Football

Salvatore Schillaci: When ‘Toto’s stare was the star

Published

4 hours ago

September 21, 2024

Salvatore Schillaci: When 'Toto's stare was the star

By now, comparisons were being made with Paolo Rossi, the inspiration when Italy won the 1982 World Cup.

“Rossi was a champion,” Schillaci said ahead of a semi-final against Argentina that his side were expected to win. “I am an ordinary, modest guy. I just hope I can continue to do what I have been doing.”

He did, opening the scoring with another poacher’s effort, but this time it was not enough. Italy passed England’s record of 499 minutes without conceding at a finals before their goal was breached in the second half – and the fairy tale was finished when they went out on penalties.

Every national newspaper in Italy used the headline ‘End of a dream’ while Gazzetta and Corriere dello Sport simply put ‘NO’ in huge letters on their front pages.

“We deserved to win,” reflected Schillaci. “I think if we had beaten Argentina we would have gone on to win the World Cup.”

That was not quite the end of the Schillaci story, however. The day before West Germany beat Argentina in the final, he grabbed his sixth goal of the tournament in the third-place play-off against England, putting him ahead of Czech Tomas Skuhravy as the tournament’s leading goalscorer.

“After the tournament, I went away to somewhere quiet,” Schillaci says. “Everybody wanted a piece of me but I just wanted to get away from it all, especially after the pain of our semi-final defeat.”

The next time he made the headlines, it would be for a less savoury reason. The following November, he was banned for one game for threatening to have Fabio Poll shot after the Bologna player punched him during an on-pitch row.

By then, the goals were drying up too. He scored only five in the league in the 1990-91 season and six the following campaign. An injury-plagued move to Inter Milan in 1992 failed to revive him and he ended his career in exile – albeit a lucrative one – as the first Italian to play in Japan’s fledgling J-League.

While he was still in Serie A and struggling to regain his World Cup form, Schillaci said: “Even if I were to drop out of the Italian team, I will still have with me for the rest of my life the wonderful memories of Italia ’90.”

He still had them after returning to his home city to run the youth academy he used to play for.

What was clear from talking to Schillaci was that, while he enjoyed reliving past glories when he was asked to play in exhibition matches, he was also happy his fame did not change him too much.

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Football

Scottish gossip: Gerrard, Bloom, Palaversa, Drammeh, Patterson

Published

57 mins ago

September 21, 2024

NewsAdmin

Scottish gossip: Gerrard, Bloom, Palaversa, Drammeh, Patterson

Steven Gerrard, currently in charge of Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq, is a potential candidate to return to Ibrox and become the next Rangers manager with Philippe Clement just one defeat away from losing his job after a tumultuous start to the season. (Football Insider), external

Hearts “could be challenging for the Premiership title in the coming years” if a proposed link up with Brighton chairman Tony Bloom goes ahead, says former Scotland striker Kris Boyd. (Scottish Sun), external

Ante Palaversa, who joined Aberdeen from Troyes, has targeted a return to Manchester City despite the 24-year-old playmaker having failed to break through with the Premier League side previously. (Daily Record), external

Spanish forward Musa Drammeh, who joined Heart of Midlothian from Sevilla, has held talks with head coach Steven Naismith over his lack of game time. (Football Scotland), external

Scotland right-back Nathan Patterson is set to make his long-awaited return from injury for Everton’s Under-21 side this weekend. (Daily Record), external

Rangers midfielder Tom Lawrence is gearing up for further discussions with Wales manager Craig Bellamy as the 31-year-old seeks to end his three-year international hiatus. (The Herald), external

Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate admits to being frustrated after he failed to feature for Japan in their World Cup double header against China and Bahrain but insists the 5000-mile trip was not a waste of time. (Sportiva, external in Japanese)

With a 30% sell-on clause, Celtic stand to make £15m as Chelsea and PSG consider offers of £50m for Bayer Leverkusen wing-back Jeremie Frimpong. (TBR Football), external

Dundee were given just under 1000 tickets for today’s League Cup visit to Ibrox, which is not yet at capacity following delayed renovation work, and those were put on sale via a “first come, first served” basis. (Football Scotland), external

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Football

Vivianne Miedema: Manchester City summer signing to score against Arsenal ‘written in stars’

Published

2 hours ago

September 21, 2024

NewsAdmin

Vivianne Miedema: Manchester City summer signing to score against Arsenal 'written in stars'

Miedema felt joining City was a straightforward decision and added: “For me football has always been really important but I have only made my football decisions based on two things – my happiness off the pitch and on it.

