Cremona Case Hangs Over Chelsea Conte

Antonio Conte

Prosecutors involved in Antonio Conte's match-fixing case in Cremona have called for the Italy boss to be hit with a six-month prison sentence.

The news casts something of a shadow over Monday's rather more positive announcement regarding the 46-year-old, after it was confirmed that he will take over at Chelsea next season.

However, Conte is currently embroiled in an ongoing case regarding his failure to report an attempt from Siena players to allegedly fix a match against Albino Leffe in May 2011 during his time in charge there in 2011. 

Although he denies any wrongdoing Cremona prosecutor Roberto Di Martino has asked for a six-month suspended prison sentence as well as for Conte to be fined €8,000.

A ruling in the case is not expected to arrive until mid-May, when Conte's attentions will be turning towards Euro 2016 with Italy.The investigation had originally also included another game involving Siena from May 2011 against Novara, which ended in a 2-2 draw, but that has since been removed from the inquiry.

At Chelsea Conte will earn £6.5million per season at Chelsea after signing a three-year contract but he will be only the fifth best paid boss in the Barclays Premier League.

Jose Mourinho was on £13.2m while at Chelsea and Pep Guardiola will earn £15m per year when he joins Manchester City.

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View from the Top - Arrigo Sacchi

"You don't have to have been a horse to be a jockey."

Arrigo Sacchi on being a manager

Serie B Pesoli Starts Hunger Strike

Emanuele Pesoli of Serie B side Verona has gone on hunger strike in protest at his three-year match-fixing ban.

The defender has also chained himself to the gates of the Italian Football Federation's headquarters in Rome.

"I am hurt by the sentence and I would like to confront those who accuse me," said Pesoli.

The 31-year-old has been banned after a probe into illegal betting on matches while he was at Siena, a club he left in July.

Juventus manager Antonio Conte has been suspended for 10 months for not reporting match-fixing when he was in charge of Siena, then in Serie B, in the 2010-11 season.

"It is a strong protest but they are ruining my life for something I have not done," added Pesoli. "I will stay here until I can't do it anymore."

Pesoli was one of several players, coaches and officials to be banned by the federation on Friday in the latest scandal to engulf Italian football.

In May, police searched more than 30 homes, including those of players, trainers and officials of clubs in Serie A, Serie B and lower divisions.

Lazio captain Stefano Mauri, 32, was held along with former Genoa midfielder Omar Milanetto, while officers visited Italy's pre-Euro 2012 training camp to question left-back Domenico Criscito, 25.

Prandelli Knows Players Will Learn

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Balotelli Dedicates Double to Mother

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Mario Balotelli's two goals fired Italy into the Euro 2012 final - then he dedicated the double to his adoptive mum.

Balotelli's first-half brace was enough to secure a 2-1 win over Germany in Warsaw, and book a showdown with champions Spain on Sunday.

And at the final whistle, the Manchester City star embraced Silvia, who brought him up from the age of two after he was born in Italy to Ghanaian immigrants.

'After the game, when I went to my mum I said "these goals are for you",' he said.

'I waited for this moment for so long and I wanted to make my mum happy. Tonight was the most beautiful of my life - but I hope that this Sunday is even better.'

Balotelli broke the deadlock when he rose to power home Antonio Cassano's 20th-minute cross.

is second was a belter, striding clear of the Germany defence to collect Riccardo Montolivo's superb through ball before blasting an unstoppable shot past Manuel Neuer.

It took Balotelli to three goals for the tournament and he is now favourite to win the coveted Golden Boot prize.

'In the final I hope to make it four,' he said. 'I will try to score another goal but in football you can do that a lot and still never score. Sometimes you need a bit of luck.'

He was quick to heap praise on his team-mates for their contribution to his performance, which surprisingly was not enough to secure the man-of-the-match prize, which went to playmaker Andrea Pirlo.

'These two goals are really important,' he said. 'The first one was a really amazing pass from Antonio Cassano and then it was easy. 

'The second one was a great pass from Montolivo, normally I shoot in the other corner but I went for the near post.'

Italy have already drawn once with Spain at the start of the tournament.

Italy Should Hail Cesare!

