio Isla own goal (32) and a further spot kick from Antonio Cassano (44) turned the tie on its head.
Felipe did snatch an equaliser on the hour-mark, but it mattered little to two teams destined to finish the season in the midst of mid-table.
Catania bounced back from the indignity of suffering four straight defeats with a dramatic 3-1 win over Napoli.
The men from Naples went ahead through Mariano Bogliacino on 27 minutes, but failed to hold onto that lead.
Takayuki Morimoto pulled the scores level four minutes before the interval, before late efforts from Giuseppe Mascara (pen 88) and Vito Falconieri (90) brought welcome relief to the Angelo Massimino Stadium.
Fiorentina found life difficult on the road at Lecce, but sent their opponents heading towards Serie B after claiming a 1-1 draw.
Simone Tiribocchi (50) appeared to have given hope to the hosts' fading survival dreams, but it was not to be.
Felipe Melo was dismissed for Viola with two minutes left on the clock, appearing to end their quest to take a point, but Martin Jorgensen struck in injury-time to break Lecce hearts.
Genoa moved to within two points of the UEFA Champions League places with a 3-2 win at Torino.
Diego Milito fired them in front from the spot on 33 minutes, but Ivan Franceschini equalised five minutes before half time.
Ruben Olivera then restored the visitors' advantage on 48 minutes, only to see Rolando Bianchi level matters once again two minutes later.
A thrilling finale to the contest then saw Milito grab his second of the game, to take the points, while Ignazio Abate saw red for Torino in stoppage time.
Two inconsistent sides, in Atalanta and Palermo, could not be separated as they played out a 2-2 draw.
The away side took the lead, through Davide Succi (32), only to then fall behind to a brace from Gianvito Plasmati (50 & 67).
Palermo displayed admirable resilience, though, and took a share of the spoils thanks to Fabrizio Miccoli (75).
The final game on a busy afternoon of action in Italy saw Chievo and Bologna play out a forgettable goalless draw. skysports.com
