Euro 2008 (include all discussions)

you are welcome, Siregar

I was so surprized that De Rossi wasn't on the pitch. I think it would have made a great difference because Pirlo would have been able to go up and pick up the ball on the half way line instead of right in front of the defenders. De Rossi passes the ball great and can pick it up from the defenders while basing a great defensive wall with Gattuso as well. This is why Pirlo would have had a lot more freedom. Ambrosini was plain simple bad today as was Camoranesi who never got it going, although he was played more as a winger rather then a midfielder. The surprizing thing was that Toni was embarassing and never did anything the whole game. Never held up the ball well and when he got his only chance to score he embarassed himself by a horrible shot. I think he'll get better however and he'll score against the Romanians.

It's a horrible start but all Italy have to do now is beat Romania and hope that France doesn't beat or better yet loses against Holland. That way Italy will be in control of the last game against France.
It'll be exciting.

Originally Posted by Giancarlo

Yep. He thought wrong. If Belgium played poorly with three defensive midfielders, why did Donadoni try it? There wasn't enough creativity there. Even I can admit that. I mean Ambrosini might be good.. but not with two other defensive midfielders...

As I said many times before I like Ambro and Gatusso but I don't like to see them play at the same time. Not for Italy and not for Milan.
I do know some games it works perfectly (last inter game) but most of the time it doesn't work.
Italy does mis Nesta but I'm glad he didn't come back out of international retirement. He is way to important for Milan, he should rest enought given the fact he's got to play for milan for another 10 years or something

This thread is specific to talk about every game.

Originally Posted by Koeke

As I said many times before I like Ambro and Gatusso but I don't like to see them play at the same time. Not for Italy and not for Milan.
I do know some games it works perfectly (last inter game) but most of the time it doesn't work.
Italy does mis Nesta but I'm glad he didn't come back out of international retirement. He is way to important for Milan, he should rest enought given the fact he's got to play for milan for another 10 years or something

Too true. They are too much alike. Why wasn't Grosso out there in the back though? Barzagli was awful and Matrix was horrible... he should go the Serie C or something. Did Inter pay Donadoni to keep him on the national team? There is no excuse for this.

I mean for goodness sakes, the Milan-Inter game was a representation of Materazzi. Did DONADONI just not watch it? didn't he watch how bad materazzi was marking Milan players? I mean I'm sure Chiellini or Grosso would have been better..

The reason why the Ambrosini and Gattuso combo works more for Milan is because of the creativity in Kaka. Too bad Kaka is Brazilian.

Yeah too true about Nesta... I'm split on my decision on that one.

last nights games
Romania-France
0-0
Italy-the Netherlands
0-3

Toni did ok. He turned well.

YEs JIm that Pirlo's first FK, if gotten in, would be a CLASSIC. That would put VDS, whose position was all wrong, down a lot lol.

Originally Posted by Jeff

Toni did ok. He turned well.

YEs JIm that Pirlo's first FK, if gotten in, would be a CLASSIC. That would put VDS, whose position was all wrong, down a lot lol.

Pirlo played really well.

And if there is anything we should take from this game, is that to heart. Pirlo has service he can do for Milan. It's just his teammates were letting him down.

Na, finallya there is thread to discuss all games. Thank you Koeke to make this happen.

Romania - France didnt impress me and I took a snap during that match to be fit to watch the Italy - Netherland because I was so sleepy today.

Genius Donadoni put Gattuso-Pirlo-Ambrosini in midfield ... and they played like they did all this season with Milan: poorly. Pirlo missed almost everything except one single free kick, Gattuso seemed useless and Ambrosini too (if they were useful, why 3-0 ?).

Toni was so alone in front ... Di Natale didn't play like against Belgium (umh why ? "Only" Netherlands against Italy ?!) and I'm still asking to myself where Camoranesi was ...

I don't speak about defense, there was no defense.

I expect a better match against Romania to hope a qualification in a big match against France (I could invite my friends to watch this match, if Italy wins, I will be so happy and they will be so disappointed lol, but if France wins, I'll kick their asses out of my home).

