Who'd have thought it? After such a bad World Cup and a scandal that almost resulted in them withdrawing from the tournament?
But it's things like that that good managers can use to their advantage. Develop a siege mentality in the dressing room. It's them versus us and if we stick together, we can show them.
And that's exactly what they did, only coming unstuck against an awesome Spanish side, about whom just about every footballing journalist has been waxing lyrical.
But these words are for the over-achieving Italians who showed they possess skill and a team spirit in abundance. I can only apologise to them for predicting they would win the final. Never can a team have been more doomed than one that receives my backing.
Showing posts with label Italy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Italy. Show all posts
Monday, 2 July 2012
Sunday, 1 July 2012
Euro 2012 Final: FULL TIME: Spain 4-0 Italy
Have we witnessed the crowning of the best ever international football team?
At the very least, Spain circa 2008-12 deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Brazil circa 1970.
Three international tournaments on the spin is unprecedented. And tonight, they looked imperious, saving their best til last and overpowering and outclassing a brave Italian side.
They left it late in the second to ice their cake, Torres and Mata providing the cherries to the delight of hundreds and thousands of Spaniards in the dying minutes, the former the only out and out striker to grace this Spanish team in the final, coming on as a sub late on (is this the death of the traditional front man?)
Credit the Italians, who over-achieved to get his far and who played with ten men for a generous portion of the second half, after a sub went down.
But even sans Villa and Puyol, this Spanish team have proven they can beat anyone in Europe. So surely I'll be tipping them to win World Cup 2014? You'll, we'll, I'll have to wait to find out.
At the very least, Spain circa 2008-12 deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Brazil circa 1970.
Three international tournaments on the spin is unprecedented. And tonight, they looked imperious, saving their best til last and overpowering and outclassing a brave Italian side.
They left it late in the second to ice their cake, Torres and Mata providing the cherries to the delight of hundreds and thousands of Spaniards in the dying minutes, the former the only out and out striker to grace this Spanish team in the final, coming on as a sub late on (is this the death of the traditional front man?)
Credit the Italians, who over-achieved to get his far and who played with ten men for a generous portion of the second half, after a sub went down.
But even sans Villa and Puyol, this Spanish team have proven they can beat anyone in Europe. So surely I'll be tipping them to win World Cup 2014? You'll, we'll, I'll have to wait to find out.
Euro 2012 Final: Half Time: Spain 2-0 Italy
Is this a final?
It's being played more like a third place match.
You don't get attacking like this in games that mean so much. They're normally cagey affairs, defensive dirges, midfield miseries.
This could be rewriting the rule book for finals, the greatest performance by a nation in a major final. Spain have been majestic, and even the Italians haven't sat back. Now they can't afford to, or they risk being embarrassed on the biggest stage.
Fabregas was awesome for Silva's goal. A string of short passes, an incisive through ball from Iniesta. I expected Fabregas to cross first, but he took another touch that took the Italians (and me) by surprise, before cutting it back onto Silva's head. The second, Alba's, was finished like a centre forward, and he's a left back, for heaven's sake.
If the Italians don't score early in the second, expect three, maybe four, and the Spanish to throw their hat in the ring to be considered the greatest international team ever.
It's being played more like a third place match.
You don't get attacking like this in games that mean so much. They're normally cagey affairs, defensive dirges, midfield miseries.
This could be rewriting the rule book for finals, the greatest performance by a nation in a major final. Spain have been majestic, and even the Italians haven't sat back. Now they can't afford to, or they risk being embarrassed on the biggest stage.
Fabregas was awesome for Silva's goal. A string of short passes, an incisive through ball from Iniesta. I expected Fabregas to cross first, but he took another touch that took the Italians (and me) by surprise, before cutting it back onto Silva's head. The second, Alba's, was finished like a centre forward, and he's a left back, for heaven's sake.
If the Italians don't score early in the second, expect three, maybe four, and the Spanish to throw their hat in the ring to be considered the greatest international team ever.
Euro 2012 Final Preview And Prediction
The day hath dawned.
The day of the final.
Contested between the two teams that have won the last three major international tournaments.
