Person: Pirlo

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

columnists

Dreaming big on those manic European nights

Thanks for the memories, Jimmy

Chelsea v Crystal Palace - Premier League - Stamford Bridge

soccer

Antonio Conte sure Diego Costa can soon end goal slump

Can Arsenal do a Deportivo on Carlo Ancelotti?

French joy should soon be complete

soccer

Wily Italians won’t grant Ireland a free pass

10 young stars who will light up Euro 2016

Every great tournament has its rising stars. Here are ten who could really shine

Mon, 06 Jun, 2016

Marco Verratti injury blow for Italy

Italy midfielder Marco Verratti will miss Euro 2016 after undergoing surgery to repair a groin injury, his club Paris Saint-Germain confirmed last night.

Sat, 07 May, 2016

Daniele De Rossi’s World Cup medal buried with Italy’s faithful kitman

There were three veterans of Italy’s 2006 World Cup triumph missing when the team met up at the Coverciano training centre in Florence yesterday to prepare for matches against Spain and Germany.

Tue, 22 Mar, 2016

Danny Drinkwater laps up the plaudits as Leicester strike again

Leicester 3 Stoke 0

Mon, 25 Jan, 2016

Is this the best team of players who have never won the Ballon d'Or?

As many expected,

Lionel Messi won his fifth Ballon d'Or last night becoming the first player to win the accolade five times.

Tue, 12 Jan, 2016

VIDEO: Bosnia’s Roman gladiator Miralem Pjanic a direct threat to Ireland

Bosnia has been here before, and so has Miralem Pjanic.

Thu, 12 Nov, 2015

Europe no safe haven for the Premier League elite

Zlatan! Ronaldo! Messi!

Tue, 15 Sep, 2015

England’s best may miss final shake-up

In light of yesterday’s Champions League draw, there might be good reason for optimism English clubs will survive the marathon of the group stage but rather less grounds for confidence in the notion they will still be in the race for Milan when the sprint section turns into the final straight.

Fri, 28 Aug, 2015

Andrea Pirlo relishing task ahead after move to MLS side New York City FC

Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo is relishing the challenge ahead after leaving Juventus for MLS side New York City FC.

Tue, 07 Jul, 2015

Pirlo, Lampard and co are about to be overshadowed by the latest New York soccer star

Never mind these bandwagon-jumping Johnny-come-latelys at Red Bull and New York City, true Big Apple sawker fans get behind the revived New York Cosmos and Pele’s old club have made this week’s box-office signing.

Mon, 06 Jul, 2015

Paulinho exits Tottenham for China adventure

Tottenham midfielder Paulinho has joined Guangzhou Evergrande on a four-year deal, the Chinese Super League side have announced.

Tue, 30 Jun, 2015

Pirlo and Xavi show the game can still be beautiful

Xavi’s brief consoling of Pirlo at the end of the Champions League final was a much-needed reminder, in the wake of the FIFA scandal, that the game can still be beautiful, writes Ciarán O’Connor.

Tue, 09 Jun, 2015

Juventus require ultimate defensive solution

Amid all the scandals assailing the sport, Liam Brady is hoping Barcelona and Juventus can provide football with a night to remember in Berlin.

Sat, 06 Jun, 2015

Gianluigi Buffon - My merciless and bold No 1

Tonight’s Champions League final is a stage for extravagant attacking talents — but for this netminder, the real storyline is between the posts for the Old Lady of Turin, writes Dónal Óg Cusack.

Sat, 06 Jun, 2015

A weekend chock full of sport starts here

Tennis, hurling, rugby and the small matter of a Champions League final - we hope you didn’t have big plans for the weekend because they will be hard to fit in around all the sport.

Fri, 05 Jun, 2015

Terrace talk: This may be the shape of things to come

Downtrodden, red-faced, a tormented laughing stock — that about covers it.

