By popular demand I post up a video from "YouTube" ( hope they don't pull it down ) of the dramatic Spain - Italy semi final penalty shoot-out of the FIFA Confederations Cup. Most of us here in Spain had our hearts in out throats as both teams perfectly executed their penalties. Some like Busquets & Jesus Navas never took a penalty with Spain under theses circumstances.
Unfortunately for Italy,
Tampilkan postingan dengan label Italy. Tampilkan semua postingan
Tampilkan postingan dengan label Italy. Tampilkan semua postingan
Jumat, 28 Juni 2013
Kamis, 27 Juni 2013
FIFA CONFEDERATIONS CUP SEMI FINAL | SPAIN WINS ITALY 7 - 6 IN PENALTY SHOOT OUT
Spain has won Italy in a dramatic semi-final with a dramatic penalty shoot-out 7 - 6 after 120 minutes of extreme Football which ended in a 0 - 0 draw. Both sides took themselves & their rival to the limit & almost to complete exhaustion as the heat & humidity took its toll. The penalty shoot-out is a lottery &, the nerves of steel plus some luck are more a factor than Football in itself.
Selasa, 18 Juni 2013
ITALY 2 SPAIN 4 | UEFA U - 21 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL RESULT
The Spanish U-21 National Football Team has won the UEFA U-21 European Championship held in Israel after defeating Italy 2 - 4 in the Final. This a a back to back Final win as they were reigning European Champions coming into this tournament. The Spanish youngsters demonstrated that Spanish Football has a great future, that there are plenty of top class players in the pipeline & that some will be
Sabtu, 30 Juni 2012
Spain seek a third fiesta in Kiev
UEFA EURO 2012 FINAL: ITALY v SPAIN
Olympic Stadium Kiev, 19:45 BST
Stopping Pirlo the great dictator must be at the back of Spanish minds on the eve of the Euro 2012 final.
While the world champions appear to follow the Brian Clough maxim 'let them worry about us', their sub-par first half against Portugal when their Iberian neighbours upset their rhythm must have given them pause for thought.
And Vicente Del Bosque cannot have failed to notice how the Juventus playmaker dismantled England and Germany from deep, playing telling through-balls and releasing Italy's two trigger-happy strikers Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano to shoot on sight.
Cesc Fabregas admitted as much.
"Our mission has to be to deactivate the two forwards and Pirlo," he said. "If we manage to resolve those problems we will have possibilities to win the final."
Spain playing to spoil first and win later - who would have thought it? While Jurgen Klinsmann raged at the German midfield's failure to shut down Italy's creative force, Gianluca Vialli reassured him that teams have been trying but failing to silence Pirlo for years.
There is no magic formula. Just look how elegantly Pirlo strokes the ball around, so assured and calm under pressure. That is no accident. He has been around at the highest level too long to be taken out of the game easily.
It is hard to think Spain will want to remove a man from their own system to glue himself to Pirlo, but equally Xabi Alonso, Sergio Busquets and Xavi will be tearing the ground to close the Italian 'regista' down.
Sergio Ramos added, "His game is similar to Xavi's. They are two really great players but we must not centre in only on him because Italy has more danger with its two strikers or coming in from the wings. We have to weigh up their game as a whole."
Stick to Pirlo and Daniele De Rossi, Claudio Marchisio or Riccardo Montolivo will pull the strings instead. Better to keep tabs on them all.
The meeting of the sides in the group stage was an engrossing clash of styles which bodes well for the rematch in Kiev. In the final we do not expect Italy to play so defensively as they did in their first game, when avoiding defeat against the holders was deemed an achievement. Nevertheless, the Italian breakaway goal hinted of the hidden potential that came to the fore in the semi-final against Germany. Espana beware.
Spain have never resolved their striking dilemma - play a Fernando Torres dragging markers with his runs but still not firing on all cylinders and missing chances , Fabregas as a 'false No.9' loitering in the hole and rushing in as the tiki-taka wave breaks, or (less likely) throw in a big man in Fernando Llorente or Alvaro Negredo, who failed to impress when handed his chance against Portugal.
Scrapping for space in the middle is where the game will swing one way or the other. Italy played Spain in Gdansnk with a cautious 3-5-2 formation, but point gained, switched into 4-1-3-2 from then on with Pirlo anchoring a midfield diamond.
Alonso and his distribution is as close as Spain gets to a Pirlo, while Barcelona boys Andres Iniesta and Xavi will do the lion's share of the tiki-taka. Fabregas and David Silva up front present real danger to the Azzurri and combined to deadly effect against them already in Gdansk.
One advantage Italy seems to have is in fitness. Prior to entering Euro 2012, Italy's squad had played an average of eight games less than Spain's and Cesare Prandelli's men have looked fresher than all their opponents in Euro 2012. Spain have seemed lethargic at times but will be encouraged by the second wind they found in extra-time against Portugal.
If they can make their tiki-taka work and keep the ball, Italy will be chasing the game for long spells and any difference in the tanks will soon be equalised. Spain are more predictable than Italy: They will pass short through the middle and creep up in numbers before releasing the killer shot. They have no Plan B beyond throwing on wide man Jesus Navas, but Plan A works fine enough.
The Italians will be studying the teams who have put La Roja under pressure in the tournament already, mulling over whether to play a waiting game as Croatia and the Azzurri themselves did, or press high up the pitch from the off and put them on the back foot like Portugal. They know Croatia, France, Ireland and Portugal all failed to score against Spain, while Antonio Di Natale beat Iker Casillas in Gdansk.
Spain only drew but out-passed Italy 780 to 426 in that game and won 65% of possession, a familiar story.
Too much caution like the French showed will not work, but that particular team was also consumed by in-fighting before it took the field. The Azzurri enter the final buoyed by their dismissal of the much-fancied Germans.
