ITALY vs England
- Thread starter twistedAM
- Start date
Streathamite
ideological dogmatist
Thank fuck we avoided spain; given how poor France were against sweden, Spain'll hammer them
Threshers_Flail
Well-Known Member
I think on paper the Italians have the edge, there defence will be a lot tighter than what England have yet encountered, and they'll be more comfortable in possession.
1-0 Italia says this bitter Taffy.
1-0 Italia says this bitter Taffy.
Lo Siento.
Second As Farce
The Italians
But yeah, I think they're stronger than England. But in a tournament knockout fixture I'd say that only tips the balance 60-40 in their favour.
I think people are overestimating how much the Italians will dominate possession. Get tight enough to Pirlo and you're not going to have De Rossi and Marchisio tiki-takaring their way around.
Italy's defence had its moments against the Croatians and the Irish...
But yeah, I think they're stronger than England. But in a tournament knockout fixture I'd say that only tips the balance 60-40 in their favour.
I think people are overestimating how much the Italians will dominate possession. Get tight enough to Pirlo and you're not going to have De Rossi and Marchisio tiki-takaring their way around.
Its not so much the Italians are great at ball retention its just that everybody England has played have had a lot of possesion. Sooner or later we are going to come unstuck if we keep giving the ball away. Italy are very beatable but I still make them favourites, I'm going to say 2-1 Italy.
Streathamite
ideological dogmatist
all sounds right but It would be typical of England that their weakest tourney squad for years makes the semis
Lo Siento.
Second As Farce
That's true. You'd hope that Rooney's touch is a bit better on Sunday, he can drop a bit deeper and help with the ball retention. The flukiness of our progression so far has made me optimistic, so I'm going with 2-0 England, with the second coming late on, on the counter.
There is no doubt that England are very dangerous when we do have the ball, apparently we have the best chance conversion rate of anyone. The problem is the better teams will convert possesion into goals. I think we'll score but its what happens at the other end that concerns me.
Threshers_Flail
Well-Known Member
Yes it would, and they have been flukey. I'm really looking forward to this game, should be close and pretty tense. Would love it if Rooney and Balotelli squared up to each other, that would be the highlight of the tournament.
goldenecitrone
post tenebras lux
This is going to be such a wind-up match. All the English players will be trying to get Balotelli sent off, and all the Italians will be trying to get all the England team sent off.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
I'm not so sure of this. For all their possession, Spain are not creating that much. I thought Croatia looked far more dangerous and creative going forward and on another day would have won that game. Compared to four years ago, I think they lack direction. Maybe it was Senna who gave them that - a bit more of a sense of purpose at the start of attacks.
Italy are a good team. I'd make them slight favourites, but only slight favourites.
Threshers_Flail
Well-Known Member
Good news for Ingerlund in that Chiellini looks set to miss the game, he is the rock at the heart of the Italian defence, big loss for them.
Lo Siento.
Second As Farce
Possession isn't necessarilly too much of an issue, it depends how you're moving the ball, and how it's being defended. Spain against Croatia and Italy had a ton of possession, but it didn't make them very threatening because it was slow possession with little penetration and little capacity to move the oppositions defence about.
twistedAM
Left Of The Dial
Yeah. I read a good article somewhere analysing the Spanish set up. They now have two defensive midfielders in Alonso and Bastards instead of just the one.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
What happened to Senna? I thought he was just about Spain's best player four years ago, and then he disappeared.
Lo Siento.
Second As Farce
age and injuries. He's 36 now.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Ah, that'll be why. 
I hadn't heard of him before the last euros, so assumed he was young-ish.
I hadn't heard of him before the last euros, so assumed he was young-ish.
This is the great thing about Balotelli, you just have no idea what he is going to do. Is he going to be all matey with the English team particuarly his Man City team mates or is he going to chin Joe Hart twice in the first minute? Who knows?
Threshers_Flail
Well-Known Member
Man is a legend.
Streathamite
ideological dogmatist
oh god yes, oh please let it happen....
twistedAM
Left Of The Dial
oh god yes, oh please let it happen....
Mario will probably get 6-1 or a replica of the Premiership Trophy dyed into his mane. He'll try to wind up Rooney for sure though Wayne isn't as gullible as Ferdinand.
Lord Camomile
Yipchaa!
he he he, that's a great photo. All the chaos and fury around him and he's just looking at the camera with a "why always me?" face
dessiato
🇪🇸 my spirit is crying for leaving
He's driving for Williams.
JimW
支那暗杀团
That relies on the surprise factor of us appearing in their half
twistedAM
Left Of The Dial
That must have been subliminal but yeah I want Italy to win, though through no fault of Hart or Lescott.
