Slovakia manager Calzona hopes to avoid Italy in Euro 2024 draw
1 year ago

Slovakia manager Calzona hopes to avoid Italy in Euro 2024 draw

The Hindu  

Francesco Calzona’s journey has taken him from coffee salesman to guiding Slovakia to the Euro 2024 finals, and in Saturday’s draw, the manager is hoping to avoid his native Italy, at least until the knockout stages. “I would like to avoid Italy in the group stages, they’re a strong opponent and led by one of the best coaches in the world,” Calzona told Reuters. “There was great chemistry between all the components, the federation, the staff and the players, we made a single block with the aim of overturning the predictions that didn’t see us as favourites,” Calzona said. “Napoli was my comfort zone, where I was respected by everyone and I didn’t want for anything, but, as I said before, I like challenges.” This will be Slovakia’s third consecutive appearance at the Euro finals, and Calzona’s next challenge is to try to reach the knockout stages as they did in 2016.

Italy Euro Napoli Slovakia Manager Calzona  italy  napoli  avoid  finals  euro  happy  group  calzona  2024  hopes  draw  different  slovakia  manager

History of this topic

Italy advances at Euro 2024 after Zaccagni equalizer in injury time against Croatia
6 months ago

Italy advances at Euro 2024 after Zaccagni equalizer in injury time against Croatia

Associated Press  

LEIPZIG, Germany — Italy substitute Mattia Zaccagni scored in the last minute of stoppage time for Italy to advance to the knockout stage of the European Championship after drawing Croatia 1-1 on Monday. Luka Modric’s second-half strike looked like sending Croatia through as the Group B runner-up, but Zaccagni swept a brilliant shot inside the far post in the eighth …

Euro 2024: Teenage forward Leo Sauer included in final Slovakia squad
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Euro 2024: Teenage forward Leo Sauer included in final Slovakia squad

The Hindu  

Slovakia coach Francesco Calzona included 18-year-old Feyenoord forward Leo Sauer in his squad for Euro 2024 on Friday, along with 37-year-old right back Peter Pekarik. Slovakia is entering its first major tournament since star playmaker Marek Hamšík retired last year and Calzona said his team will have to rely on the collective rather than individuals. “We know well what our …

Defending champion Italy heads to Euro 2024 after failing again to qualify for the World Cup
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Defending champion Italy heads to Euro 2024 after failing again to qualify for the World Cup

Associated Press  

MILAN — Just like last time, Italy is heading to the European Championship after the embarrassment of failing to qualify for the World Cup. “This country needs it and we want to prove that we are aware of it.” Following the national disgrace of missing out on the 2018 World Cup, Italy approached Euro 2021 as an evolving unstoppable force …

Francesco Calzona’s first challenge as Napoli manager, Barcelona in the Champions League, comes 48 hours after appointment
10 months ago

Francesco Calzona’s first challenge as Napoli manager, Barcelona in the Champions League, comes 48 hours after appointment

The Hindu  

If Francesco Calzona didn’t already know most of Napoli’s players, it might be an impossible task: He became coach of the defending Serie A champion 48 hours before facing Barcelona in the Champions League. Calzona left before the title run when former Napoli captain Marek Hamsik — who still holds the club appearances record with 520 — suggested he take …

An impossible task? Calzona takes over Napoli 48 hours before facing Barca in Champions League
10 months ago

An impossible task? Calzona takes over Napoli 48 hours before facing Barca in Champions League

Associated Press  

ROME — If Francesco Calzona didn’t already know most of Napoli’s players, it might be an impossible task: He became coach of the defending Serie A champion 48 hours before facing Barcelona in the Champions League. Calzona left before the title run when former Napoli captain Marek Hamsik — who still holds the club appearances record with 520 — suggested …

Napoli fires coach Mazzarri and hires Calzona just 2 days before facing Barcelona
10 months ago

Napoli fires coach Mazzarri and hires Calzona just 2 days before facing Barcelona

Associated Press  

NAPLES, Italy — Still struggling in Serie A, defending champion Napoli made its second coaching change of the season just two days before facing Barcelona in the Champions League. Napoli fired Walter Mazzarri after training on Monday and appointed Slovakia coach Francesco Calzona, who was the former assistant at the Serie A team but has never managed at club level. …

