European Final: Italy v Spain

[DoomMerchant]

Was rooting for Italia, but you have to say to this point barring something so fantastical that Spain have really stepped up when it counted and played a beautiful game.

It's painful to say as well since I'm "Half Italian." Also, did i mention my mother is "Full Italian"?

cheers

[PeterParker]

Their football was good, but only tonight, they were boring as fuck this tournament. I have never liked Spain and if it wasen't Iniesta and Xavi, i would have hated this team.

They are good, i would give them that, but for them winning again will be a big blow for football.

Prandelli lost the game tonight, if you ask me. His changes were bizzare and you have now the example they will play 25 minutes with ten men.

[Cocacolajojo1]

a win for Spain today is a loss for football imo

Agree completely

[DoomMerchant]

Their football was good, but only tonight, they were boring as fuck this tournament. I have never liked Spain and if it wasen't Iniesta and Xavi, i would have hated this team.

They are good, i would give them that, but for them winning again will be a big blow for football.

Prandelli lost the game tonight, if you ask me. His changes were bizzare and you have now the example they will play 25 minutes with ten men.

why on earth is it a blow for football? FFS people are saying that quite a bit on here and on FB etc...it's one of the greatest teams in decades playing...football...on the floor...one-touch...jedi mind tricks passing fucking football. What is it you like to see in a match? Some cunt with a broad sword and a shield hacking fuckers in half to get into the penalty area and then an allegedly legendary overhead kick off his shin from an undeserved corner kick?

[Crossie]

Tika Takka?

Is that foreign for tippy tappy?!?

[bigblue]

fucking hate this arrogant ole shit

[mr_nool]

Their football was good, but only tonight, they were boring as fuck this tournament. I have never liked Spain and if it wasen't Iniesta and Xavi, i would have hated this team.

They are good, i would give them that, but for them winning again will be a big blow for football.

Prandelli lost the game tonight, if you ask me. His changes were bizzare and you have now the example they will play 25 minutes with ten men.

why on earth is it a blow for football? FFS people are saying that quite a bit on here and on FB etc...it's one of the greatest teams in decades playing...football...on the floor...one-touch...jedi mind tricks passing fucking football. What is it you like to see in a match? Some cunt with a broad sword and a shield hacking fuckers in half to get into the penalty area and then an allegedly legendary overhead kick off his shin from an undeserved corner kick?

Good post, mate! I wasn't blown away by Spain earlier in the competition, but it was more because they looked complacent and happy to pass the ball around just too keep the opponents to get it. Tonight they've stepped it up a notch, and it is beautiful to watch.

Oh, and tonight Spain show how all teams should have played against Italy - put a guy on Pirlo and their whole build up play is blown to pieces. I can't believe Germany didn't do that.

[Spurge]

stats at 66 mins just as motta went off and left italy down to 10


46% v 54% - posession to Italy
10 shots on goal for Spain 11 shots on goal for Italy
6 on target for each side
1 v 3 corners in favour of italy1

[PeterParker]

Their football was good, but only tonight, they were boring as fuck this tournament. I have never liked Spain and if it wasen't Iniesta and Xavi, i would have hated this team.

They are good, i would give them that, but for them winning again will be a big blow for football.

Prandelli lost the game tonight, if you ask me. His changes were bizzare and you have now the example they will play 25 minutes with ten men.

why on earth is it a blow for football? FFS people are saying that quite a bit on here and on FB etc...it's one of the greatest teams in decades playing...football...on the floor...one-touch...jedi mind tricks passing fucking football. What is it you like to see in a match? Some cunt with a broad sword and a shield hacking fuckers in half to get into the penalty area and then an allegedly legendary overhead kick off his shin from an undeserved corner kick?

Well, they won the last two, so it's a big boring. It's like going to a great movie (Euro/WC) but you know the ending.
Of course, no one is saying they aren't playing good, but it's the same scenario. And as i said, they didn't played the way they were in the last two, this year.

PS: I am a little involved here. I simply dislike them, always had and always will.

[mr_nool]

Slaughtered. It was sort of game over already by 2-0, but definitely when Italy went down to ten men.

[Swales4ever]

It's painful to say as well since I'm "Half Italian." Also, did i mention my mother is "Full Italian"?

cheers

Did I mention that I love - truly love - Your sense of humour? it sparkles and make me laugh even when I'm not prepared to.
lucky yours... a tad gay, me.

cheers

[Hazy2]

I wish England were this bad for football, Boring Boring Espania !

[Blue_Manc]

Goal made in London that 4th one. Cheeky Ramos

[PeterParker]

Mario was off to the dressing room.

[Swales4ever]

Their football was good, but only tonight, they were boring as fuck this tournament. I have never liked Spain and if it wasen't Iniesta and Xavi, i would have hated this team.

They are good, i would give them that, but for them winning again will be a big blow for football.

Prandelli lost the game tonight, if you ask me. His changes were bizzare and you have now the example they will play 25 minutes with ten men.

Mate,
You're right in spotting that Prandelli, once again, put a decent effort to bottle it, but the best team, more fresh, would have prevailed 9 out of 10 times. over the weaker and more tired ones. even if a more shrewd manager was in charge.
If he had started Balzaretti the first half would have ended tied, still hoping for some Mario's magic, but comes the last half an hour Cassano, Montolivo and probably Derossi would had faded for sure and the best team would have come up at the end. 9 out of 10.

glad proper football is getting sooner.

[Beefymcfc]

Mario was off to the dressing room.

Obviously needed a piss or needed to piss on someone.

Both teams have done well in their own right, nobody expected Italy in the final.

[CityFanFromRome]

Half of the Italian team got to the final whistle walking around the pitch, it was just normal that Spain would murder us. No manager could overcome this kind of tiredness against an opponent which makes its strength of running into space after moving the ball around to create those spaces to run into.

Still proud of my national team for having reached the final when nobody thought we could even go through the group stage.

[Hazy2]

Half of the Italian team got to the final whistle walking around the pitch, it was just normal that Spain would murder us. No manager could overcome this kind of tiredness against an opponent which makes its strength of running into space after moving the ball around to create those spaces to run into.

Still proud of my national team for having reached the final when nobody thought we could even go through the group stage.

your team has done itself proud, 2nd best to the best team of all time, your team also made England look like a clueless pub team, no disrepect to a pub team ! Oh nd Milner, Parker, Rooney would be subs for that team based on performances...

[Swales4ever]

Half of the Italian team got to the final whistle walking around the pitch, it was just normal that Spain would murder us. No manager could overcome this kind of tiredness against an opponent which makes its strength of running into space after moving the ball around to create those spaces to run into.

Still proud of my national team for having reached the final when nobody thought we could even go through the group stage.

I think I stated pretty the same - at half time.
still You should explain me what's worth in taking off Balotelli for an off-side prone dwarf vs. a very physical side like Croatia or starting an average and injuerd defender like Chiellini tonight.
Do think Fabregas would have overtaken Balzaretti to set up the first, let alone the other embarssments of covering showed by him in just 20 mins.
I won't expand on the Thiago Motta sub for country's sake.

[CitizenYank]

Was pulling for Mario and Italy all along. I am proud of how Balotelli played even as the match became more
and more one sided. Feel there pain. Have to give Spain credit though, they played their best when the
chips were down. Congrats to Silva.