Roberto Jimenez Gago
Players of Mexico pos prior to their men's bronze medal soccer match against Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Japan vs Mexico 8/6/2021

Aug. 06, 2021 05:06 AM EDT

Visitors enjoy a ride on a roller coaster at Cinecitta World amusement park in the outskirts of Rome in the day of its reopening, Thursday, June 17, 2021. Amusement parks have been closed since Oct. 25 2020, when Italy's second national lockdown started. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Italy to require 5-day quarantines for travelers from UK

Jun. 18, 2021 09:59 AM EDT

People walk the road to Wembley stadium during the Euro 2020 soccer championship in London, Thursday, June 17, 2021. England is facing Scotland in a group D match on Friday evening at Wembley stadium. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
The Latest: Scotland holds England to 0-0 draw at Euro 2020

By The Associated Press Jun. 18, 2021 04:01 AM EDT

Brazil's Gabriel Barbosa, right, celebrates scoring his side's third goal against Venezuela with teammate Neymar during a Copa America soccer match at the National Stadium in Brasilia, Brazil, Sunday, June 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
Brazil keeps search for striker against Peru at Copa America

By Mauricio Savarese Jun. 15, 2021 08:54 PM EDT

Netherlands' Georginio Wijnaldum, left, and Georgia's Giorgi Aburjania vie for the ball during the friendly soccer match between The Netherlands and Georgia, in the run-up to the Euro2020 soccer tournament, in Enschede, eastern Netherlands, Sunday, June 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
The Latest: Blind overcame 'mental hurdle' at Euro 2020

By The Associated Press Jun. 13, 2021 07:32 AM EDT

Brazil's Lucas Paqueta, center, celebrates after scoring his side's 2nd goal against Paraguay during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Defensores del Chaco stadium in Asuncion, Paraguay, Tuesday, June 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz)
Firmino out and Paquetá in for Brazil's Copa America opener

By Mauricio Savarese Jun. 12, 2021 07:01 PM EDT

Denmark's players react as their teammate Christian Eriksen lays injured on the ground during the Euro 2020 soccer championship group B match between Denmark and Finland at Parken stadium in Copenhagen, Denmark, Saturday, June 12, 2021. (Wolfgang Rattay/Pool via AP)
The Latest: Belgium's Castagne to miss rest of Euro 2020

By The Associated Press Jun. 12, 2021 04:01 AM EDT

Italian fans watch the Euro 2020, soccer championship group A match between Italy and Turkey, on a mega screen set in downtown Rome, Friday, June 11, 2021. (Cecilia Fabiano/LaPresse via AP)
Euro 2020 opening marks return of mega-scale sports events

By Karl Ritter Jun. 11, 2021 06:15 AM EDT

Turkish fans wait for the kick-off of the Euro 2020, group A soccer match between Italy and Turkey, at the Rome Olympic stadium, Friday, June 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, Pool)
The Latest: Italy opens Euro 2020 with 3-0 win over Turkey

By The Associated Press Jun. 11, 2021 03:06 AM EDT

Italy's Nicola Barella, center, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the international friendly soccer match between Italy and Czech Republic in Bologna, Italy, Friday, June 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
A year late, Italy and Turkey play opening game at Euro 2020

By Andrew Dampf Jun. 10, 2021 04:52 AM EDT

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the international friendly soccer match between Spain and Portugal at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain on Friday June 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Spain, Portugal draw 0-0 in front of nearly 15,000 in Madrid

By Tales Azzoni Jun. 04, 2021 03:52 PM EDT

FILE - In this Thursday, June 16, 2016 filer, Germany coach Joachim Loew looks from the sidelines during the Euro 2016 Group C soccer match between Germany and Poland at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, France. France won the last major international soccer tournament — the World Cup in 2018 — by defending compactly, hitting teams on the break with clinical finishing, and being effective at set pieces. What will the winning approach be at the European Championship?. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
EURO 2020: Pragmatism the key to success in pandemic soccer

By Steve Douglas Jun. 04, 2021 08:10 AM EDT

FILE - In this Thursday, March 25, 2021 filer, Italy's Ciro Immobile, right, competes for the ball with Northern Ireland's goalkeeper Bailey Peacock Farrell, bottom, during the World Cup 2022 qualifier group c soccer game between Italy and Northern Ireland at the Stadio Ennio Tardini in Parma, Italy. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP, File )
EURO 2020: Italy transformed after World Cup failure

By Andrew Dampf May. 31, 2021 08:57 AM EDT

FILE - In this March 30, 2021 file photo, Belgium's Jeremy Doku celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during a World Cup 2022 group E qualifying soccer match between Belgium and Belarus at the King Power stadium in Leuven, Belgium. Jeremy Doku and Leandro Trossard were called up Monday, May 17, 2021 for the Belgium squad alongside the usual stalwarts for the European Championship. Belgium will play in Group B, opening against Russia on June 12. The top-ranked Belgians will then face Denmark and Finland. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)
Belgium coach Martinez calls up Doku, Trossard for Euro 2020

By Samuel Petrequin May. 17, 2021 06:50 AM EDT

Mancini calls up 38 players for Italy's World Cup qualifiers

Mar. 19, 2021 05:47 PM EDT
FLORENCE, Italy (AP) — Atalanta defender Rafael Toloi and Spezia midfielder Matteo Ricci were called up by Italy for the first time on Friday in a 38-man squad...

Real Madrid's Rodrygo sits on the pitch with an injury during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Granada at the Alfredo Di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Asensio spurs Real Madrid to 2-0 win over Granada

By Joseph Wilson Dec. 23, 2020 05:03 PM EST

FILE - In this Friday, Sept. 7, 2018 file photo, Italy coach Roberto Mancini gestures during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Italy and Poland at Dall'Ara stadium in Bologna, Italy. Italy coach Roberto Mancini has tested positive for the coronavirus days before the international break. The Italian soccer federation says that Mancini is “completely asymptomatic” and is self-isolating at his house in Rome. The Italy squad will meet up on Sunday. It plays an international friendly against Estonia on Wednesday and hosts Poland in the Nations League four days later. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)
Italy's national team smiling again under Roberto Mancini

By Daniella Matar Nov. 19, 2020 10:32 AM EST

Referee Orel Grinfeld of Israel tells Poland's goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski to go to his goal as Netherlands' Memphis Depay, left, prepares to take a penalty shot during the Nations League soccer match between Poland and The Netherlands at Silesian Stadium in Chorzow, Poland, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
Host Italy, Belgium advance to stellar Nations League finals

By Graham Dunbar Nov. 18, 2020 06:29 PM EST

Italy's Vincenzo Grifo, front left, celebrates scoring the third goal of the game during the international friendly soccer match between Italy and Estonia, at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence, Italy, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)
Ronaldo scores in round of friendlies affected by virus

By Tales Azzoni Nov. 11, 2020 06:00 PM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 1, 2020, file photo, spectators wear face masks to protect against COVID-19 during the first half of an NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers, in Baltimore. A new set of rules are coming in just about every sport, almost all with enhanced health and safety in mind. If they work, games could get out of bubbles and return to arenas and stadiums with some fans in attendance sometime soon. Perhaps more importantly, they could also provide some common-sense solutions to virus issues in the real world.(AP Photo/Gail Burton, File)
The Latest: Crawford joins Dalton on Cowboys’ COVID-19 list

By The Associated Press Nov. 11, 2020 04:50 AM EST