Fernando Santos’ future as Poland coach uncertain after poor start to Euro 2024 qualifying
1 year, 3 months ago

Fernando Santos’ future as Poland coach uncertain after poor start to Euro 2024 qualifying

The Hindu  

Fernando Santos’ position as Poland coach remained uncertain Tuesday after he met with the president of the country’s football federation following the team’s poor start to European Championship qualifying. Poland, with star striker Robert Lewandowski, is fourth in its five-team European Championship qualifying group — behind Albania, the Czech Republic and Moldova — after losing three of its five games …

Napoli set to begin title defence against Frosinone, Rudi Garcia to make official debut
1 year, 4 months ago

Napoli set to begin title defence against Frosinone, Rudi Garcia to make official debut

The Hindu  

Napoli heads into its first title defence in over three decades with questions as to whether the new management will be up to replicating last season’s stunning charge to glory. Rudi Garcia will make his official debut on Saturday as Napoli kicks off the 2023-24 campaign at promoted Frosinone with a similar line-up to the one which cruised to the …

Napoli searching for Spalletti replacement after title; Mourinho indicates he’ll stay at Roma
1 year, 6 months ago

Napoli searching for Spalletti replacement after title; Mourinho indicates he’ll stay at Roma

Associated Press  

ROME — Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis may be facing an even bigger challenge now than he did a year ago when captain Lorenzo Insigne, club record scorer Dries Mertens and defensive stalwart Kalidou Koulibaly left the club. “Starting today, and for the entire month of June, we’ll work diligently toward finding a new coach,” De Laurentiis said after Napoli …

Euro 2024 qualifiers: Italy wants to ‘do well’ against England for the late Vialli, says Mancini
1 year, 9 months ago

Euro 2024 qualifiers: Italy wants to ‘do well’ against England for the late Vialli, says Mancini

The Hindu  

European champion Italy wants to “do well” against England in its first Euro 2024 qualifier as a tribute to late former striker Gianluca Vialli, coach Roberto Mancini said on Monday. The former Juventus, Chelsea and Italy striker played a significant role in Italy’s European Championship title-winning campaign in 2021, assisting Mancini, despite having been diagnosed in 2017. The encounter with …

Napoli’s class of 2023: The southern Italy side that looks to go beyond the shadow of Diego Maradona
1 year, 9 months ago

Napoli’s class of 2023: The southern Italy side that looks to go beyond the shadow of Diego Maradona

The Hindu  

When Anthony Taylor blew the full-time whistle at the Diego Maradona Stadium in Naples, the home fans were already singing. “It’s a great win; we rewrote the history of this club,” said Victor Osimhen, who scored three of the five goals across both legs, “We keep dreaming without limits. We just follow our coach and look ahead.” Napoli, a club …

Pellegrini returns to Italy squad for Nations League finals
3 years, 2 months ago

Pellegrini returns to Italy squad for Nations League finals

The Hindu  

AS Roma midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini was named on Thursday in Italy's 23-man squad for next week's Nations League final four tournament. Coach Roberto Mancini has gone with the majority of the squad who steered Italy to Euro 2020 success in July, with the injured Leonardo Spinazzola, Alessandro Florenzi, Andrea Belotti and Gaetano Castrovilli the only players left out. Our squad …

Former Italy international Daniele De Rossi to join national team's coaching set up until end of Euro 2021
3 years, 9 months ago

Former Italy international Daniele De Rossi to join national team's coaching set up until end of Euro 2021

Firstpost  

Milan: Former Italy midfielder Daniele De Rossi has joined the national team’s coaching staff to assist Roberto Mancini, the Italian Football Federation announced on Thursday. “I’m proud to start this new career with the national team,” said De Rossi. “I will do it with enthusiasm, knowing that I’m only at the beginning and I still have a lot to learn.” …

Serie A: Stefano Pioli Tells AC Milan They Need A Winning Start This Time
4 years, 3 months ago

Serie A: Stefano Pioli Tells AC Milan They Need A Winning Start This Time

News 18  

AC Milan have lost their opening Serie A match in each of the last two seasons and coach Stefano Pioli says they need to kick that habit when they host Bologna on Monday. Pioli said Milan, sixth last season, were targeting a top four finish, which would get them back into the Champions League for the first time since 2013-14, …

Discover Related