These two nations are both Latin in origin, have similar climates, location and languages but very different football traditions. The Euro 2008 quarter-final between the two saw Spain's passing paradise overcome the native defensiveness of the land of catenaccio.
Since then, Italy have opened up in style while Spain have persisted with tiki-taka and added the world crown. 'La Roja' are less flamboyant and at times a little more sluggish than four years ago, so many watchers are waiting for their hegemony to crack. At Euro 2012 they have averaged 58 passes per shot compared to 33 four years ago. But while the pocket dynamoes Iniesta and Xavi cannot run forever, reports of the current crop's demise have been greatly exaggerated.
A win for Spain will etch their name in the pantheon of super sides. No nation has retained the European Championship or won three consecutive major tournaments before. Already historic for a double trophy capture and creating one of football's greatest playing styles, the Spaniards are one game from undoubted immortality.
Watching the Euros in Spain has been exciting and a blessed relief from the wall-to-wall coverage of 'la crisis'. With state borrowing crippling the economy, property values have halved, a quarter of the workforce is unemployed and many are thinking of emigrating as the government pleads for bailout cash from the European Union.
Walk around any Spanish town however and La Roja is everywhere on billboards and in-store promotions. Bread and circuses it may be, but the people need a break from the harsh reality. Once the games have finished, they switch channels and it's bad news 24/7 once more.
Even if La Seleccion win Euro 2012, tomorrow the real Spanish struggle resumes. The people are well aware of this and are enjoying the escapism while they can, donning red and yellow in the hope of one last football fiesta.
Possible Teams:
SPAIN: 4-2-1-3 - Casillas, Arbeloa, Alba, Pique, Ramos, Busquets, Alonso, Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Silva.
ITALY: 4-1-3-2: Buffon, Abate, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, Marchisio, Pirlo, De Rossi, Montolivo, Balotelli, Cassano.
(c) Sean O'Conor & Soccerphile
Olympic Stadium Kiev, 19:45 BST
Stopping Pirlo the great dictator must be at the back of Spanish minds on the eve of the Euro 2012 final.
While the world champions appear to follow the Brian Clough maxim 'let them worry about us', their sub-par first half against Portugal when their Iberian neighbours upset their rhythm must have given them pause for thought.
And Vicente Del Bosque cannot have failed to notice how the Juventus playmaker dismantled England and Germany from deep, playing telling through-balls and releasing Italy's two trigger-happy strikers Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano to shoot on sight.
Cesc Fabregas admitted as much.
"Our mission has to be to deactivate the two forwards and Pirlo," he said. "If we manage to resolve those problems we will have possibilities to win the final."
Spain playing to spoil first and win later - who would have thought it? While Jurgen Klinsmann raged at the German midfield's failure to shut down Italy's creative force, Gianluca Vialli reassured him that teams have been trying but failing to silence Pirlo for years.
There is no magic formula. Just look how elegantly Pirlo strokes the ball around, so assured and calm under pressure. That is no accident. He has been around at the highest level too long to be taken out of the game easily.
It is hard to think Spain will want to remove a man from their own system to glue himself to Pirlo, but equally Xabi Alonso, Sergio Busquets and Xavi will be tearing the ground to close the Italian 'regista' down.
Sergio Ramos added, "His game is similar to Xavi's. They are two really great players but we must not centre in only on him because Italy has more danger with its two strikers or coming in from the wings. We have to weigh up their game as a whole."
Stick to Pirlo and Daniele De Rossi, Claudio Marchisio or Riccardo Montolivo will pull the strings instead. Better to keep tabs on them all.
The meeting of the sides in the group stage was an engrossing clash of styles which bodes well for the rematch in Kiev. In the final we do not expect Italy to play so defensively as they did in their first game, when avoiding defeat against the holders was deemed an achievement. Nevertheless, the Italian breakaway goal hinted of the hidden potential that came to the fore in the semi-final against Germany. Espana beware.
Spain have never resolved their striking dilemma - play a Fernando Torres dragging markers with his runs but still not firing on all cylinders and missing chances , Fabregas as a 'false No.9' loitering in the hole and rushing in as the tiki-taka wave breaks, or (less likely) throw in a big man in Fernando Llorente or Alvaro Negredo, who failed to impress when handed his chance against Portugal.
Scrapping for space in the middle is where the game will swing one way or the other. Italy played Spain in Gdansnk with a cautious 3-5-2 formation, but point gained, switched into 4-1-3-2 from then on with Pirlo anchoring a midfield diamond.
Alonso and his distribution is as close as Spain gets to a Pirlo, while Barcelona boys Andres Iniesta and Xavi will do the lion's share of the tiki-taka. Fabregas and David Silva up front present real danger to the Azzurri and combined to deadly effect against them already in Gdansk.
One advantage Italy seems to have is in fitness. Prior to entering Euro 2012, Italy's squad had played an average of eight games less than Spain's and Cesare Prandelli's men have looked fresher than all their opponents in Euro 2012. Spain have seemed lethargic at times but will be encouraged by the second wind they found in extra-time against Portugal.
If they can make their tiki-taka work and keep the ball, Italy will be chasing the game for long spells and any difference in the tanks will soon be equalised. Spain are more predictable than Italy: They will pass short through the middle and creep up in numbers before releasing the killer shot. They have no Plan B beyond throwing on wide man Jesus Navas, but Plan A works fine enough.
The Italians will be studying the teams who have put La Roja under pressure in the tournament already, mulling over whether to play a waiting game as Croatia and the Azzurri themselves did, or press high up the pitch from the off and put them on the back foot like Portugal. They know Croatia, France, Ireland and Portugal all failed to score against Spain, while Antonio Di Natale beat Iker Casillas in Gdansk.
