Mario Balotelli and Stephan El Shaarawy have been recalled to the Italian national team for next week s Euro 2016 qualifiers against Croatia.
Liverpool forward Balotelli has not been involved in any Italy squad since Antonio Conte replaced World Cup coach Cesare Prandelli in August, with the former Milan star failing to impress since returning to England.
The 24-year-old has played nine times in the Premier League so far this season, eight of which were from the start, but he is yet to score as he continues to attract criticism.
El Shaarawy on the other hand earned his recall on the back of scoring his first Serie A goal since February 2013 in Milan s 2-2 draw at Sampdoria.
The 22-year-old suffered an injury-ravaged campaign last season and he is in line …
Bolivia interim coach Nestor Clausen has his sights set on a full-time role as he prepares the side for Tuesday s friendly with Venezuela.
Former boss Xabier Azkargorta parted company with the team in March as he took over at Bolivar, which left Mauricio Soria to take the reins on a part-time basis.
Soria, head coach of club side Blooming, oversaw recent friendlies against Chile and Brazil Under-21s, but the Bolivian Football Federation ruled that he would not lead the team against Venezuela after allegedly making racist remarks following Blooming s 1-1 draw with Real Potosi earlier this month.
That decision paved the way for 1986 World Cup winner Clausen to step in for the encounter in La Paz, and the Argentinian believes he could one day secure the role permane…
Former AC Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi says the Serie A side s Champions League tie against Barcelona will be very difficult to win.
But the 66-year-old believes Massimiliano Allegri s men could cause an upset if Barca are not at their best.
Watch out for Milan because they have a lot of international experience. If Barca are at their best it will be very difficult for Milan to qualify, but if they are not then Milan can win, Sacchi said.
Barcelona are on another level now, but Milan cannot be underestimated.
The former Real Madrid director of football spoke about the return of Bojan to Camp Nou, with the 22-year-old set to face his old side for the first time since leaving them in 2011.
Bojan is playing pretty well, Sacchi said. He doesn t alwa…
Gus Poyet is open to the possibility of a fresh move to bring Liverpool forward Fabio Borini back to Sunderland.
Borini spent the 2013-14 campaign on loan at the Stadium of Light and scored seven goals in 32 Premier League appearances.
Head coach Poyet made no secret of his desire to bring the 23-year-old to Wearside on a permanent basis in the last transfer window, but an expected move collapsed.
The forward s prospects of regular first-team football at Anfield appear slim, though, with Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers leaving the forward out of his squad for Saturday s 0-0 draw against Poyet s side.
And Poyet is keen to strike a deal in January if the opportunity arises.
I would love to [sign Borini], he said. It is difficult to explain [why t…
Chelsea captain John Terry admitted he was still haunted by his horror penalty miss in the Champions League final as he gears up for the new season here.
Terry, who will lead Chelsea against Guangzhou Pharmaceutical on Wednesday, said mental replays of the botched spot-kick were his first thoughts every day when he wakes up.
Every morning I wake up and it s the first thing on my mind. I still think of it, he said.
I m still very disappointed by it, but last season I said I m a big man and have a big character and it s down for me to deal with it.
Terry slipped and sliced his kick against the post in the Moscow shoot-out, throwing away the chance to seal the title and handing a lifeline to eventual winners Manchester United.
It was the 27-ye…