Arsenal wants Balotelli. £25m

Arsene Wenger has increased his
interest in Mario Balotelli as Arsenal
prepares a 25 million pound bid for
the AC Milan striker.

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Italy World Cup 2014 squad

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli's 23-
man squad for the World Cup
finals:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon
(Juventus), Mattia Perin (Genoa),
Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint-
Germain)

Defenders: Ignazio Abate (Milan),
Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo
Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini
(Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Torino),
Mattia De Sciglio (Milan), Gabriel
Paletta (Parma)

Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani
(Fiorentina), Antonio Candreva
(Lazio), Daniele De Rossi (Roma),
Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Marco
Parolo (Parma), Andrea Pirlo
(Juventus), Thiago Motta (Paris
Saint-Germain), Marco Verratti (Paris
Saint-Germain)

Forwards: Mario Balotelli (Milan),
Antonio Cassano (Parma), Alessio
Cerci (Torino), Ciro Immobile
(Torino), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli)

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Kuongea mbaya nayo!! Balotelli vs Pirlo

Andrea Pirlo has
criticised the press
for the constant
attention placed on
Italy forward Mario
Balotelli, insisting the player must be
left in peace.
The former Manchester City and Inter
striker comes into the World Cup with
expectations on his shoulders, with
plenty of supporters concerned he
will not recapture the form he showed
in the Euro 2012 semi-final win over
Germany despite scoring 14 in 30
Serie A games for AC Milan last
season.
However, Pirlo believes that the 23-
year-old needs to be given time and
space to mature without the media
glare if he is to fulfil his potential as
a footballer and urged reporters to
judge him solely on his displays on
the pitch.
"I think we talk too much [about him],
about anything and everything," the
35-year-old told a press conference.
"He is a young player, he is good, but
you have to give him some air. When
he goes to the toilet, there is no
need to fill pages about Balotelli
going to the toilet. Everything he
does ends up in the newspapers and
I think that is unfair.
"He must be judged solely on what he
does on the field. The press spoke
and now there are huge expectations
around him. Sometimes it's good,
sometimes not. He still has to mature
and grow, but he will get there
probably much quicker if left in a
little peace. "
Pirlo remains a vital part of the
Azzurri set-up and was a World Cup
winner in 2006 when they overcame
France in the final, but he stressed
he is not an essential player for
Cesare Prandelli's side.
"When I'm on the field, actions pass
by me," he continued.
"I help the team play differently. But
the team is also able to play very
good matches without me."
Italy face England in Manaus on
Saturday as they begin their Group D
campaign.

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Gerrard is great but Pirlo is genius

“England have a potential
match winner in captain Steven
Gerrard ahead of tonight’s
World Cup clash in Manaus –
but Italy have an even better
player in Andrea Pirlo.

“Italy has seldom had a more
difficult opening to a World
Cup campaign, coming up
against an England side nicely
mixing youth with the
experience of players like
Steven Gerrard.
“The England and Liverpool
skipper will be battling for
midfield supremacy with my
good friend Andrea Pirlo.
“But while I think Gerrard is
great, Pirlo is a genius –
definitely the best around in
his role.
“So, how can Italy beat the
English in the heat of the
Amazon in a first match that is
crucial for both teams?
“Simply, they’ll have to create
good, intense possession; keep
the match pace and, most
importantly, make their
opponents run. The heat will
be intense, so you have to
make your opponents tired and
with Pirlo pulling the strings
that’s what will happen.
“Players like Gerrard and
Rooney are important assets for
England: they have fought
hundreds of battles, and they
know exactly what it takes to
play in a World Cup. But I also
like some of the younger
players, especially Daniel
Sturridge, he’s a rapid striker
and he has had a great season.
“Hodgson’s England group is
talented and skilled, but in my
opinion Italy are much more
solid. I believe Italy have
something more and that’s why
they will triumph.
“During my career I
experienced many matches
against English clubs and the
national team. For example, in
1997 we won at Wembley
thanks to a Gianfranco Zola’s
goal. I sat on the bench that
evening, but I was impressed
by the energy, the fighting
spirit and the effort of the
English. They always seem to
give their best at home, with
more difficulties playing
abroad.
“We always managed quite well
against them and I think we
will in Manaus.
“Things have changed a little
since that night 17 years ago.
Back then Serie A was the best
league in the world, while the
Premier League was still
emerging.
“Now the English League is
definitely the better of the two,
but it hasn’t had a direct
benefit on the English national
team, and we should say the
same for Serie A.
“Not so long ago there were
more restrictions about how
many foreign players could play
in a team and it was easier to
identify the strength of a
league through the value of its
own national team. Not so any
more.”

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