Just when it would appear that Italian football was starting to emerge from the shadows of the Calciopoli scandal, the game has been dragged back down into the mire. The effect that this will have on the Euro 2012 squad is as yet unknown but the fact that Domenico Cristico withdrew after having his room at the team camp searched and Leonardo Bonucci has been included despite being investigated suggests the players will struggle to block it out.
Since the World Cup win in Germany 2006 it's been a difficult time for Italy in the International arena. However in the last two years we have a seen a slow recovery from these dark days with the Mourinho inspired treble at Inter Milan and Napoli's exciting brand of football receiving plaudits around Europe this season.
The first Eurovision semi-final kicks off on May 22. To help you decide which country deserves your televote, I'm previewing some of this year's most talked-about contestants. Today's acts include Nina Zilli--Italy's answer to Amy Winehouse--and Mandinga--a Cuban-Romanian funk group that mixes bag pipes with leather hot pants with electronic accordions.