UEFA European Football Championship - Euro 2012

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Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 7:52 pm

^^^ Yes. I didn't see THAT coming... Shocked

Typically Italian, though... mediocre play throughout the tournament, they sneak their way through the group stage, gets lucky against England in the quarters - only to strike in the semis. It's like watching any old world cup...

Baiting Guru Joined: 11 May 2004 Posts: 2163

Italy is one of the best tournaments teams in the world. I'm not surprised they made it to the finals. And with good football to. Not just defense and a sneaky counter.

Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 4:25 pm

TheDane wrote:

Typically Italian, though... mediocre play throughout the tournament, they sneak their way through the group stage, gets lucky
against England in the quarters - only to strike in the semis. It's like watching any old world cup...

I don't see how you can say Italy were lucky against England. Italy totally outplayed England. They dominated possession, 63% to 37%
and had 31 goal attempts compared to England's 8. The only luck involved was that England managed to hold out to take it to penalties.

The Spanish haven’t looked at their scintillating best this time around, and Italy have looked a lot more dangerous than people
had anticipated. Italy are the only team that have really attacked Spain and got at them in their first meeting.

The midfield battle between Pirlo, the player of the tournament so far, and Xavi could be the deciding factor in the final. I think Spain
have really missed injured striker David Villa, as Del Bosque doesn't appear to trust the other strikers.
Whereas Italy have a striker in Super Mario who is on fire.

Hopefully we will see a good final to bring to an end what has been a very entertaining tournament (IMO, much better than the
last world cup).

I'm going for an Italian win, possibly on penalties.

Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 6:36 pm

You've no idea of the atmosphere here in my sleepy Spanish village, famous for having more goats than people.
With 10 minutes til kick-off, not a soul to be seen anywhere, except in front of the huge screens put up in the plaza.

Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 7:01 pm

GGGGOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!

Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 7:28 pm

GOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Baiting Guru Joined: 11 May 2004 Posts: 2163

well F U Spain!

Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 7:51 pm

We need an Italian goal - and soon - to make things interesting (for us neutrals!)

Edit:
Italy 2 goals down and now down to 10 men?

Game over. Smile

Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 8:28 pm

GOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!!!!!!

Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 8:33 pm

GOOOOAAAAALLLL!!!!!!!

Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 8:41 pm

The fireworks and rockets and choruses chanting España, España are incredible here. Not to mention the vuvuzuelas.
I can't imagine what it's like in Madrid.

Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 8:51 pm

psychicbait wrote:

I can't imagine what it's like in Madrid.

Louder?

Congrats to Espana.
Europe 2008 - World 2010 - Europe 2012
that's a deserved record

Spain

Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 11:18 pm

Congrats to Spain. They had the game wrapped-up by half-time and once Italy had
been unfortunately reduced to 10 men there was no-way back.

So, after 31 games and 76 goals, The reign of Spain continues in Ukraine. Laughing

Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 3:05 pm

Scentless Apprentice wrote:

I don't see how you can say Italy were lucky against England. Italy totally outplayed England. They dominated possession, 63% to 37%
and had 31 goal attempts compared to England's 8. The only luck involved was that England managed to hold out to take it to penalties.

I disagree. While I agree on your analysis of the match, the Italians didn't have the skill to make a goal in ordinary time, or during extra time for that matter. And then it went into penalty shootouts, and those can go either way, so I maintain that Italy was lucky and snuck through after a goalless game and penalty shootout.

As for Spain - what can I say? They truly are the worlds best team for the last 6 years or so. 4-0 against Italy in a final - that speaks for itself (I can't recall Italy ever losing a match 4-0, let alone a final). And the scary part is, that there is nothing that suggests that Spain couldn't go all the way again in 2 years in Brazil.

Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 3:57 pm

In Spain a few weeks ago I saw many "No hay dos sin tres" signs and shirts.

I guess two years from now (World Cup Finals) it will be "No hay tres sin cuatro".

Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 6:58 pm

TheDane wrote:

And the scary part is, that there is nothing that suggests that Spain couldn't go all the way again in 2 years in Brazil.

The World Cup in 2 years will be very interesting, but it will be difficult for Spain to retain their title.
Brazil with home advantage will be very hard to beat. Argentina with the god-like genius of
Lionel Messi and Germany, who have a young squad (only Klose of the current squad in anywhere
near retirement age) will all IMO be in with a chance.

Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 8:43 pm

Would it be an idea to end this thread here, as you seem to be coming all over mediocrity.

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 1:20 am

Scentless Apprentice wrote:

The World Cup in 2 years will be very interesting, but it will be difficult for Spain to retain their title.
Brazil with home advantage will be very hard to beat. Argentina with the god-like genius of Lionel Messi and Germany, who have a young squad (only Klose of the current squad in anywhere near retirement age) will all IMO be in with a chance.

I agree as far as Germany and Brazil goes (I don't think Argentina has that many qualities if you look at the non-Messi part of the team, but the tournament that just ended proves what I know. Sad

). However, I maintain that Spain has every bit as good a chance as those teams, and that's why I'm saying, that there is nothing that suggests that they couldn't win another title in Brazil 2014. In my eyes, they are a good bit for the semis, and everyone that comes that far, has a fair chance of going all the way.

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