Spain only drew but out-passed Italy 780 to 426 in that game and won 65% of possession, a familiar story.
Too much caution like the French showed will not work, but that particular team was also consumed by in-fighting before it took the field. The Azzurri enter the final buoyed by their dismissal of the much-fancied Germans.
These two nations are both Latin in origin, have similar climates, location and languages but very different football traditions. The Euro 2008 quarter-final between the two saw Spain's passing paradise overcome the native defensiveness of the land of catenaccio.
Since then, Italy have opened up in style while Spain have persisted with tiki-taka and added the world crown. 'La Roja' are less flamboyant and at times a little more sluggish than four years ago, so many watchers are waiting for their hegemony to crack. At Euro 2012 they have averaged 58 passes per shot compared to 33 four years ago. But while the pocket dynamoes Iniesta and Xavi cannot run forever, reports of the current crop's demise have been greatly exaggerated.
A win for Spain will etch their name in the pantheon of super sides. No nation has retained the European Championship or won three consecutive major tournaments before. Already historic for a double trophy capture and creating one of football's greatest playing styles, the Spaniards are one game from undoubted immortality.
Watching the Euros in Spain has been exciting and a blessed relief from the wall-to-wall coverage of 'la crisis'. With state borrowing crippling the economy, property values have halved, a quarter of the workforce is unemployed and many are thinking of emigrating as the government pleads for bailout cash from the European Union.Walk around any Spanish town however and La Roja is everywhere on billboards and in-store promotions. Bread and circuses it may be, but the people need a break from the harsh reality. Once the games have finished, they switch channels and it's bad news 24/7 once more.
Even if La Seleccion win Euro 2012, tomorrow the real Spanish struggle resumes. The people are well aware of this and are enjoying the escapism while they can, donning red and yellow in the hope of one last football fiesta.
Possible Teams:
SPAIN: 4-2-1-3 - Casillas, Arbeloa, Alba, Pique, Ramos, Busquets, Alonso, Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Silva.
ITALY: 4-1-3-2: Buffon, Abate, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, Marchisio, Pirlo, De Rossi, Montolivo, Balotelli, Cassano.
(c) Sean O'Conor & Soccerphile
Jumat, 29 Juni 2012
Azzurri blitz will worry Spain
The Italian renaissance.
Last night Germany, a team tipped by so many for glory, succumbed to the blue surge which threatens to run away with the cup itself. Euro 2012 was supposed to end in a Germany v Spain final. The Italians have sneaked in the back door.
Having entered Euro 2012 under the shadow of yet another match-fixing scandal, with police hauling away defender Domenico Criscito from the squad for questioning, the Azzurri now find themselves a game from glory with another chance to get the better of Spain.
Big players step up to the big occasions and despite the 21 year-old's instability, the smouldering volcano that is Mario Balotelli justified his 'Super' prefix with a double whammy of goals in the first half, the second despatched with such aplomb it looked every inch a killer blow.
Joachim Low's proteges, brimming with confidence and scaring the continent before kick-off, found themselves two down after 36 minutes and in deep trouble. This was not in the script. Germany had been plunged into unfamiliar territory and knew not how to chase the game. Shellshocked, they never recovered and the penalty scored by the normally matchwinning Mesut Ozil in injury time was scant consolation.
Forza Azzurri, the team the Germans cannot beat (1970, 1982, 2006, 2012...). Eight games and counting, the white shirts have failed to beat the blue. The echoes of 2006 grow louder every day. The scandal, the low expectations, the siege mentality, the hard work and discipline and the team's sleek progress to the final. Label them underdogs and they will run like greyhounds out of the traps.
While Balotelli's sucker punches have thrilled and the elegant playmaking of Andrea Pirlo, an Indian summer made in Italy, has charmed Europe, coach Cesare Prandelli remains as much an ace in the pack.
Little known outside Italy beforehand, the former Fiorentina 'c.t.' (manager) has cut an assured figure on the touchline, always on his feet, applauding and encouraging his players, directing proceedings like a conductor and never looking flustered.
Another lynchpin of the eleven has been Gianluigi Buffon, whose deep-set eyes and forbidding visage belie his 34 years as much as Pirlo's wizened looks belie his 33. It is no coincidence the two affect the game so much.
Like Pirlo, Buffon is evergreen too, employing his reflexes at key moments to prevent scores and ensuring his back four know there is another awesome line of defence behind them.
Buffon left the Warsaw field after the semi-final cursing missed chances instead of toasting victory. The whole squad looked humbled when they visited Auschwitz earlier this month, but the goalkeeper seemed deepest in thought. The custodian of the team is also its most earnest member.
Italy's calcio culture is so intense the national team should never be underrated. Serie A has been the benchmark for high intensity training and tactics for decades. And while English and Spanish clubs have stolen marches on the Italian dominance of the 1990s, the model preparation and professionalism of Italian sides remains.
While the Azzurri's eleven may not measure up as individuals to Spain's, their team spirit and collective unit is as strong as anyone's. Few tipped them for World Cup glory in 2006 but their awe-inspiring swatting of the host nation in the semi-final convinced any doubters.
When Spain and Italy met in their opening fixture in Euro 2012, the contrast in styles was fascinating. Italy bowed to Spain and let tiki-taka dictate the play, but their backline held firm. When Pirlo found Antonio Di Natale with one of his clinical insertions and the Udinese striker found the net, a daylight robbery was on the cards. Counter-attacking par excellence: Soak up the pressure until the opposition gets frustrated then strike on the counter to leave them dazed and confused.
Spain were not about to lie down however and Cesc Fabregas equalised five minutes later; honours were shared. Both sides left with bones to pick, neither having succumbed. Sunday's final offers Spain the unprecedented chance to add a third consecutive crown and retain the European Championship trophy they won in Vienna in 2008, an offer they cannot refuse. All they have to do is beat the team that dumped out Germany.
