OT- Euro Quarterfinals - Italy vs England
Head to head: As historic as the two teams are in nature, England and Italy have surprisingly little history between them. They have played six times competitively, with the Italians winning four times to England’s once.
Yellow cards: Ashley Young, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner, Ashley Cole and Steven Gerrard are one caution away from suspension for England. Christian Maggio, Leonardo Bonucci, Thiago Motta, Riccardo Montolivo, Gianluigi Buffon, Fredrico Balzaretti, Daniele De Rossi, and, no surprise, Mario Balotelli face the same predicament for Italy.
A thigh injury to defensive anchor Giorgio Chiellini means Italy will be vulnerable defensively. The possible absence of Thiago Motta, who is doubtful after straining a hamstring, would disrupt Italy’s attacking flow. Bonucci and Riccardo Montolivo are expected to fill in.
Roy Hodgson and England will name a standard 4-4-2 / 4-4-1-1 formation, and although there’s a chance that a more direct winger could start on the flanks, it’s probable that he’ll stick with the starting XI that overcame Ukraine in the final group game.
Cesare Prandelli’s formation for Italy is much less clear. Having used a 3-5-2 for Italy’s opening two games against Spain and Croatia, he switched to a 4-4-2 diamond for the win over Ireland.
Gli Azzurri , Forza Italia
http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee512/zonal_marking/england-italy.jpg
An England-Germany semi-final would be just great! I'm already knocked out of my pool, thanks to the choke job by Holland and France not getting to the semi's. Of course, I still have Spain and 'Schland left, but it's not matter now.
So, go Rooney! Go England!
England has never beaten a major footballing nation in a knockout round of a major tournament away from England. Their knockout wins in World Cups (not counting '66): Paraguay (86), Belgium and Cameroon (90), Denmark (02), Ecuador (06). Their knockout wins in European championships (not counting '96): .
I hope Italy wins ! Huge supporter
I have to admit i can't stand the EPL
watching Spain dismantle France gave me some hope for today's game.
Italy is due to breakout and put some goals in.
If France hadn't been such a joke in South Africa, these two teams would've competed for most embarrassing team at the WC.
I think Italy will redeem themselves at the expense of England. Though I think it would be a different result if Jack Wilshere were healthy.
WcC 06 - red card
I was so pissed at WC 10.
De Rossi to me is the biggest weakness on this italian team
He sucked against new zealand and slovakia
as for this euro , i am waiting for his bonehead moment to come.
Bonucci needs to step it up today unlike his unspirited play against Ireland or it could be a long day.
100% agree. I like watching the big names & dramatic personalities play soccer. you never know what Balotelli might do.
A lot of people have slept on this England team, but they really lack most of the problems that have doomed previous sides. Joe Hart is actually excellent in goal (and unlikely to roll the ball into his own net a'la Green or Robinson). They have a healthy group of talented strikers (no Heskey or even Crouch up on his own). And Lampard is out so they aren't faced with the selection problem he always causes (can't play in a 4-4-2, but the team doesn't really have the personnel or style to play in another formation).
Should be a fun, wide-open game. All that being said, can't wait to see the English in tears again.
England's is the same as against Ukraine; Italy has Barzagli in for the injured Chiellini and Montolivo replaces Thiago Motta (hamstring strain). Balotelli is in and DiNatale out as expected.
Mostly because Balotelli is a complete idiot, and I only use "idiot" trying to keep the board civil. The guy really is all that is wrong with sports.
Edit: Also didn't like that Italy took Guiseppe Rossi from the USNT.
Three Lions win 2-1. Goals by Garrard and Rooney for England, Pirlo for Italy.
Can't stand watching Italian soccer. One of the worst teams when it comes to flopping and the such. Was so happy to watch the U.S. beat them on the road a few months ago. Hopefully Three Lions take it to them today
I hope all the epl nut huggers get bit today
Gli Azzurri, Forza Italia
for some reason, i am predicting this comes down to a 1-1 game and goes to Penalty kicks to determine the Winner
Italy wins on PK's 5-4
Italy 2:0 England
Balotelli 31', Pirlo 89' (pen)
i like that prediction Yeoman, except i would reverse the minutes and goal scorers
I'd love to see a 2-0 win.
If i was gonna predict goals
Italy - Cassano
England - Rooney
PK Miss - Garrard
Balotelli will surely have been taken off by the 89th minute. Italy's been using their strikers to press, which means they tire (Germany has this issue too). Neither Cassano nor Balotelli have gone a full ninety yet, have they? And anyway, if you don't need more goals why would you risk the likelihood if him doing something stupid and getting sent off?
Of course, Pirlo might be off by then too. He's barely match fit, if at all.
without pirlo out their, were screwed
Italy 1
England 0
Di Natale scores as a sub, the rest of the game will involve lots of turnovers from midfielders playing kick-and-run.
Giovinco has been getting out-bodied whenever he's in... he's a little spark-plug, but he has been pushed around.. (albeit in very limited time)
Cassano and Di Natale have played well in all games, really.... Di Natale would have scored against Croatia if not for a blown offsides call...
The loss of Giorgio Chiellini could be big, but Barzagli is not bad either....
Forza Azzurri
cool. cool cool cool.
holy shit... de rossi hahaha
that would have been a goal for the ages.
(Ed. Now that I've seen it again, he definitely meant it.)
holy shit what a save by Buffon.
What an entertaining 5 minutes
Gerrard is a master of serving up crosses. I wouldn't be surprised if Rooney cashes in on one of those today.
Agreed is there two better players at set piece crosses or corners than Gerrard and Pirlo? I really think these two guys are going to determine the outcome of the game.
Good fun game so far, but man does England's defense look lazy.
These are national teams, comprised of players from their respective countries, just like the World Cup teams.
Italy should be winning right now, they may regret missing this much
Italy has got to finish......it only takes one for England
English Subs:
Andy Carrol and Theo Walcott IN
James Milner and Danny Welbeck OFF
DeRossi just did a all too fimiliar total flop on a corner. Not only was he NOT fouled he was pulling John Terry's shirt before flinging himself to the ground... GOD I HATE ITALIAN SOCCER
England played 331 minutes in this tournament before they caught an opponent offside. Cassano just now was the first.
The Italians must have picked the wrong shoes; they seem to fall down very easily, at almost every touch.
~Herm
I think Classical Historians need to study Italian football for the reason why the Romans used slaves for the Coliseum gladiator battles.
One would also think that with the amount of hair gel per sq. in. of noggin on the the Italian side that most defenders would slide off of every Italian player so there would be no contact.
On the other hand their spectators are quite remarkable with a Brazil-Italy a sight to behold.
I love how you guys are complaining about Italian Football when... ready for it...
ENGLAND HAS DONE NOTHING THE ENTIRE GAME..
but at least they don't fall down. That's the important thing.
Players on every team flop....I'll agree that England is less of a culprit of this than most other European nations but let's not act like none of their players never embellish anything.
If I ever made a post that I didn't think needed a snark tag, that was it.
I didn't read your your subject line....why are you making me put effort into reading? It's the internet man!
This game, has in no way, been affected by fouls, flops, etc.
I agree the game hasn't been affected, however it is painful to watch. I enjoy quality soccer as much as the next person, and yes SMALL embelishment is expected, but Italy takes it to the extreme.
Theatrics come natural to them.
Agreed, even when a ball hits one in the thigh, they can make it appear as though Frazier clocked them in the head with a clean right. Quite a wonderful skill really.
~Herm