Mon, 18 May, 2015

Alvaro Morata returns to haunt Real Madrid

Real Madrid 1 Juventus 1 (Agg 2-3): Alvaro Morata was again the hero as a 1-1 draw at Real Madrid in last night’s Champions League semi-final second leg at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu sent Juventus through to the competition’s final.

Thu, 14 May, 2015

Carlos Tevez puts Juventus in driving seat

The Old Lady of Italian football — not to mention one or two of its old men — is long overdue a European trophy; and after Carlos Tevez inspired Juventus to a 2-1 Champions League semi-final first leg victory over Real Madrid there is a growing feeling that this could finally be their year.

Wed, 06 May, 2015

Juventus will play without fear, says bullish Pirlo

Juventus playmaker Andrea Pirlo has described Champions League semi-final opponents Real Madrid as the “most important club side in the world”, but insists his team will face the holders without fear.

Tue, 05 May, 2015

Champions League plots thicken with whiff of sulphur in the air

There is enough intrigue as well as quality in the Champions League semi-finals this week to have any football fan salivating, writes David Shonfield.

Tue, 05 May, 2015

Juventus progress as Monaco fail to fire

Monaco 0 Juventus 0: Juventus moved into the last four of the Champions League for the first time in 12 years after playing out a goalless draw with Monaco in the second leg of their quarter-final tie.

Thu, 23 Apr, 2015

Tuesday’s TV tips

What's on telly? This stuff.

Tue, 31 Mar, 2015

Chin up son, all the greats have embarrassing Panenka misses in their lockers

Benfica youngster Romario Baldé produced perhaps the worst ‘Panenka’ of all time in the Uefa Youth League.

Wed, 18 Mar, 2015

David Shonfield: PSG can thrive in midfield minefield against Chelsea

Paris Saint-Germain believe they can beat Chelsea in the Champions League tomorrow night, writes David Shonfield.

Tue, 10 Mar, 2015

Ancelotti dismisses Sterling link

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has dismissed speculation linking him with a move for Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling.

Sun, 19 Oct, 2014

Pirlo fooled the wall to score from this brilliant free-kick

Andrea Pirlo continued his campaign to be considered football’s coolest man with this beauty of a free-kick at the weekend.

Mon, 18 Aug, 2014

Italy searching for answers in wake of early exit

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

Sat, 12 Jul, 2014

After the annihilation, Germans can finish the masterpiece

What is the point in denying it? There is very little that energises us more than preposterous humiliation. Someone else’s anyway.

Sat, 12 Jul, 2014

Godin the Uruguay hero as 10-man Italy crash out

Italy 0 Uruguay 1

Wed, 25 Jun, 2014

My last imaginary World Cup: I’m too old for professional football

IT HASN’T been easy but I have had to face reality. This will probably be my last World Cup.

Mon, 23 Jun, 2014

Ruiz rocks the Azzurri

Italy 0 Costa Rica 1

Sat, 21 Jun, 2014

Rise of Costa Rica cuts England out of World Cup

Italy 0 Costa Rica 1

Fri, 20 Jun, 2014

Hodgson: Suarez is not world class

Roy Hodgson thinks Luis Suarez has a lot to prove before he can be considered a truly world-class player.

Mon, 16 Jun, 2014

Hodgson: Suarez not world class until he produces on big stage

Roy Hodgson thinks Luis Suarez has a lot to prove before he can be considered a truly world class player.

Mon, 16 Jun, 2014

There ain’t no cure for England’s summertime blues

England 1 Italy 2

Mon, 16 Jun, 2014

England emerge defeated from World Cup jungle battle

England put on a good display of attacking football, but they emerged from their trek into the jungle with a 2-1 defeat in their World Cup opener thanks to Mario Balotelli's winner in the draining heat of Manaus.

Sun, 15 Jun, 2014

Grand old man Italy too cute for England’s young upstarts

England 1 Italy 2

Sun, 15 Jun, 2014

How will England self-destruct this time?

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.

Sat, 14 Jun, 2014