News Roundup As We’re Forced to Think of WC 2010

By: Martha | January 15th, 2008

Hide the children •Even though we’re still months from the start of Euro 2008, it’s evidently not too early to think about World Cup qualifying, as the schedule of qualifying fixtures was announced today (and how delightfully optimistic of C4 to illustrate their story with a picture of Roberto Donadoni). The first match will be on September 6, away to Cyprus, and qualifying will finished up more than a year later, with the home Cyprus match taking place in October, 2009.

•Despite only being in the job for a few months, Luigi De Canio is already rumored to be out of QPR the moment the season ends. According to the British press, De Canio will be replaced by much higher-profile (in England, anyway) Gianluca Vialli, who was on the short list of Italian names originally associated with the gig. Not surprisingly, QPR co-owner Flavio Briatore has called the whole thing a bunch of nonsense. (In case you’re wondering, QPR are 20th in the 24-team Championship right now, a perfect position to attract the big names.)

•Last time anyone asked Amauri about the possibility of playing for the Azzurri, he made it clear he’d accept a call-up from whatever country came after him first, but things are far more clear cut for Rodrigo Taddei, another Brazilian whose Italian passport makes him awfully alluring for some Italy supporters. According to the Roma man, though, we can forget it: He’s holding out for a Selecao call, and will leave the Azzurri spots to “the Italian players trying to get a place in the side.”

•Speaking of Amauri, Palermo are allegedly already planning their response, should Milan come calling for the Brazilian’s services in June. According to reports in Italy, Marco Borriello plus cash will be the asking price which, since Milan share ownership of the striker with Genoa, would make any deal exponentially more complicated.

•And, on the topic of Milan (Check out these smooth transitions!), the entirely unsurprising possibility of an Alberto Gilardino departure is in the Italian media today, just days after the debut of the The Great Pato. If Ronaldo stays healthy, Pato doesn’t break, and Pippo stays agelessly Super, Gila will likely be surplus to requirements, and could either be packaged as part of a deal or perhaps bought on the semi-cheap. (Juve and Fiorentina, supposedly, are both interested.)

•Genoa have made their third purchase of the month, and will shortly be adding 22-year-old Brazilian Wilson to their ranks. The striker is expected to arrive tomorrow from Corinthians, and Genoa ain’t done yet — that Anthony Vanden Borre for Papa Waigo deal is reportedly nearly completed.

•As punishment for the racist abuse of Pro Sesto players by their supporters last weekend, Verona will play their next home match behind closed doors. That’s more like it, FIGC.

•Atalanta have strengthened their midfield with the purchase of 19-year-old Ivan Radovanovic from Serbian side FK Smederevo. All I can find out about him is that he’s in Serbia’s U-21 team, and has the same name as “A nasty fellow who … has poor experience and weak leadership abilities” and used to play for Partizan Belgrade. At least, I hope this is a different guy.

•And, finally, word on the street is that Inter are getting ready to rework Maicon’s contract and pay him what he’s worth. (Depending on what source you believe, he’s either earning €1.5 or €2 million per season right now, and that’ll probably be at least doubled.)