An Italian win will bookend Spain's two wins, to the delight of those who like symmetry.
If the Spanish win, we'll definitely have a footballing autocracy on our hands. Three major tournament wins in a row is unprecedented, but is now only 90/120/a penalty shoot out away.
What do I think?
Given I predicted we'd be seeing Germany v Croatia (remember them?) today, I fear my predictions are as worthless as something that has no monetary value at all.
Spain have looked under par in their last two games and can think themselves lucky to be here, whereas the Italians have got better as the tournament's progressed, so it takes a brave man to go against the form team.
So I'm going to go for Italy. Spain will have the weight of expectation and the pressure of being favourites on their shoulders.
Lump on Spain then.
The day of the final.
Contested between the two teams that have won the last three major international tournaments.
An Italian win will bookend Spain's two wins, to the delight of those who like symmetry.
If the Spanish win, we'll definitely have a footballing autocracy on our hands. Three major tournament wins in a row is unprecedented, but is now only 90/120/a penalty shoot out away.
What do I think?
Given I predicted we'd be seeing Germany v Croatia (remember them?) today, I fear my predictions are as worthless as something that has no monetary value at all.
Spain have looked under par in their last two games and can think themselves lucky to be here, whereas the Italians have got better as the tournament's progressed, so it takes a brave man to go against the form team.
So I'm going to go for Italy. Spain will have the weight of expectation and the pressure of being favourites on their shoulders.
Lump on Spain then.
Friday, 29 June 2012
SEMI-FINAL: Germany 1-2 Italy
In stark contrast to the other semi-final, this clash made for great telli.
The star, of course, was Super Mario Balotelli, with a brace of well taken goals that rocked the Germans and shook the football world. The final that most neutrals wanted to see, will now not be seen.
And you have to say the Italians deserved it. Germany looked more like England, lacklustre, out of sorts, uncomfortable on the pitch. Pirlo was, as every English-speaking commentator seems to want to describe him, peerless, a strong candidate for player of the tournament, if there is such an award.
Let's just hope more Italian fans turn up for the final and don't leave the tournament's finale with an embarrassment of empty seats.
Tuesday, 26 June 2012
Euro 2012 Semi-Finals. Predicted vs Actual
Way back when (it was June 6th) I predicted that the semi-finalists would be thus, thither, whatever:
RUSSIA v GERMANY
CROATIA v SPAIN
Now, I got it wrong, in that I thought the winners of the first quarter final would play the winners of the second when, in fact it was first versus third and second versus fourth. Schoolboy error, slapped wrist, get to bed without supper etc.
Anyway, the fact remains I got fifty per cent of the semi-finalists right. The other fifty per cent didn't even make it out of the group stage, but here's a fine-haired sable brush, let's gloss over it.
And, OK, anyone with an elementary understanding of the machinations of European football could have predicted that Germany and Spain would get this far. Maybe some would have plumped for the Italians too and a couple the Portuguese.
But this is my blog, and I say 'well done, me' and I hope it's a SPAIN v GERMANY final, but I have a suspicion one of them may fall at the last, and it might well be... SPAIN.
RUSSIA v GERMANY
CROATIA v SPAIN
Now, I got it wrong, in that I thought the winners of the first quarter final would play the winners of the second when, in fact it was first versus third and second versus fourth. Schoolboy error, slapped wrist, get to bed without supper etc.
Anyway, the fact remains I got fifty per cent of the semi-finalists right. The other fifty per cent didn't even make it out of the group stage, but here's a fine-haired sable brush, let's gloss over it.
And, OK, anyone with an elementary understanding of the machinations of European football could have predicted that Germany and Spain would get this far. Maybe some would have plumped for the Italians too and a couple the Portuguese.
But this is my blog, and I say 'well done, me' and I hope it's a SPAIN v GERMANY final, but I have a suspicion one of them may fall at the last, and it might well be... SPAIN.
Monday, 25 June 2012
Italy 0-0 England; Italy win 4-2 on penalties
And so another tournament ends for England. The team ran out of energy after 50 minutes, though their ability to hold onto the ball dissipated a lot earlier than that.
