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Originally Posted by JudgementXD
I don't know if I should flame you or not but I'll tell you this, Spain isn't such a great team as everyone seems to think. I find them average, they don't excel in any particular area and Italy should be able to beat them with ease...that is if it had all it's good players. But sadly there are key players that aren't gonna be in the game.
I seriously don't get it though, why is Italy hated so much? What did we do? (yes I'm Italian)
Seriously though, when it comes to football/soccer/whatever you want to call it Italy is a great team...4 world cups anyone?
On topic- I didn't watch Russia's match myself but I heard the they played very well, so I guess they deserved it.
P.S. Spain..0 world cups.
P.P.S. Today is gonna be a very messed up day, since I live in Spain O.o.
P.P.P.S. (this is the last one I swear) We have the world's best goalkeeper and he helped us win...so? I find that kinda like saying if you hadn't scored you wouldn't have won....
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Where did I say I hated Italy? I don't "hate" any country's team, and if I did, it would be England where I live.
Spain aren't really that good when it comes down to it. It remains to be seen if they do better in these big games.
Also, I say that about the goalkeeper because Italy were entirely outplayed by Romania, and had Mutu put away that penalty, Italy would be out. It was a top class penalty too, it just happens that Buffon is the man.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Winus
Spain on the other hand are on a good momentum, that obviously doesn't mean anything, group stages are gone and now big games coming up. They can either step it up or bottle it again. Reminds me of England, really. Great bunch of players, and usually underachieve.
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England don't "underachieve". England achieve exactly what they're capable of achieving; **** all. There are too many elements at play that stop them from being a good team. Great English players like Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Micah Richards are being kept out of the team by shit idiots. I've never supported them, never will.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Winus
Spain key is on their pace. Torres and Villa are great players, so, imo, Italy's got to have the defence at the best of their game, or they'll find themselves losing. Only possible way I completely see Italy winning, is if that they score early in the game and don't hold back trying to grasp to that result, while Spain tries desperately to get that goal quick, which isn't their way, they usually play some touching football and build up their goals carefully. I would put Xavi as that key-man in the midfield, and that Spain's gonna need at the top of his game to get on through passes to both Villa, and Torres, also to move the ball around the wings to try and either get a cross in, or to move on closer to the box and attempt something from there. On Italy's side, and considering Toni's recent form, I'm starting to think of him (on this tournament ofc) as a bigger Mario Gomez.
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Torres is very overrated. As proven with his games for Liverpool, he can only really perform well when he's playing at their home stage and/or against shit teams. Like Cristiano Ronaldo, if you have a good defense you can keep him out of the game. David Villa is their best striker and that's because he is sharp and aware.
As for their midfield, Cesc Fabregas is the best midfielder they have, one of the very best in the entire world alongside an on-form Kaka and possibly Aquilani when he gets a bit older. Flamini too, who has since left Arsenal. I think Mario Gomez has just buckled under the pressure, he needs a bit more experience. This was possibly too much, too soon.
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Originally Posted by Winus
Btw. Greece won the tournament in '04. Where are they now, Judgement? History sure means a lot, but that's not what's being played right now. Anything can happen. And I always analyze teams on their most recent form, not that odd World Cup that for example, England won back in 1966.
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Greece winning was a travesty, and sheer luck. They got the luck of it for the bulk of that tournament. They're a shit team. It wouldn't even bother me as much if Turkey won this, because at the very least they work as a whole team and have a spirit that I don't think I've seen in any team.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Winus
I like Italy. I just wouldn't like them to win this tournie as I feel there's others who've deserved it more. But football isn't about deserving, it's just about winning. Look at Croatia... they play wonderful football, imo. (That modric guy is awesome!). Too bad they lost to Turkey. I wanted to see them go against Germany again.
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If Eduardo da Silva wasn't put out of the tournament with injury, Croatia would be through right now, because he almost definitely would have taken chances that they had missed.
Modric is good, but I have a feeling he's going to be very overrated soon. I'm glad Arsenal passed on him, we don't need him. I'd love Arsenal to sign Arshavin though.