Maybe not a Red Card worthy challenge, but on the International Stage everything is looked at differently…

“Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro has been ruled out of the game against the United States due to a calf strain. Cannavaro may also be in doubt for the June 18 match against Egypt.”

Image via Daylife, Story via US MNT Blog

US national soccer team jog during a training session at the Loftus Verfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, Sunday June 14, 2009. US will play against Italy in a Confederations Cup soccer tournament on Monday.

full preview after the jump from goal.com:
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Italian coach Marcello Lippi enjoys a cigar as he watches his team train in preparation for the match against the USA on Monday.

Image via Daylife

Ahead of Monday’s US vs Italy clash in Pretoria, the NY Times has a feature article on hometown boy and now Italian star, Giuseppe Rossi.

“As a young boy, Giuseppe Rossi threw a baseball now and then, but he preferred the ball at his feet instead of in his hand. Just before his 13th birthday, he left Clifton, N.J., to play soccer and never came home.”

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Soccer players may be known for their extravagant homes, but Vasa has trumped his peers by living in a somewhat unusual location — a designer store!!!

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A few surprises in the left out category for Marcello Lippi, but the 61 year olds Confederations Cup inclusion of Inter’s 18 year old Davide Santon gives a nod to the future of the Italian National Team.

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