The attack-minded La Roja were better than the defensive Italy in Gdansk, but failed to win the contest. For all Spain's talent and ingenuity, the Azzurri's breathtaking assassination in Warsaw means the holders will enter Kiev's Olympic Stadium unsure of keeping hold of their cup.
Italy v Spain - two great footballing nations clash with the European Championship the prize.
Sunday's derby of the Mediterranean looks too close to call.
ITALY (probable): 4-3-1-2: Buffon, Abate, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, Marchisio, Pirlo, De Rossi, Montolivo, Balotelli, Cassano.
(c) Sean O'Conor & Soccerphile
Tags
Euro 2012 football
Last night Germany, a team tipped by so many for glory, succumbed to the blue surge which threatens to run away with the cup itself. Euro 2012 was supposed to end in a Germany v Spain final. The Italians have sneaked in the back door.
Having entered Euro 2012 under the shadow of yet another match-fixing scandal, with police hauling away defender Domenico Criscito from the squad for questioning, the Azzurri now find themselves a game from glory with another chance to get the better of Spain.
Big players step up to the big occasions and despite the 21 year-old's instability, the smouldering volcano that is Mario Balotelli justified his 'Super' prefix with a double whammy of goals in the first half, the second despatched with such aplomb it looked every inch a killer blow.
Joachim Low's proteges, brimming with confidence and scaring the continent before kick-off, found themselves two down after 36 minutes and in deep trouble. This was not in the script. Germany had been plunged into unfamiliar territory and knew not how to chase the game. Shellshocked, they never recovered and the penalty scored by the normally matchwinning Mesut Ozil in injury time was scant consolation.
Forza Azzurri, the team the Germans cannot beat (1970, 1982, 2006, 2012...). Eight games and counting, the white shirts have failed to beat the blue. The echoes of 2006 grow louder every day. The scandal, the low expectations, the siege mentality, the hard work and discipline and the team's sleek progress to the final. Label them underdogs and they will run like greyhounds out of the traps.
While Balotelli's sucker punches have thrilled and the elegant playmaking of Andrea Pirlo, an Indian summer made in Italy, has charmed Europe, coach Cesare Prandelli remains as much an ace in the pack. Little known outside Italy beforehand, the former Fiorentina 'c.t.' (manager) has cut an assured figure on the touchline, always on his feet, applauding and encouraging his players, directing proceedings like a conductor and never looking flustered.
Another lynchpin of the eleven has been Gianluigi Buffon, whose deep-set eyes and forbidding visage belie his 34 years as much as Pirlo's wizened looks belie his 33. It is no coincidence the two affect the game so much.
Like Pirlo, Buffon is evergreen too, employing his reflexes at key moments to prevent scores and ensuring his back four know there is another awesome line of defence behind them.
Buffon left the Warsaw field after the semi-final cursing missed chances instead of toasting victory. The whole squad looked humbled when they visited Auschwitz earlier this month, but the goalkeeper seemed deepest in thought. The custodian of the team is also its most earnest member.
Italy's calcio culture is so intense the national team should never be underrated. Serie A has been the benchmark for high intensity training and tactics for decades. And while English and Spanish clubs have stolen marches on the Italian dominance of the 1990s, the model preparation and professionalism of Italian sides remains.
While the Azzurri's eleven may not measure up as individuals to Spain's, their team spirit and collective unit is as strong as anyone's. Few tipped them for World Cup glory in 2006 but their awe-inspiring swatting of the host nation in the semi-final convinced any doubters.
When Spain and Italy met in their opening fixture in Euro 2012, the contrast in styles was fascinating. Italy bowed to Spain and let tiki-taka dictate the play, but their backline held firm. When Pirlo found Antonio Di Natale with one of his clinical insertions and the Udinese striker found the net, a daylight robbery was on the cards. Counter-attacking par excellence: Soak up the pressure until the opposition gets frustrated then strike on the counter to leave them dazed and confused.
Spain were not about to lie down however and Cesc Fabregas equalised five minutes later; honours were shared. Both sides left with bones to pick, neither having succumbed. Sunday's final offers Spain the unprecedented chance to add a third consecutive crown and retain the European Championship trophy they won in Vienna in 2008, an offer they cannot refuse. All they have to do is beat the team that dumped out Germany.The attack-minded La Roja were better than the defensive Italy in Gdansk, but failed to win the contest. For all Spain's talent and ingenuity, the Azzurri's breathtaking assassination in Warsaw means the holders will enter Kiev's Olympic Stadium unsure of keeping hold of their cup.
Italy v Spain - two great footballing nations clash with the European Championship the prize.
Sunday's derby of the Mediterranean looks too close to call.
ITALY (probable): 4-3-1-2: Buffon, Abate, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, Marchisio, Pirlo, De Rossi, Montolivo, Balotelli, Cassano.
(c) Sean O'Conor & Soccerphile
Tags
Euro 2012 football
Senin, 25 Juni 2012
Italian stallions break the English resistance
England v Italy was expected to be the least entertaining of the quarter-finals and so it proved.
A largely turgid tale of massed English defending and missed Italian chances was put out of its misery by a penalty shoot-out, won 4-2 by the Azzurri, after Ashleys Cole and Young fluffed their spot-kicks for England.
Pre-match expectations of a level playing-field seemed correct as Italy struck the woodwork in the opening minutes through Daniele De Rossi and Glen Johnson almost netted at the other end. England had some delightful touches, but as the first half wore on Italy began to control the midfield.
The second half and extra-time saw Italy firmly bossing the game and England reverting to a siege mentality. England's two banks of four and one forward tracking back resembled table football in its rigid formation, but succeeded in not conceding. The Three Lions offered no attacking threat to Italy as recompense and Gianluigi Buffon enjoyed a pleasant summer evening in Kiev. Penalties were certain.