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Yet again Italy have emerged from the darkness of a domestic Serie A scandal to waltz through a major football tournament to reach a final that few would have predicted at the outset of EURO 2012. What’s more, they will now have a new belief that took Cannavaro to lift the trophy in Berlin six years ago, dismissing France in the final using a more typical style of Calcio – which on the day worked. As it has done as far back as the football records exist. 

After all they hold four world cup titles from 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006. They were also runners up in 1970 and 1994, with third places secured in 1990. At the same time in European Championships they won in 1968 and were runners-up in 2000. 

The shock for Germany is that their dominance of the EURO’s is now but a distant memory with wins back in 1972, 1980 and 1996; second places finishes in 1976 and 1992 – with the most recent lost final in 2008. 

This year was deemed the breakthrough for Germany, although a meeting with Italy was not part of the preferred plan given that in seven meetings - at either European or World Cup tournaments - Germany have failed to overcome, in football at least, their Southern European partners. A statistic that remains unchanged still today following the two goals from Italian striker Mario Balotelli and the unceremonious demotion of the champions apparent. Nothing learned either from the slip up on home soil in Dortmund in the 2006 World Cup semi-final. 

So after Thursday night in Warsaw that sense of crisis will return once again to German football last time the national team held a major trophy is now more than a generation in the past. The unexpected loss to Chelsea by Bayern Munich in the Champions League final at the Allianz Arena in May would only add to a new period of self evaluation. 

With a team averaging 23 years of age the German Football Federation [DFB] was looking to change history at EURO 2012 after the close calls in 2008 and 2010, which were also supposed to have helped the team mature. But Italy unexpectedly unravelled the German driving machine – in the same way Ferrari have undone Mercedes on more than one occasion in Formula 1 – and when tested Joachim Loew’s team had no gear change. 

That sense of crisis came long before the EURO 2012 semi-final this week, or the loss in Durban to Spain in the 2010 World Cup semi-final. Or indeed in Vienna to Spain at the EURO 2004 final, but back in 1997 when Borussia Dortmund won the Champions League, and Schalke 04 became UEFA Cup champions. 

Albeit the crisis identified at that time was a lack of quality players coming through the Bundesliga.

The match against Italy in the quarter-final was another test of the progress made with the current talent pool and the shortcomings found on this occasion were that the German system could be easily unsettled. And not unlike South Africa, the central defensive partnership this time a round was just as vulnerable as Per Mertesacker and Christoph Metzelder were in Durban - under the Spanish inquisition. Although in Warsaw the captain Philippe Lahm was uncharacteristically away from home when Andrea Pirlo released his pass for Super Mario’s goal number two. 

As a stalwart of the German side for more than eight years Lahm was unfortunate to be caught out this time – given his usual reliability and leadership. But that’s football. 

For Italian boss, Cesare Prandelli, it has been a tumultuous few weeks which all started out with the match fixing scandal, and affecting some of the players in the original squad. The sense of shame being such that Prandelli himself was ready to support any plan to have Italy banned from future International football. or if needed, leave the EURO 2012 tournament itself. 

It also pitched him at the group stage against the Republic of Ireland in the third match and his former boss at Juventus, Giovanni Trapattoni, where he played in midfield from 1979 – 1985. And left him having to manage the demands of the raw diamond that is Mario Balotelli, having left him out of game against Croatia. The reward from the Manchester City striker was a superb gaol that ensured a 2-0 win over the Irish and set Italia on their way to the quarterfinal. 

A day also where the master was taught a tough life lesson by his former pupil. And ahead of the final it is worth noting that the two teams have emerged out of Group C - from where Trapattoni fancied his chances of making an impact at this tournament. 

This illusory aspiration was highlighted further by the game plan Prandelli adopted in the semi-final - ditching his teachings at Juventus under Il Trap to play a more modern counter attack system. Still reliant on good zone defense but hinging on the quick release of the ball very quickly by Pirlo - once possession was regained from any German attack. The manager’s faith in Balotelli for such a key game is reminiscent of Roberto Mancini at City, and both have been able to exact a response from the talented – but moody - striker. 

The two goals in Warsaw that destroyed the most careful German planning showed a style of football of the golden days of Italian attacking play from 1994, 1990, 1982, 1970 and parts of 2006 world cup. Away from the negativity of 2002 where Italy were knocked out in the group stage. 

