Sporting Alert

Updated NCAAF, NCAAB, NFL Scores

Balotelli

Messi, Balotelli ruled out: Follow Italy v Argentina Live

By: Leave a Comment

ROME (Sporting Alert) — Lionel Messi and Mario Balotelli will both not feature for their respective teams when Argentina and Italy meet in a friendly at Stadio Olimpico tonight.

Italy v Argentina Live Scores

Barcelona forward Messi will miss the game after failing to recover from a thigh strain he picked up in preseason training.

“Leo Messi will not feature in the international friendly between Argentina and Italy in Rome this Wednesday,” a statement said.

“After undergoing tests conducted by the Argentina national team doctors, it was decided that Messi should return to Barcelona and focus on recovering from his muscle injury.

“The injury forced the forward miss out on Barca’s last match of the Asia Tour.”

AC Milan forward Balotelli is also out of the game after he picked up a knee problem in training this week.

“Mario Balotelli will not play in the Italy-Argentina game,” a statement said.

“The Azzurri attacker, who had stopped during a light workout due to pain in his knee, has not recovered from his injury and gone back home.

“Balotelli left Rome after the audience at the Vatican with Pope Francis.”

Italy v Argentina

Italy: Buffon, Maggio, Chiellini, Antonelli, Verratti, De Rossi, Pirlo, Marchisio, Candreva, Giaccherini, Osvaldo
Subs: Sirigu, Astori, Ranocchia, Aquilani, Gilardino, El Shaarawy, Cerci, Montolivo, Bonucci, Diamanti, Florenzi, Insigne, De Silvestri, Marchetti

Argentina: Andujar, Campagnaro, Garay, Federico Fernandez, Zabaleta, Di Maria, Biglia, Mascherano, Maxi Rodriguez, Higuain, Palacio
Subs: Ustari, Alvarez, Lavezzi, Ever, Augusto Fernandez, Basanta, Coloccini, Ansaldi, Cerro, Lamela, Romero

Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany)

Spain v Italy starting teams; Live Scores and Updates

By: Leave a Comment

(Sporting Alert) — The following are the starting are the starting lineups for the Confederations Cup semi-final clash between Spain and Italy at Estadio Castelao.

Watch Spain v Italy Live Stream on ESPN3.com | Follow Live Scores and Updates

FIFA CONFEDERATIONS CUP

Venue & date: Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza; Thursday, 27 June
TV Coverage: Live  on BBC One

After sitting out the last two group matches, first choice keeper and captain Iker Casillas returns between the sticks for Spain, who made three changes from the team that last featured.

Chelsea striker Fernando Torres, who has been in good goalscoring form in the tournament so far, also gets a start in the forward line, replacing Roberto Soldado with David Silva also starting and Cesc Fabregas on the bench as well.

Italy, in the meantime, made six changes from the side that was beaten by Brazil in the final group game.

Amongst those returning to the lineup are Andrea Pirlo, who was injured and Daniele De Rossi, who missed the last game because of suspension.

Star forward Mario Balotelli misses the semifinal due to a strained thigh.

Alberto Gilardino replaces Balotelli in the starting lineup.

Christian Maggio, Andrea Barzagli and Emanuele Giaccherini also comes into the starting team.

Spain are being backed at 89-percent by the pundits and bookies to take the victory and join Brazil in the final.

Spain v Italy

Spain: Casillas, Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Pique, Jordi Alba, Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta, Pedro, Torres, Silva
Subs: Valdes, Albiol, Javi Martinez, Azpilicueta, Villa, Fabregas, Mata, Soldado, Monreal, Cazorla, Jesus Navas, Reina

Italy: Buffon, Maggio, Bonucci, Barzagli, Chiellini, Candreva, De Rossi, Pirlo, Marchisio, Giaccherini, Gilardino
Subs: Sirigu, Astori, De Sciglio, Aquilani, Giovinco, El Shaarawy, Cerci, Montolivo, Diamanti, Marchetti

Referee: Howard Webb (England)

Balotelli scores winner: Italy edged Mexico 2-1 – Video Highlights

By: Leave a Comment

RIO DE JANEIRO (Sporting Alert) — Mario Balotelli scored a second half winner for Italy to beat Mexico 2-1 in their FIFA Confederations Cup Group A clash at Estadio do Maracana on Sunday.

