Euro 2008 (include all discussions)

I think they are very different players, and Pirlo can offer something that Febragas don't and vice versa.

Originally Posted by Mystik

Sheesh Giancarlo before you start raging at least read the post properly. I didn't say he was better (although that is VERY arguable). Just to avoid controversy I said that he's AT LEAST at Pirlo's level. I didn't say he was better at all.

He's not at Pirlo's level.

Pirlo is a deep passer that delivers these passes I see no one else does. I think even Senna is better than Fabregas.

Fabregas is probably the only spanish player I like and probably the only one I think is not massively overrated (like their striker pair), rather he is a bit underrated. Not on Pirlo's level yet, but that's also partly because he is really young.

I'm so overrating Pirlo but watching him cry after he has been fundamental in: a WC win (MOM of the semifinal and the final), 2 CLs, a scudetto, a bronze olympic medal, a under 21 Euro win (and all the smaller trophies, supercoppas, and coppa Italia); he won me over.

At any rate, no matter our opinion on Fabregas... I really hope the displays improve from here. At least from Spain... they have my best wishes... but they really can't be as wasteful and poor as they were up front. Germany is on the up-swing and Russia has produced some beautiful football they did not have the first game.

Unlucky Italy. I dont think they played as badly as everyone is making it out to be. Penalties are likeing rolling the dice, you win some, you lose some. Good luck to Spain.

Who knows guys,we might get a Turkey VS Russia final---not that would be something!!

i disagree if there's someone says that Italy lost because they were playing bad. they reached their best for what the player could be. they missed the likes of Pirlo, Gattuso, Cannavaro but still could held Spain for penalty shoot out which is we all knew that Spain didnt lost their key players. so if Spain deserved to go to semifinal that was because theye were in better situation not better playing football. although i most admit that Spain more had penetrative (attacks) to Italy. but Italy had succesful held them. and penalty is proved nothing. but for sure both were awful last night. Aquilani couldnt replaced Pirlo's role so good. Italy for sure lacked the figure in midfield area. though i must underline that Chiellini was absolutely rocks and well of course Cassilas was superb ! for me this Euro 2008 has no more interest anymore since Italy and Holland are sent home

My opinion about the Italy-Spain match ...

Aragones didn't change anything, I think he has a team in his head and he will always do the same even if he loses ... a bit like Domenech with French NT !! He can't adapt to other teams, it's clear I think, he tries to play the same kind of football against Kazakstan and against Italy lol.

Donadoni had an average tactics ... the good thing is that he ruined the offensive power of Spain in that match (for most of this match).
But the worst mistake he made is the same that every coach seems to do when they have Pirlo in their team: he tried to litterally replace him. Aquilani was really useless in that match (as Perrotta) and my opinion (I was really rating him high) about him really decreased minute after minute !! Toni was useless but simply because there was noone to give him balls ... he ran for nothing for 120 minutes. Cassano had to come to the defense to take the ball.

Anyway, Chiellini and Buffon were superb tonight and I think we can be proud about these two guys, and of course it's a good point for future as Chiellini is still young !! When my brother, Juventus fan, told me 3 years ago that this guy was amazing, I laughed because I really thought he was horrible, but now, I have to admit that he is a superb player.

Anyway, again, Pirlo missed too much in that match ... and when Camoranesi missed his occasion by shooting on Casillas (HOW DID HE DO ?! lol), it was almostr the end for Italy as they had no occasions or almost.

And so, I have to ask to people: why Donadoni didn't take Montolivo or Rosina ?! I already complained before Euro about that but some people were not ok ...
Both would have been useful because they are able to pass in all positions and everywhere on the pitch (long passes or short passes).

Now this Euro has no interest for me ...

