Spain Boots Italy: Deserved, Deserved, Deserved

2008-09-10T06:59:34-04:00

2008-06-22T18:24:30-04:00

125

2008-09-10T06:38:33-04:00

2008-06-25T14:00:58-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/441/613/thumb/gianluigi-buffon.jpg 23 IT

Peppe il portiere

Caserta 442053

Now I get it all. You Americans hate italian play because you only look for spectacular play. Don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming you about that! Since you are more used to sports like basketball and football, you demand the same entertainment to soccer. Unfortunately, not always does entertaining play lead to important wins (except if you are Brazil, of course ;-)). When Italy enters a great competition, they know italian people just look for win, regardless the way it comes. That's why you'll never get amused watching Italy play soccer. Sorry about that :-( grumpee said: "I think with Italy it's a subconcious thing that they concentrate on world cup more than Euro. Their world cup record is impeccable whereas the Euro record is atrocious." That's EXACTLY what former Italy's coach Arrigo Sacchi said on italian tv BEFORE the start of Euro2008. Moreover, Cannavaro's injury before the competition was a tremendous loss, as well as Pirlo's disqualification against Spain and Toni's scandalous form (how I missed Inzaghi!!!). However, I'm not so concerned about Italy's forward for the future. These years, Italy is suffering from lack of defenders and, incredibly, goalkeepers (after Buffon, nothing); but Italy is a big factory of talented forwarders: just think about the youngsters Rossi, Balotelli, Giovinco, Acquafresca. jessumm said: ???What about Spain with two shots that were inches wide? Or Buffon almost flubbing the straight shot and getting saved by the post? (best GK in the world my ****)??? Well, that was just half a mistake, because Buffon realized that the ball was heading towards the post and just waited for it to be bounced back. And did you watch how many mistakes Casillas did in the spanish Liga throughout these years? I repeat: you can???t judge a player from one single game, and Buffon has been on top of the world for years. jessum also said: ???Ciao Italia... see you at the World Cup (if you manage to make it out of qualifying).??? Be sure Italy will make it??? will USA? 2064351

2008-06-24T19:16:48-04:00

panenka

Alexandria 444416

I don't understand why everybody seems to think that Russia is the team to fear. No doubt it's going to be a tight match and nothing compared to the first one when they lost 4-1. To me however, there's no doubt that Spain are clear favorites. Spain can do what Russia does (good attacking, relaxed defending) as well as them and possibly better. But this time Spain's defense and the team commitment is much improved compared to previous occasions making them a very difficult team to beat. Spain always did well against teams with no proven record, but struggled against the big teams. They are in a streak of 10 winning games (best ever for Spain) and around 20 games not losing. And then look at the 11 players on the field and their international experience. Russia beat Holland, right, and playing extremely well, but that was a very open game. Remember they lost against Spain already and most of the same players will play again. They only beat Greece by 1-0 and did very well against Sweden. It doesn't mean Spain will win the game. Of course not. Just wanted to state the obvious. Arshavin is impressive and russians in their mid-season are in better shape, so it promises to be a very exciting game, another example of the open good football seen in this Euro. 2057899

2008-06-24T19:15:46-04:00

lshabazz

Bowie 445280

Love Andy, very disappointing to have to listen to Smyth after Andy finishes his game???hope he calls the final. Reece Davis is capable of holding his own and is the best studio host at the 4 letters. Smyth is tolerable only because he has that accent that says maybe he knows what he is talking about but definitely not in the same class as Gray. Foudy is useless as she does not offer any in-depth analysis; not sure why ESPN feels obligated to have her in studio for every big tournament. Can???t agree with you more on the penalty kicks???great observations, agree with all of it. 2057897

2008-06-24T18:07:04-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/443/172/thumb/7035.jpg 3 NJ

animetronic

Bridgeport 443612

Germany Vs Turkey, i have to say Germany, the turks are spread too thin this time, and in this game is 3 times world and Europe champions, so, i think that even thouh they will fight it till the last second (like every single game they have played), the turks will finally end their trip here, too bad UEFA doesnt have a 3rd place match, the one they call in my country for the glory and honor. Spain vs Russia, tough one, i personally want Spain to win, but if the russians pull a performance like the one against Holland, oh boy. Sure, Spain won the first game 4-1, but i do remember one too many close calls on the spanish defense. Final match Spain vs Germany, this will be a the Red Fury year. 2057484

