Juventus GM Marotta admits drawing blanks for Van Persie, Jovetic

Juventus GM Beppe Marotta says they're working hard to find a new striker signing.

Marotta was asked about their interest in signing Arsenal’s Robin Van Persie or Fiorentina’s Stevan Jovetic.

“The top player we are looking for is not only a name with an important price-tag attached. What we mean by top player is someone who can improve our quality level.

“Van Persie is an excellent player and Arsenal have no intention of losing him. It is not possible to negotiate for a player if the club is not open to talks.

“As for Jovetic, it’s only right that Fiorentina ruled he is off the market. We never even tried to get close to him.”

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Brilliant Brazil hammer Cameroon

Brazil cruised past Cameroon to open their Group E campaign with a victory in the women’s football competition.

Jorge Barcellos’s team raced into a 2-0 lead through a Francielle free-kick and a header from Renata Costa.

Marta scored a second-half penalty after she had been clumsily fouled by Bebey Beyene before Cristiane slotted home from a tight angle.

The losing Olympic finalists in 2004 and 2008 made it 5-0 late on when Marta struck from close range.

The match was the second of a double header at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff after

Great Britain had earlier opened their campaign with a 1-0 win over New Zealand.

And the emphatic nature of Brazil’s victory ensures that they finish the opening day of Olympic action top of their group on goal difference.

It might have been even more emphatic but Ester shot wide in the opening half and impressive substitute Cristiane missed with a spectacular over-head kick close to the final whistle.

Cameroon were second best throughout the contest, and especially overrun in the latter stages, with a completely unmarked Marta given the freedom of the six-yard box to pick her spot for Brazil’s fifth.

However, Cameroon did come close to a goal shortly before half-time when Gabrielle Onguene created an opening with a neat run and turn but she then shot wide.

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Italy's Cassano fined for gay slur at Euro 2012

Antonio Cassano (photo: Александр Осипов)

NYON, Switzerland (AP) -- Italian soccer star Antonio Cassano has been fined for his comments about gay players at the European Championship.

European soccer's governing body says Friday it fined him $18,250 for his "discriminatory press statement" at an official media event in Poland last month.




Cassano said at the time he hoped there were no homosexual players on the Italian national team. He then used a derogatory word to describe gays.

When a reporter suggested there were gays on the team, Cassano appeared at a loss for words before saying, "That's their problem, but I hope not."

Cassano can appeal the decision by UEFA.

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Boxing ring to Olympic rings

Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco, pictured in the Regina Boxing Club before he left for the 2012 London Summer Olympics, is part of the Boxing Canada delegation.

Photograph by: Don Healy, Leader-Post , Leader-Post

Leading up to the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, the Leader-Post is doing a series of profiles on participants with ties to Regina.

The series begins today with two stories - on Regina mayor Pat Fiacco (boxing) and Regina-born soccer player Kelly Parker.

In the days ahead, we will profile track and field coach Carla Nicholls (Tuesday's paper), United States sailing meteorologist Doug Charko (Wednesday), rower Rachelle Viinberg (Thursday) and diver Reuben Ross (Friday).
. . . .
In 1974, Pat Fiacco first climbed the stairs at the Regina Boxing Club - never imagining the ascent that awaited him.
Fiacco eventually became a national boxing champion. When he threw his hat into a ring of a different sort, he was elected as the mayor of Regina for the first of four terms. And now, boxing is his ticket to the Olympics for the second time.

"As soon as I walked up those stairs at the Regina Boxing Club at the Laird Gym, I fell in love with the place, and everything changed,'' reflects Fiacco, who is in London for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

"When I walked into the gym in March of 1974, I had no idea that this is where this sport would take me and that this would be the life path as a result of it. There's no doubt that if it wasn't for this sport, there's no way I'd be who I am today. That is a guarantee.''

Fiacco was introduced to boxing by a schoolmate, Glen Pelletier, who casually said: "I'm going to the boxing club. Want to come with me?'' Fiacco promptly sought and received permission from his parents. The boxing club soon became a second home.

As an amateur boxer, Fiacco was among Canada's best in the 54-kilogram division. He was on the precipice of making the Olympic team - the major impediment being Dale Walters. In the 54kg class, Walters nosed out Fiacco for a spot on the 1980 Olympic team, only to have Canada join the boycott of the Moscow-based Games.

Four years later, when the Olympics were held in Los Angeles, Walters finally wore Canada's colours in the ring at the world's premier sporting event. Walters also won a bronze medal, becoming the first Canadian to reach the podium in Olympic boxing in 52 years. Fiacco had retired as an amateur athlete the previous year, opting instead to get married while remaining involved in his favourite sport as a referee.

It was in that capacity that Fiacco finally made the Olympics. He was a referee and judge at the 2004 Games in Athens and has now returned to the five-ring circus in an administrative capacity.

In April, the International Boxing Association appointed Fiacco as the deputy technical delegate for the London Games.

He is assisting the technical delegate, Franco Falcinelli of Italy, in overseeing every aspect of the boxing competition.

