KRAKOW, Poland (Reuters) – England, fresh from a visit from the barber, expect a more open game against Sweden in their Euro 2012 Group D test on Friday after there were few hairy moments in the defensive draw against France.

Roy Hodgson’s men took the lead in their first game but have been criticised in some quarters for their lack of adventure after France equalised as they sought refuge in the old English trait of being solid but unspectacular.

KRAKOW, Poland, June 13 (Reuters) – England, fresh from a
visit from the barber, expect a more open game against Sweden in
their Euro 2012 Group D test on Friday after there were few
hairy moments in the defensive draw against France.

Roy Hodgson’s men took the lead in their first game but have
been criticised in some quarters for their lack of adventure
after France equalised as they sought refuge in the old English
trait of being solid but unspectacular.

KRAKOW, Poland (Reuters) – In another life, Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano could have been Italy’s leading comedy double act but their attacking partnership on the field is under threat ahead of the Euro 2012 Group C clash with Croatia on Thursday.

The pair are as mad as hatters with Balotelli world renowned for his wacky antics, including setting fire to his bathroom with fireworks and walking into a school full of children and asking for the toilet.

KRAKOW, Poland, June 13 (Reuters) – In another life, Mario
Balotelli and Antonio Cassano could have been Italy’s leading
comedy double act but their attacking partnership on the field
is under threat ahead of the Euro 2012 Group C clash with
Croatia on Thursday.

The pair are as mad as hatters with Balotelli world renowned
for his wacky antics, including setting fire to his bathroom
with fireworks and walking into a school full of children and
asking for the toilet.

KRAKOW, Poland (Reuters) – Italy forward Antonio Cassano brought his inimitable brand of humour to Euro 2012 on Tuesday, saying he was “born tired” and did not like scoring goals.

At times he had reporters and the translator in hysterics during a news conference most pundits thought would never be allowed to happen by the Italian federation given his penchant for outrageous remarks and bizarre quips.

KRAKOW, Poland, June 12 (Reuters) – Italy forward Antonio
Cassano brought his inimitable brand of humour to Euro 2012 on
Tuesday, saying he was “born tired” and did not like scoring
goals.

At times he had reporters and the translator in hysterics
during a news conference most pundits thought would never be
allowed to happen by the Italian federation given his penchant
for outrageous remarks and bizarre quips.

LONDON (Reuters) – Love triangles, panic attacks and gold medals – life is never dull for Italy’s best-known sportswoman Federica Pellegrini.

The swimmer, who will be looking to retain her 200 metres freestyle gold at the London Olympics as well as pick up other medals, is never far from the headlines and absolutely anything could happen in the July and August Games.

LONDON, June 11 (Reuters) – Love triangles, panic attacks
and gold medals – life is never dull for Italy’s best-known
sportswoman Federica Pellegrini.

The swimmer, who will be looking to retain her 200 metres
freestyle gold at the London Olympics as well as pick up other
medals, is never far from the headlines and absolutely anything
could happen in the July and August Games.

KRAKOW, Poland (Reuters) – Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has ditched his famous purple puffer jacket for an elegant suit at Euro 2012 and he wants his side to be smarter too despite matching holders Spain in their Group C opener.

Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Spain’s diminutive short passers will be followed by a different test on Thursday against a confident Croatia side whose physicality up front in their 3-1 win over Ireland is prompting Prandelli to consider changes.