If Italy can retain that formula the attacking flair of Cassano and Super Marion will bring down Spain. A team still debating whether to play or not to play a centre forward. Based on the destruction of Germany by Prandelli the final will be an intriguing contest, with holders about to relinquish their EURO title. 

Hail Cesare! 

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Cassano Warns Super Mario

Antonio Cassano has warned Mario Balotelli to keep his cool and do some growing up if he wants to become the best player in the world.

The Manchester City marksman has been the revelation of Euro 2012, helping Italy reach the final with a brace against Germany in the semi-final.

Balotelli and the Azzurri now stand in the way of Spain retaining their Euro crown and becoming the first team in history to win three major championships in a row.

AC Milan striker Cassano believes if the 21-year-old can control his temperament and volatile personality, on and off the field, then his future remains in his own hands.

He told The Sun on Sunday: "Balotelli is young and still needs to mature. He is also emotive and sometimes his temperament can be his own worst enemy.

"But he has fire in his stomach and it makes him strong, so you have to be careful how you handle him.

"To tame him would be wrong, though he has to learn to control his emotions and direct them in a positive way. Only he can decide whether he wants it all or whether it all goes to waste. I have great empathy with him and know how hard it is, especially when occasionally you think the whole world is against you.

"But at the moment Balotelli is on top of the world, very focused and dreaming of making Italy champions.

"As a strike partnership we are working very well together and giving Italy self-respect in difficult times."

The Night Lippi Hauled Pirlo Ashore

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On a rainy night in the coastal town of Bari in 2009, the Republic of Ireland battled out a 1-1 draw with a ten man Italian team that played their home 2010 Group World cup bereft of style, imagination or flair. Perhaps not surprisingly as their manager, Marcello Lippi had seen Giampaolo Pazzini sent off after just three minutes of play, by aptly named German referee Wolfgang Stark, and their ryhtmn was disrupted. The Italian manager also faced the haunting spectre of his predecessor, Giovanni Trapattoni, famed in the darks arts of defensive eleven aside football in the opposite dugout. 

Obviously with only ten men left standing it was going to be a long night - even for Italy - one imagined. 

However, Lippi’s agony was to prove short lived as Vincenzo Iaquinta scored within seven minutes and Italy went into the lead. At which stage the ability on the Italian team sheet looked as if it would settle matters pretty quickly, as Fabio Cannavaro, Giorgio Chiellini, Fabio Grosso, Zambrotta and goalkeeper Guianluigi Buffon woudl take command. Regretfully for the Bari fans the game became all about protecting the one goal advantage and remained so until the bitter end. Rather than trying to impose the superiority of Serie A over the Republic of Ireland players, most of whom had no Champions League experience and only a handful even playing regularly at their Premier League clubs. 

But such is the psychology of Italian football, or perhaps just Marcello Lippi, as on that night a most bizarre decision was made – attracting minimal comment at the time – which was the substitution of Andrea Pirlo in the 46th minute. With the AC Milan player suffering from no obvious injury. 

In fact the opposite, as he had single-handedly created a number of attacking chances for Italy and forced the Irish players deep in to their half time after time. Those dinky passes over the top, combined with those whipped along the ground - that Andrea Pirlo has made his trademark over the years - becoming a nightmare for the Irish defenders – always happier just heading the ball out for a corner. 

From the moment Angelo Palombo came on, a more robust style of midfielder with less of the deft touches, the game was lost for Italy and they seemed happy to withdraw deeper into their half. 

As the clocked ticked by Lippi’s troops started to look even two players short on the field, as the Irish bombarded high balls into the box and Italy could not escape the Irish siege - with no-one able to release those quick counter attacking passes at will. Which in the 88th minute saw Irish captain Robbie Keane pounced on a half chance after the Italian defenders failed to clear a ball – giving Ireland a vital away point - and punishing Lippi for his negative thoughts. 

As a world cup winning manager in 2006 the decision by Lippi in Bari that night has always seemed unusual – but probably no surprise given the history of Italian football. 

