That France-Italy crunch match

[John Quays]

I live in France and they're not a football nation.

Football is seen as a minor, embarrassing 'lad' interest, much like souping up cars or bodybuilding, and followed by the same sort of people.

That's why I'm glad to see the back of them in this tournament, with their fair-weather fans.

Does anyone in France have the first idea about the game unless the national team is in a major tournament?

I exaggerate a little perhaps, but you'd hardly even know the Euro was going on during the games.

Bitter, me?

 

[magneze]

Good match for the neutral.

 

[pastieburt]

Italy through, i was hoping romania would though, but it looks like they let themselves down.

 

[T & P]

I should've put money on Italy progressing to the 1/4 finals after the last game. I just fucking knew they were going to do that. Every damn tournament.

I might as well put money on them winning the tournament. It'll be insurance if nothing else.

 

[JTG]

I live in France and they're not a football nation.

Football is seen as a minor, embarrassing 'lad' interest, much like souping up cars or bodybuilding, and followed by the same sort of people.

That's why I'm glad to see the back of them in this tournament, with their fair-weather fans.

Does anyone in France have the first idea about the game unless the national team is in a major tournament?

I exaggerate a little perhaps, but you'd hardly even know the Euro was going on during the games.

Bitter, me?

it's true, they never even noticed the world cup was on in 1998 until they reached the semis

 

[Dirty Martini]

Oh, well. France were just about as bad as they could be, and Italy managed to win despite having a six-foot-five-inch statue of Christ Crucified up front. I'd fancy the effigy to beat Toni over 10 yards though.

Fuck.

 

[lenny101]

I live in France and they're not a football nation.

Football is seen as a minor, embarrassing 'lad' interest, much like souping up cars or bodybuilding, and followed by the same sort of people.

That's why I'm glad to see the back of them in this tournament, with their fair-weather fans.

Does anyone in France have the first idea about the game unless the national team is in a major tournament?

I exaggerate a little perhaps, but you'd hardly even know the Euro was going on during the games.

Bitter, me?

I remember the non-celebrations when you won the world cup.

 

[Dirty Martini]

I should've put money on Italy progressing to the 1/4 finals after the last game. I just fucking knew they were going to do that. Every damn tournament.

I might as well put money on them winning the tournament. It'll be insurance if nothing else.

Why not? The odds shorten when they get thumped in the first game and save a pen to stay in it in the second.

 

[Phenotypic Dai]

That's got to be the end of the line for a fair few of the French now.

 

[gnoriac]

Well, at least we've got rid of Domenech. Having said that, Motson mentioned that Deschamps is like ly to be the next manager

He doesn't use astrology for his team selection too, does he?

 

[JTG]

yep, glue factory beckons

 

[Dirty Martini]

It's difficult to imagine it happening in an international match with something riding on it, but the French didn't look that bothered.

 

[The Boy]

That's got to be the end of the line for a fair few of the French now.

And the start of the line for a few more. Ribery, Toulalan, Benzema, Clerc all impressed me to some degree.

Then again it mught just be the players they were playing with making them look good iyswim.

 

[Biffo]

Italy were shit and will get dicked by Spain but for the sake of my pre-tournament bet I hope I'm wrong.

 

[twistedAM]

Italy were shit and will get dicked by Spain but for the sake of my pre-tournament bet I hope I'm wrong.

Spain will bottle it again at some stage. Might as well be the next game.

Hoping for a classic final Germany vs Italy

 

[stavros]

I can really see that Italian defence getting ripped to shreds by Iniesta, Villa and Torres' pace, along with Xavi's range of passing. It'll be even worse without the deep-lying pair of Gattusso and Pirlo. Whilst they're evidently older than two years ago, it was them who I thought were the basis for Italy winning in Germany. I also think they're going to have to give Toni a proper partner, because the midfield really aren't supporting him and he has got very tired long legs. Perhaps Del Piero linking with the midfield, or Quaglierela (sp?) and/or Di Natale who've formed an excellent partnership at Udinese this season.

So far, the only Italian who's really impressed me has been Buffon, but we already knew he was excellent.

