European champions Italy will miss the World Cup. Again. The unthinkable happened in Palermo on Thursday as the Azzurri were beaten 1-0 by North Macedonia.
To cap or not to cap? It’s not a question anymore. Now that Cristian Volpato,the 18-year-old from Sydney’s inner west,has scored his first Serie A goal,it’s an imperative.
Efforts to bring the Roma teenager into the Australian youth set-up have hit another roadblock after the Serie A club refused to release him.
Cristian Volpato was told by two A-League clubs he wasn’t good enough. On Saturday night,he made his professional debut for Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma - against Inter Milan,no less,in one of the biggest fixtures on the Serie A calendar.
Italy’s soccer-mad fans might be starting to fear the worst as their team has been sent back to the play-offs,where they missed World Cup qualification in 2018. But there will be no such issues for England supporters.
Let go from the Wanderers academy,overlooked for the Young Socceroos,Cristian Volpato is now training under Jose Mourinho and selected for Italy’s youth team.
The charges against the FA include invasion of the field of play by its supporters,throwing of objects by its supporters,disturbance caused by its supporters during the national anthem and lighting of a firework.
The first Italian team to win the Euros in 53 years landed at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci airport to a banner on the tarmac reading,“Grazie Azzurri.”
The nail-biting finish to the Euro 2020 final had soccer fans on the edge of their seats. Then Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma saved two England penalties – and Lygon Street erupted in noise and colour.
England remain without a major trophy since 1966 after an inspired Italy came back from going behind inside two minutes to win their first European title since 1968.
History will be made either way as England chase a first major title in 55 years and Italy look to break a European Championships drought almost as long.