Rome, June 25 : The Italian football federation has scheduled for Thursday the official appointment of Cesare Prandelli as coach of the national team, ANSA news agency reported Friday.
Prandelli, 52, signed a four-year contract on May 30, and was to take over from 2006 world champion Marcello Lippi after the return of the national team from the World Cup in South Africa.
However, no one had foreseen Italy's shock elimination in the group phase Thursday after a 3-2 defeat against Slovakia. The result brought forward Prandelli's start on the job by a few days.
The former Fiorentina coach was reportedly in Zanzibar with his two sons when Italy on June 20 drew 1-1 their second game with New Zealand. They inaugurated a nursery school dedicated to his late
wife, who died in 2007, there. (DPA)
Rio de Janeiro, May 24 : Spanish football club Real Madrid has exercised its option of signing Sao Paulo loanee Casemiro on a permanent deal. 
Rio de Janeiro, May 24 : Barcelona have reportedly made a final offer of 23 million euros to sign Brazil international striker Neymar during the European summer transfer window. 
Mumbai, May 24 : A court Friday granted police the custody of Bollywood actor Vindu Dara Singh Randhawa and two others, allegedly involved in the IPL spot-fixing scam, till May 28. 
New Delhi, May 24 : Minister of State for Home Affairs R. P. N. Singh Friday said it would not be right to ban the Indian Premier League (IPL) in view of fresh revelations in the spot fixing scandal, and promised to act tough against guilty. 
Mumbai, May 15 : India's only motorcycle Grand Prix team resumes battle in France this weekend with high hopes of strong results after a top-10 start for the all-new Mahindra Grand Prix machine. 
Dijon-Prenois (France), May 13 : Indian racing driver Sailesh Bolisetti's second weekend of his 2013 Euro Race Car campaign ended on a disappointing note as he finished 18th and 17th in the two races here.