England v Italy, Quarter Final, Build up and Match Thread

[Duty281]

First topic message reminder :

England v Italy (Sunday 24th June, 19:45 KO, BBC 1)

On the back of good defence, England have notched up 2 wins and a draw, confounding the majority of expectations along the way. The unexpected bonus of topping Group D has given them a game against Italy, not Spain, and England have a glorious chance of reaching their first semi-final in 16 years. Italy haven't really started yet and their sole win was against a poor Ireland team but they did manage an impressive draw against the Spanish. The winners will play Germany.......or maybe Greece.

My prediction: England 1-0 Italy

Come on England!

[Guest]

Maybe England will become like Scotland in time...

[mystiroakey]

im in pain guys.

i love pirlo and bolateli though.

our lads did enough for me though.. well played all

[Leff]

Portugal vs Spain

Germany vs England

awesome semi final lineup

[Crimey]

Andrea Pirlo has been the best player since the first round of games, his last swansong in international football most likely and he is showing Xavi who the original master of the pass is.

That penalty kick gave Italy the psychological edge.

[Guest]

I think Hodgson squeezed the most out of those players. He could have done a few things differently - but there really wasn't that many alternatives.

[Leff]

Pirlo, that old wily fox, and that wily slow inswinging yorker of a kick.

[Guest]

A repeat of the last final? I think so.

[Josiah Maiestas]

LK these players have never been adventurous apart from Rooney, they don't have the psychology of keeping the ball and staying composed, its just all frantic stuff.

[Liam]

I've said it how many times on here yet apparently its all about results, but being able to keep the ball for sustained periods of play is crucial at the highest level. I was saying it after the Norway and Belgium games, yet it was all about the result. No one likes to lose on pens, and the fact England got that far is a credit to the defence. But, like Shearer just said, if your chasing around all day by the time you get the ball back your knackered and will always struggle to keep the ball.

[mystiroakey]

the first twenty mins we actually did keep the ball- so it really is frustrating- i kinda wish italy had scored an early goal- we then would have got into an attacking style i am sure

[GSC]

Ah well, here we are again. Have to say I'm proud of what we accomplished. I was doubtful they'd get out of their group and they topped it.

Time for a reshuffle in midfield, Gerrard and Parker don't have the legs anymore, especially when outnumbered in midfield. Milner not good enough ultimately. Young's been very poor this tournament.

Probably the end of John Terry at this level too I suspect, and maybe Cole once he has 100 caps.

[Jennifer1984]

It has to be said that Pirlo showed total class and incredible nerve to take his penalty like he did.

He was the classiest player on the field all night and has surely stuffed all these ludicrous claims that Rooney is world class into a cocked hat. Italy have a quality midfielder, England have a flat track bully who looks good against minnows, but is out of his depth when it comes to the big occasions.

Italy were the better team. England and the ball were total strangers and the only credit we can take from that game was that we never gave up. We scrapped and battled and didn't quit, but there is only so much you can do with heart, organisation and willpower. Sooner or later, a football match comes down to skill and taking penalties is a skill.

When it came down to showing your skill, Pirlo did it in spades.

Congratulations Italy. The better team on the night. The victory was well deserved and Roy Hodgson can now start to focus on qualifying for the next world cup.

Again.

[Josiah Maiestas]

These players should take responsibility, they never wanted to keep hold of the ball just because its not a premier league game, they never showed any balls.

[GSC]

Tactically Roy didn't really get it right today, outnumbered in midfield left us reliant on strikers to close down Pirlo from deep. It just didn't happen, especially as we got tired.

[Steffan]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[mystiroakey]

I've said it how many times on here yet apparently its all about results, but being able to keep the ball for sustained periods of play is crucial at the highest level. I was saying it after the Norway and Belgium games, yet it was all about the result. No one likes to lose on pens, and the fact England got that far is a credit to the defence. But, like Shearer just said, if your chasing around all day by the time you get the ball back your knackered and will always struggle to keep the ball.

martyr there was nothing crucial about giving the ball away today== as annoying as that may sound to you england didnt conceade in 120 mins..... yes it helps massively- but its about playing in a way to maximise your strengths - we havent got the players that spain or italy or france have, there are the better teams therefor they have a better chance of winning- i really dont get your mind set! You need to understand our limitations..

hopefully we will pack future teams with better technical players and things may turn around

[Guest]

Woy has to build the team around Jack Wilshire for the World Cup, no questions.