Italy Beat Mexico 2-1 – Video Highlights of Pirlo Free Kick

Balotelli found the winning goal for the EURO 2012 runner up when he overpowered his markers inside the penalty area and then fired past Jose de Jesus Corona, following an over the top pass into the area by Emanuele Giaccherini.

The AC Milan striker was booked for taking off his shirt to celebrate his goal, something that didn’t sit well with his coach Cesare Prandelli

“Mario has to stop showing off his muscles,” Prandelli said. “The yellow cards count. Anyhow, well done.”

Earlier, midfield maestro Andrea Pirlo celebrated his 100th cap for Italy with a brilliant goal from a free-kick in the 26th minute and he applauded for the trademark strike that came in his landmark game.

“I was dreaming of a free-kick goal,” Pirlo said. “It was important to win the first match and now we have three days to recuperate.

“It’s nice to be applauded in a legendary stadium like this.”

However, North America champions Mexico pulled level through Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez, who beat Gianluigi Buffon when sending the Italian veteran keeper the wrong from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute.

Mexico v Italy Teams

Mexico: Corona, Rodriguez, Salcido, Flores, Moreno, Torrado, Aquino, Zavala, Guardado, Giovani, Hernandez
Subs: Ochoa, Reyes, Molina, Barrera, Reyna, De Nigris, Meza, Herrera, Jimenez, Torres, Mier, Talavera

Italy: Buffon, Chiellini, De Sciglio, Abate, Barzagli, Marchisio, De Rossi, Montolivo, Pirlo, Giaccherini, Balotelli
Subs: Sirigu, Maggio, Astori, Candreva, Aquilani, Giovinco, Gilardino, El Shaarawy, Cerci, Bonucci, Diamanti, Marchetti

Referee: Enrique Osses (Chile)

Balotelli ready to go: Malta v Italy Team News, Live Updates

By: Leave a Comment

(Sporting Alert) — Mario Balotelli has been in good goal scoring form recently the Italy forward is expected to find the net again against Malta in tonight’s World Cup qualifier at Ta’Qali National Stadium.

Watch Live on: ESPN3.com | Malta v Italy Live Scores

Italy are coming off an impressive performance last week where they came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Brazil and will start hot favourites to get past Malta tonight.

AC Milan forwad Stephan El Shaarawy has been handed a starting place, and he will play alongside his teammate Balotelli.

Riccardo Montolivo, Emanuele Giaccherini and Andrea Pirlo start in midfield and are expected to provide the support to El Shaarawy and Balotelli.

Mattia De Sciglio, Ignazio Abate, Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci make up a strong back four for Italy.

LIVE TV CHANNELS: SuperSport 4 Digitalb, Al Jazeera Sports +1, RAI Internazionale, Cytavision Sports 2, OTE Sport 2, Nova Sport,

Malta v Italy

Malta: Haber, Caruana, Alex Muscat, Dimech, Herrera, Camilleri, Sciberras, Failla, Briffa, Mifsud, Schembri
Subs: Hogg, Andrei Agius, Cohen, Ryan Fenech, Paul Fenech, Terence Vella, Rowen Muscat, Jacob Borg

Italy: Buffon, De Sciglio, Abate, Barzagli, Bonucci, Marchisio, El Shaarawy, Montolivo, Pirlo, Giaccherini, Balotelli
Subs: De Sanctis, Maggio, Antonelli, Florenzi, Poli, Giovinco, Gilardino, Cerci, Ranocchia, Candreva, Diamanti, Sirigu

Referee: Serdar Gozubuyuk (Netherlands)

Mario Balotelli scores stunner: Italy 2, Brazil 2: Highlights

By: Leave a Comment

(Sporting Alert) — Mario Balotelli scored a second screamer in helping Italy came from two-goals down to earn a 2-2 draw with Brazil in a friendly international at Stade de Geneve on Thursday.

Video Highlights: Mario Balotelli scores stunner: Italy 2, Brazil 2

Full Scoring And Other Video Highlights From The Games

Brazil grabbed the lead against the run of play when Fred fired home from a tight angle to beat Gianluigi Buffon at his near post in the 33rd minute.

A brilliant long run from Neymar helped to setup the second goal for Brazil after he laid the pass off of Chelsea playmaker Oscar to slot past Buffon in the 42nd minute.

