New Italy coach Antonio Conte brushed aside controversy over his wages, which will be partly funded by the Italian Football Federation’s sponsors, when he was presented on Tuesday.
“Nobody imposes anything on me. My eyes and those of my assistants will be the judge, not sponsors nor newspapers,” he said after succeeding Cesare Prandelli.
Conte, who was appointed last week and has his first match against Netherlands in a friendly in Bari on Sept. 4, previously led Juventus to three successive Serie A titles in as many seasons.
The media pointed out a possible conflict of interest after the federation said it reached a deal with sponsors, including Puma, to help fund Conte’s wages.
Federation head Carlo Tavecchio said the deal “was borne out of sporting necessity and the economic reality. We couldn’t get a leader like Conte at a low cost.”
Conte said he would drop Prandelli’s code of ethics, under which players were automatically dropped if they committed serious acts of indiscipline in club games.
“I will make all the selections according to my moral standards,” he said. “I live for victories ... and I’m here to bring that mentality.”
“I know the challenge I face and I’m not afraid of it,” Conte said, adding that “only real men can get over difficulties.”
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two