Originally Posted by MLM

i disagree if there's someone says that Italy lost because they were playing bad. they reached their best for what the player could be. they missed the likes of Pirlo, Gattuso, Cannavaro but still could held Spain for penalty shoot out which is we all knew that Spain didnt lost their key players. so if Spain deserved to go to semifinal that was because theye were in better situation not better playing football. although i most admit that Spain more had penetrative (attacks) to Italy. but Italy had succesful held them. and penalty is proved nothing. but for sure both were awful last night. Aquilani couldnt replaced Pirlo's role so good. Italy for sure lacked the figure in midfield area. though i must underline that Chiellini was absolutely rocks and well of course Cassilas was superb ! for me this Euro 2008 has no more interest anymore since Italy and Holland are sent home

We said almost the same things in 2 minutes ... are you my hidden twin ?

Don't you guys think if Toni was playing bad... maybe donadoni should have played one of the other strikers. Quagliarella and Borriello instead of Di Natale and Toni? I know some of you are indifferent about Borriello, but I bet you he would have at least been a tad bit better than how Toni was playing. Either way, Inzaghi would have been the best because he can score from impossible situations and DAMN DONADONI FOR NOT CALLING HIM UP... Aquiliani was lacking indeed... but at least if we had a better striker we would have had a better chance.

But then again I can't say we, because I'm totally divided here. I wish Spain wins this whole thing now, but realistically Germany will.

I know if Spain plays that bad it won't surprise me to see them defeated 4-0 by Russia. Marchena and Puyol are very lucky they were not tested that much... because they are garbage defenders.

Cassano and Del Piero were useless in Donadoni's tactics.
It was like they were ordered not to see much of the ball and their only task was to pass or cross the ball to Toni right after they get it. The wingers and the midfielders also had to put high balls in the box, hoping to find Toni's head and this way Cassano and Del Piero were even more wasted.

If Donadoni took Inzaghi, as practically everyone who follows football knew that he should, he would have a good sub for Toni (unlike Borriello. Donadoni didn't even dare to give him a chance because even out of form Toni is more to be trusted than Borriello) and with Inzaghi in the box Cassano/Del Piero would have seen more of the ball and the Italians could have played it on the ground instead of always looking for high balls.

.....................Inzaghi......................
.......Del Piero...............Cassano........
De Rossi............Pirlo.........Camoranesi

Now this team could play football, with the fox up front finishing off every given chance out of the many the midfielders and support strikers would create. De Rossi instead of Cassano/Del Piero when they need to defend the result and there you go.

Unfortunately, Donadoni didn't have the guts and he's shown that by playing what the newspapers were telling him to play.

Spain displayed positive football and although they were not playing as well as I'd hoped we did see the class players perform on a high level.

Italia were displayed. Donadoni can go home without a trophy and without shadow of doubt a blank check.

Russia will be next for the winner. Which is for the benefit of the tournament Spain who played positive and life confirming football aside from Italy who played defensive and tactical as always.

Spain displayed far from positive football. All they did was be extremely wasteful and their frontline was totally lacking creativity. Torres and Villa are so over-rated. At one point I called for Villa to join Milan, but I take that back.

Not to take any of the blame off the Italians, as they were guilty of the very same thing. Donadoni is done. Russia can easily beat Spain if Spain plays likat again. I don't give how the way Spain plays is positive. They've never won a world cup, and honestly I don't think ever will. They simply do not have what it takes to beat Russia, and then Germany.

It's like Donadoni basically ordered his players to strictly defend and take their chances at penalty kicks. It didn't work this time around.

Spain can win a World Cup. It is a matter of time before they do it. Do you have any clue how well the Spanish youth sector is working? Do you have any idea of how well organised their work with young talents proceed?

Spain played offensively well. Villa were creating spaces while Torres managed to do more offensively than Toni in the entire match.

I dont think Italy played that badly. I think both sides played fairly defensively and neither dared to attack too much or commit too many men forward. I thought Italy as a whole were solid, but lacked the cutting edge up front. Toni looked like he coudnt buy a goal and aside from the fullbacks putting crosses in, there wasnt much by way of service through the middle.

Either way, penalties are always a lottery. I'm now hoping Russia goes all the way and wins it, and Galliani has a secret deal with Arshavin and Ronaldinho was the smokescreen all along

Originally Posted by rt9

I think both sides played fairly defensively and neither dared to attack too much or commit too many men forward.

This is the game I watched. None dared to attack which makes it a very very boring match!