2008-06-24T11:14:53-04:00

Timba

Minneapolis 445058

Boycott the World Cup in South Africa. South Africa President Thabo Mbeki successfully watered down a resolution condemning Rober Mugabe for his murderous campaign to suppress political freedom. As a huge soccer fan, I attended the wonderful World Cup in Germany. I would love to see South Africa stadiums full of yellow, orange, red, white, and blue shirts. But how can we cheer while the streets of Zimbabwe run red with the blood of its women and children. Until Mbeki acts to hold Mugabe accountable for his crimes, we must boycott the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. http://zimsolidarity.blogspot.com/ 2052820

2008-06-23T23:00:38-04:00

grumpee

No City 438762

Whoever said winning world cup is easier than Euro is crazy. World cup winners there are only 7. Italy wears 4 stars on it's jersey as it won the world cup 4 times. No stars are awarded for Euro victory. World cup = Euro + Brasil and Argentina. I think with Italy it's a subconcious thing that they concentrate on world cup more than Euro. Their world cup record is impeccable whereas the Euro record is atrocious. This Euro team was an aging team whose prime was 2 years ago. Donadoni should have brought in more youth but you will see over the next 2 years that this will happen probably without Donadoni and Italy will be more than ready to challenge for world cup number 5. 2049562

2008-06-23T22:33:21-04:00

Grant Kenion

Waynesburg 38176

I was amazed at the athleticism of Casillas. When he dives for a ball, he is really explosively quick in doing so, even in comparison to the great goalkeeper of the Italian squad. At work, everyone is talking about how the Russians are fast and skilled, like the Dutch or like Spain, but physically strong and team oriented like the Germans. I will cheer for Germany, or Turkey if they beat Germany, but the Russians I think are the team to fear at the moment. 2049385

2008-06-23T22:00:46-04:00

barkking

Sacramento 441898

Spain is not free from the monkey on their back unless they get to the final. They may have been if the opponent had a richer heritage. Russia is good, Their coach is great. But the 4-1 result earlier and the Russians lack of respect prior to this point will lead to this being considered another "choke" if Spain doesn't overcome. Germany is my favorite. I hope they play the way they did in the quarter final. That game is so much more attractive. Italy underperformed throughout. Maybe one good game. The coach should be ridden out of there. Find him a park bench to sit on with the French coach. Turkey is scary. It's like you can never take them seriously, but, for crying out loud... 2049107

2008-06-23T20:42:41-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/354/288/thumb/avatar.jpg 34 AK

ArcticAndy

Anchorage 354708

I'm sorry, but Dani G??iza screwed up more than just a penalty. He missed a sitter that Torres scores week in, week out for Liverpool, and attempted a ridiculous across goal shot from an absurd acute angle, when Torres would have done the simple thing and laid it on to Villa who was in the clear. If Torres was playing he would have scored or set up Villa to score and there would have been no penalties, simple as that. I've watched Torres play all season for Liverpool, and with the Italian defense finally crumbling, cringed every time Dani G??iza fluffed a chance that Torres could have scored with his eyes shut. Those that think Dani G??iza was the right man to take the field don't know what the hell they're talking about. Learn the sport and watch a few more games before you comment on someone you've obviously never seen play before this final. Fact is that Torres is a selfless player, and without him Villa doesn't score. Torres is quite happy for his partner to take the glory, which is what makes him the perfect foil for Villa. And scoring over 30 goals (in all competitions, 24 in the league) in a foreign country on your debut season shows what Torres can do with quality players supporting him. Hopefully Dani G??iza doesn't get to play again unless Torres or Villa are injured. I don't doubt the man is a good target figure for a certain type of football, but he lacks the finesse for the international game. There are countless examples of players that are tremendous at club level, but can't adapt to international football, and unfortunately Dani G??iza appears to be one of them. 2048655

2008-06-23T19:22:09-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/436/805/thumb/chargers218_51441.jpg 155 MS

Notorious O.T.T.