Fiacco, who is the president of the Canadian Amateur Boxing Association, is the first Canadian to serve as the deputy technical delegate at an Olympic Games.

"It was incredible going there as a referee and judge back in 2004, but to go in there as one of the two guys who are in charge of the whole thing is big,'' says Fiacco, 50. "We have to pay attention to everything that's happening in the field of play. We have to make sure that there's no outside interference. It's pretty incredible.''

Fiacco has also been appointed the technical delegate for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. He already has experience at events such as the Commonwealth Games, Pan American Games and world championships, not to mention the Olympics, in officiating or administrative roles.

"I've been very fortunate,'' Fiacco says. "It wasn't meant for me to be the centre of attention in a boxing ring. That wasn't what the plan was for me. There was another role for me. You need to know when to understand that, and when to recognize it.

"We all have different skill sets. It's no different than hockey. The best hockey player on the ice doesn't exactly make the best coach. We all have different roles. We have a passion for the sport and we understand it, but there's different positions for us.

"My calling in the sport of boxing was obviously to start off as a competitor. I had the fortune of winning a national championship, but there was another role for me, and that was as an administrator, as an official, and now in this role as a technical delegate, ensuring that we have everything ready for this Olympic Games.''

By the time the Games conclude, Fiacco will have been in London for a month. Upon returning to Regina, he will complete his final term as the mayor - he is not running for re-election on Oct. 24 - and marvel at a landmark summer.

Fiacco was front and centre when it was announced that a $278-million football stadium is to be constructed at Evraz Place. Three days after the July 14 announcement, Fiacco flew to London. The Olympics' opening ceremonies are to be held Friday.

"It is pretty remarkable,'' Fiacco says when asked about an eventful few weeks in his life. "There's no question that July of 2012 will be remembered for a long time.''
So will March of 1974.

Read more: http://www.leaderpost.com/Boxing+ring+Olympic+rings/6973520/story.html#ixzz21QQ6DUH2

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Bayern deny move for Pirlo

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has rubbished reports linking his club with a move for Italy international Andrea Pirlo.

Reports in Italy claimed Bayern had made a bid of 10million euros for the Juventus midfielder, who was a key figure in Italy's Euro 2012 campaign, but Rummenigge says the reports are without foundation.

"FC Bayern have neither made an offer to Juventus, nor have FC Bayern had any contact with the player or his agent," he said in a statement published on the Bundesliga club's website.

Bayern have made six new signings already this summer and are not expected to add any further new faces to their squad for next season.

Xherdan Shaqiri is the only new midfielder, joining the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Muller, Toni Kroos, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery in the Bavarians' squad.

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England, Italy, Portugal climb up FIFA rankings, Brazil drop outside top 10, Socceroos ranked 23rd

Spain's successful defence of the European Championship finals extended the World Cup winner's lead on top of the FIFA world soccer rankings on Wednesday, and beaten finalists Italy climbed six places to No.6.

The surge in points for European teams pushed Brazil down six places to No.11 - their worst position since the rankings began in 1993. The 2014 World Cup hosts are hurt by not playing any competitive matches recently.

Germany, who lost a semi-final to Italy, climbed one to second place, edging South American champions Uruguay into third.

FIFA Rankings For July

1. Spain (1)

2. Germany (3)

3. Uruguay (2)

4. England (6)

5. Portugal (10)

6. Italy (12)

7. Argentina (7)

8. Netherlands (4)

9. Croatia (8)

10. Denmark (9)

11. Brazil (5)

12. Greece (15)

13. Russia (13)

14. France (14)

15. Chile (11)

16. Ivory Coast (16)

17. Sweden (17)

18. Czech Republic (27)

19. Mexico (19)

20. Japan (23)

England rose two places to No.4 despite failing to reach the semi-finals of every major tournament since 1996. The rankings weigh all results, including friendlies, over a four-year cycle.

Portugal's run to the Euro 2012 semi-finals lifted them five places to No.5.

Argentina held at No.7, and the Netherlands dropped four to No.8, after the World Cup runners-up lost all three matches at Euro 2012

Croatia and Denmark completed the top 10.

The Socceroos rose one place to No.23.

Ivory Coast held its place at No.16 to be the highest-ranked African team.

Mexico stayed at No.19 to lead CONCACAF team.

Japan are the best Asian confederation member, rising one to No.20.

New Zealand climbed five to No.95 as the best Oceania team, though new Oceania Nations Cup champions Tahiti surged 41 places to No.138.

A total of 133 matches counted for ranking points in the past month, including 31 at Euro 2012, 60 World Cup qualifiers and 15 qualifiers for the 2013 African Cup of Nations.

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1,000 fans welcome Italy home after Euro 2012

ROME (AP) — A thousand fans cheered loudly, applauded and sang the national anthem when Italy coach Cesare Prandelli and his players returned to Rome after having lost the European Championship final.

The squad was first greeted by about 200 workers Monday as they stepped off the plane at Rome's Fiumicino airport before departing on one of the four coaches reserved for the Italian delegation.
"We are still bitterly disappointed, but we know that we had a great European Championship," captain Gianluigi Buffon said of the 4-0 loss to Spain in the final on Sunday. "We played the final against the strongest team and not in the best conditions."