But for the woodwork and the epic foot and bodywork of John Terry who was England's man of the match by a country, city and suburban mile, this would have been over long before Ashley's Young and Cole missed their penalties.
For me, and yes, I am about to enter armchair manager role, Young should have been subbed early in the second half instead of Milner, who was having his best game of the tournament, crossing effectively and looking in the mood to take people on.
Young, on the other hand was having a bit of an off today to put it mildly, and I can't have been the only one shouting 'noooo' at my wallmounted widescreen when he strode up to take his spot kick. It was like me having a bad day at the office and then being asked to work late. Inevitably, and like Mr Young, I'll end up hitting the bar.
But no blame should be attached to those whose spot kicks went awry. The gulf in class between the Italians and the English was as wide as something that's very wide indeed, an oil tanker in fact, to try and continue the gulf theme.
We must wait at least another two years for more disappointment, and sit and watch as the Italians take on the Germans on Thursday.
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
GROUP C FINALE: Spain 1-0 Croatia; Italy 2-0 Rep.Ireland
Balls.
My predictions are now looking as accurate as something that's very inaccurate indeed.
Croatia in the final, you say? Not so.
They're gone. Along with them ten pounds of my hard-earned, wagered each-way on them. They held Spain for most of last night's game, and were only a goal away from qualification, but if truth be told (and, by Jove, it will) never looked as good or likely to win. Thanks Jove. And in the other game of which I only saw the goals, the Italians dispatched the Irish.
HOW THEY FINISHED: 1: SPAIN 2: ITALY 3: Croatia 4: Rep.Ireland.
Looking at that, surely most people would have predicted that's how this group would have ended. Surely I could have predicted that, not this rubbish.
My predictions are now looking as accurate as something that's very inaccurate indeed.
Croatia in the final, you say? Not so.
They're gone. Along with them ten pounds of my hard-earned, wagered each-way on them. They held Spain for most of last night's game, and were only a goal away from qualification, but if truth be told (and, by Jove, it will) never looked as good or likely to win. Thanks Jove. And in the other game of which I only saw the goals, the Italians dispatched the Irish.
HOW THEY FINISHED: 1: SPAIN 2: ITALY 3: Croatia 4: Rep.Ireland.
Looking at that, surely most people would have predicted that's how this group would have ended. Surely I could have predicted that, not this rubbish.
Thursday, 14 June 2012
Italy 1-1 Croatia
While both teams showed an equal amount of flair, the Croatian fans showed way more flare than their Italian counterparts (who again should be ashamed by the number of empty seats in their 'end').
At least four flares landed on the pitch during the game, one so smoky it left the pitch resembling a gentlemen's club in the seventies.
The match was held up for a couple of minutes while the players and ref passively imbibed. Look out for the lawsuits in thirty years' time.
As you might know, I'm a big fan of Croatian chances in this tournament, and this has done nothing to dim my enthusiasm.
The Italians dominated the first half, the Croats strangely lacklustre. But in the second, you could tell Bilic had tucked into them at half time, and they came out and looked the better side.
I hate the saying ' a draw was a fair result'.
But, a draw was a fair result.
At least four flares landed on the pitch during the game, one so smoky it left the pitch resembling a gentlemen's club in the seventies.
The match was held up for a couple of minutes while the players and ref passively imbibed. Look out for the lawsuits in thirty years' time.
As you might know, I'm a big fan of Croatian chances in this tournament, and this has done nothing to dim my enthusiasm.
The Italians dominated the first half, the Croats strangely lacklustre. But in the second, you could tell Bilic had tucked into them at half time, and they came out and looked the better side.
I hate the saying ' a draw was a fair result'.
But, a draw was a fair result.
Sunday, 10 June 2012
Spain 1-1 Italy
Match-ups between international heavyweights during tournaments rarely live up to their billing, and here was another so-so bout that ended in a split decision, which pleased me as I had it down to finish 0-0.
I saw most of this game except, annoyingly, the five minute period that contained both the goals. Such is family life on a Sunday in suburbia.
As I've predicted, I don't think Spain will win the tournament, and I don't think Italy will make it out of this group and nothing I saw here has made me change my mind.
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