Baggio: 'FIGC project a failure'

Former Fiorentina player Roberto Baggio has angrily terminated his job with the FIGC. “I am leaving because they haven’t allowed me to work.”
The Divine Ponytail was brought in after the 2010 World Cup as part of a renewal process and given the role of President of the Technical Sector.
He was meant to help revamp the youth team process to create more home-grown talent.
“I am leaving because they haven’t allowed me to work,” slammed Baggio on the TG1.
“I don’t care about keeping seats of power. I tried to perform the role that had been given to me, to renew the foundations of football training from children to teenagers in order to grow good players.
“I was not allowed to do this and am no longer prepared to carry on. I presented my project in December 2011. It was a 900-page plan and remained a dead letter.
“As President of the Technical Sector, I had no right to vote in the Federation meetings and there was no point going to meetings that had nothing to do with my work.
“For example, when I presented this plan I spent five hours waiting outside to then have a 15-minute presentation.
“The FIGC had set aside €10m for this project and I am grateful to President Giancarlo Abete for what he has done, but so far I have not received any funds to proceed. It all remained on paper.
“This is why I must sadly say goodbye. Is it definitive? I love football and my country, so I remain ready for any interesting proposal.”

Brocchi's career over?

Former Viola Player , Cristian Brocchi’s career could be over after he was told he needs surgery for dislocated bones in his foot.
The 37-year-old midfielder, who was already out for almost a year due to a recurring ankle problem, was taken down by a Francelino Matuzalem tackle in Sunday’s 3-2 defeat to Genoa.
“We performed tests that showed two small infractions to the first and second metatarsal, plus a dislocation to the third metatarsal,” chief medic Roberto Bianchini told Lazio Style Radio.
“For the dislocation he will undergo a small surgical procedure to reduce it tomorrow.”
After that operation, doctors will have a better idea of how long Brocchi will be out for, but it’s feared he could be sidelined for three months.

HT: Italy trail in Amsterdam

Jeremain Lens has given Holland the half-time lead, but Mario Balotelli and Stephan El Shaarawy threatened an Italian equaliser in Amsterdam.
The AmsterdamArena was packed out for this international friendly and both teams fielded a 4-3-3 system. Stephan El Shaarawy partnered Mario Balotelli with Antonio Candreva, while Davide Astori and Davide Santon stepped in to the defence. Louis Van Gaal picked a young side with Robin Van Persie leading the way.
Italy were aiming to avoid a sixth consecutive friendly defeat, as the Nazionale traditionally does not fare well out of competitive games. Their record against the Dutch was of seven wins, seven draws and three defeats. However, none of the victories were in friendlies.
Newcastle United full-back santon was needed straight away to stop Van Persie getting his shot away in the opening five minutes. Moments later Balotelli fell awkwardly with Kevin Strootman landing on him, leading to a nasty cut to the knee, but he was able to continue after treatment.
Gigi Buffon performed an amazing save with his foot to deny Adam Maher from 10 yards after Santon had slipped over to allow a Jeremain Lens cross in.
Buffon needed quick reactions again on Maher’s volley into the ground after Van Persie’s effort was deflected in the box. Moments later, Strootman’s powerful finish was straight into the goalkeeper’s arms.
Italy finally went on the attack after 28 minutes, but both Balotelli’s assists for El Shaarawy were crucially intercepted. Balotelli chested down a cross-field Andrea Pirlo pass to fire wide.
Holland took the lead when a Daryl Janmaat cross was not cleared effectively, a shot was charged down and Lens was given far too much time and space to control and score on the volley.
Janmaat proved decisive at the other end, putting Ignazio Abate’s cross out for a corner as El Shaarawy was ready to pounce at the back post.
Balotelli controlled a pass over the top and took one too many touches so his angled drive was charged down for a corner. Abate rolled across from the right for Balotelli, but again there was a decisive interception.
From that corner, El Shaarawy skipped away brilliantly from Ola John with a bit of skill and saw his cross deflected past the near post. Abate again sprung the offside trap and rolled across for Balotelli, but Stefan De Vrij stopped it reaching El Shaarawy.
Holland 1-0 Italy (Half-Time)
Scorers: Lens 33 (H)
Holland: Krul; Blind, De Vrij, Martins Indi, Janmaat; Clasie, Maher, Strootman; Lens, Van Persie, Ola John
Italy: Buffon; Abate, Barzagli, Astori, Santon; De Rossi, Pirlo, Montolivo; Candreva, Balotelli, El Shaarawy
Ref: Cakir (TUR)