The loudest cheers were reserved for Buffon, Daniele De Rossi, Mario Balotelli, Antonio Cassano and, above all, for Prandelli, who was beaming broadly.

The squad then attended a reception hosted by Italy President Giorgio Napolitano at the presidential palace, with Buffon introducing his teammates one by one.

"Everyone knew the tension you left in and with a team that has just been rebuilt and which still has a long way to go," Napolitano said. "When I say these things people often ask me whether I'm talking about football or Italy, and I have to say they are one and the same.

"I have never played football so I can't judge your efforts, but the passion and spirit you had and the sense of national pride really hit me. It was the best gift you could give me."

Napolitano sent a letter to the Italy players and staff after the semifinal victory over Germany and invited them to a reception, regardless of the result in the final.

"Thank you for the invite because it will help everyone understand that you have to acknowledge the performance above the result," Prandelli said. "We are proud to have represented Italy with those values that you wrote in the letter, which really touched us. After every match the lads asked me if you'd called because you are our No. 1 fan."

Prandelli gave Napolitano his runner-up medal. Andrea Pirlo and Balotelli presented him with an Italy pennant and football.

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Defending champions Spain win Euro 2012 to complete historic treble

(CNN) -- Defending champions Spain claimed an historic third successive major international trophy with a 4-0 rout of Italy in the Euro 2012 final in Kiev Sunday.

It was a breathtaking display from the 2010 World Cup winners, with victory all but sealed by halftime as goals from David Silva and Jordi Alba gave them a 2-0 lead.

Substitutes Fernando Torres and Juan Mata rounded off the emphatic win with two late strikes.

Victory in the final also represents a triumph for 61-year-old coach Vicente Del Bosque, the first man to lead teams to the World Cup, European Championships and European Champions League crowns, the latter with Real Madrid in 2000 and 2002.

"This success in Spanish football is something historic, and now we have to look to the future and try to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil," he told gathered reporters.

But for Italy and their coach Cesare Prandelli it was a bitter end to a tournament which they had earlier graced with their imaginative performances.

"We came up against a terrific side," Prandelli admitted.

Euro 2012 LIVE: Spain vs Italy

La Roja shone brightly from the start and with a cutting edge, despite again starting the match without a recognized striker.

Barcelona's Xavi Hernandez brushed the crossbar with a fierce shot in the 10th minute after dazzling interplay but it did not take long for the pressure to pay off.

Xavi's club teammate Andres Iniesta threaded a perfect pass through for Cesc Fabregas to cross for David Silva to head home on 14 minutes.

Italy, who caused such a shock with a 2-1 win over Germany in the semifinals, responded with a pair of Antonio Cassano efforts, but with Mario Balotelli unable to make much impression they always looked second best.

Spain went further ahead just before halftime and the goal was typical off their all round teamwork.

Defender Jordi Alba exchanged passes with Xavi and burst through the center of the Italian defense before easily beating Gianluigi Buffon.

After the break, Italy responded with a pair of chances for Antonio di Natali, the first a header, the second with a clearer sight of goal only to be denied twice in quick succession by Spain captain Iker Casillas.

Italian hopes of a comeback took a further dent when their final substitute, Thiago Motta, lasted only five minutes before being stretchered off.

Against a tiring team with only 10 men, Spain eventually took full advantage after the introduction of Chelsea's Torres.

Xavi found him with another superb pass and he slotted home the third on 84 minutes, becoming the first man to score in two successive European Championship finals.

He had grabbed the only goal of the 2008 final win over Germany.

Torres then cleverly set up his club teammate Mata to score with virtually his first touch of the ball.

In doing so, Torres clinched the tournament's Golden Boot for his joint leading three goals and that final assist.

It left Casillas to lift the trophy in the magnificent Olympic Stadium, the Real Madrid goalkeeper reveling in yet another showpiece triumph for a team many are calling the greatest in history.

"This is such a truly wonderful moment. The second goal from Jordi (Alba) clinched it really," he told Telecinco television.

"It's been four marvelous years. You might think that a 4-0 margin against Italy means it was easy -- but we have been gradually stepping up as the tournament went along."

Sunday's final set the seal on three weeks of competition in Ukraine and Poland at eight match venues and involving 16 teams.

Twenty four national sides will take their place in the next finals in France in 2016 and they will do well to match the overall high standard of attacking play in Euro 2012.

Incidents of racist chanting and violent clashes between supporters from Poland and Russia marred the group stages, but fears of widespread fan violence proved just fears.

Ukraine's alleged mistreatment of jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko also led to threats of a boycott by European political leaders, but German Chancellor Angela Merkel attended their quarterfinal victory over Greece.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti and his Spanish counterpart Mariano Rayoy were guests at the final, a welcome distraction perhaps from the economic turmoil engulfing their austerity-hit countries in the Eurozone crisis.

More controversially, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko was also among the dignitaries, despite being the subject of a European Union travel ban.

His invite sparked a protest from a feminist group in Kiev before the final.

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