Inter Milan striker Antonio Cassano said he is still mystified about why he has been left on the sidelines by Italy coach Cesare Prandelli. Cassano has played at every level for Italy and made 35 appearances for the senior national side but played no part in their World Cup qualifying campaign so far.
The 30-year-old, who switched from AC Milan to Inter at the start of the season, said however he has not given up on what would be his first World Cup appearance if Italy qualify. “I don’t know why I haven’t been selected but I remain hopeful that I’ll be considered all the way up to the World Cup,” Cassano told Italian television late Monday. He added: “I feel a bit annoyed that journalists know five days before I did that I wasn’t going to be picked. I hope to go to to the World Cup but if it doesn’t happen it’s not a tragedy.” Cassano hit the headlines last year when he underwent heart surgery after suffering a scare on a return trip to Milan with the Rossoneri. The Inter striker, who last played for Italy in the final of Euro 2012 — won 4-0 by Spain — has so far been snubbed by Prandelli for games against Bulgaria, Malta and Armenia.
Italy go into Tuesday’s match against Denmark at the San Siro top of Group B with a two-point advantage on Bulgaria after three of their 10 qualifiers.
Egypt football association delays season again: Egypt’s football association has delayed the start of its season for a second time after security refused to authorize the commencement of games, the association said on its website. The popular sport in Egypt is still reeling from a stadium riot in February that killed 70 people. The association postponed the season, scheduled to start on October 17 after a one month delay, because “the necessary security authorization is absent,” it said.
Fans of Cairo’s Al-Ahly club, whose members died in the violence, had stormed the association’s headquarters last month to protest a decision to resume the games.
The Ultras were furious after the association decided to begin the season before the end of the trial of suspects in the deadly violence.
The February riot erupted at the final whistle when Al-Masry fans invaded the pitch after their team beat the visitors 3-1, throwing rocks, bottles and fireworks at Al-Ahly supporters, causing chaos and panic as players and fans fled in all directions.
The Port Said stadium deaths sparked days of violent protests in Cairo, in which another 16 people were killed.
The violence was one of the deadliest incidents in football history, and came amid charges from witnesses that security forces did little to prevent the rioting, prompting more deadly clashes in the days that followed.
Nine policemen are among defendants in the trial which opened in April.
