Prandelli

PRANDELLI SIGNS ON

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After managing to agree a contract extension with the Italian football Federation, Cesare Prandelli has outlined his vision of the way his players should behave at the World Cup 2014. Prandelli has received a lot of admirers for the way he has transformed in ageing Italian team into one of the dominant forces in world football. They are on the cusp of winning a major trophy. They came close to winning the Euro 2012, but they were beaten by his Spanish team that has won the last three major titles.

Prandelli will remain as the national team manager until 2016, which has despised any rumours about him returning to club football. He players should be honoured to represent the Italian team at a major tournament. The former Fiorentina boss has always been strict about discipline. He has not thought twice about removing players, even star names such as De Rossi, from the team if he thought that they are disruptive influence. The Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi was even left out of the recent friendly matches due to indiscipline.

Prandelli has now lay down marker after announcing his extended stay with the national team. It is expected that those who do not comply will not be on the plane to Brazil.

“I want players who feel honoured to wear the Azzurri shirt, because you have to win not only with technique but also with behaviour. Someone who spits in the face of a rival or repeatedly simulates does not deserve to be called, regardless of how they play. De Rossi? I do not believe he will lose his character. Nobody has complained, not even Daniele, only a few coaches. I do not like arrogance and the fact is that so many take it too seriously,” said Prandelli, whose team will play against the likes of England and Uruguay in the group stages.

WILL HE STAY ON?

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There has been a lot of speculation about the future of Cesare Prandelli at international level. The Italian manager has been rumoured to been looking at some club jobs once the World Cup comes to an end. Prandelli has done his reputation no harm since taking over the Italy job, which promised to destroy even the best coaches. Italy were going through a transitional period after the 2006 World Cup victory. A number of the top players were entering into the final years of their career, but Prandelli has managed to subtly replaced them with younger talent.

He has become one of the most wanted coaches in world football after his exploits with the Italian national team, who he took to the final of Euro 2012. Italy are once again favourites to win the World Cup in the Brazil edition, but speculation about Prandelli’s future continues to be a major talking point. The manager has failed to bring the speculation to an end as he has said that he has not decided what he will do with the national team job after the end of the World Cup. Tottenham have been the recent club to be linked with a move for his services.

Despite appointing Tim Sherwood, it is thought that the Premier league outfit will still be happy to get Prandelli.

“I’m torn. I miss the daily work on the pitch that you get when coaching a club although I am perfectly happy with this role. I will reflect and we shall see. I will go to Brazil having already made a decision,” said Prandelli ahead of the World Cup. The former Fiorentina manager has not been able to manage a club outside Italy, but his exposure with the world game after the Italy job has made him attractive for several clubs.

PRANDELLI EXPECTS TOUGH MATCH

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The Italian national team manager Cesare Prandelli has said that he is expecting tough match against France when the two sides meet each other in a friendly match. The Italians have a poor record when it comes to friendly matches because they have not won a friendly match in the last 12 months. Their last win in a friendly match came against Poland more than a year ago. This time around, Prandelli will be without the services of the Roma midfielder Daniele Di Rossi after the 29-year-old has been omitted from the squad due to disciplinary reasons.

France come into the match on the back of a confidence boosting 1-1 draw with the world champions Spain in the last World Cup qualifying group match. They have certainly changed their style of football under the new management. This makes them a particularly tough prospect according to the Italian. He has also dismissed suggestions that it will be a normal match because against France it never is the case. He has also said that both teams are likely to show a lot of emotion and enthusiasm. Prandelli has said that he is looking forward to picking the AC Milan striker Stephan El Shaarawy, who has been in sensational form this season.

“It won’t be a normal match against France, it’s never a normal match against them. We know that very well, having faced them many times in important competitions and in finals too. It’s never a friendly match against France. I only hope we see two teams who want to play football, two teams who are proud to be playing, showing emotion and enthusiasm. The result will come from who has the better attitude of the two teams. That’s my opinion on that,” said the Italian national team manager ahead of the match with France.

PRANDELLI WILL PICK CASSANO

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Italian national team manager Cesare Prandelli has said that AC Milan striker Antonio Cassano is almost certain to be included in the squad for the Euro 2012. Antonio Cassano had to undergo a heart surgery during the middle of the campaign, which almost ruled him out of the Euro 2012. It was a massive disappointment for Italy considering that he is their best striker. However, the striker returned to the AC Milan first-team in the match against Siena recently. Many were expecting an ordinary performance from the striker, who has been out of the game for quite some time.

However, he surprised a lot of people by putting in a scintillating performance against Siena. Cassano not only scored a goal against Siena, but also set up two other goals for Zlatan Ibrahimovic as well. Following the match, Italian coach Cesare Prandelli has said that Cassano is almost certain for inclusion into the Euro 2012 squad. Only a few weeks ago, the 54-year-old manager said that he might look at the possibility of including troublesome Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli as a replacement for Cassano. However, following the recovery of the Bari-born striker, it is highly unlikely that Balotelli will be part of the Italian squad.

“I’m so glad he’s back. I didn’t expect him to be back so soon. For Euro 2012, I will make my assessments. But if he is ready for [Milan coach Massimiliano] Allegri then he is probably ready for us. He has a contagious energy, although I do not think he has the fitness required to play 90 minutes consistently yet,” Prandelli told La Gazzetta dello Sport after the Siena match. Italy have been drawn in the same group consisting of World Cup Champions Spain. Croatia and the Republic of Ireland are the other group members.

PRANDELLI WARNS BALOTELLI

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Italy coach Cesare Prandelli recently sent out a warning to Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli regarding his conduct off the pitch.

Now, Mario Balotelli’s club manager Roberto Mancini has also backed the claims by Italy coach Cesare Prandelli by saying that Mario Balotelli needs to listen to the advice from Cesare Prandelli.

The Italian striker was recently pictured coming out of a strip club in Liverpool in the early hours of Friday morning. Manchester City were set to face Bolton on Saturday, and Roberto Mancini was less pleased with the striker’s attitude and behaviour off the pitch.

Cesare Prandelli went one step ahead of Roberto Mancini by not only warning the player, but also dropping him from the squad entirely. Italy are set to face the United States national team in a friendly match on Wednesday.

However, Mario Balotelli will not be part of the squad, and it remains to be seen if Cesare Prandelli will be willing to stick with him if his behaviour does not improve. Italy have qualified for the Euro 2012, and are expected to be a dominant force at this European competition after failing to make any impact in the previous edition. Mario Balotelli is expected to be part of this squad, but Cesare Prandelli warned that his behaviour should improve in order to be considered for an inclusion.

“I think it (the warning) is correct. We know that Mario is a top player – but he should improve his behaviour. For the national team it is important. When you go to play in the European Championship and you only play three or five games, you should have good behaviour,” Roberto Mancini said ahead of the match with Bolton. Mancini will have Carlos Tevez coming closer to full fitness, and he adds to the competition for Mario Balotelli.