Andrea Pirlo was by far the best player of the evening, his telegraphed passes and elegant playmaking a joy to admire. Italy used the flanks well, Ignazio Abate whipping in dangerous crosses, while Mario Balotelli sprang the England offside trap on a number of occasions. Riccardo Montolivo was a roving danger, while subsitutes Alessandro Diamante and Antonio Nocerino proved more effective than England's Andy Carroll and Theo Walcott.
For the Three Lions, Joe Hart's acrobatics and John Terry's lionheart defending saved many a goal and Steven Gerrard ran his socks off as usual, but Glen Johnson made some key errors and Ashley Young again was anonymous, as if the switch from Fabio Capello's 4-3-2-1 to Roy Hodgson's 4-4-2 has unnerved England's best player from qualifying.
England were afraid of committing men upfield, which left their players isolated when they won the ball, leading to yet more Italian possession.
Italy looked a little fitter, but extra-time and two days less rest than Germany may tell come Thursday's semi-final.
That said, a well-drilled Italian team with some dangerous elements should not be written off, no more than their World Cup winning teams of 1982 and 2006 should have been in the opening rounds of those competitions.
For Hodgson, the real work starts now with overseeing the national training centre project, 2014 World Cup qualification and hopefully, an overhaul of the national playing style. England have fallen short so many times playing their natural attacking game it was time to try a different approach.
For the first time, England approached a tournament with low public expectations and playing safety first, if not catenaccio, aiming for penalties by the knock-out stages. But against Italy they failed to apply Walcott's speed on the counter while their other flying wingman Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was left on the bench. The statistics for passing and possession tell a shocking story. Plan B worked up to a point.
Going forward, England will have to open up, pass more and hold the ball longer. Jack Wilshere is hopefully the first of a new generation to have learnt this.
An exit is always depressing, but England should take inspiration from Germany, who were abject at Euro 2000 but overhauled their country's coaching and brought through a new generation of players to become the awesome team they are in 2012.
Semi-Finals
Weds, Donetsk: Portugal v Spain
Thu, Warsaw: Germany v Italy
(c) Sean O'Conor & Soccerphile
Tags
Euro 2012 football
A largely turgid tale of massed English defending and missed Italian chances was put out of its misery by a penalty shoot-out, won 4-2 by the Azzurri, after Ashleys Cole and Young fluffed their spot-kicks for England.
Pre-match expectations of a level playing-field seemed correct as Italy struck the woodwork in the opening minutes through Daniele De Rossi and Glen Johnson almost netted at the other end. England had some delightful touches, but as the first half wore on Italy began to control the midfield.
The second half and extra-time saw Italy firmly bossing the game and England reverting to a siege mentality. England's two banks of four and one forward tracking back resembled table football in its rigid formation, but succeeded in not conceding. The Three Lions offered no attacking threat to Italy as recompense and Gianluigi Buffon enjoyed a pleasant summer evening in Kiev. Penalties were certain.
Andrea Pirlo was by far the best player of the evening, his telegraphed passes and elegant playmaking a joy to admire. Italy used the flanks well, Ignazio Abate whipping in dangerous crosses, while Mario Balotelli sprang the England offside trap on a number of occasions. Riccardo Montolivo was a roving danger, while subsitutes Alessandro Diamante and Antonio Nocerino proved more effective than England's Andy Carroll and Theo Walcott.
For the Three Lions, Joe Hart's acrobatics and John Terry's lionheart defending saved many a goal and Steven Gerrard ran his socks off as usual, but Glen Johnson made some key errors and Ashley Young again was anonymous, as if the switch from Fabio Capello's 4-3-2-1 to Roy Hodgson's 4-4-2 has unnerved England's best player from qualifying.
England were afraid of committing men upfield, which left their players isolated when they won the ball, leading to yet more Italian possession.
Italy looked a little fitter, but extra-time and two days less rest than Germany may tell come Thursday's semi-final.
That said, a well-drilled Italian team with some dangerous elements should not be written off, no more than their World Cup winning teams of 1982 and 2006 should have been in the opening rounds of those competitions.
For Hodgson, the real work starts now with overseeing the national training centre project, 2014 World Cup qualification and hopefully, an overhaul of the national playing style. England have fallen short so many times playing their natural attacking game it was time to try a different approach.
For the first time, England approached a tournament with low public expectations and playing safety first, if not catenaccio, aiming for penalties by the knock-out stages. But against Italy they failed to apply Walcott's speed on the counter while their other flying wingman Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was left on the bench. The statistics for passing and possession tell a shocking story. Plan B worked up to a point.
Going forward, England will have to open up, pass more and hold the ball longer. Jack Wilshere is hopefully the first of a new generation to have learnt this.
An exit is always depressing, but England should take inspiration from Germany, who were abject at Euro 2000 but overhauled their country's coaching and brought through a new generation of players to become the awesome team they are in 2012.
Semi-Finals
Weds, Donetsk: Portugal v Spain
Thu, Warsaw: Germany v Italy
(c) Sean O'Conor & Soccerphile
Tags
Euro 2012 football
Senin, 04 Juni 2012
Euro 2012: Italy up against it again
*The last time Italy entered a tournament in crisis was in 2006 at the height of the Calciopoli scandal, when the dark side of that nation's football showed its face in daylight again.Gli Azzurri traveled to the World Cup in Germany under a cloud but came home with the trophy.
1980 saw another match-fixing expose, Totonero, blacken the name of calcio. Yet Italy ended up winning the 1982 World Cup, thanks in no small part to six goals from striker Paolo Rossi, who only appeared because his three-year ban in the wake of Totonero had been reduced to two on appeal.
