Latest news with #RAISport
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Buffon confirms Gattuso for Italy: ‘Best possible decision'
Italy team manager Gigi Buffon confirms they will appoint Gennaro Gattuso as the new coach. 'We made the best possible decision.' The Azzurri were without a tactician after sacking Luciano Spalletti in the wake of the 3-0 defeat to Norway, though he remained on the bench for the 2-0 victory over Norway. Advertisement 'We worked, we are waiting for the final details now,' Buffon told RAI Sport. 'The President and the Federation had some pretty full days full of various moments. I think at the end of the day we made the best possible decision.' Gattuso will be the new Italy coach BRIGHTON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 14: Gennaro Gattuso, Head Coach of Marseille, looks on prior to the UEFA Europa League match between Brighton & Hove Albion v Olympique de Marseille at American Express Community Stadium on December 14, 2023 in Brighton, England. (Photo by) The first choice had been Claudio Ranieri, but he had already made a commitment to be Roma special advisor and announced his retirement from coaching. Although there were candidates including Stefano Pioli, Daniele De Rossi and Fabio Cannavaro, it quickly became apparent that Gattuso was the favourite. There were meetings with Buffon and then with FIGC President Gabriele Gravina to organise the details of the contract. REGGIO NELL'EMILIA, ITALY – JUNE 09: (L-R) Luciano Spalletti head coach of Italy and Gianluigi Buffon during the FIFA 2026 Qualifier between Italy and Moldova at Mapei Stadium – Citta' del Tricolore on June 09, 2025 in Reggio nell'Emilia, Italy. (Photo by) 'We are trying to push ourselves first and foremost, but the most important thing is that we avoid embarrassing performances that are unworthy of Italy,' added Buffon. Advertisement 'There are different ways to lose and I think we can avoid the worst kind with a few minor adjustments.' The Nazionale are back in action with another 2026 World Cup qualifier against Estonia on September 5, then Israel on September 8.
The Guardian
20-03-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Nations League: Merino saves Spain in Netherlands, Germany roar back at Italy
Spain snatched a stoppage-time equaliser against the 10 men of the Netherlands to secure a 2-2 draw on Thursday that kept up a two-year unbeaten streak and gave the holders the advantage in their Nations League quarter-final tie. Substitute Mikel Merino, a makeshift striker at club level for Arsenal, proved his ability in front of goal for his country too with a close-range finish three minutes into added time. The Dutch had fought back after going behind in the ninth minute with goals from Cody Gakpo and Tijjani Reijnders but finished with 10 men after teenage defender Jorrel Hato was sent off eight minutes from time for a studs-up challenge. Spain, who had not lost in their previous 21 competitive internationals, opened the scoring through Nico Williams after a fast start to the game. An error from 19-year-old Hato was latched on to by Spain's 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, whose pass to Pedri in the box was slipped through for Williams to fire home. Germany came from behind to defeat Italy 2-1 at San Siro in the first leg of their quarter-final, with Leon Goretzka heading the winning goal 14 minutes from time. Germany pressed high early on, with Italy looking to hit them on the counter, and the hosts opened the scoring in the ninth minute with their first chance. Nicolo Barella played a pass into the box for Matteo Politano, who pulled the ball back towards Moise Kean and when it fell to Sandro Tonali, he drove his shot into the corner. Germany equalised four minutes into the second half when Joshua Kimmich floated the ball into the box and unmarked substitute Tim Kleindienst rose to power a header past Gianluigi Donnarumma with his first touch. 'There were a couple of situations that we paid too heavy a price for over the course of the game,' Italy manager Luciano Spalletti told RAI Sport. 'It was a pass from midfield, they found someone free in the box.' Croatia's Ante Budimir and Ivan Perisic struck to secure a deserved 2-0 win over France in their quarter-final first leg, as the return of Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé failed to get the visitors firing. Croatia also missed an early penalty when Andrej Kramaric's spot-kick was saved by France goalkeeper Mike Maignan, and the 2023 runners-up were full value for a win that might easily have been achieved by a greater margin. France created chances and tested Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic several times, but it was a below-par performance on a night that had promised much with the return of Mbappé in particular after he sat out his side's last four fixtures. Denmark striker Rasmus Højlund came off the bench to net the winner as his side beat Portugal 1-0 in their quarter-final first leg at the Parken stadium. Højlund, who has struggled to score for Manchester United this season until his last game, at Leicester on Sunday, struck in the 78th minute to help spare the blushes of Christian Eriksen, whose first-half penalty was saved. Finn Azaz and Matt Doherty scored first-half headers as the Republic of Ireland battled back to beat Bulgaria 2-1 in the first leg of their Nations League playoff. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Marin Petkov fired the hosts into an early lead at a sparsely populated Hristo Botev Stadium in Plovdiv but midfielder Azaz quickly levelled with his first international goal. Right-back Doherty, who before the game played down talk of a rift with manager Heimir Hallgrímsson, completed the comeback by nodding home the winner in the 42nd minute. The deserved victory was a third from seven games under Icelandic coach Hallgrímsson as his side took a small step towards preserving their League B status ahead of Sunday's return match in Dublin. Ukraine came from behind to beat visitors Belgium 3-1 in the first leg of their playoff, moving into a strong position to earn promotion to the competition's top tier. Ukraine's Oleksiy Hutsulyak, Vladyslav Vanat and Ilya Zabarnyi, of Bournemouth, secured the comeback after Romelu Lukaku had put Belgium in front after 40 minutes, nodding home from a Kevin De Bruyne free-kick in coach Rudi Garcia's first game in charge. Ukraine, who hosted Belgium in the Spanish city of Murcia, started well and forced Thibaut Courtois into two early saves. But the returning goalkeeper, who has not played for Belgium for almost two years amid a fallout with their former coach Domenico Tedesco, was barely tested again in the first half and captain Lukaku opened the scoring just before the break with his first Belgium goal since November 2023. In a more lively second half, De Bruyne could have doubled the lead for Belgium through a low attempt from the edge of the area that was brilliantly saved by Ukraine keeper Andriy Lunin. However, Ukraine then grew into the game and hit back through Hutsulyak, who capitalised on a mistake by the Belgium defence to level in the 66th minute, before stretching away with two more goals. Belgium, who earned four points from six games as they finished third in League A Group Two, face their first relegation from the competition's top tier since its creation in 2018.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rovella on Italy ‘heart' and midfield battle with Germany's Musiala
Nicolò Rovella believes Italy can get the better of Germany with 'heart' in the Nations League quarter-final and looks forward to the midfield battle with Jamal Musiala. It kicks off at San Siro at 19.45 GMT. You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog. The second leg will be in Dortmund on Sunday evening and the winner goes through to the Final Four of the Nations League. Rovella is one of the surprises in Luciano Spalletti's line-up, chosen rather than Samuele Ricci of Torino to pull the midfield strings. 'It is certainly exciting, but I am calm, we prepared very well for this match and will certainly have a great performance on our own turf,' Rovella told RAI Sport. It is going to be quite the midfield battle between the Lazio player and Bayern Munich talent Musiala in that midfield. 'Musiala is certainly a great player who is doing wonderful things, we'll see how it goes on the pitch.' Rovella grew up just yards away from the stadium in the San Siro area of Milan and came here as a child, so starting tonight for Italy is a dream come true. Germany have had the better results against Italy in recent years, but the biggest games tended to go the way of the Azzurri. 'Italy has something extra in its heart, so despite the fact we are up against a strong opponent, I think we can do more with that heart.'
