Italy to be the main threat to Spain in this Summer's Euros.

No!

I think the Italian team is certainly underrated in most people's thoughts at present, I raised the notion with people earlier that they'd be in my top 6 nations at present and was laughed at, but in the group stage they conceded only 2 goals.
I'd still see Germany and Holland above them though at present.

Balotelli will cost you the dearly if he goes. Can not be trusted and if things don't go his way you'll end up playing with 10 men.

Spains biggest threat will be over confidence......if they play anything like to spec this will be as one sided as an internaltional competition ever has been.

I understand the problems with Balotelli but he is capable of being classy and electric, and it's something that Italy has not always been brave enough to use. I hope he learns from his latest bad episode and we can make him a better player. He needs to temper his attitude to be more like Ibrahimovic, as Zlatan can keep his cool more.

Was this the same Spanish side that lost 1-0 to England and should have lost the world cup to Holland but for a bad day for Arjen Robben and extra time goal.

Spain are by far the best, but in this competition, good team can have their game and knock other teams out.

Small Time wrote:Spains biggest threat will be over confidence......if they play anything like to spec this will be as one sided as an internaltional competition ever has been.

If Spain actually scored goals I'd agree, but they rarely score more than 2 and too often only the one goal, there is very little between Spain, Germany and Holland ATM and if a country like Italy, Portugal or even Russia get a little luck and hit form, anything can happen, heck, remembering Greece in 2004, you can't rule anyone out (except England of course )

ReallyReal wrote:

Small Time wrote:Spains biggest threat will be over confidence......if they play anything like to spec this will be as one sided as an internaltional competition ever has been.

If Spain actually scored goals I'd agree, but they rarely score more than 2 and too often only the one goal, there is very little between Spain, Germany and Holland ATM and if a country like Italy, Portugal or even Russia get a little luck and hit form, anything can happen, heck, remembering Greece in 2004, you can't rule anyone out (except England of course )

Agreed but they rarely concede (see recent world cup and prior Euro championship). But as you said the sun shines on a dogs bum somedays.....but for me barring a Spanish meltdown or the extreme rise in form/ability of another nation (probably Germany) then this should go to the no. 1 ranked team.

Main threat, I wouldn't agree. I could actually see them getting knocked out of the group stages. They are a very good side but in a very tough group. They have Spain first and Croatia second, 4 points is needed minimum. Ireland always have one or two big performances in big competitions (England in '88 and 1990 Italy in '94, Germany in 2002,) I don't see Ireland making the knockouts but 4 points or so is doable. Italy should get out of the group though.

Italy may be Spain's toughest challengers in their group but they'll still have a tough time getting out of the group. I think the way Ireland play will cause Italy real trouble especially when it comes to breaking them down, while Croatia have some real potential with a side led by Modric who I think is probably one of the most creative players in this group.

Rossi is out of the Euros, tore the ligaments again.

Yes, that's a shame. I would then insert Alberto Aquilani into the squad or Juventus' Matri.