 

[TrippyLondoner]

Hate italy. They always get away with being shit. If romania knew how to attack they could've beaten holland but they never even tried. The ref sending the french player off so early on didn't exactly help, but france never had the luck in this tournament. I don't like them much really either, but would take them over italy. Oh well spain v italy should be great.

 

[JTG]

'Getting away with being shit' is also known as 'being good'

 

[TrippyLondoner]

I live in France and they're not a football nation.

Football is seen as a minor, embarrassing 'lad' interest, much like souping up cars or bodybuilding, and followed by the same sort of people.

That's why I'm glad to see the back of them in this tournament, with their fair-weather fans.

Does anyone in France have the first idea about the game unless the national team is in a major tournament?

I exaggerate a little perhaps, but you'd hardly even know the Euro was going on during the games.

Bitter, me?

Didn't know that, perhaps its good they fucked up then.

 

[TrippyLondoner]

'Getting away with being shit' is also known as 'being good'

Yeah getting battered by holland and drawing with romania is good. Ofcourse mate.

 

[Kaka Tim]

I fancy Italy to beat spain. The italians often start unconvincingly and get steadily better and spain always seem to choke when they get to the knock out stage. I fancy Toni to start scoring - he gets in great positions but is going through a lean spell finishing wise - but that will change sooner or later.

I kind of wanted romania to go through but they decided to play ultra defensive against the dutch and got what they deserved.

 

[JTG]

Yeah getting battered by holland and drawing with romania is good. Ofcourse mate.

good enough to get through and that's what annoys you

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

It's very true about the French being fair-weather fans. I lived in France in the build up to the 98 world cup, and most of the 'buzz' in paris was created by visiting Scots and Brazilians (first game was between them). The French didn't seem that bothered until they started doing well...

 

[E.J.]

I reckon Italy (Lo Azzuri) deserve to win the match, especially with their first half display. If Luca Toni had got on his shooting boots the match would have been over for the first 35 mins. Plus Greg Coupet made an excellent save tipping Fabio Grosso's free-kick onto the post. France never really recovered firstly with the injury to their best player who was grafted in all the matches i.e. Franck Ribery - the only guy who was likely to make something happen.

And the stupid sending off Eric Abidal (albiet possibly a yellow card offence), which summed up his season so far when he was caught out of position. Trying to play Toni offside, thus commiting the foul in the penalty area. In the second half the French had about a 10 min spell of pressure as Italy sat back. But De Rossi sealed the nerves and the match with his deflected free kick to make it 2-0 - Au reviour Le Bleus.

As already said on this thread it's certainly is the end of the line for certain players in the French team:-

Vieira (32 in June)
Gallas (31 in August)
Makelele (35)
Henry (31 in August) - If he does get back to form 2010 will be his last tournament. Also dependent on whether the new coach will select him again.
Thuram (36)
Sagnol (31)
Coupet (35)

And of course the Mystic Raymond Domenech will be fired after this tournament i expect. Whoever the new entraineur (French Coach) will be, surely most of the old guard will be discarded and the younger players e.g. Mathieu Flamini, Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna, Mathieu Bodmer, Yohan Gocruff & Hatem Ben Arfa just to name a few will be included for the upcoming World Cup 2010 qualifiers.

Overall it was job done for the Italians although they'll miss the AC Milan midfield duo Gattuso and Pirlo who'll miss the Sunday evening quarter final showdown against Spain. It wouldn't suprise me that Italy put in a good performance (and they'll certainly have to) to have any chance beating Spain. Because of Italy's renowned knack of getting results at the knockout stage of tournaments in the past.

 

[Donna Ferentes]

France are getting into it at last (well Henry is) but this is Italy's game to lose.

In retrospect that was a remarkably brave prediction given that Italy were a goal up and playing against ten men.

 

[g force]

Abidal in playing crap shocker In fairness he is a right back....sort of....

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Yeah can imagine Spain flaking out in the quarter final. It's what they do best. I think we all expected them to beat France in the second round last time and look what happened...

 

[Donna Ferentes]

Won't they be playing against half a team though?

 

[Badgers]

Listened to about half the game on the radio and was pretty good.
I really wanted Romania to go through but kinda guessed that Italy would do it.

 

[mack]

Won't they be playing against half a team though?

Gattuso and Pirlo both suspended for the next game I believe.