In Ireland that April 1st result vindicated the choice of Trapattoni as the national manager by the Football Association of Ireland, as the man born in Cusano Milanino on St Patrick’s Day 1939 staved off a possible massacre– and also secured an invaluable point. But for all intents and purposes, the post match analysis sounded a trite triumphalist and the printed press rather indulgent in their assessment of those 90 minutes of football on that night. Not one capturing the  impact of Pirlo being hauled ashore at the halfway stage.

But as only sport can balance things, in the return leg at Croke Park a late Sean St. Ledger goal three minutes from time looked to have sealed the three home points for Il Trap. Only for Alberto Gilardino to finish off the last Italian counter attack just on the whistle - to share the spoils in Dublin - and leaving an Irish nation pondering a sense of defeat given that Glen Whelan had put Ireland ahead after eight minutes. 

But then again it should not have been tales of the unexpected given the Italian form at the 2006 World Cup. 

Having arrived in Germany with little expectation and plagued by a domestic match fixing scandal,  Lippi’s unlikely lads marched from their opening win in Hanover against Ghana all the way to Berlin on July 9th – despatching Ukraine 3-0, Germany on penalties and a ten man France along the way. Not forgetting the most polemic moment at the Fritz-Walter Stadion in Kaislerslautern against Australia in the round of 16, when Francesco Totti converted a controversial injury time penalty awarded by Spanish referee, Luis Medina Cantalejo aginst Lucas Neill. 

Six years on Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Pirlo are two survivors of that match and now a key part of the EURO 2012 campaign. Where Italy have deservedly reached the final  - and without controversy so far - and playing in a different,  yet the same,  style for an Italian team. 

Under Cesare Prandelli they have shown a flexibility and work rate hitherto unknown, alll built  on their fundamental principle of football - strong defending. All to great effect. 

Now though armed with the nascent Mario Balotelli, who is ready to strike at goal just on sight. and like Paulo Rossi in 1982, Toto Schillaci in 1990 or Roberto Baggio in 1994 - is a player on tournament form.  Aided and abtted by the unsung hero of the team is in many ways, Antonio Cassano, himself just back playing after heart surgery earlier in the year, running his socks off up front for his nation’s cause. Ably supported by a cast of others that Prandelli has playing an attacking counter attacking game all pleasing to the eye. With deadly effect as German coach, Joachim Loew, found out in Warsaw on Thursday night. 

But undoubtedly the player of the tournament in-waiting, Andrea Pirlo, is where Italy have their best weapon. 

A strange turn for a player discarded on a free transfer a year ago by Milan, who has since shown a level of form at 33 years of age that can only draw superlatives. Deservedly so given that his Scudetto winning season with Juventus seems to have reinvigorated the Lombardy legend, with his 120 minute display against England a lesson for any aspiring midfielder to learn from. With a special section allotted to penalty taking alone, given the way he deftly dealt with Joe Hart's shouting and screaming in the England goalmouth in Kyiv a week ago. 

In next Sunday night’s final Pirlo will play a major role again no doubt and crown an unlikely Italian victory at EURO 2012 final in Kyiv – given the pre tournament punditry. Crowning his own glittering career with another UEFA trophy no doubt, as the most outstanding on the field contributor over the past three weeks. If so, it would be very well deserved. 

Wonder what Marcello Lippi and Giovanni Trapattoni will be thinking if that happens? 

Answers on a postcard please…. 

Ciao! 

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Italy v Germany - Semi-final - Warsaw

Germany must overcome the weight of history if they are to beat Italy and set up a repeat of the 2008 final against Spain on Sunday.

Despite being favourites to win in Warsaw, Germany have yet to come out on top in seven competitive meetings between the two countries.

Germany boss Joachim Low knows his side must disturb Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo, who was allowed to dictate play in Italy's quarter-final victory over England.

Low said: "He's the Italian player who directs the game.

"We have to disturb him, stop him playing, get in his way, and think of a way how we can do better than Italy in midfield."

But Low has also called for focus from his own side, believing they must play to the strengths which has seen them win all their games so far.

"It's a confidence thing. We have to be cheeky, strong and brave," he said.

"We have to concentrate and work very hard. I don't think we have to worry too much about our opponents. We have to impose our own ideas."

Despite never having lost a competitive match against Germany, Italy coach Cesare Prandelli knows it will be tough to beat their opponents.

"The Germans, alongside Spain, are the favourites to win the European Championship," he said.

