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Italian soccer team to train on confiscated field
Posted Tuesday, September 20, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

ROME (AP)—Italy’s national soccer team will practice on a field in southern Italy that was confiscated from a crime syndicate to show support in the fight against organized crime.

The Italian soccer federation says the Nov. 13 training session will be in the small Calabrian town of Rizziconi.

The practice will come two days before Italy faces Uruguay in an exhibition game at an undetermined site. The Azzurri will also meet with local youths during the visit.

The ‘ndrangheta crime syndicate is today considered more powerful than the Sicilian Mafia and has become one of the world’s biggest cocaine traffickers.

Italy normally trains in the town of Coverciano on the outskirts of Florence.

Standings
    Rank Team W/D/L Pts

    Cities & Stadiums

    The Top 3 Teams of Previous Tournaments

    Year Winners Runner-up Third place
    2008SpainGermanyRussia / Turkey
    2004GreecePortugalNetherlands / Czech Republic
    2000FranceItalyNetherlands / Portugal
    1996GermanyCzech RepublicFrance / England
    1992DenmarkGermanyNetherlands / Sweden
    1988NetherlandsSoviet UnionItaly / West Germany
    1984FranceSpainDenmark / Portugal
    1980West GermanyBelgiumCzechoslovakia
    1976CzechoslovakiaWest GermanyNetherlands
    1972West GermanySoviet UnionBelgium
    1968ItalyYugoslaviaEngland
    1964SpainSoviet UnionHungary
    1960Soviet UnionYugoslaviaCzechoslovakia