Euro 2012 coach Cesare Prandelli will be hoping a similar siege mentality envelops his squad and that this time around they can draw on the same hidden reserves of strength which carried Enzo Bearzot's and Marcello Lippi's elevens to their famous triumphs. The latest calcioscomesse (match-fixing) scandal has already claimed the scalp of Italy left-back Domenico Criscito and there was more bad news today when centre-back Andrea Barzagli was ruled out of the group stage with a thigh injury.
Italy might appear a perennial giant but are more of an enigma. At times they sink without trace unexpectedly (Euro '96, Euro 2004) or else sweep to the final when no-one foresees it (Spain '82, USA '94 or Germany 2006). There is definitely something special about those blue shirts and tournaments, but the Azzurri do not have a midas touch. Just look at how they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in the dying seconds of the Euro 2000 final.
With less than a week to go before Euro 2012, Italy's preparations are as troubled as ever. Friday's 3-0 defeat to Russia in Zurich was their third loss in a row, after home defeats to Uruguay and the USA. It was also their third game without scoring a goal, despite the attacking talents of Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano.The combustible Balotelli limped out of training today and last week confirmed his highly-strung soul when he promised to "kill" any banana-throwing racists he comes across in Eastern Europe and go to jail if necessary.
Italy the nation is also in choppy water amid deep economic gloom and the unedifying spectacle of an unelected technocratic government, after the ineffable Silvio Berlusconi finally relinquished his grip on power last November. The national team carry an even bigger burden than usual on their backs. Football can take people's minds off a recession and the soccer-mad Italian press will not miss a beat during Euro 2012.
A win in Kiev for the Azzurri and the nation buys itself some time.
So business as usual for the much-maligned traditional slow-starters to tournaments, who often end up having the last laugh by winning them.
And if Italy were in any doubt about what happens when the going gets tough, the Azzurri kick-off in Gdansk on Sunday with the small matter of a Mediterranean derby against reigning European champions and World Cup holders Spain.
(c) Sean O'Conor & Soccerphile
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Euro 2012 football
Jumat, 09 September 2011
Serie A Calcio 2011-2012 Season Preview
Italian Football
With the threat of industrial action on the part of the playing staff in Italy now averted, Serie A returns with AC Milan v Lazio at Molino Dorino. What's the betting Milan can repeat?
Let's look at the teams one by one.
Atalanta look like they will come out in a 4-4-2 with a strengthened defence. Andrea Masiello has exchanged the sunny climes of Bari for the chilly foothills of the Alps.
Bologna are likely to utilize the Christmas tree with Di Vaio the angel at its peak. But will the formation lead to the lack of width that Milan discovered that they had two seasons ago? While Milan brought in Beckham to solve the problem, in my view it's rather unlikely he will be rushing over from LA to help the Bolognesi.
Cagliari, under Donadoni's watchful eye, may use Nene and newly-acquired El Kabir as two wide front men with Cossu breaking through the centre. With the dangerous David Suazo brought in from Inter they should be able to avoid relegation.
Catania have Montella as coach now, but have strangely unloaded Schelotto to Atalanta. The formation seems unclear – a lop-sided 4-4-2, perhaps. They might be heading even farther south - to the reaches of Serie B.
Cesena will place new boy Mutu in front of goal hoping € 5m Eder can help him in the scoring department.
Chievo have bought Perparim Hetemaj from Brescia hoping the Finn can finish like he did with his controlled volley against Roma. Does Jokic have what it takes on the left of midfield to help Pellissier?
Fiorentina's 12-goal hero Gilardino will be fed by Kharja, 26 year-old Andrea Lazzari (from Cagliari) and Montolivo, who stays in Florence (it's amazing that, despite years of his being often the best player on the park, it's only recently that bigger clubs have been taking serious interest in him).
Genoa have made an effort to improve their "goals against" column by bringing in the experienced Sebastian Frey, 31, from Fiorentina. The addition of Birsa (Auxerre), Pratto and Seymour (U. Catolica) provides evidence that Genoa plan to do more than merely survive this time.
Internazionale di Milano have managed to retain Wesley Schneijder (to Manchester United's detriment). So allenatore Gasperini has kept his defence and midfield intact. Up front, the decision to unload Samuel Eto'o seems odd indeed: the mobility of the attack may well be impaired. How long will it take Ricky Alvarez to adapt to the tiny spaces afforded by Italian defences, compared with the wide grasslands found in Argentina? But then they've now got Diego Forlan .. South American Champion as well as the best player in the 2010 World Cup.
Juventus, the creaky Old Lady, is going to be the most interesting team to watch this season, I predict. The fans (perhaps forgetting that he can land a ball on a one euro coin from fifty metres)
are already moaning about the acquisition of the elderly Pirlo from Milan. But the dangerous Vucinic will probably play in the middle of a front four (yes, you read that right: I understand it's a return to the 1960s with a 4-2-4!!). So expect goals, goals, goals ... at both ends of the field.
Lazio now have great experience in attack with Miroslav Klose (from Bayern Munchen) and Cisse (Panathinaikos) brought in as front men in a probable 4-3-1-2 with Hernanes and Ledesma behind as the spine of the team.
Lecce have brought in on loan Roma's goalkeeper Julio Sergio. Nearly all of their summer transfers are loan deals or frees, and the fact that they have spent only € 1.6m must reflect the state of their finances. One fears for their safety this season.
Milan (and/or the Italian press) have been keeping everyone on tenterhooks this summer by talking about a mysterious possible signing called "Mister X" (commonly presumed to be either Montolivo or Hamsik). In the end, former Liverpool player Acquilani has been brought in to cover for the loss of Pirlo to Juve. How long can Milan continue with the ageing Gattuso and Ambrosini in midfield? Perhaps it doesn't matter when you have such a stellar forward line.