"I'm not the first to discover how good they are, they are playing very well."

Team news

Low has received a boost with the news influential midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger will be fit after shrugging off a sore ankle following the 4-2 win over Greece.

But he has decisions to make after surprisingly leaving Arsenal new-boy Lukas Podolski, Thomas Muller and tournament top scorer Mario Gomez out of his starting line-up against Greece.

He is expected to restore the trio to his side, despite Marco Reus and Andre Schurrle adding pace to the German attack in their place, while Miroslav Klose scored against the Greeks.

For Italy, the team's medical staff are doing 'everything possible' to get injured Daniele De Rossi, Ignazio Abate and Giorgio Chiellini back to fitness for the game, with the trio undergoing intensive physiotherapy.

Midfielder De Rossi and right-back Abate were substituted with muscle injuries in Sunday's quarter-final penalty victory over England, while Chiellini missed the game with a thigh problem.

Chiellini has since returned to training and will probably come in for Leonardo Bonucci if he is fit, while Antonio Nocerino will likely replace De Rossi should he miss out.

Coach Prandelli has a big decision to make if Abate fails to recover as fellow right-back Christian Maggio is suspended.

The Italy coach could either move a centre-half like Bonucci or Andrea Barzagli to the right or change to a three-man defence used in the opening two group games.

UEFA Investigate Italy Banana Incident

Uefa is "looking into" claims a banana was thrown on to the pitch during Italy's European Championship game against Croatia on Thursday.

A photographer was reported to have witnessed a steward retrieving a banana in the 1-1 Euro 2012 Group C draw in Poznan as well as hearing monkey chants directed at Italy striker Mario Balotelli.

European football's governing body have confirmed they are aware of the claims, saying: "We are looking into the reports."

If yesterday's alleged banana-throwing incident was intended as an insult towards Balotelli, it would arguably represent the most serious bout of racism at a tournament that has been dogged by the problem.

Balotelli said before Euro 2012 that he would "kill" anyone who threw a banana at him in the street and would "not accept racism at all".

Uefa is already probing allegations of racist abuse against the Manchester City striker in Italy's opening match against Spain on Sunday.

On Monday, Italy coach Cesare Prandelli rejected claims Balotelli was abused against Spain, saying: "That's absolutely untrue."

Balotelli, 21, said he would walk off the pitch if he was racially abused by fans at Euro 2012.

Uefa is also looking into allegations Czech Republic defender Theodor Gebre Selassie was subjected to monkey chants during his side's Group A opener against Russia last Friday.

Holland players claimed they heard racist chanting during an open training session in Krakow before the tournament even began.

Meanwhile, Balotelli could lose his place in Italy's starting line-up for Monday's final Group C game against Republic of Ireland.

The striker has been substituted in both his country's games so far, and Prandelli said: "He has huge potential, but he needs to improve.

"He needs to be more ruthless and pay more attention. These are the areas he needs to improve."

Prandelli was also asked about the alleged banana-throwing incident this afternoon and said: "No, I haven't seen anything."

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) later confirmed they had been made aware of the banana-throwing claims and accompanying photograph.

But they said no-one from their delegation witnessed the incident during the game.

A spokesman saidt: "There's not any official complaint at the moment about that.

"It's not quite clear where this photograph was shot at the game and whether it [the banana] was launched against Mario Balotelli."

The FIGC has, however, written to Uefa expressing "great regret" that their national anthem was booed by groups of Spain and Croatia fans during their Euro 2012 Group C matches.

In a statement, the Italian federation confirmed vice-president Demetrio Albertini had sent a letter to Uefa general secretary Gianni Infantino to complain.

The FIGC acknowledged Italy supporters had jeered anthems in the past.

Croatia v Italy - Preview - Group C

Group C remains wide open following the opening round of fixtures, but an opening success has Croatia setting their sights on the quarter-finals.

Slaven Bilic's side made the perfect start to their Euro 2012 campaign on Sunday as they swept past the Republic of Ireland 3-1.

That results means Croatia, who made the knockout stage in 2008, know victory over Italy would see them progress out of a strong group.

They are, however, aware that their next two games pitch them against the World Cup winners from 2006 and 2010 - starting with Italy on Thursday.

