Summer mercato 2012

[will4li]

This is the most beautiful italian team I've ever seen if not the best.they only lack a inzaghi kind finisher.

[xudong]

Definitely not the most beautiful Italian team I have seen. They are woefully missing any classy striker.

Definitely one of the worst England sides I have seen though. If not for Hodgson who was humble enough to play so defensively and pragmatically, England would have probably exited long before the group stage was over.

[sylrus]

england was doom since the beginning when cappelo resign from the post
italy on the other hand has surprise many people with their play
against germany will be tough though
germany is on top of their game right now

[Gabriel426]

Germany is playing where every teams in the world, barring Spain, wants to play.
Great movement, strong defense, quick direct play and with great finisher.

When you look at their bench in their last game, there were Podolski, Gomez, Muller, and Gotze. Anyone of them could walk into Italy and starts.

[ZvonimirBoban]

If it is not for last World Cup, I'd say it is the worst Italian team I've ever seen since I watched football (in short, for the last 18 years). But I'd be safe to say THIS IS THE WORST ENGLAND TEAM I'VE EVER SEEN, yes, including from their Euro 2008 miss. And England is my 2nd favorite national team (before my own national team).

[WCmilan]

Xudong, I disagree with you because I think England does have a strong team a lot of talented names, they just faced an Italy that doesn't look like they'll be getting beaten in this Euro, seriously it'll take luck or something special for any team to eliminate Italy at this point, we played a great game against spain and although im pretty sure they had more attempts on goal, ours were A LOT more devastating, and im talking about balotelli being able to almost walk the ball in the net but showing his lack of experience, or di natales volly from literally a few yards out.

In every game we've played so far other then Spain we've hopelessly outmatched our opponents in chances on goal.
Xudong, normally I agree with your posts but another thing I have to critisize on your post, not just because I'm italian is that you said we're missing any "classy" striker.. Maybe, but Di Natale is a proven 20+ goal/season scorer, he's been unlucky not to score more in this euro, Balotelli once he matures and stops being a child and is more intelligent infront of net will be one of the biggest threats in the world to any defense, where we also have borini,giovinco who are unlimited potentials, giovinco is just a matter of having a break through season, i think he'll proove his value with juventus over the next couple of seasons. Borini will be great for us, where in the future we could also look forward to ELS upfront, not to mention cassano as well who i don't consider a striker but rather a play maker. So lacking a classy striker isn't a problem here, you should've rephrased that to lacking a little bit of luck with all our opportunities and experience upfront because if you speak of class, our attack is full of it.

I think it's safe to say a midfield trio of de rossi pirlo marchisio is one of if not THE best in the world, if you compare to spain .. de rossi>busquets pirlo>xavi marchisio<iniesta.. they win one out of 3 if that were their midfield trio (just using there best players as an example) in defence we don't have the biggest names that we've had down the years such as zambrotta cannavaro or baresi maldini but as a unit they defend very well, ontop of this I'd like to say Buffon is definitely still one of if not the best GK in the world even at his old age.

Im not worried about germany, but wow diamanti has been impressive I'd like to sign him.. my new dream for our midfield is de rossi hands down he's been AMAZING

One thing i can say is that we do sort of lack depth..
Germanys always been in the favourites, they've always had that direct approach about their game.. but let's not forget the 06 world cup shall we
Germany does scare me, but im confident we won't be outplayed, a loss will be sad but as long as we go out with a good game which im confident of

[ZvonimirBoban]

Xudong, normally I agree with your posts but another thing I have to critisize on your post, not just because I'm italian is that you said we're missing any "classy" striker.. Maybe, but Di Natale is a proven 20+ goal/season scorer, he's been unlucky not to score more in this euro, Balotelli once he matures and stops being a child and is more intelligent infront of net will be one of the biggest threats in the world to any defense, where we also have borini,giovinco who are unlimited potentials, giovinco is just a matter of having a break through season, i think he'll proove his value with juventus over the next couple of seasons. Borini will be great for us, where in the future we could also look forward to ELS upfront, not to mention cassano as well who i don't consider a striker but rather a play maker. So lacking a classy striker isn't a problem here, you should've rephrased that to lacking a little bit of luck with all our opportunities and experience upfront because if you speak of class, our attack is full of it.

Maybe what xudong means is when we compare Borini, Di Natale, Balotelli, Diamanti with Zola, Casiraghi, Baggio, Signori (mid 90s) or Inzaghi, Totti, Del Piero, Vieri (2000s)... yeah, I'm sure you get my point.

I think it's safe to say a midfield trio of de rossi pirlo marchisio is one of if not THE best in the world, if you compare to spain .. de rossi>busquets pirlo>xavi marchisio<iniesta.. they win one out of 3 if that were their midfield trio (just using there best players as an example) in defence we don't have the biggest names that we've had down the years such as zambrotta cannavaro or baresi maldini but as a unit they defend very well, ontop of this I'd like to say Buffon is definitely still one of if not the best GK in the world even at his old age.

I'd pick current Germany midfield over Italy at any day... Netherlands are also good, Brazil, Argentina comparable. Defense and 'keeper, I think it's safe to agree with you.

[WCmilan]

Yeah, i wasn't offending or anything, anyone in our attack can't be compared to those players that's for sure but i mean we do have classy players borini and ELS in the future could come close to the del pieros and vieries and tottis of not too long ago, italy just hasn't been producing the same talent as they used to.

insigne els verrati and borini are our biggest prospects but other then them you can't think of many more for the future..
germany can look forward to players like gotze,schurrle and relatively a lot of the players in their starting line up now are young and have many years ahead of them, a lot of our best players are in their prime

[Gabriel426]

SO far, Italy is being Italy, they are beating teams they should. PK or not, Italy was the better team against England. TO me, England likes Italy is being England. The media hyped them so much that people forget they are just a good team with good players, there is nothing special about them. When you have guys like Milner and Parker as your starting mids, thats not a good team.

Back to Italy, I really don't know why people are surprised at Italy, beside Spain they have not faced any real opponents. I think the main concern about IT going into the Euro, has more to do with what if Spain crashes them in the first game and the whole team loses confidence....

Really can't wait for the Italy and Germany game, as both teams are probably playing at the best at the moment.

While the Spain and Portugal game will be great too.

Also, I would say Italy got one of the better mids in the world, not sure about being the best, as Germany mids are great and Spain are surreal, Brazil are great too(if they play like a team)...

[ZvonimirBoban]

SO far, Italy is being Italy, they are beating teams they should. PK or not, Italy was the better team against England. TO me, England likes Italy is being England. The media hyped them so much that people forget they are just a good team with good players, there is nothing special about them. When you have guys like Milner and Parker as your starting mids, thats not a good team.

Back to Italy, I really don't know why people are surprised at Italy, beside Spain they have not faced any real opponents. I think the main concern about IT going into the Euro, has more to do with what if Spain crashes them in the first game and the whole team loses confidence....

Really can't wait for the Italy and Germany game, as both teams are probably playing at the best at the moment.

While the Spain and Portugal game will be great too.

How I really wish Germany and Italy were in the finals. If only Spain and Portugal could just get lost somewhere else...