Napoli, drawn in the same fascinating Champions League "group of death" (Group A) as Manchester City, with Villareal and Bayern, will provide serious opposition to any opponent this season. Confidence is high. Gokhan Inler and power-shooter Marco Donadel have been brought into midfield, and the team will continue with Cavani, Lavezzi, and Hamsik up front.
Novara might be favourites for the drop, but they have an all-new front three "attacco M": Morimoto, Mazzarani, and Meggiorini.
Palermo now have Eran Zahavi from Hapoel, who will possibly appear on the right of midfield in front of Cassani to support forwards Hernandez and the excellent Fabrizio Miccoli (what is it about the Italian national team selectors that they don't pick Miccoli automatically?)
Parma will hope Graziano Pelle (bought from AZ Alkmaar for a million) will help Crespo and Giovinco score more goals than the team lets in at the other end.
Roma have spent big this summer, and new coach Luis Enrique has managed to lure the sought after Dutch keeper Maarten Stekelenburg to the Italian capital. Bojan Krkic (Barca) and Lamela (River) could be the wide men at the front of a 4-3-3. As yet we don't know whether this will be a true 4-3-3 or a 4-5-1 (or even a 4-6). Where will Argentinian Pablo Osvaldo (Espanol) fit in? Roma will be interesting to watch.
Siena are expected to employ a traditional 4-4-2 with Zeljko Brkic in goal, D'Agostino in midfield, and Destro brought in from Genoa. Siena have been (on occasion) exciting to watch when at home. Can they survive this time?
Udinese's strengths and weaknesses were plain for all to see in their recent matches against Arsenal. Prior to the match in London the team looked relaxed as they were spotted strolling the gardens of Regents Park and were unlucky to lose to Walcott's solitary goal. In Udine, though, their over-reliance on the brilliant Di Natale was evidenced, despite Pinzi's great range of passing. Coach Francesco Guidolin is going to have to quickly stifle the psychological blow of losing Sanchez to Barcelona if Udinese are to emulate last term's excellent showing.
© Peter Rodd & Soccerphile.com
With the threat of industrial action on the part of the playing staff in Italy now averted, Serie A returns with AC Milan v Lazio at Molino Dorino. What's the betting Milan can repeat?
Let's look at the teams one by one.
Atalanta look like they will come out in a 4-4-2 with a strengthened defence. Andrea Masiello has exchanged the sunny climes of Bari for the chilly foothills of the Alps.
Bologna are likely to utilize the Christmas tree with Di Vaio the angel at its peak. But will the formation lead to the lack of width that Milan discovered that they had two seasons ago? While Milan brought in Beckham to solve the problem, in my view it's rather unlikely he will be rushing over from LA to help the Bolognesi.
Cagliari, under Donadoni's watchful eye, may use Nene and newly-acquired El Kabir as two wide front men with Cossu breaking through the centre. With the dangerous David Suazo brought in from Inter they should be able to avoid relegation.
Catania have Montella as coach now, but have strangely unloaded Schelotto to Atalanta. The formation seems unclear – a lop-sided 4-4-2, perhaps. They might be heading even farther south - to the reaches of Serie B.
Cesena will place new boy Mutu in front of goal hoping € 5m Eder can help him in the scoring department.
Chievo have bought Perparim Hetemaj from Brescia hoping the Finn can finish like he did with his controlled volley against Roma. Does Jokic have what it takes on the left of midfield to help Pellissier?
Fiorentina's 12-goal hero Gilardino will be fed by Kharja, 26 year-old Andrea Lazzari (from Cagliari) and Montolivo, who stays in Florence (it's amazing that, despite years of his being often the best player on the park, it's only recently that bigger clubs have been taking serious interest in him).
Genoa have made an effort to improve their "goals against" column by bringing in the experienced Sebastian Frey, 31, from Fiorentina. The addition of Birsa (Auxerre), Pratto and Seymour (U. Catolica) provides evidence that Genoa plan to do more than merely survive this time.
Internazionale di Milano have managed to retain Wesley Schneijder (to Manchester United's detriment). So allenatore Gasperini has kept his defence and midfield intact. Up front, the decision to unload Samuel Eto'o seems odd indeed: the mobility of the attack may well be impaired. How long will it take Ricky Alvarez to adapt to the tiny spaces afforded by Italian defences, compared with the wide grasslands found in Argentina? But then they've now got Diego Forlan .. South American Champion as well as the best player in the 2010 World Cup.
Juventus, the creaky Old Lady, is going to be the most interesting team to watch this season, I predict. The fans (perhaps forgetting that he can land a ball on a one euro coin from fifty metres)
are already moaning about the acquisition of the elderly Pirlo from Milan. But the dangerous Vucinic will probably play in the middle of a front four (yes, you read that right: I understand it's a return to the 1960s with a 4-2-4!!). So expect goals, goals, goals ... at both ends of the field.
Lazio now have great experience in attack with Miroslav Klose (from Bayern Munchen) and Cisse (Panathinaikos) brought in as front men in a probable 4-3-1-2 with Hernanes and Ledesma behind as the spine of the team.
Lecce have brought in on loan Roma's goalkeeper Julio Sergio. Nearly all of their summer transfers are loan deals or frees, and the fact that they have spent only € 1.6m must reflect the state of their finances. One fears for their safety this season.
Milan (and/or the Italian press) have been keeping everyone on tenterhooks this summer by talking about a mysterious possible signing called "Mister X" (commonly presumed to be either Montolivo or Hamsik). In the end, former Liverpool player Acquilani has been brought in to cover for the loss of Pirlo to Juve. How long can Milan continue with the ageing Gattuso and Ambrosini in midfield? Perhaps it doesn't matter when you have such a stellar forward line.