Brazil went into the second half with a 2-0 lead.

However, after the break, Italy dominated and cut the lead to 2-1 when Daniele De Rossi nipped one past the goalkeeper 54th minute.

Balotelli then fired home from long range, over the head of Julio Cesar to grab Italy’s equalizers, with Chelsea defender David Luiz receiving most of the sticks for some poor defending.

Italy could have scored a winner on several occasions, with Balotelli getting another chance.

Italy v Brazil

Italy: Buffon, Maggio, Bonucci, Barzagli, De Sciglio, De Rossi, Montolivo, Pirlo, Giaccherini, Osvaldo, Balotelli
Subs: De Sanctis, Antonelli, Poli, Abate, Gilardino, Giovinco, Astori, El Shaarawy, Ranocchia, Candreva, Diamanti, Cerci, Sirigu, Marchetti

Brazil: Julio Cesar, Dani Alves, Luiz, Dante, Filipe Luis, Fernando, Hernanes, Oscar, Neymar, Hulk, Fred
Subs: Cavalieri, Jean, Thiago Silva, Marcelo, Gustavo, Diego Costa, Kaka, Osvaldo

Referee: Stephan Studer (Switzerland)

Italy v Brazil: Neymar v Balotelli; Preview, Live Football Scores

By: Leave a Comment

(Sporting Alert) — Cesare Prandelli remains cautious and vow not to give anything away heading into Friday’s friendly football international with Brazil, but the Italy coach did note that he’s fearful of Neymar.

“Which player do I fear the most? Neymar,” Prandelli said when asked to identify the Brazil’s biggest threat.

“We are taking on a team that is rich with talent, with technically-gifted players that like to get at you from deep positions.

“But we know how to make things difficult too.”

Both teams, who will meet also in the Confederations Cup in the summer, will be using the game as preparations for their respective World Cup qualifiers next week and are hoping to take some positives from the encounter.

Italy have struggled against Brazil in a long stretch, but Prandelli believes he has the right team to collect the Azzurri’s first win over the South American opponents in over 30 years when they defeated them in the 1982 World Cup.

“It’s a game we want to play to the best of our ability so we can make life difficult for Brazil,” Prandelli said.

He added: “I have to prepare well for this game without giving any kind of advantage to Brazil.

“You can infer some of our plans having watched our training session, though.”

Meanwhile, it is still uncertain as to what team Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari will field.

However, the 2002 World Cup-winning boss will be without midfielders Ramires, Lucas and Paulinho, who are all unavailable because of injuries.

It is believed though that Real Madrid playmaker Kaka, Neymar and Hulk are all expected to be in the starting lineup.

Even Prandelli refuses to give anything away it is understood that the likes of striker Mario Balotelli, who has been in top form since his move to AC Milan and has recovered from an injury, and midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini of Juventus, are both in the starting lineup for Italy.

It is still uncertain as to whether Balotelli’s club teammate Stephan El Shaarawy or Pablo Osvaldo would partner him in the attack.

However, Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Pirlo and Daniele De Rossi are all set to start.

AC Milan v Lazio: Starting Teams, Live Score

By: Leave a Comment

MILAN (Sporting Alert) — AC Milan are without striker Mario Balotelli for today’s Serie A clash with Lazio in a very interesting clash at San Siro.

AC Milan v Lazio Live Score Updates

Balotelli, who has been in great form since his Milan move in January, misses the game because of a bruised shin he suffered during a collision with Inter Milan goalkeeper Samir Handanovic in the derby last week.

This sees Giampaolo Pazzini coming into the starting lineup to partner Stephan El Shaarawy in the attack with both teams looking at the third place currently up for grab.

Lazio is currently in third place on 47pts, but a win for AC Milan tonight would see them going third on 48pts and back in the Champions League play-off runnings.

El Shaarawy, who netted the opener in the 1-1 draw with Inter is apparently under the weather at the moment with flu-like symptoms, but is feeling well enough to start.

Lazio are without striker Miroslav Klose, Stefano Mauri, while Abdoulay Konko, Cristian Brocchi and Marius Stankevicius are also out of the context.

