Down to Ten Men

Italian Football President Carlo Tavecchio has revealed that Antonio Conte is one of the key candidates to become the country's next manager. The Azzurri parted ways with Gian Piero Ventura earlier this month after their shock loss to Sweden which saw them miss out on the World Cup for the first time since 1958.

Speaking to an Italian station, Tavecchio revealed the name of a number high-profile managers including Conte, who could take charge of the Azzurri permanently next summer, he said: "Allegri and Mancini? You’re getting warmer. Conte? Fire. We’re looking for the best. They already have commitments until June from a contractual point of view. Then when we get to June, who will be free? The ones are Ancelotti, Conte, Allegri, Ranieri and Mancini. This is the truth of those available."

Nice striker Mario Balotelli has insisted that he would never consider a return to Liverpool. The Italy international endured a tough spell with the Merseyside outfit where he notched just one goal in all competitions. The 27-year-old spent just one year at Anfield between 2014 and 2015 before he was sent on loan to former club AC Milan, where another dry spell followed.

Balotelli has since built up his reputation with Nice whom he joined on a free transfer in 2016, and he is currently knocking on the door of the Italian national side having netted 26 goals in just 42 appearances for the South France outfit.

Manchester City have dominated proceedings domestically. They're running away with the title and look on course to have it all-but wrapped up by Easter. Their reserve team looks set to make the Carabao Cup final and they're still battling in the FA Cup. Few would bet against them doing a domestic treble.

In days gone by, that would be sufficient to satisfy fans at home. Once upon a time, a simple league and cup double was the sort of achievement fans coveted. In the modern era though, a big club must do well in the Champions League to ensure supporters get the feeling of success. Sadly, English clubs have not been performing well at all.

The FIFA World Cup is the pinnacle of world football, so it would surely seem unthinkable that one of only eight nations to have won the competition would fail to qualify for Russia 2018.

Well, this is exactly the fate that befell the Azzurri following a slender 1-0 aggregate defeat to a Zlatan-less Sweden in November's World Cup qualifiers. And, just as the 2-1 defeat to Iceland at Euro 2016 brought the curtain down on England’s Lampard, Gerrard and eventually Wayne Rooneys’ international future, this result signalled the end of an era in international football for a whole host of Italy’s ageing stars.

AC Milan head coach Vincenzo Montella has got a vote of confidence from sporting director Massimiliano Mirabelli following the Rossoneri's 2-0 defeat at the hands of AS Roma on Sunday.

The Serie A outfit succumbed to their third loss in seven league games over the weekend, and this has increased the pressure on the manager, who spent over €200 million on 11 players in the summer.

In football’s own Garden of Eden, nothing ever seems to stay rosy for long. Less than six months after making history with his Chelsea side, Antonio Conte is being linked with a move away from London.

The 48-year-old is being touted for a return to the Italian national team ahead of the World Cup in 2018 – assuming they win their play-off match, that is, after being resoundingly outpointed by Spain in their qualification group.