[Geordie]

Milner and Youngs are woefully average Premiership playewrs let alone international standard.

and Rooney needs to be dropped

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Ultimate WUM

[mystiroakey]

AS ENGLAND FANS we have to pray for wilshire guys.....

remeber the midfield of gaza,scholes,becham- omg we actually had one of the best in the world at one time!!!!

even when we used joe cole in there it made a difference

[Guest]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Ultimate WUM

Just banter Olly. We'd be dishing out on them if the shoe was on the other foot.

[Crimey]

Woy has to build the team around Jack Wilshire for the World Cup, no questions.

I'm not so sure, he has to prove that this year long injury hasn't ruined the huge potential he had.

[Josiah Maiestas]

I've said it how many times on here yet apparently its all about results, but being able to keep the ball for sustained periods of play is crucial at the highest level. I was saying it after the Norway and Belgium games, yet it was all about the result. No one likes to lose on pens, and the fact England got that far is a credit to the defence. But, like Shearer just said, if your chasing around all day by the time you get the ball back your knackered and will always struggle to keep the ball.

Exactly. These England players were not prepared to keep the ball and went about their business with a bad attitude.

[Josiah Maiestas]

Woy has to build the team around Jack Wilshire for the World Cup, no questions.

Spain don't build their team round 1 player neither do Germany. This mentality of depending on a single leader on the pitch will hold them back even more.

[azania]

Composure. England throughout this tournament didn't have any as soon as they got the ball. Just a straight hoof up the park and HOPE. It's not a lack of technique. The players have it. Its not the manager either. Its the lack of confidence.

Look at Swansea for example. Not the best individual players, but they have composure on the ball and pass it around. The ball is their friend and not their mortal enemy to be booted away as soon as it gets close to them.

Every team England had more possession. Very lucky against France, beat a weak Sweden and an even weaker Ukraine.

Well done England for getting this far? No. Lucky England. Every nation has moved on in football terms. England are the football equivalent of Wimbledon during the days of Fash and Vinnie Jones.

Learn to love the ball.

[mystiroakey]

"These England players were not prepared to keep the ball and went about their business with a bad attitude."

thats a nasty comment and it couldnt be furthar from the truth.. they tried, they failed. well done england- dont listen to ludic rous comments like above.. now we need to do something about our development!!!

[azania]

Woy has to build the team around Jack Wilshire for the World Cup, no questions.

Ox, Theo and Jack. Plus Rodwell. Rooney again was a waste of space. Get rid of the old guys and build around youngsters who love the ball.

[Leff]

Balotelli was so un-Balotelli. No drama and no theatrics. Just plain good effort.
Pirlo was outstanding. Diamante brought in additional energy.

Italy was certainly better than England, but this kind of effort will not get them past Germany although they have a better historical record.

[Liam]

I've said it how many times on here yet apparently its all about results, but being able to keep the ball for sustained periods of play is crucial at the highest level. I was saying it after the Norway and Belgium games, yet it was all about the result. No one likes to lose on pens, and the fact England got that far is a credit to the defence. But, like Shearer just said, if your chasing around all day by the time you get the ball back your knackered and will always struggle to keep the ball.

martyr there was nothing crucial about giving the ball away today== as annoying as that may sound to you england didnt conceade in 120 mins..... yes it helps massively- but its about playing in a way to maximise your strengths - we havent got the players that spain or italy or france have, there are the better teams therefor they have a better chance of winning- i really dont get your mind set! You need to understand our limitations..

hopefully we will pack future teams with better technical players and things may turn around

There you go again comparing it to Spain. No one can play like Spain apart from Spain. Its not about playing one touch football, i've said England haven't the players to play the way Spain do, but Italy don't do nothing special either, they play it simple, which doesn't require superb technical skills. It just means releasing pressure and applying pressure. Like you said England managed to keep the ball in the opening stages and showed that if you can string a few passes together, it goes a long way. England were incredibly lucky not to concede in 120 mins, don't make out it was a great defensive performance, there were about 4-5 genuine misses from Italian players which should have ended up in the back of the net.