Line-ups: Holland-Italy

Italy have Stephan El Shaarawy, Mario Balotelli and Antonio Candreva leading tonight’s friendly against Holland.
Cesare Prandelli named his starting XI on Tuesday, but left a question mark over whether Candreva or Alessandro Diamanti would take the wide role in the 4-3-3 system.
Lazio man Candreva got the nod to partner new Milan teammates Balotelli and El Shaarawy.
Davide Astori steps in for the injured Giorgio Chiellini and Davide Santon returns, while Daniele De Rossi starts despite his lack of playing time at Roma.
The Azzurri are trying to avoid a record sixth consecutive friendly defeat. Kick-off in Amsterdam is at 19.30 GMT.
Louis Van Gaal has picked a young side and brought in Arjen Robben after Klaas-Jan Huntelaar pulled out with an injury.
Manchester United star Robin Van Persie is the big star in the line-up, though Kevin Strootman is also one to watch.
Holland: Krul; Janmaat, De Vrijm, Martins Indi, Blind; Strootman, Maher, Clasie; Lens, Van Persie, Ola John
Holland bench: Vermeer, Mathijsen, Vlaar, Van Rhijn, Van Ginkel, Guzman, Robben, Kuyt, Vorm
Italy: Buffon; Abate, Barzagli, Astori, Santon; De Rossi, Pirlo, Montolivo; Candreva, Balotelli, El Shaarawy
Italy bench: De Sanctis, Peluso, Ranocchia, Gastaldello, Nocerino, Verratti, Florenzi, Giaccherini, Diamanti, Osvaldo, Gilardino, Sirigu, Marchetti
Ref: Cakir (TUR)

Baggio 'seller' would offload Jovetic

Former Fiorentina patron Ranieri Pontello thinks that the club should learn from the Roberto Baggio sale and cash in on Stevan Jovetic.
The Pontello family were in charge of the Tuscan outfit in 1990 when they opted to sell Baggio to arch rivals Juventus for a world record £8m fee.
Now, almost 25 years later, Pontello has told Tuttosport that Juve-target Jovetic should also be sacrificed.
“There is a similarity between the two situations,” he stated. “We are talking about great players and two important clubs such as Fiorentina and Juventus.
“However, between Baggio and Jovetic, there is a difference. The Baggio of that time was superior to the present Jovetic.
“But I would be in favour of a sale if a notable offer is put on the table. After all, the Della Valle family are looking for balance between results and their accounts.
“With the money they can get from Jovetic, the Viola could move really well on the market. The club have shown recently that they are excellent at investing.”
Baggio’s sale to the Turin giants led to protests in the streets of Florence.
“There would be no revolt for Jovetic,” he added. “Times have changed. There are few flag-bearers in the game now.”
Juventus and Fiorentina will face each other in Serie A this weekend.

Viola: Jovetic 'not for sale'

Stevan Jovetic will not be leaving Fiorentina, according to chairman Mario Cognigni.

Juventus have been strongly linked with a move for the Montenegro international, and the Italian media reported that the Florence club rejected an offer of €13million (£11.2m) plus Alessandro Matri and Michele Pazienza.
Cognigni has now insisted that 23-year-old Jovetic, who has nine goals in 18 Serie A matches this season, is not for sale at any price.
"It's not possible that there will be any negotiations with Juventus for Stevan," Cognigni told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"In fact, it's not possible to deal with them or anyone else: Jovetic is not for sale.
"He is happy at Fiorentina and has a contract with us for another three years."