"For me Italy is - they're not better than Spain, right - but you can't analyse them, they play with more options," said Croatia coach Slaven Bilic.

"You know how Spain are going to play but Italy are so unpredictable. They can pass the ball. They can play the short balls. They can play through the middle. They can play counter attack, with long ball from (Andrea) Pirlo to the strikers. They can play down the flanks. They are for me one of the biggest favourites in this tournament."

National skipper Darijo Srna, who is setting his sights on the last eight, added: "We will try to keep our feet on the ground, we don't want to raise expectations now, but we are well aware of what is ahead of us. We now have two 'match points' and I hope we can take one."

Italy are determined to ensure that Croatia leave Poznan empty-handed.

The Azzurri's mixed pre-tournament form made it difficult to predict what they would bring to Euro 2012, but their opening display suggests they remain a force to be reckoned with.

They held reigning European and world champions Spain to a 1-1 draw, after taking the lead, and will feel that they are capable of taking maximum points off Croatia and Ireland - despite the Croats currently sitting four places above them in FIFA's world rankings.

Coach Cesare Prandelli is taking nothing for granted though, saying: "It's going to be the decisive match of the group.

"I've been saying for a while that Croatia is the most dangerous squad because it's the most unpredictable one. They change the way they play all the time, sometimes even from one half to another."

Having seen Croatia impress against the Irish, Bilic is expected to stick with the same starting XI.

That means Tottenham playmaker Luka Modric will continue to pull the strings in midfield and Nikica Jelavic and Mario Mandzukic will provide the attacking firepower - with both men having opened their tournament goal accounts against Ireland.

Antonio Cassano is tipped to retain his place in Prandelli's starting XI, but Mario Balotelli may drop to the bench.

The Manchester City striker started against Spain, but was withdrawn in the second half and saw his replacement, Antonio Di Natale, break the deadlock.

Cassano Wants No Gay Times for Italy

Italy forward Antonio Cassano said Tuesday that he hopes there are no gay players on the national team at the European Championship, and used a derogatory word to describe gays.

After being told by an Italian reporter that there might be some gay players on the team, Cassano appeared at a loss for words before responding.

"Q----- in the national team? That's their business. But I hope not," Cassano said.

Cassano has always been a player who speaks his mind. 

He had well-documented run-ins with Fabio Capello at both Roma and Real Madrid, and then a separation from Sampdoria after he allegedly insulted club president Riccardo Garrone with a profanity-laced verbal tirade.

He now plays for AC Milan, and risked losing his life after falling ill with stroke-like symptoms on the team plane in October. He then required minor heart surgery that kept him out for five months.

The question Tuesday was asked by an Italian journalist, citing Alessandro Cecchi Paone, who co-wrote a book earlier this year with a title that can be translated as: "The champion in love. Thebanned games of sport."

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli wrote the preface to Cecchi Paone's book, in which he said, "Everyone should be free to live with their desires and their feelings. We all need to dedicate ourselves for a sports culture that respects individuals in every expression of truth and liberty."

Another Italy forward, Antonio Di Natale, said after the book came out in April that gay soccer players should not reveal their orientation.

Justin Fashanu, the first black soccer player to move in a 1 million pound transfer fee when he joined English club Nottingham Forest in 1981, saw his career fade after he publicly acknowledged he was gay.

He was found hanged in a London garage in September 1998 at age 37. A coroner ruled his death a suicide.

Former French player Olivier Rouyer, who once teamed with current UEFA president Michel Platini at Nancy, came out after retiring as a coach.

Cassno has since apologised for his remarks.

"I sincerely regret that my statements have sparked controversy and protest from gay rights groups,' said the statement on the official website of the Italian Football Federation.

'Homophobia is a sentiment that is not mine. I did not want to offend anyone and I can not question the sexual freedom of other people.

'I only said that it is a problem that does not concern me and it is not for me to pass judgement on the choices of others, who are all respected.'

Prandelli Makes Italian Cuts

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Italy defender Domenico Criscito has been ruled out of Euro 2012 as he is under investigation in the country's latest match-fixing scandal.

Italian Football Federation (FIGC) vice-president Demetrio Albertini announced on Monday afternoon that the Zenit St Petersburg player will not be included in the travelling party.

