Former Liverpool captain Graeme Souness has questioned the existence of Mario Balotelli’s “football brain” and believes the misfiring striker has to undergo a personality change to survive at Anfield.

Wayne Rooney edged one goal closer to Bobby Charlton’s record as England coasted past the clothes salesman, the factory worker and the bar owner from San Marino with a simple if not spectacular 5-0 win at Wembley.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is no doubt Danny Welbeck will continue to go from strength to strength after the striker’s hat-trick in the Champions League win over Galatasaray, which was stopped during the first half when Turkish fans threw flares onto the pitch.

Champions League Group D

New Italy coach Antonio Conte says he will lay down the law, vowing to "show no mercy" as he looks to build a successful team.

PREMIER LEAGUE:

Antonio Conte has been confirmed as the new head coach of the Italy national team.

Italy’s early elimination from the World Cup has strengthened the belief that football in the country desperately needs a new direction.

Roberto Mancini is flattered by speculation that he could be the next coach of Italy.

The three highest paid team managers at World Cup 2014 have headed home after the group stages, proving pay is no indicator of performance.

Arsenal may be the team to benefit from Italy’s early exit from the World Cup with under-fire Mario Balotelli prepared to consider a move away from AC Milan, according to his agent.

Mario Balotelli is refusing to be the scapegoat for Italy’s World Cup failure in Brazil and lashed out at fans that questioned his commitment.

Roy Hodgson has reiterated his desire to stay on as England manager, defiantly insisting he has no intention to quit.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli yesterday tendered his resignation in the wake of the country’s elimination from the World Cup in Brazil.

Fifa will investigate the Luis Suarez alleged biting incident with Liverpool’s Uruguay striker likely to face a lengthy ban if found guilty.

FIFA has announced it will investigate the Luis Suarez alleged biting incident with Liverpool’s Uruguay striker likely to face a lengthy ban if found guilty.

Italy 0 Costa Rica 1

England 1 Italy 2

Italy goalkeeper and captain Gianluigi Buffon will miss his side's opening World Cup Group D match against England in Manaus tonight.

Steven Gerrard admits England will have no excuses if they fail to deliver the win the country is yearning for tonight.

Slamming, body-rocking heat greeted the traveller in Manaus yesterday. When even the local taxi driver wipes his forehead and declares it’s "mucho calde" you know this isn’t a climate for the faint-hearted.

Mario Balotelli is taking care of some personal business before the World Cup starts.

Giuseppe Rossi is frustrated to miss out on a third straight major tournament with Italy after being among the final cuts made by coach Cesare Prandelli.

Republic of Ireland 0 Italy 0

Italy began their preparation yesterday for the match against Ireland in a mood of national euphoria but no great confidence about the tournament to come.

Tomorrow against Turkey at the Aviva Stadium, Ireland play the first of four games in three weeks in three different countries.

England 1 Denmark 0

ITALY:

Tottenham 1 West Brom 1

Southampton’s record signing Pablo Osvaldo says he will not make the mistakes his compatriot Mario Balotelli made in the Premier League, says Joseph Sexton

Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill faces a late change of plan ahead of tonight’s World Cup qualifier against Russia, with Kyle Lafferty missing out with an Achilles injury.

Italy head coach Cesare Prandelli revelled in a Confederations Cup victory over Mexico at the Maracana but warned his match-winning striker Mario Balotelli to stop “flexing his muscles”.

Italy head coach Cesare Prandelli will remain patient with Mario Balotelli despite the striker’s impetuous dismissal in last night’s World Cup qualifying meeting with the Czech Republic.

Say this much for Roberto Mancini: he’s definitely not one to turn a drama into a crisis.

Italy head coach Cesare Prandelli hopes Daniele De Rossi learns a valuable lesson after dropping the Roma midfielder from his 25-man squad to face France tomorrow night.

Holder Lionel Messi and last year's runner-up Cristiano Ronaldo are the favourites for this year's Ballon D'Or award, the shortlist for which was announced by FIFA this afternoon

Mario Balotelli will miss Italy’s World Cup qualifier with Armenia tonight after failing to recover from the flu, the FIGC announced on their official website this morning.

Gianfranco Zola believes the criticism of Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni after last month’s European Championship was “unfair” and that it was an “achievement” in itself for Ireland even to qualify for the tournament.

At the very least, Euro 2012 will properly go down in history.

It is usual in football for a crushing defeat to be followed by recrimination and the search for scapegoats.

Mario Balotelli should accept Italy were beaten by a better side in last night’s Euro 2012 final according to the striker’s coach Cesare Prandelli.

All of the arguments, all of the debates, all of the questions around Spain are now irrelevant – except one.

Spain 4 Italy 0

Italy skipper Gianluigi Buffon has praised controversial striker Mario Balotelli for his willingness to work for the Italian cause at Euro 2012.