“When I spoke to [City manager] Gareth [Taylor] I knew the football was going to be fine. I’m still living in the UK, London is two hours away so it’s the perfect step. I’ve really settled in on the pitch and starting to get to know the girls off the pitch.

“Putting one and one together made this a very easy decision in the end.”

City came second in the WSL last season, missing out on the title on goal difference to Chelsea, with Arsenal finishing third, five points behind.

Taylor felt Miedema’s signing and her versatility made his squad stronger.

“We’re pleased,” Taylor told 5 Live. “Viv, we’re working on her in a number of positions and we know what she can bring. She has been known as a number nine or someone who plays behind a striker.

“So when you have these options at the top end of pitch like Mary fowler, Aoba Fujino, Chloe Kelly, Lauren Hemp, Bunny Shaw and players like Viv, Jessie Park, Laura Coombs, Jill Roord, Laura Blindkilde Brown, we’ve got talented players that can bring different options so we’ve strengthened a little bit in that area.”

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Football

Roma: Daniele de Rossi sacked after first four Serie A games of season

Published

3 hours ago

September 21, 2024

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Roma: Daniele de Rossi sacked after first four Serie A games of season

Roma have sacked manager Daniele de Rossi just four matches into the new Serie A season.

Roma, who hired De Rossi to replace Jose Mourinho at the Stadio Olimpico in January, have been unable to win any of their Serie A matches this season, drawing three and losing at home to Empoli last month.

Roma are currently 16th in the Serie A standings following their 1-1 draw at Genoa on Sunday.

A club statement read: “The club’s decision is taken in the interest of the team, to be able to promptly resume the desired path at a time when the season is still at its beginning.

“To Daniele, who will always be at home in the Giallorossi club, a heartfelt thanks for the work carried out in these months with passion and dedication.”

De Rossi’s tenure at Roma started superbly. In his first 11 league matches, Roma lost just once, picking up 26 points from a possible 33. That run took Roma from ninth to fifth in the table.

They also reached the semi-finals of the Europa League, being knocked out by Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.

A sixth-place finish last season saw them qualify again for this season’s Europa League. Among Roma’s fixtures in Europe this season are a trip to Tottenham on 28 November.

This summer, Roma signed last season’s La Liga top goalscorer Artem Dovbyk from Girona, as well as experienced German centre-back Mats Hummels on a free transfer.

There have been a number of exits. Former Manchester United centre-back Chris Smalling left for Saudi Pro League side Al-Fayha, former Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham has joined AC Milan on loan and Romelu Lukau, who spent last season on loan from Chelsea with Roma, has joined Napoli.

Andrea Belotti (Como), Rui Patricio (Atalanta) and Leonardo Spinazzola (Napoli) have also departed in recent months.

As a player, De Rossi, who is now 41, spent 22 years with Roma between 1997 and 2019, making 616 appearances for them. He was also part of Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning side.

The Friedkin Group, whose proposed takeover of Everton collapsed in July, own a 95.97% stake in the club.

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Liverpool cut Milan open at will – Warnock

Published

5 hours ago

September 21, 2024

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Liverpool cut Milan open at will – Warnock

BBC Sport’s Stephen Warnock praises Liverpool’s attacking prowess in their 3-1 win against AC Milan in the Champions League.

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Duggan's best WSL goals

Published

6 hours ago

September 21, 2024

NewsAdmin

Watch some of Toni Duggan’s best Women’s Super League goals as she announces her retirement from professional football after spells at Everton, Manchester City, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

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