Criscito was questioned by police on Monday morning at Italy's training headquarters in Coverciano, Florence, as part of an investigation carried out by Cremona prosecutors regarding a match-fixing probe.

"Criscito will not be with us at the European Championship," Albertini said in a press conference.

"He is in a hurry to end this current situation and that is his aim.

"He is disappointed to have caused this situation although he reiterates he has nothing to do with it."

Criscito, a former Genoa player, had been expected to be in Cesare Prandelli's 23-man squad for the tournament in Poland and Ukraine.

"We are disappointed but we have to remain close to the player," Albertini said. "The decision not to include Criscito is a collective decision.

"The Federation has given Prandelli its support over this decision.

"Arrests have been made today but until proven otherwise, we are talking about innocent people even though they are considered suspects.

"I know Domenico and he is incredulous. He is an extraordinary guy and he has already seen his lawyers this morning.

"It is a strange day for us. These are things that we would not like to have had to go through."

Albertini believes the latest scandal, which has seen former Italy international and current Lazio captain Stefano Mauri as well as former Genoa player Omar Milanetto arrested as part of the investigation, will not hinder the Azzurri.

Italy won the 2006 World Cup in Germany despite having the cloud of a match-fixing scandal above the game at the time.

"I am not worried about the European Championship," he said. "I wasn't before and I am not now.

"I already went through the one of 2006. I only hope that it brings good luck just as it did back then.

"We have a solid squad made of genuine people."

Prandelli has also cut another six players from his initial 32-man man line-up and must drop two more before midday on Tuesday, when the squad for the tournament in Poland and Ukraine must be finalised.

Uncapped midfield youngsters Ezequiel Schelotto and Marco Verratti were among those dropped from the original list.

The others were Palermo goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano, Rubin Kazan defender Salvatore Bocchetti, Cagliari defender Davide Astori and Atalanta midfielder Luca Cigarini.

Of the 25 players remaining in Prandelli's squad, only Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli and Paris St Germain duo Salvatore Sirigu and Thiago Motta are currently plying their trade with clubs outside of Italy.

The Azzurri have been drawn in Group C of the Euros against holders Spain, Croatia and the Republic of Ireland.

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain), De Sanctis (Napoli).

Defenders: Maggio (Napoli), Abate (AC Milan), Balzaretti (Palermo), Bonucci (Juventus), Barzagli (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus), Ranocchia (Inter Milan), Ogbonna (Torino).

Midfielders: Pirlo (Juventus), Marchisio (Juventus), Giaccherini (Juventus), De Rossi (Roma), Motta (Paris Saint-Germain), Nocerino (AC Milan), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Diamanti (Bologna).

Strikers: Cassano (AC Milan), Balotelli (Manchester City), Giovinco (Parma), Di Natale (Udinese), Destro (Siena), Borini (Roma).

Prandelli Believes Balotelli Key

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli insists Manchester City's Mario Balotelli remains key to Italy's Euro 2012 plans.

The temperamental striker was left out of the Azzurri squad in February after his stamp on Tottenham's Scott Parker during a Premier League clash.

"I never really thought of doing this without Balotelli, he is a focal point of the national team," Prandelli said.

"Have I made peace with Balotelli? Yes, although to be honest we never argued in the first place."

Question marks hung over Balotelli's club future in England after his red card against Arsenal prompted City manager Roberto Mancini to announce he would "probably" sell the forward at the end of the current campaign.

Balotelli has since apologised for his dismissal at the Emirates, which came on the back of a four-match suspension for a controversial challenge on Parker in January.

However, the incident cast further doubt over his international future following Prandelli's decision to omit him from the squad for the friendly against the United States in February in line with a code of conduct he introduced upon taking over in 2010.

But Prandelli told Italian broadcaster Rai that Balotelli was never out of contention for a place in his squad for this summer's European Championship, in which Italy face defending and world champions Spain, Ireland and Croatia in Group C.

Prandelli added: "I was pleased that he took responsibility with his statements after the latest incident at Manchester City. I like those who stand up and accept responsibility for their actions."

Balotelli's Italy Record

Age: 21

Born: Palermo

Debut: v Ivory Coast, 2010

Caps: Seven

Goals: One

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