Crap - I can't believe Germany lost. I just watched the highlights. Italy played well, but it looked as though Germany were disappointing.
Well - I can't bear to back Spain - they've been so so tedious. Italy it is for 50.
Crap - I can't believe Germany lost. I just watched the highlights. Italy played well, but it looked as though Germany were disappointing.
Well - I can't bear to back Spain - they've been so so tedious. Italy it is for 50.
So I picked the winning team? Wow. I don't know anything about soccer . . . or football. I'll go with Italy again.
Ha, ha. I was out fishing so I missed the bet but taped it and watched it when I got in. I fancied Germany but forgot to put my Litnet bets on! I think I would have gone for Germany too if I am honest even though I did have a few quid on Italy in real cash at the start of the tournament at 18/1!! So I am happy about that. Really, Italy should never be 18/1. It also makes England look slightly less bad, in a way, which is good. Italy and Spain will be very close. 1 -1 in their opening game.
Last edited by LitNetIsGreat; 06-28-2012 at 07:40 PM.
Wow what an amazing performance by Italy , Baloteli Pirlo Buffon Casano Montolivo - all outstanding. That is how one plays the game.
So I picked the winning team again? I'm amazing.
Italy were too quick and too clever last night. The Germans tried to man mark Pirlo early on, but there were plenty of others who stepped up and ran the game. Baloteli was the perfect target man and ran himself to a stand-still.
Can that cultured midfield operate against Spain ? I hope so.
This tournament has been one of the best. There was the joyfull enthusiasm of the Eastern European teams and their fans (who the British press branded as racist, in a pot and kettle way.) There were a few upsets and there were many good games. The four semi final teams all had different attributes and styles. The Spanish with their passing game, the Portuguese had their individuals, the Germans were irrisitable, Italy clever and incisive.
I hope the final lives up to it.
Last edited by prendrelemick; 06-29-2012 at 05:44 AM.
ay up
Germany lost and I’m reduced to 40 Drachmas now imagine my excitement.
I’m not a fan of Ronaldo but I like Portugal as a team. They always try hard but remained the underdogs. They fought well under the captaincy of Luis Figo in Euro 2004 but France defeated them in the final.Originally Posted by Paulclem
I'm not surprised by Italy's win. They're a good team, and they could have got a result against the run of play, or even in a shoot-out (as they did with England). What I found surprising is the way they dominated. Even in the second half, with Germany coming forward in numbers, Italy were always the more likely side to score another.
Would anyone agree that Pirlo is probably the best player in world football right now? As for Balotelli, when he plays with confidence he can be devastating.
I'll back Italy to win the final, too, even though it's bound to be a completely different affair.
500 on Italy, please.
Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine...
I don't dislike Portugal on principle - just Ronaldo. As for Figo - have you seen that advert he's in?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rreLf5eqrHc
The big wuss.
Italy's win over Germany does reflect well on England as a defensive force. Ballotelli got away twice during the England match just as he did with Germany, but John Terry covered him well.
I think that's a huge oversimplification. The reason Italy didn't score against us is that we defended with ten men for about eighty minutes. The Germans at least tried to attack. They had more shots against Italy in the first ten minutes than we had in our entire game. And more on target during that game than we had in the entire tournament.
So I don't think Italy's win over Germany does reflect well on England as a defensive force. I think it accentuates how totally negative we were as a team, and how our hopelessness as an attacking force compelled us to defend in numbers, hoping to get a 0-0 draw.
Last edited by MarkBastable; 06-29-2012 at 06:03 PM.
All on Spain.
Do, or do not. There is no try. - Yoda
All on Italy, not because I think they will win. Because I want them to win.
ay up
I also can't help noticing that after all that punditry about how we must learn to pass and keep the ball like Spain - Germany were undone by a quick ball over the top to a big strong centre forward.
ay up
I think we were let down in the attacking arena - the number of times Ashley Young gave the ball away, and Rooney's ineffectiveness negated our threat. Italy's other strikers were often forced to shoot from distance, despite Pirlo's distribution. I maintain we'd have done a lot better with Carroll distributing the ball. We were lucky too, but I think it significant that Ballotelli breaks didn't come off as they did with Germany. Perhaps I've got a half full attitude, but I think the signs for development are encouraging.
I think the potential for development is encouraging, but I'm not sure about the signs.
Although I was for some reason overlooked for the England manager job, I'm happy to pass my advice on to Roy - and it's this....
From tomorrow, don't select any one who'll be older than 23 by the end of the year. That means no more Rooney, Cole, Terry, Gerard. The objective here is to make a convincing attempt to reach the finals of the Euros in 2016 and the World Cup in 2018. The 2014 World Cup offers a good opportunity to blood that young squad.
I can't see any point at all in persisting with the players that were part of Erickson's squad. They might not be too old right now, but they will be in three or four years, and by then it'll be too late replace them for the next Euros.
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