Another thing I noticed about the Dutch, only 1 of their players (van der Vaart, I think) shoots with both his left and right. The rest have to carry the ball to their right foot. This limits them a bit, I think.

2 clear mistakes by the referee. Two clear fouls by the Italians at the corner of the rectangle, the first one was inside the rectangle, thus a clear penalty. If the referee continues that way, Italy will win.
... and the referee gets a golden watch, made in Italy.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: MoselleLuxemburg,

Cagey first half, but Italy is playing with fire.

90 minutes of anti-game by the Italians. Nothing but defense.

quote:

Originally posted by MoselleLuxemburg:
90 minutes of anti-game by the Italians. Nothing but defense.

Smart, aren't they?

quote:

Originally posted by VT2IT:

quote:

Originally posted by MoselleLuxemburg:
90 minutes of anti-game by the Italians. Nothing but defense.

Smart, aren't they?

Yes. I hope it doesn't pay off though.

Penalties. Goodbye Spain

Well here comes the penalties. A brilliant game plan flawlessly executed by Italy. Now let's see if they can make it pay off.

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSS !
Welcome back Spain

siam'anchora campioni del mondo.

quote:

Originally posted by MoselleLuxemburg:
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSS !
Welcome back Spain

As much as I hate Aragones, I'm really happy to see those boring italians go home! Sweet !

When you don't have Pirlo in the midfield, you have no chance of offence. The Azzurri played 100% defence. They hoped for a PK win, but that's too risky a game plan.

quote:

Originally posted by Mezzo Litro:
When you don't have Pirlo in the midfield, you have no chance of offence. The Azzurri played 100% defence. They hoped for a PK win, but that's too risky a game plan.

I agree. It almost worked though. I'm surprised cause as good as Spain is during the 1st rounds of any competition they usually choke during later rounds. When extratime started I though Italy would win.

I'm curious as to why Donadoni did not give Toni or del Piero a PK before giving di Natale the nod.

Anyways, congratulations to Spain, and their fans. Good luck next round.

....

Horrible performance. Well, good defending for the most part (Chiellini is a monster), but at some point you need to put the ball in the back of the net. Italy fell back into their old ways, with very little attacking mindset. I yelled at the TV all game that Italy should attack the flanks and cross the ball in as they had a clear height advantage. They did it a couple times toward the end of regulation time, but that's it. Zambrotta, Grosso, Cassano, etc, needed to run toward the byline (all the way! don't stop when you get close to the 18-yard box!) and then cross in. This would have stretched the Spanish defense and freed up space for Toni (or someone with actual touch should they have made a substitution) to put the ball in the back of the next (and prevented the double-teaming of the striker in the box).

There was a complete lack of pace and creativity for Italy. Going to penalties is always a crapshoot, regardless of how things ended up in the World Cup. The weakest part of Buffon's game is saving penalties (yes, yes, I realize he made a miraculous same against Mutu earlier in the tournament), and his decision to let Spain shoot first was a massive error in judgment.

Casillas' save on De Rossi was fantastic, but what the hell was Di Natale thinking with that soft kick? Horrible placement, no power at all. Easy save.

Del Piero was set to take the 5th penalty in the first round. I also think they should have substituted him in at the beginning of extra time, not at the end just for the PKs. Toni would likely have taken a penalty later on should it have gone past the first 5.

This game was clearly the most boring of the entire tournament. It was ridiculously disappointing, especially after the excitement of the first three quarters. Italy deserved to lose that game. Donadoni will be fired, and rightfully so. He couldn't motivate his players, he made poor tactical decisions, and this comes from lack of experience at the club and international level. Yes, I realize you played for the Azzurri in World Cups and Euros, but it's a completely different thing to be behind the bench. I do not think the players respected Donadoni as a coach in the same way they respected Lippi, and that was a huge reason why they're going home.

Not impressed.

Also - I got all 4 picks in the quarters wrong. Nice. I think you'll see a Germany-Russia final. Russia looks damn good, especially with Arshavin in the form he is.

I am very happy Italy lost - their all defense performance was uninspired, terrible - I simply hate that kind of soccer - they looked like Greece -
The center backs did play great.

They were lucky to make it to penalties as Grosso especially got away with numerous fouls in and around the box that should have been penalties or at least free kicks like when he stomped on Silva.

As for VT2IT's complaints about Ronaldo diving - either you need to give it up or complain about your own players as Toni and Grosso put on a diving clinic yesterday. The Iniesta yellow was seriously ridiculous.

Italy can't play Toni up there alone with no support in my view- he lacks the pace or touch to cause any damage unless he is working off someone else and there was no one there yesterday.

Anyway, interesting final four for sure. Looks like Germany has a cakewalk to the finals unless Turkey's luck holds -

Italy's defense would have worked if the midfield could have gotten passes off to Toni timely,didn't happen. I don't care for defensive games like this.What a disappointing tournament for Toni.
I think Spain also got some bad ref calls but I think they played better than Italy and deserved the win.
At least Germany took care of business and won in 90 minutes.

quote:

Originally posted by thelostverse:

quote:

Originally posted by thelostverse:

quote:

Originally posted by futronic:
I think it's going to be Portugal, Croatia, Netherlands, and Italy.

That sounds about right.

Doh!

With the way I put the kiss of death on Portugal, I'd be nervous right now if I was rooting for Croatia, the Netherlands or Italy.

Nailed it. 0 for 4.

For the right price, I can put the kiss of death on any of the remaining teams.

Roberto Rosetti from Italy is the referee for the final on Sunday. I think he has been the best so far.

Normally a good no nonsense ref -

Go Germany

Looks as though the goalie for Turkey will have to sit out as appeal denied.

Nice to see Spain adnave, but on kicks only?

Semi-final picks: Germany in a cakewalk and Spain by the skin of their teeth. I would love to see Russia v Germany in the final put I just don't think they have the ability to finish as well as the Spanish. It should be a very entertaining up tempo game, the final most likely will not be.