Fiorentina vs Parma, Final Score 2-0: Crociati crushed by on-form Viola

Fiorentina have ended their long spell without a win by seeing off Parma at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. After a frantic first half, Parma had no response in the second, as the Viola cruised to a comfortable victory

Vincenzo Montella's side go a provisional fifth with their first win in over a month, while Parma stay tenth ahead of tonight's game between AC Milan and Udinese.
Fiorentina could have taken the lead early on, as Juan Cuadrado's cushioned header fell for Luca Toni in the area after just five minutes, though veteran Parma defender Alessandro Lucarelli dived at the feet of the striker, preventing him getting a clean shot on goal from point-blank range.
The viola played at a rapid intensity in the opening moments, leading to some chaotic and disorganised scenes in the Parma defence. Had it not been for Alessandro Lucarelli and Gabriel Paletta's last-ditch defending, the visitors would have been down.
Fiorentina's Emiliano Viviano was the first goalkeeper of the two to be properly tested, when Lucarelli got up to meet a Jaime Valdés free-kick from the left. The captain's header was comfortably swept up by the Tuscan, minutes before his side had the ball into the net for the first time.
Battling midfielder Giulio Migliaccio headed the ball into the back of the net, though unfortunately for the home crowd, he headed Parma goalkeeper Antonio Mirante along with it. With Mirante sprawled on the turf, the goal was discounted and the match went on.
It was the visitors' turn to have the next attack, coming through a counter by Jonathan Biabiany down the right. He crossed the ball in, with Ishak Belfodil flicking it towards goal at the near post, though Viviano -- who thus far hasn't had a successful Fiorentina career -- made a great stop.
Valdés and Sansone both went close for Parma, but just when it seemed they had weathered the viola storm, they conceded. A Cuadrado cross found a leaping Luca Toni, climbing above Gabriel Paletta to sneak a header just beyond Mirante for the opener, just under half-an-hour in.
Cuadrado was causing all kinds of problems, and his drilled cross just seconds later almost led to a second. Biabiany was offering Parma their best counter-attacking threat, and his mazy run down the right found Sansone in the box. The young winger curled it towards goal, but it was well kept out by the on-form Viviano.
Parma's designs on continuing the momentum built up towards the end of the first half at the start of the second were quickly expunged by an early goal from Stevan Jovetić. Manuel Pasqual's cross found Migliaccio, whose header was bounced on by the Montenegrin striker, stabbing the ball in for 2-0.
It should have been three moments later, when Cuadrado's run ended in him dragging a shot narrowly wide, before the game gradually wound down into a midfield battle, with no invention and chances created. Both coaches turned the match into a catwalk show in which to parade their new signings, as Andrea Coda and McDonald Mariga appeared for Parma, and Marcelo Larrondo for for Fiorentina.
Cuadrado's work wasn't done yet, as he lashed the ball towards the top corner inside the final ten minutes. Fortunately, Mirante hadn't dozed off, diving to make an impressive save. He did so again in stoppage time, when Mounir El Hamdaoui struck the ball towards the near post from close range, as the game ended 2-0.
Fiorentina (3-5-2): Emiliano Viviano; Stefan Savić, Gonzalo Rodríguez, Facundo Roncaglia; Manuel Pasqual, Borja Valero (Cristian Llama 87), Giulio Migliaccio, David Pizzaro, Juan Cuadrado; Luca Toni (Marcelo Larrondo 79), Stevan Jovetić (Mounir El Hamdaoui 71)
(Parma (4-3-3): Antonio Mirante; Massimo Gobbi, Alessandro Lucarelli, Gabriel Paletta, Aleandro Rosi (Andrea Coda 57); Marco Parolo, Jaime Valdés (McDonald Mariga 66); Nicola Sansone, Ishak Belfodil (Amauri 57), Jonathan Biabiany
Goals: Toni 27 (F) Jovetić 50 (F)