Azzurri

Coach Prandelli frustrated with Balotelli goal celebration

Rio de Janeiro: Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said he was frustrated with Mario Balotelli after the striker's shirtless goal celebration in the Azzurri's 2-1 victory over Mexico in the Confederation Cup.

Chilean referee Enrique Osses cautioned Balotelli after the 21-year-old followed his 77th-minute winner on Sunday by repeating the flexed-muscle pose he made famous during last year's European Championships, reports Xinhua.

The AC Milan forward was immediately benched by Prandelli and the pair exchanged heated words on the Maracana stadium touchline.

"We have already spoken a lot with him," Prandelli said during the post-match press conference. "Everybody knows how muscly he is. He doesn't need to take his shirt off anymore to show everybody."...more    

Germany must stop Pirlo to beat Italy: Loew

Germany boss Joachim Loew has highlighted stopping Andrea Pirlo and winning the midfield battle as key to his side defeating Italy in their Euro 2012 semi-final clash on Thursday night. Die Mannschaft enter the last four as the only side to have won all four of their games so far but their coach remains concerned by the threat posed by the Azzurri and their midfield maestro. "Pirlo is an exceptional...  

It's time for Germany to break the curse: Low

Germany's coach Joachim Low believes that the time has come for Germany to overcome their struggles of the past and defeat Italy in a major tournament. Die Mannschaft have failed to come out on top against the Azzurri in four previous World Cups and two European Championship meetings. They will go head-to-head once more in the Euro 2012 semi-final on Thursday, and the 52-year-old trainer believes that they will finally...