221 replies to this topic

[Billy R Ford]

Great goal, note the way it was scored though: midfield runner running onto the ball. Fabregas can play as a false nine, but he's better running towards goal, not back from it. Bringing on a striker, and letting Cesc play behind him, would make this to happen more often.

[Nick Kaufman]

There you go with the plan B. A winger with fresh legs and the striker to go along with him

[Zomp]

Buffon is a beast.

[SoxFanInCali]

Torres scores that 100 out of 100 times during his first few years at Liverpool.

[Nick Kaufman]

But then again when the striker is Torres, perhaps it's a good idea to return to the strikeless formation!

[SoxFanInPdx]

Torres over Llorente? Odd choice.

[sachmoney]

Do they not make kits small enough for Giovinco?

[PedroSpecialK]

Lol Nando

Hahahaha this is too good

Edited by PedroSpecialK, 10 June 2012 - 12:41 PM.

[Zomp]

Appa Torres you sucks.

[Nick Kaufman]

Time to substitute for the substitute.

[sachmoney]

Like Torres's confidence there, but he had Navas wide open, though I'm not sure he was on.

[SoxFanInCali]

Either hit the target or pass it to the wide open guy on the right, Nando.

[Zomp]

After watching Pirlo, Xavi ,and Iniesta I CAN'T WAIT to watch Downing, Milner, and Gerrard.

[Zomp]

@GaryLineker Fernando, do you not realise you could be playing for the very existence of centre-forwards?

[mikeford]

I wish Cesc was dead.

[cjdmadcow]

For a neutral that was a really entertaining game. Two teams with widely different tactics, top quality technique and skills. And then I think of England.

[teddykgb]

Torres still knows how to move and create space, but it's horrific watching him waste them.

It's obviously not tough to be the coach of Spain, but it is hard to figure out how to attack. It's nearly impossible to sub out Xavi or Iniesta, but pulling off Silva really removes a dimension from them. That pass by him was just a beautiful tough, it's almost impossible to not overhit that pass, and he did a great job leaving Cesc enough space to bury that chance.

[cjdmadcow]

Rep of Ireland: Given, O'Shea, St. Ledger, Dunne, Ward, McGeady, Whelan, Andrews, Duff, Doyle, Keane.
Subs: Westwood, Kelly, McShane, Walters, Gibson, Hunt, O'Dea, Long, Cox, Green, McClean, Forde.

Croatia: Pletikosa, Srna, Corluka, Schildenfeld, Strinic, Vukojevic, Rakitic, Modric, Perisic, Mandzukic, Jelavic.
Subs: Kelava, Simunic, Buljat, Pranjic, Badelj, Vrsaljko, Dujmovic, Kalinic, Kranjcar, Vida, Eduardo, Subasic.

Referee: Bjorn Kuipers (Holland)

[shawnrbu]

Tommy Smyth in the house.

[SoxFanInPdx]

Ireland!!!

[Zomp]

Mcgeady has a bushel of tricks, don't he...

[Zomp]

...

[hunter05]

That was brutal

[SoxScout]

oh yes!

[BigPapiLumber Co.]

Croatia and their set pieces! Up Ireland!

[SoxFanInCali]

The Irish shall overcome!

[Zomp]

Are the whistles screwing with anyone else? I thought for sure that was called before the ball went in the net.

[SoxFanInCali]

Yeah, at first I thought it was going to be waved off USA-Slovenia-style.

[cjdmadcow]

The rogue whistle has been mentioned on commentary in the UK too. I'm surprised nothing has been said by the officials yet to get a message out on the PA.

[SoxFanInPdx]

Whoever has the whistles needs to stop immediately.

[koufax32]

Both of these teams will be destroyed by Spain and Italy.

[SoxFanInCali]

How was that not offside?

[ifmanis5]

Looks like Stern has Croatia advancing in his pool.

[SoxFanInPdx]

Fuck!

[ifmanis5]

That is a new low.

[mikeford]

Welp, so much for the Irish

[SoxFanInCali]

That should be a Given OG. It was off the post and out until it went off him into the goal.

[SoxFanInCali]

If that's not a penalty, what is?

[SoxFanInPdx]

Is Crawford officiating this match?

[Turrable]

Ack. Just been a shitty sports weekend.

[Tony the Pony]

Apparently our subforumfuhrer Zomp thinks Croatian tits cross the line here. Oh, well....

[LTF]

I watched the match late last night. That was pretty much the opposite of how Ireland typically plays. They were pretty good going forward (even with Doyle, who was useless) but a fucking mess at the back (that first goal was especially soft). Yeah, I'll echo what was said further up in the thread: The Irish will be lucky to take a point. Then again, maybe all the spotty officiating will even out and they'll be the ones benefiting from a poor call or two.

[teejay1324]

Should be interesting to see who Prandelli starts up top today, Mario already has a yellow and if you let him play for sixty minutes again you'd think it's almost a lock he gets another one. On the other hand, Di Natale had a good match but I don't know if he has the legs to play a full ninety or something close to that and the risk of bringing Mario off the bench is he gets in foul trouble anyways and Prandelli is faced with subbing a sub or risking a red card. Wish Rossi was healthy.

[Zomp]

Confirmed unchanged lineup for Italy.

RIght call, in my opinion. They should have more possession vs Croatia than when they played against Spain, and Balotelli is better at controlling and holding the ball up than Di Natale, who is a great change of pace sub.

[teejay1324]

Confirmed unchanged lineup for Italy.

RIght call, in my opinion. They should have more possession vs Croatia than when they played against Spain, and Balotelli is better at controlling and holding the ball up than Di Natale, who is a great change of pace sub.

I just hope he doesn't kill anyone today.

[DLew On Roids]

It's a problem when at least two and maybe all three of the strikers you bring are best used as impact subs. Maybe Prandelli should have found a striker who could play 90 minutes. Or at least, you know, another striker, period.

[Zomp]

Who is the other besides Di Natale? I don't have a problem with Balo or Cassano starting.

[teejay1324]

Who is the other besides Di Natale? I don't have a problem with Balo or Cassano starting.

Giovinco and Barini, Giovinco came on late in the last match, and I know nothing about him. They brought Barini who's 21 and has one cap, I guess Pazzini had a horrible season and that's why he didn't come and Rossi is dead.

[Zomp]

I wouldn't classify Giovinco as a striker, and he can certainly play the full 90, as he's shown in a great season with Parma.

[cjdmadcow]

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

Croatia: Pletikosa, Srna, Corluka, Schildenfeld, Strinic, Rakitic, Vukojevic, Modric, Perisic, Jelavic, Mandzukic.
Subs: Kelava, Simunic, Buljat, Vrsaljko, Vida, Pranjic, Badelj, Dujmovic, Kranjcar, Kalinic, Eduardo, Subasic.

Referee: Howard Webb (England)