Napoli, drawn in the same fascinating Champions League "group of death" (Group A) as Manchester City, with Villareal and Bayern, will provide serious opposition to any opponent this season. Confidence is high. Gokhan Inler and power-shooter Marco Donadel have been brought into midfield, and the team will continue with Cavani, Lavezzi, and Hamsik up front.
Novara might be favourites for the drop, but they have an all-new front three "attacco M": Morimoto, Mazzarani, and Meggiorini.
Palermo now have Eran Zahavi from Hapoel, who will possibly appear on the right of midfield in front of Cassani to support forwards Hernandez and the excellent Fabrizio Miccoli (what is it about the Italian national team selectors that they don't pick Miccoli automatically?)
Parma will hope Graziano Pelle (bought from AZ Alkmaar for a million) will help Crespo and Giovinco score more goals than the team lets in at the other end.
Roma have spent big this summer, and new coach Luis Enrique has managed to lure the sought after Dutch keeper Maarten Stekelenburg to the Italian capital. Bojan Krkic (Barca) and Lamela (River) could be the wide men at the front of a 4-3-3. As yet we don't know whether this will be a true 4-3-3 or a 4-5-1 (or even a 4-6). Where will Argentinian Pablo Osvaldo (Espanol) fit in? Roma will be interesting to watch.
Siena are expected to employ a traditional 4-4-2 with Zeljko Brkic in goal, D'Agostino in midfield, and Destro brought in from Genoa. Siena have been (on occasion) exciting to watch when at home. Can they survive this time?
Udinese's strengths and weaknesses were plain for all to see in their recent matches against Arsenal. Prior to the match in London the team looked relaxed as they were spotted strolling the gardens of Regents Park and were unlucky to lose to Walcott's solitary goal. In Udine, though, their over-reliance on the brilliant Di Natale was evidenced, despite Pinzi's great range of passing. Coach Francesco Guidolin is going to have to quickly stifle the psychological blow of losing Sanchez to Barcelona if Udinese are to emulate last term's excellent showing.
© Peter Rodd & Soccerphile.com
Senin, 18 Oktober 2010
The week that was
Wayne Rooney is threatening to leave Manchester United after another row with nice Mr Ferguson...Didn’t Beckham, Stam, Van Nistelrooy and Ronaldo fall out with Sir Alex too before heading for the exit at Old Trafford? I still seem to be the only person who does not think Fergie is a football genius.
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Former Manchester City coach Malcolm Allison, who died this week aged 83, was best-known for his 1970s image – the fedora, cigars, nightclubs and glamour girls, as well as his rebranding of Crystal Palace as ‘the Eagles’, but he also had a sh
rewd soccer brain. He had realised by the early 1950s that English football was tactically obsolete, but unlike most, fought hard to do something about it through innovative coaching. He won the league and European Cup Winners’ Cup with City (the last all-English champions of England), turned down Juventus and won a Portuguese championship with Sporting Lisbon. Charismatic and flamboyant in public to the point of ridicule he was, yet he remained a sound judge of the game, and like many a English manager with continental leanings, was consistently overlooked by the myopic Football Association.
After the Sunday Times splashed the shock news that certain FIFA Executive Committee members are inviting investment in return for World Cup votes, their next assignment is to reveal that the earth goes around the sun.
This is no scoop. What is the Nigeria or Tahiti representative supposed to do other than try to boost the football infrastructure in their either poor or rugby-swamped nations? FiFA is always talking about developing the game in such places. And why are the bidding nations playing friendlies in places like Trinidad or Qatar other than to curry votes from the local members of the Executive Committee. This is politics, not cricket, like it or not, and FIFA have muddied the waters of the Corinthian spirit.
Yes, soccer is bent, inevitably so with so much money at stake you might say. At least an unnamed FIFA member let slip that England are not bribing for 2018...So that’s Russia’s in the bag then.
Fulham skipper Danny Murphy has kept the tabloids in business this week with 
a curious dig at Wolves, Stoke and Blackburn for playing too physically. Football surely is cleaner now than in the past, due to the banning of tackles from behind and the two-dozen cameras covering the pitch. If it seems rough it must be due to the pace of modern tackles flying in, or this year’s World Cup Final...It is not that Murphy does not know the sport began as a brawl between medieval villages; he is just a fiery lad. I recall watching a game at Craven Cottage in his presence and there was a brooding menace in the air, perhaps just what you want from a midfield enforcer. As I was exiting the press room toilets he was marching in and threw me a look of ‘get outta here you hack’.
Fabio Capello’s second England honeymoon juddered to a halt with a turgid 0-0 draw at Wembley against Montenegro this week, with uncomfortable echoes of the Algeria game in Cape Town this summer, the most painfully soporific 90 minutes I can recall. From high up in Wembley I saw the white shirts’ predictable approach fail to bear fruit, but watching the tape the next day, the Montenegrins’ organisation looked quite impressive. Top of the group, they could ruffle some more feathers soon...
The same night Serb thugs got the Italy v Serbia clash in Genoa called off. For once, Italian teppisti were not to blame. Coming only days after extreme right-wing yobs (perhaps the same ones) viciously attacked a gay pride march in Sarajevo, Serbia seems hell-bent on winning the crown of being Europe’s bad boys. I have heard a few football chants in my time, but nothing as vile as those coming from the orifices of Yugoslavia fans at the 1998 World Cup in Nantes - ditties boasting of Serb militia atrocities in the Balkan conflict of the early ‘90s to be precise.
Liverpool’s flirting with doom is the other main story here this week. Second to bottom with Gerrard and Torres in the team? How times have changed. The Liverpool of my youth were one of the few teams I have watched (along with Milan of the early 1990s) who at times appeared unbeatable. The new American owners have no background in the game, but surely they cannot be worse than the previous duo.
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