Hattiesburg 437245

forza azzurri mi cuolo....haha I think that at this point its a pointless conversation because cultural or not the azzurri will be flopping their way home now....thank god, negative soccer must be eliminated. The Italians did not come to play yesterday they came to survive, champions shouldn't be content to just squeek by. I think that calling the azzurri's performance in this tournament as anything other than a categorical embarassment is silly and people should stop making equivocations in their favor. The played ugly football, dirty football at times, they one exactly one game against an atrocious french team but otherwise stunk up the place. Good riddance and don't let the door hit you on the way out. 2048271

125

Three thoughts after Spain eliminated Italy on penalty kicks (after a scoreless tie) to set up a semifinal date against Russia: • After so much heartbreak over the decades, Spain deserved this. It wasn’t memorable soccer, but the result will be unforgettable for Spanish fans. Spain attacked more, created more chances and simply outplayed the Italians, who executed their defensive gameplan but sent almost nobody forward and generated only one really good scoring chance (when Mauro Camoranesi’s screamer was stopped by Iker Casillas in the 61st minute). Bottom line: the penalty-kick shootout gave the Spaniards yet another chance to cement their rep as chokers, but with the exception of Dani Güiza (see below) they showed no case of nerves and took their spot-kicks with a stunning sense of calm. Casillas earns my Man of the Match honors for his two diving saves on Daniele De Rossi and Antonio Di Natale. You can breathe now, Spain. Italy’s out. • Italy was a major disappointment today. Anytime a world champion decides that its primary strategy is to mass players behind the ball is a discouraging day for the sport. There’s no doubt that Italy was effective doing so, but I wish the Azzurri would have thrown outside backs Fabio Grosso and Gianluca Zambrotta forward more often. We know they’re capable of that (just look at the Romania game) and we know that Luca Toni is essentially worthless if they don’t, but it was clear that Roberto Donadoni was going conservative on us without Andrea Pirlo in the lineup and the Italians would let Spain bring the game to them. Then there’s Toni: the big target-man finishes Euro 2008 with zero goals in four games—and a serious question mark over whether he’s good enough to be a consistent scorer at this level on this team. • Dani Güiza should never come on for Fernando Torres again unless Torres needs to have his leg amputated. What was Luis Aragonés thinking when he took off Torres for Güiza in the 85th minute? Torres was still active and dangerous, and Güiza (as we learned in extra-time) was out of his depth. Just before penalties I told my pals Joel and Jon-Claud: I don’t know who’ll win, but I guarantee you Güiza will screw up—and Torres’s head will explode on the bench. Sure enough, Güiza botched his kick. (Unfortunately, we didn’t get a replay of Torres’s reaction, which would have been priceless.) Through-balls: Now Spain will get a rematch against Russia in the semifinals (nice job setting up the brackets, UEFA). But don’t draw too many lessons from Spain’s 4-1 opening-game blowout. Russia is a completely different team with Andrei Arshavin (who didn’t play in the first game), and Arshavin makes his teammates better, too. Spain will have to protect against overconfidence ... Spain’s David Silva is starting to grow on me. He was inches wide on two occasions today, and he has a boundless source of energy ... I know Donadoni has a contract beyond Euro 2008, but does anyone think his job will be in trouble over the Azzurri’s performance? It’s not like they set the world on fire in these four games ... I know soccer isn’t entertainment for most Italians, but it is for us neutrals. That’s why I’m a heck of a lot more excited for a Spain-Russia semi than I would have been for Russia-Italy ... Given the quick hooks for Xavi and Andrés Iniesta today, I’m wondering if either of their starting spots might be in jeopardy for the Russia game. Cesc in particular deserves consideration, if you ask me ... After 16 straight glorious days of soccer we’re finally getting a couple days off before the semifinals start on Wednesday. I don’t think I’ll know what to do with myself ... Just wondering: does anyone else see the shots of Aragonés gesticulating on the sidelines and think he’s just another old man saying: Get the !@#$ out of my yard!Do you think the monkey is finally off Spain’s back? Or will it only get worse if the Spaniards can’t knock off a Russian team that it beat 4-1 already? Who’s your favorite to win Euro 2008 now that we’re down to four teams: Germany, Spain, Turkey, Russia. Please post your comments below and make sure to come back on Wednesday for the next edition of the Euro 2008 Blog ...  1315 http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/194/315/thumb/wahl_grant.jpg 11 MD

Grant Wahl

Baltimore 194615