[Crimey]

Italy were better mainly because they had Pirlo, it was not the same way Spain way with lots of small touches and then any of the players get released, it was Pirlo dictating the play and creating every chance.

[azania]

How the heck did that West Ham reject get so good?

[mystiroakey]

germany dont have that defence tho leff-- that is one thing italy will find easier- yes they wont have the same possesion- but if they can trump germany in that stat(and lets be honest they probally can)- they have a chance.

spain didnt outplay them either, so id say- italy germany is very much in the balance

[Guest]

Rooney remains world class - but he didn't have the legs in this tournament, and England didn't have sufficient mid-fielders around him to support him.

John Terry is my England player of the tournament. He has lost some pace but everything else was on the whole brilliant. Gerrard played well but spent most of his time in defensive midfield duties. I thought Andy Carroll played really well against Sweden and I think it was a mistake to drop him once Rooney became available.

[mystiroakey]

for all gerrard did groups, he didnt do enough in that quarter- terry was by far our most consitant performer

[Guest]

ps Ian Hart did his job well - looks like we have found a solid goalkeeper.

[azania]

Italy were better mainly because they had Pirlo, it was not the same way Spain way with lots of small touches and then any of the players get released, it was Pirlo dictating the play and creating every chance.

Italy were better everywhere. England huffed and puffed when they should simply have confidence in their ability and play as opposed to gaining yardage and looking for lucky flick ons and ricochets.

[Leff]

Germany is very very fast in the midfield, Mysti. Pirlo will not be able to dictate the flow. German boys cut in, steal, and run, which England never threatened to do.

[azania]

England's best attacker was Glen Johnson. Says a lot when a defender is your best attacker.

Terry battled.

[Guest]

ps Ian Hart did his job well - looks like we have found a solid goalkeeper.

Who is Ian Hart?

[Guest]

Ps Italy did give away three stone wall penalties in Judo tackling Terry and Lescott in the penalty area.

[Josiah Maiestas]

England should sacrifice defence for attack, we just didn't play at all this evening. 30 % possession is no way to go out...

[Guest]

ps Ian Hart did his job well - looks like we have found a solid goalkeeper.

Who is Ian Hart?

Must have been Joes brother

[Guest]

How the heck did that West Ham reject get so good?

He left West Ham?

[Josiah Maiestas]

Azania is on the WUM. He is another Steffan, are you Welsh or Scottish? :\

[mystiroakey]

Germany is very very fast in the midfield, Mysti. Pirlo will not be able to dictate the flow. German boys cut in, steal, and run, which England never threatened to do.

germany are the best team in the tourny. engalldn never ever were.

italy can go into there slippery counter game if they get overrun- they have a chance(even greece knicked a couple)- but germany offcourse are favs

[Leff]

2-0 England

+1

[Guest]

ps Ian Hart did his job well - looks like we have found a solid goalkeeper.

Who is Ian Hart?

Must have been Joes brother

Only jesting. It's like when you call your missus by your ex's name! Easily done, if not a tad awkward.

[Liam]

People harsh on Rooney, injured when dictating everything england did well in 2004, fast tracked into the world cup team when clearly injured in 2006, 2010 was a shambles behind the scenes and played one game going into this game in over a month since his last competitive game and clearly wasn't match fit.

[GG]

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[azania]

Azania is on the WUM. He is another Steffan, are you Welsh or Scottish? :\

How am I being on a WUM? Care to comment on my post above and tell me where I'm on a WUM? I am neither British or European so have no axe to grind. A completely objective viewer.

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