Italy's national soccer team coach Luciano Spalletti says he's getting fired
ROME (AP) — Italy's national soccer team coach Luciano Spalletti announced Sunday that he is being fired and will leave after Monday's World Cup qualifier against Moldova.
The move comes two days after Italy lost 3-0 at Norway in its opening qualifier — already raising the prospect that the Azzurri could fail for the third consecutive time to qualify for the World Cup.
Thursdays
Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.
'Last night I had a conversation with the president (Italian soccer federation president Gabriele Gravina) and he told me that I would be fired,' Spalletti said in a pre-match news conference at Italy's training center. 'I didn't have any intention on (leaving) and I would have preferred to stay on. But it's a sacking and I realize that.'
___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Carlos Alcaraz wins French Open final in five sets after saving 3 match points against Jannik Sinner
PARIS (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz wins French Open final in five sets after saving 3 match points against Jannik Sinner.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Guardians option ALCS home run hitter Jhonkensy Noel to Triple-A Columbus
CLEVELAND (AP) — Jhonkensy Noel, who hit a game-tying homer in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series, was optioned to Triple-A Columbus by the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday. Noel batted only .146 with two homers and nine RBIs in 46 games after making the opening day roster for the first time. The right-handed hitter found himself on the short side of a platoon in right field, limiting him to 103 at-bats. 'It hasn't been the start to the season that he would have liked or that we would have liked,' manager Stephen Vogt said. 'We know how good of a player that he is, so we told Jhonkensy to just go play, go relax and go back to being you.' Nicknamed 'Big Christmas,' the 6-foot-3, 250-pounder belted a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the ninth inning of what became a 7-5 victory over the New York Yankees in 10 innings last Oct. 17. Cleveland lost the ALCS in five games, but Noel's shot to left field was one of the more memorable moments at Progressive Field since the ballpark opened in 1994. 'We still hold true to the belief that Jhonkensy — the best version of him — helps us win games,' Vogt said. 'He plays an unbelievable right field, he's a good baserunner and he has the power to hit it out of the yard. It just hasn't been there yet this year.' Johnathan Rodriguez was recalled from Columbus and started in right field in the Guardians' three-game series finale against the Houston Astros. Cleveland also announced that outfielder Will Brennan and right-hander Andrew Walters will both undergo surgery Monday. Brennan has been sidelined with left elbow inflammation since May 22, while Walters experienced a right lat strain May 30 while pitching against Angels star Mike Trout. ___ AP MLB:
Toronto Star
2 hours ago
- Toronto Star
Alcaraz saves three match points to take French Open final against Sinner to fifth set
PARIS (AP) — Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz has forced a deciding set in the French Open final after saving three match points against Jannik Sinner. Alcaraz was trailing 5-3, 40-0 in the fourth set on Sunday before rallying past his rival, winning a tiebreaker 7-6 (3). Sinner, the top-ranked player, won the first two sets 6-4, 7-6 (4) before Alcaraz claimed the third set 6-4. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Sinner and Alcaraz share seven major titles, four for Alcaraz and three for Sinner, who is in the French Open final for the first time. Sinner is on a 20-match winning streak in Grand Slam tournaments, after winning the U.S. Open and the Australian Open. The 22-year-old Alcaraz owns a tour-leading 21-1 record on clay this year and has beaten the 23-year-old Sinner in their past four meetings. He leads him 7-4 overall. ___ AP tennis: Read more on the French Open at
