While most European nations occupy themselves with the usual late withdrawals and experimental tactics in friendlies, the Italians head to Euro 2012 with hearts darkened beneath the cloud of match-fixing yet again.
Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy will lead the Great Britain Olympic football team's attack at the showpiece event next month as one of their three overaged players, The New Paper can reveal.
The signs are looking ominous for England. For the first time in many years, the Three Lions enter a major tournament without some of their biggest stars.