Bradley’s contract runs out at the end of the year and should he see out his term he will be in charge for two friendlies in October.

But the 52-year-old coach was unable to say whether he would be around for those games.

“My contract is through (to) the end of the year so it’s no problem for me,” Bradley said.

“I’ll be thinking later about those games and like I have said there will be discussions,” he added.

Outclassed by a young Brazil team Tuesday, the US played with little of the fire and determination they have shown throughout Bradley’s reign.

Prior to the game Bradley said that discussions with US Soccer chief Sunil Gulati over his future had been put on hold until after the Brazil game.

But the coach, who guided the U.S to the final of the Confederations Cup and the second round of the World Cup in South Africa, also confirmed that a representative had spoken to English Premier League team Fulham on his behalf last month when there was a vacancy at the team.

When asked directly about reports linking him with the manager’s role at another Premier League team, Aston Villa, Bradley said he would “love to coach in Europe” — words which further fueled speculation of his departure.

No American has ever coached in England’s top flight but Bradley was an early bookmaker’s favorite and Villa are owned by American Randy Lerner.

For his part, Gulati hinted after the World Cup that it might be time for an experienced foreign coach to take the US, World Cup quarterfinalists under Bruce Arena in 2002, to the next level in their progress.
 
Italy remains without a win in 2010

Italy has a new coach, a bunch of promising new players and a new outlook after its disastrous first-round exit from the World Cup.

Still, the Azzurri can’t find a way to win.

The 2006 World Cup winner was beaten 1-0 by Ivory Coast in coach Cesare Prandelli’s debut Tuesday, extending the team’s streak without a win in 2010 to seven matches.

“A loss hurts more after other losses,” midfielder Daniele De Rossi, who was captain for the friendly, said Wednesday. “It’s been a horrible year up to this point, but this is just the beginning of a new two-year term.” A

Italy opens 2012 European Championship qualifying against Estonia and the Faeroe Islands next month and will have only one round of Serie A to prepare, with the Italian league season not due to begin until Aug. 28.

At the World Cup, Italy put on a particularly poor performance for a defending champion, drawing 1-1 with both Paraguay and New Zealand before losing 3-2 to Slovakia.

The Azzurri haven’t won since beating Sweden 1-0 in a friendly in November.

“We’ve got to understand that one friendly in August isn’t enough to regain our competitiveness. It’s a long-term job that requires everyone working together,” said Italian football federation president Giancarlo Abete.

Following up on his promise to make “structural” changes after the debacle in South Africa, Abete has appointed three figures who have played an integral role in the national team’s history to key positions within the federation.

Gianni Rivera, the former Golden Boy of Italian football in the 1960s and 70s, was appointed president of the federation’s youth and scholastic sector; Roberto Baggio, who led Italy to the 1994 World Cup final, was selected as president of the federation’s technical sector; and 1994 coach Arrigo Sacchi was picked as coordinator of the Italy’s youth national teams.

The aim is to overhaul Italy’s entire approach to football, starting with the youngest players.

In an editorial published in Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano on Wednesday, Rivera wrote that the friendly in London represented only the “tip of the iceberg for a movement that involves millions of people.”

Five players made their national team debuts against Ivory Coast and fullback Marco Motta went close to scoring in the 47th minute when he shot against the post before defender Kolo Toure headed the African side ahead in the 55th.

“With only three days of training we couldn’t ask for anything more,” said Prandelli, who signed a four-year contract when Marcello Lippi resigned after the World Cup.

The most highly awaited debuts were made by Inter Milan’s 19-year-old forward Mario Balotelli and Brazilian-born striker Amauri, who recently gained Italian citizenship. Prandelli also recalled talented but temperamental playmaker Antonio Cassano, who was spurned by Lippi.