mark77
Transfer Guru
Azzurri announcement today
Italy expected to play Serbia-Montenegro June 8 at dome
Former NASL star Chinaglia scheduled to confirm game
MARK ZWOLINSKI
SPORTS REPORTER
The Italian Soccer Federation says details are being worked out.
The Canadian Soccer Association says it hasn't been contacted.
Rogers Centre officials will say only that there's a news conference today.
Toronto soccer fans have been befuddled by such vagueness for the past week, but organizers will announce today that Italy's national soccer team will play a friendly against Serbia-Montenegro on June 8 at the Rogers Centre.
Soccer aficionados have been phoning the Rogers Centre, newspapers and the CSA since the Italian soccer federation and ANSA, the Italian national newswire service, announced the game and the date more than a week ago on their respective websites.
Since then, however, all involved have been reluctant to confirm details, leaving an air of mystery over an event due to take place in less than a month.
Finally, at 6:30 p.m. yesterday, Rogers announced it would hold a press conference today at 11 a.m. featuring Giorgio Chinaglia, the most prolific scorer in North American Soccer League history who played 14 internationals for the Azzurri, including two in the 1974 World Cup.
There were few details about the press conference, other than it was to announce "a major sporting event."
Chinaglia is a senior vice-president of Champions World, a New Jersey-based company that organized a North American tour last summer featuring European soccer powers Roma, FC Porto, Liverpool and Scottish champion Celtic.
Two of the games were played at Rogers Centre.
Regardless of today's announcement, the CSA said yesterday that it still hadn't been contacted about the game.
"We expect to be (contacted) since we would be acting as the host country ... and our consent is needed before the event can go ahead," said CSA spokesperson Morgan Quarry.
It was not clear last night what the CSA would do if its consent wasn't sought.
The Azzurri are also scheduled to play Ecuador at Giants Stadium on June 11 in East Rutherford, N.J.
It's expected that Ticketmaster will handle the general sales for the game, with the Rogers Centre managing suites and club seating.
Chinaglia's involved, I guess we're screwed.
btw, nobody's buying tickets for the Jersey game, how come? I went to the site and can get real good seats right in the middle close to the pitch. :/
they'll never come to America if there's like 10 000 people going there. That's why I wanted them here. I'm sure TO will get a lot though if the game goes through.
Italy expected to play Serbia-Montenegro June 8 at dome
Former NASL star Chinaglia scheduled to confirm game
MARK ZWOLINSKI
SPORTS REPORTER
The Italian Soccer Federation says details are being worked out.
The Canadian Soccer Association says it hasn't been contacted.
Rogers Centre officials will say only that there's a news conference today.
Toronto soccer fans have been befuddled by such vagueness for the past week, but organizers will announce today that Italy's national soccer team will play a friendly against Serbia-Montenegro on June 8 at the Rogers Centre.
Soccer aficionados have been phoning the Rogers Centre, newspapers and the CSA since the Italian soccer federation and ANSA, the Italian national newswire service, announced the game and the date more than a week ago on their respective websites.
Since then, however, all involved have been reluctant to confirm details, leaving an air of mystery over an event due to take place in less than a month.
Finally, at 6:30 p.m. yesterday, Rogers announced it would hold a press conference today at 11 a.m. featuring Giorgio Chinaglia, the most prolific scorer in North American Soccer League history who played 14 internationals for the Azzurri, including two in the 1974 World Cup.
There were few details about the press conference, other than it was to announce "a major sporting event."
Chinaglia is a senior vice-president of Champions World, a New Jersey-based company that organized a North American tour last summer featuring European soccer powers Roma, FC Porto, Liverpool and Scottish champion Celtic.
Two of the games were played at Rogers Centre.
Regardless of today's announcement, the CSA said yesterday that it still hadn't been contacted about the game.
"We expect to be (contacted) since we would be acting as the host country ... and our consent is needed before the event can go ahead," said CSA spokesperson Morgan Quarry.
It was not clear last night what the CSA would do if its consent wasn't sought.
The Azzurri are also scheduled to play Ecuador at Giants Stadium on June 11 in East Rutherford, N.J.
It's expected that Ticketmaster will handle the general sales for the game, with the Rogers Centre managing suites and club seating.
Chinaglia's involved, I guess we're screwed.
btw, nobody's buying tickets for the Jersey game, how come? I went to the site and can get real good seats right in the middle close to the pitch. :/
they'll never come to America if there's like 10 000 people going there. That's why I wanted them here. I'm sure TO will get a lot though if the game goes through.