AC Milan: Abbiati; Abate, Zapata, Yepes, De Sciglio; Flamini, Ambrosini, Montolivo; Boateng, Pazzini, El Shaarawy

Lazio: Marchetti; Pereirinha, Biava, Dias, Radu; Ledesma; Candreva, Gonzalez, Hernanes, Lulic; Floccari

Beckham To Start For PSG; Inter Fined; Mattieu Runs 4.43 (UN)

By: Leave a Comment

  • David Beckham To Start For PSG Against Marseille On Wednesday
  • Inter Milan Fined Over Balotelli Racial Abuse
  • Former LSU CB Mattieu Runs Unofficial 4.43 At NFL Combine

PARIS (Sporting Alert) — Former England international David Beckham is to start for Paris Saint-Germain in the Cup de France tie with Marseille on Wednesday, his club PSG says.

Beckham, who came on as a second half substitute in PSG’s 2-0 win over this same Marseille side in the league on Sunday, is set to face former Premier League midfielder Joey Barton for the second time in four days.

It was expected that Beckham would play a part in the game, but PSG manager Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that hte former Manchester United midfielder will start this time.

“He will start tomorrow. Beckham can play the whole match,” Ancelotti said.

Ancelotti also confirmed the position Beckham will play in on Wednesday.

“He will play defensive midfielder. He has the experience and skills to help us.

“It’s an important position on the pitch, he has to help the team in building the game.

“As we already know, he also has quality for taking set-pieces.”

INTER MILAN FINED

Italian Serie A side Inter Milan has been fined $65,340 for failing to control its fans, after a section of the stands racially abused AC Milan forward Mario Balotelli in a league game on Sunday.

Balotelli, who transfered from Premier League side Manchester City in January, is a former Inter Milan player. The game between Inter Milan and AC Milan ended 1-1.

NFL NEWS

Former LSU cornerback Tyrann Mattieu clocked an unofficial 4.43 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, NFL Draft Special reports on Tuesday.

TEAM NEWS: Balotelli starts: AC Milan vs Parma Live Scores

By: Leave a Comment

MILAN (Sporting Alert) — Mario Balotelli starts for AC Milan in tonight’s Serie A clash against Parma at San Siro.

Watch Milan vs Parma Live Scores

The former Manchester City striker, who has had an impressive start to his Milan career, starts in the attack alongside Kevin-Prince Boateng, and M’baye Niang.

Boateng comes into the attacking line for the injured Stephan El Shaarawy, who is out with knee tendon damage.

Also starting tonight for AC Milan are Riccardo Montolivo, Antonio Nocerino and Sulley Muntari, who complete the midfield, with Mattia De Sciglio, Kevin Constant and Mario Yepes amongst the back four.

AC Milan can go fourth in the Serie A standings with a win tonight, while Massimiliano Allegri has backed Balotelli to continue his goal scoring form.

AC Milan: Abbiati; De Sciglio, Yepes, Zapata, Constant; Nocerino, Montolivo, Muntari; Niang, Balotelli, Boateng.

Parma: Pavarini; Rosi, Paletta, Coda, Mesbah; Marchionni, Valdes, Parolo; Sansone, Amauri, Biabiany.
Subs: Bajza, De Angelis, Benalouane, Gobbi, Lucarelli, Ampuero, Morrone, Ninis, Strasser, Palladino

Mario Balotelli Goal For AC Milan On Debut

By: Leave a Comment

MILAN (Sporting Alert) — Mario Balotelli made an immediate impact for his new side AC Milan after scoring both goals in the 2-1 Serie A win over Udinese at San Siro on Sunday.

The former Manchester City striker, who made the switch back to Italy in the January transfer window, gave AC Milan the lead in the 25th minute when he volleyed home past Daniele Padelli from a cross by striker partner Stephan El Shaarawy.

Balotelli got a huge roar from the home supporters after blasting home his first goal for his new club.

Udinese pulled a goal back through Giampiero Pinzi in the 55th minute to setup an interesting game in the second half.

AC Milan were given a lucky break in stoppage time when El Shaarawy drew a controversial penalty off Thomas Heurtaux with a smart run inside the penalty area.

And Balotelli, one of the most trusted spot kick takers, stepped up and calmly send Padelli the wrong way for to complete his brace and give Milan all three points.

The victory saw AC Milan moving up to fourth place on 40 points, three points behind third place Lazio in the Serie A table standings.