221 replies to this topic

[mikeford]

Spain and Ireland are my picks to make it out

[teejay1324]

No idea what to expect from the Italians. Have to be happy if they can draw with Spain, scary to be relying on Balotelli to not be Balotelli for three weeks.

[trevorpost]

mon the boys in green!

[Hendu's Gait]

who are the Italian players and coaches betting on today? Are they David Layne'ing it or Pete Rose'ing it?

[cjdmadcow]

Still to be absolutely confirmed but word is Spain start v Italy with Cesc and no striker.

[Zomp]

Confirmed.



Somewhere Luciano Spalletti is smiling.

[sachmoney]

Still to be absolutely confirmed but word is Spain start v Italy with Cesc and no striker.

This is sort of hilarious. I still feel that Cesc was screwed out of opportunities to play in both 2008 and 2010 (less so in '10 when he was recovering from injury). However, he hasn't had a great season. I guess that they're trying to get their best talents on the pitch. I've been trying to figure out what Spain would do without Villa. I did not think that they would play a 4-6. It should be an interesting match, especially from a tactical perspective as it looks like Italy is playing the 3-5-2 that Juventus used to win Serie A.

[cjdmadcow]

Spain: Casillas, Arbeloa, Pique, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Xavi, Busquets, Alonso, Silva, Fabregas, Iniesta.
Subs: Valdes, Albiol, Javi Martinez, Juanfran, Pedro, Torres, Negredo, Mata, Llorente, Santi Cazorla, Jesus Navas, Reina.

Italy: Buffon, Chiellini, De Rossi, Bonucci, Giaccherni, Marchisio, Pirlo, Thiago Motta, Maggio, Cassano, Balotelli.
Subs: Sirigu, Ogbonna Obienza, Balzaretti, Abate, Di Natale, Barzagli, Borini, Montolivo, Giovinco, Diamanti, Nocerino, De Sanctis.

Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)

[Turrable]

mon the boys in green!

I'm a blatant bandwagoner and I don't think I'm even half Irish but fuckin' a, now I'm pumped.

[ethangl]

http://a8.sphotos.ak...546544665_o.jpg

[Zomp]

Fuck you Rossi.

[canderson]

Spain's starting lineup is, well, interesting.

[sachmoney]

Spain's starting lineup is, well, interesting.

So is Italy's. Only two true defenders. De Rossi dropping back to be the third. I expect Spain to not have trouble scoring without a true striker. I like Silva and Iniesta to score today.

[URI]

Hell, would anyone really be shocked if Xabi Alanso lobbed one from the other end of the field to have it bounce in? It's been a while since he's had one of those.

[mikeford]

Fuck you Rossi.

Real talk. Traitor.

[Wills Eeks]

How good would Rossi be for the US? Would he be their top player? He seems to suck as a studio color guy.

[Zomp]

Yeah he would be their best player and plays in their weakest position.

Good game, this.

[sachmoney]

First 30 minutes, I've been impressed with Italy with the ball. Spain is having trouble winning back possession. I agree that Spain is moving the ball too slowly. They're allowing Italy to organize and get 8 men behind the ball, and that's making the passing difficult because Italy is taking away space. Iniesta, the most impressive Spaniard. De Rossi, the most impressive Italian.

[Zomp]

Fucking Pirlo. Ageless.

[sachmoney]

Inevitable yellow for Balotelli.

EDIT: Spain needs to make near post runs. You're 5 foot 2. You're not going to win aerial challenges on the far post.

Edited by sachmoney, 10 June 2012 - 11:37 AM.

[ifmanis5]

Wow, great back and fourth action. Terrific half.

[Zomp]

Ridiculous touch from Balotelli.

I love the way Italy are playing.

[sachmoney]

Did anyone watch the Italy-Russia game from earlier this week? Was Russia looking to hit on the counter like they did against the Czechs? I could see how Italy would be vulnerable on the counter, but they're really solid and organized when you try to poke and prod in the midfield.

[Bongorific]

Fucking Pirlo. Ageless.

How is he still only 33? He looks 46.

[JayMags71]

How good would Rossi be for the US?  Would he be their top player?  He seems to suck as a studio color guy.

Seems to? He's not making eye contact with the camera or anyone else in the studio. It's like watching an autistic 8-y.o. kid.

Edited by JayMags71, 10 June 2012 - 12:00 PM.

[Gene Conleys Plane Ticket]

How good would Rossi be for the US? Would he be their top player? He seems to suck as a studio color guy.

He seems like he would rather be doing anything else.

[Billy R Ford]

No changes for Spain? All of the front six want balls to their feet. They need someone who can run onto a ball, whether its a striker or, preferably, a winger like Pedro or Navas. A winger would stretch Italy's three man back line; right Spain are so narrow Italy's back three are very comfortable.

[Zomp]

If Spain bring on a winger my money is on Santi Cazorla.

[Zomp]

Jesus Christ Mario.

Fucking idiot.

[ifmanis5]

Mario Leon Lett style.

[Zomp]

Di Natele will stretch the Spanish. He and Cassano should be dangerous together.

[Bongorific]

That was entirely on Mario

But help my amateur soccer knowledge. How was that not a foul? He was tripped and pushed from behind. If not for the push from behind he would have had more time to do something. Middle of the field they call things a lot weaker than that. Do they not there because it wasn't "worthy" of a PK?

[sachmoney]

I like the quick change from Prandelli. I think the Italians have had enough of the ball to score. Bringing in Di Natale brings a more consistent and reliable player. Balotelli has the reliability of an Alfa Romeo.

[Wills Eeks]

Di Natele will stretch the Spanish. He and Cassano should be dangerous together.

Prescient.

[Zomp]

FUCKING CALLED IT.

[ifmanis5]

Di Natele will stretch the Spanish. He and Cassano should be dangerous together.

Good call.

[sachmoney]

I like the quick change from Prandelli. I think the Italians have had enough of the ball to score. Bringing in Di Natale brings a more consistent and reliable player. Balotelli has the reliability of an Alfa Romeo.

Love the change. Great finish from Di Natale.

Fuck Barca. Fuck Spain.

[URI]

Hey, maybe 34 midfielders in a sloppy 4-6-0 isn't the best tactic.

[sachmoney]

CESC!

[ifmanis5]

Hey, maybe 34 midfielders in a sloppy 4-6-0 isn't the best tactic.

Then again...

[canderson]

That was a gorgeous goal there.

[Zomp]

Lovely from Spain.

[SoxFanInCali]

Great goal.

[URI]

Or "hey URI, shut the fuck up, ok?"

[sachmoney]

Oh, we're going to see the Atomic Ant? Sweet.

[Nick Kaufman]

Why is the announcer busting our balls about Spain's lack of a target man as if they re the first to try that? Roma have been playing like that for years.

[SoxFanInPdx]

Silva, best distributer going this year imo.

[ifmanis5]

Or "hey URI, shut the fuck up, ok?"

It's so weird when the flop is real with these sides. That one looked painful.

[Wills Eeks]

Hey, maybe 34 midfielders in a sloppy 4-6-0 isn't the best tactic.

Anti-prescient!

[Zomp]

Why is the announcer busting our balls about Spain's lack of a target man as if they re the first to try that? Roma have been playing like that for years.

Yeah I touched on that earlier.

I think its just because Spain usually play with Villa or Torres. I know one is injured and the other off form, but Llorente is no slouch.

and for 65 minutes it wasn't working.