Boring Euro day again !! The only change with the last 2 days was a good match tonight, no sorry, a good team on the pitch, Netherlands ...

hey GeoTav, how come you cheer against your country?

Originally Posted by Stitch

hey GeoTav, how come you cheer against your country?

You mean how can I be against France and for Italy ?
Look at the other topic "Whom do you support ?" I think or something like that ...

I'm starting to think I didn't watch the right game ...
I sincerely think that Pirlo did nothing amazing and missed too many passes and free-kicks/corners in that match, he also lost a ball by pushing too far his ball which could have given a goal to Netherlands.
Yes he was dangerous in one free-kick in first half I think (when I say dangerous, I even don't think so, to be honest, I think the free-kick Jeff wrote about, probably the one Pirlo tried to put directly in the goal whereas everybody thought it would be a pass but the effect pushed the ball too in left, wasn't dangerous) and in one free-kick in second half (saved by Van Der Sar).

Originally Posted by GeoTav

Genius Donadoni put Gattuso-Pirlo-Ambrosini in midfield ... and they played like they did all this season with Milan: poorly. Pirlo missed almost everything except one single free kick, Gattuso seemed useless and Ambrosini too (if they were useful, why 3-0 ?).

Toni was so alone in front ... Di Natale didn't play like against Belgium (umh why ? "Only" Netherlands against Italy ?!) and I'm still asking to myself where Camoranesi was ...

I don't speak about defense, there was no defense.

I expect a better match against Romania to hope a qualification in a big match against France (I could invite my friends to watch this match, if Italy wins, I will be so happy and they will be so disappointed lol, but if France wins, I'll kick their asses out of my home).

Boring Euro day again !! The only change with the last 2 days was a good match tonight, no sorry, a good team on the pitch, Netherlands ...

See my other post re: Pirlo, Gattuo and Ambro. Pirlo didn't miss evcerything; you really can't put the blame on our midfield today. It was the DC who needed to take 50% of the responsiblity today (the other goes to the referee).

It was other players who didn't perform; long passes from Defender who never reached the forward, who seldom managed to turn. It was lost through our AMC most of the time.

Then of coursey ou gotta give credit to the orange!

If there was one thing you can criticize our Milan trio it's their lack of creaitivty which, btw, belongs to di natalie (not as brilliant), camerosi (poor), and luca toni (that miss was bad but he did ok overall).

Honestly: From where you can see Netheland a good team judging before the first goal is puzzling. Italy and Netheland were on par by that point, and one bad mistake (or unfortunate episode that you seldom see in football, if not a mistake) by the referee cost the whole game momentum around.

Reminds me of the red-card against Lehmann when ARseanl playing against Barcelona in the final.

From goal.com:

The Real Madrid striker pounced on a razor sharp cross from Sneijder to tap in from close range.

Replay’s can clearly show the player in an offside position but Italy defender Christian Panucci was deemed by the linesman to have played Van Nistelrooy onside even though the stopper was off the pitch and down on the touchline with what seemed like an injury.

Nevertheless, the goal stood and Gussoni believes it was legitimate despite the whole of Italy going berzerk when it was allowed to stand.

“The linesman applied UEFA’s ruling 100 per cent,” said Gussoni.

“He evaluated Panucci’s position as the player who kept Van Nistelrooy onside.

“I thought it was offside but the replay showed Panucci off the pitch.”

The rules specify on whether or not a player leaves the field voluntarily or involuntarily in an attempt to play the striker offside.

But, in Panucci’s case, it is impossible to tell whether he left the pitch voluntarily or vice-versa.

“The sense of the rule is to avoid players leaving the pitch on purpose in an attempt to gain an advantage from playing the other player offside,” said Gussoni.

“Besides, Italy lost the game by more than one goal regardless of extrinsic factors.”

Italy were woeful on the night but they still have two life lines against Romania and France as they attempt to keep their Euro hopes alive in the group of death.


***

Now that explains. If that guy was injured out there it is still onside. Is the rule stupid? hell go ahead and judge. There is always a leeway in some rule, and this leeway proves to be decisive.