Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli will stay at the club despite interest from his homeland, according to his agent.

Given the extent of globalisation in football these days, distinct national traits are increasingly hard to define.

Daniele De Rossi faced a dilemma.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi has revealed Alessandro Nesta will not be coming out of international retirement.

Francesco Totti is considering performing a U-turn and making himself available to the Italy national team again.

Marcello Lippi insists he will not renew his contract before the World Cup finals, prompting speculation over the Italy coach’s future.

Italy midfielder Daniele De Rossi believes there is no room for Sampdoria star Antonio Cassano in the national team.

MARCELLO LIPPI yesterday hailed Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni’s management skills and stressed his Italy side would be foolish to play for a point in Saturday’s World Cup qualifier at Croke Park.

Italy need just one point to qualify for the World Cup but coach Marcello Lippi insists they will be playing to win in Ireland on Saturday.

The coach of Republic of Ireland rivals Italy has said that Antonio Cassano will have to wait before finding out if he is to be included in his World Cup squad.

ITALY coach Marcello Lippi has told Azzurri fans not to be alarmed by his team’s unimpressive performances of late.

Former AC Milan boss Arrigo Sacchi has defended Italy coach Marcello Lippi’s decision to continue to leave Sampdoria forward Antonio Cassano out of his squad.

Twenty years ago tonight, Arsenal and Liverpool staged the most remarkable climax in history to an English football season. “A night of chilling simplicity” as commentator Brian Moore called it. Tony Leen was there.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi will not call up a replacement for injured striker Antonio Di Natale.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi has defended his decision to leave Sampdoria striker Antonio Cassano out of his squad for the upcoming two World Cup qualifiers.

WEST HAM’S caretaker manager Kevin Keen has welcomed the appointment of Gianfranco Zola as a “fresh start”.

GIANFRANCO ZOLA has agreed a three-year deal to become West Ham’s next manager.

Former Italy coach Roberto Donadoni has revealed he withdrew from the race to become West Ham manager believing he was not the right fit for the club.

GIANFRANCO ZOLA looks certain to become the next West Ham manager after his closest rival withdrew from the contest to replace Alan Curbishley.

ITALY coach Marcello Lippi admits the Azzurri need to raise their game after only scraping past Cyprus in their opening World Cup qualifier on Saturday.

Gianfranco Zola looks certain to become the next West Ham manager after his closest rival withdrew from the contest to replace Alan Curbishley.

West Ham are today expected to start talks with Gianfranco Zola with a view to appointing the Italian as the club’s new manager.

Gianfranco Zola remains the clear favourite to be named as West Ham’s new manager after the club’s board ruled out Slaven Bilic.

Slaven Bilic has insisted he will not leave his post with Croatia to take over as manager at West Ham.

GIANFRANCO Zola has moved into pole position in the race to be the next West Ham manager, it can be revealed.

West Ham today confirmed that four names remain in the frame to be the club’s next manager: Slaven Bilic, Gianfranco Zola, Roberto Donadoni and Michael Laudrup.

THE shortlist of names in the frame to replace Alan Curbishley as West Ham manager appeared to shrink by two yesterday, after Slaven Bilic and Roberto Mancini distanced themselves from the position.

Slaven Bilic appears to have ruled himself out of the running for the West Ham vacancy after committing his future to Croatia until 2010 at least.

West Ham vice-chairman Asgeir Fridgeirsson has rejected comments by outgoing manager Alan Curbishley that the club’s transfer policy represented a “breach of trust and confidence”.

Italy coach Roberto Donadoni has left his post after the Italian Football Federation opted not to extend his contract.

ITALY coach Roberto Donadoni will find out his fate “in the next few days”, the Italian football federation confirmed yesterday.

Coach Luis Aragones has played down any suggestion of tension or unrest in the Spain camp as his side prepare to face world champions Italy in the quarter-finals of Euro 2008.

ITALY star Christian Panucci is adamant age will not get the better of him as he continues his Euro 2008 adventure in the quarter-final against Spain in Vienna tomorrow night (7.45pm).

Italy 1 Romania 1

Alessandro Del Piero is ready to take centre stage when Italy face Romania in tonight’s Euro 2008 showdown in Zurich.

ITALY coach Roberto Donadoni has announced he will make at least three changes to his starting line-up for Friday’s Group C showdown against Romania in Zurich.

Marco van Basten celebrated his finest moment as Holland coach by leading his team to an “historic” 3-0 victory over his good friend Roberto Donadoni and world champions Italy.

Holland 3 Italy 0

Gary Murphy admits his mind wanders to “stupid stuff” on the golf course but he will have to concentrate for just 36 more holes to claim a first European Tour title in the Bank Austria Open.

The Italian Football Federation have confirmed that captain Fabio Cannavaro will miss Euro 2008 with an ankle injury.

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon believes the Bianconeri can challenge for the Scudetto next season if they strengthen the squad in the summer.

MARCO TARDELLI will take in two more Premiership games at the weekend as Giovanni Trapattoni’s assistant continues to monitor Irish players for his boss.

ITALIAN World Cup winner and former U21 coach Marco Tardelli has confirmed he will be assistant to new Ireland manager, Giovanni Trapattoni.

NIGEL Worthington’s reign as full-time Northern Ireland manager got off to a losing start as Bulgaria — the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup qualifying group rivals — edged a tight friendly at Windsor Park.