Originally posted by Xavius
Tommorow is Portugal VS France . . .It looks tight, but France is prepared to the limit in the game. To be honest, my prediction is that Portugal scores a 1-0 against France and holds it until the 90th.
I've been biting my nails. I want this Portugal VS France game over with.
Well it took the Italians to break the Germans' heart. Italy not really entertaining but they have the meanest defence and are a smart team. It look as if it was heading into penelties...Italy was attacking and attacking, suddenly they slowed down letting the ball going for their goal kick. I think the Germans relaxed a bit and paid the price in the 1st goal. The 2nd was the desperate moment that they left their defence open.
I disagree with Italy not being entertaining. As much as I've disliked them over the course of the tournament, I think their matches against Ghana, USA and especially Germany have all been excellent.
I really enjoyed the game last night. Extremely tense and hard fought, pretty even although the Italians looked absolutely fantastic at times. The way they always pass the ball calmly and precisely out of defense, their tireless midfield running and clever, Riquelme-esque threading of balls through the German backline were all impressive. Cannavaro was outstanding, Zambrotta, Gattuso, Grosso and Gilardino were very good, and Camoranesi was inspiritational; never stopped running, always got into space and gave the German fullbacks a horrible time.
Bad luck Germans, I was behind them all the way but Italy did deserve to win. What a wonderful pair of goals.
And I hate to say I told you so, but at the beginning of this thread just before the tournament started, I said Italy were potential winners, and if I remember rightly, most of you said they wouldn't get anywhere 😉
I am the smart, I am the smart, S-M-R-T, I mean S-M-A-R-T.
Originally posted by joesha28
Well it took the Italians to break the Germans' heart. Italy not really entertaining but they have the meanest defence and are a smart team. It look as if it was heading into penelties...Italy was attacking and attacking, suddenly they slowed down letting the ball going for their goal kick. I think the Germans relaxed a bit and paid the price in the 1st goal. The 2nd was the desperate moment that they left their defence open.
I disagree with that to.. I love watching the Italian play in international football. There were 6 goals in the quarters.. Italy got 3 of them..
Italian Club teams is a different thing.. but the National team are very good IMO.
They are going to be very difficult to beat in the final.
Superb game last night!!!! Quite simply match of the tournament so far!!!!
Italy proved they are amongst the world's best, Cannavaro was simply brilliant!!!! Gattuso and Pirlo linked up really well, and Totti was just awesome, and to think some people think he's overrated, that's a joke!!!
Germany did well though, really were responsible for the game being as great and open as it was, Podolski missed a sitter at the end of ninety minutes though, which came back to haunt them
Del Piero made a difference too, he is such a big game player!!!
I was also more impressed by Gilardinho than what I saw of Toni last night
I think Italy will go on and win it now, but I must ask AC, how would them winning this be like Greece winning Euro 2004?? Italy are a good side, Greece are not
Originally posted by Mattomic
Superb game last night!!!! Quite simply match of the tournament so far!!!!Italy proved they are amongst the world's best, Cannavaro was simply brilliant!!!! Gattuso and Pirlo linked up really well, and Totti was just awesome, and to think some people think he's overrated, that's a joke!!!
Germany did well though, really were responsible for the game being as great and open as it was, Podolski missed a sitter at the end of ninety minutes though, which came back to haunt them
Del Piero made a difference too, he is such a big game player!!!
I was also more impressed by Gilardinho than what I saw of Toni last night
I think Italy will go on and win it now, but I must ask AC, how would them winning this be like Greece winning Euro 2004?? Italy are a good side, Greece are not
How did they prove they are among the world's best? They've played like crap, save that one outstanding game (and last night's), for this entire tournament. Couldn't beat a 9 man USA, beat Australia in a controversial way, got Ukraine (a one-man/two-man team at best).
They played brilliant last night, but this is why I dislike Italy. They shine on one night and people act like they haven't been losing for most of the past tournaments. Same with Totti and Del Piero, they have a good game (a la Beckham) and people forget that they have lots of shit games. Specifically Del Piero, who I'm sure is living off his 90s Juventus record. Cannavaro played the best for them, I think.
To answer your question Matt, you think Italy are a good side, I don't, hence why I think it would be like Greece winning it. They are better than Greece, but in comparison they don't deserve to win it, in my eyes. Not after the way they've played, the results they've got.
Still, should be a good game tonight. I'm backing France, but wouldn't mind Portugal getting their first trophy. France got into stride at just the right time.
-AC
Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
How did they prove they are among the world's best? They've played like crap, save that one outstanding game (and last night's), for this entire tournament. Couldn't beat a 9 man USA, beat Australia in a controversial way, got Ukraine (a one-man/two-man team at best).They played brilliant last night, but this is why I dislike Italy. They shine on one night and people act like they haven't been losing for most of the past tournaments. Same with Totti and Del Piero, they have a good game (a la Beckham) and people forget that they have lots of shit games. Specifically Del Piero, who I'm sure is living off his 90s Juventus record. Cannavaro played the best for them, I think.
To answer your question Matt, you think Italy are a good side, I don't, hence why I think it would be like Greece winning it. They are better than Greece, but in comparison they don't deserve to win it, in my eyes. Not after the way they've played, the results they've got.
Still, should be a good game tonight. I'm backing France, but wouldn't mind Portugal getting their first trophy. France got into stride at just the right time.
-AC
I do agree with you that Italy are not always easy on the eye to watch, they have flopped at so many tournaments before, infact you could say England, Holland and Czech Republic are usually more consistent than them
But when they play like they did last night, you can see why they have the potential to be brilliant