The Azzurri adopted a 3-5-2 system in the matches against Spain and Croatia, but Prandelli assures he is not even considering a return to that tactic.
“In all honesty, no, I haven’t considered it. We maintained a certain balance over the last few games, although we understood that during the match we can switch to a 3-5-2 if we want to.
“The team that opened the tournament had a different approach, but over time we found fitness and the balance we had been looking for, so rediscovered the certainty we had lost before the competition.
“We needed a few more training sessions to bring back the hunger to play openly. We played everyone openly, risking a few things, and we’ll do it again tomorrow.
― dis civilization and its contents (nakhchivan), Sunday, 1 July 2012 11:50 (eleven years ago) link
When Michael Ballack pointed out where the striker should be going against Wales last April, 'Prinz Poldi' angrily slapped the captain round the face.
Stick your Ballacks up your arse. Is that story true? Well done the Podster!
― Too Busy Thinking About Mr. Abie (Tom D.), Sunday, 1 July 2012 11:51 (eleven years ago) link
With the exception of a couple of good months here or there, Ballack was a lazy arse at Chelsea, doubt he's exactly a role model.
― Matt DC, Sunday, 1 July 2012 11:52 (eleven years ago) link
ballack was injured or played beside the fat 2nd rate ballack that is frank lampard at chelsea, which dimmed his effectiveness iirc. imnrc tho
― Ну, там твое место, там сабе будь! (darraghmac), Sunday, 1 July 2012 12:13 (eleven years ago) link
yeah im pretty sure 'lazy' is just a stock anglo phrase to describe his haughty prussian bearing and (in his chelsea years) lack of acceleration
the stats showed he was still covering a lot of ground even in those years iirc
― dis civilization and its contents (nakhchivan), Sunday, 1 July 2012 12:18 (eleven years ago) link
rly disappointed at our irish bredrin to find that FOUND OUT BILL and GAME LADS don't seem to be 'memes'
― dis civilization and its contents (nakhchivan), Sunday, 1 July 2012 12:22 (eleven years ago) link
if the saw doctors haven't put in in a chorus it's not a meme yet
― Ну, там твое место, там сабе будь! (darraghmac), Sunday, 1 July 2012 12:33 (eleven years ago) link
irish elder statesman panel memes in order of use in my experience:
okey-doke (herlihy)foot on the ball, simple pass, moral fibre/courage (giles)no, no, no (in exaggerated nasal disgust) (dunphy)starting softly and ending LOUDER AND LOUDER BILLLLLLL (brady)YOU'RE OVER THE FENCE NOW BABY! (dunphy to conflicted/angered arsenal employee brady after wenger was insulted)you can't develop good footballers in a democracy (giles/dunphy repeatedly)abuse of ronaldo (dunphy)
― Ну, там твое место, там сабе будь! (darraghmac), Sunday, 1 July 2012 12:37 (eleven years ago) link
special notice to herlihy's masterful use of the accepted wisdom challop, preceded by "I put it to you" or "isn't it fair to say that", most effective on giles just after he's been woken from his usual slumber by a prancing dunphy or possibly a particularly unfibrous display by a continental 'name'
― Ну, там твое место, там сабе будь! (darraghmac), Sunday, 1 July 2012 12:39 (eleven years ago) link
http://www.dangerhere.com/gilesy-had-the-moral-courage-to-swim-against-the-tide/
― Ну, там твое место, там сабе будь! (darraghmac), Sunday, 1 July 2012 12:42 (eleven years ago) link
herlihy/brady/giles/dunphy is like that milan defence of a few years ago with serginho, favalli, maldini and costacurta
so old, so much more dignity than the rest
― dis civilization and its contents (nakhchivan), Sunday, 1 July 2012 12:48 (eleven years ago) link
I can never remember which things they actually said and which were invented by Apres Match.
― Temporarily Famous In The Czech Republic (ShariVari), Sunday, 1 July 2012 13:13 (eleven years ago) link
That article is idiotic, for all Roy Keane's many faults as a pundit I doubt you could have accused him of blandly sitting on the fence over Ireland's performance in this tournament.
― Matt DC, Sunday, 1 July 2012 14:14 (eleven years ago) link
compared to his previous thoughts on previous ireland regimes, and (imo crucially) compared to accepted mainstream commentary, it kinda is a bit vanilla from him tbh
― Ну, там твое место, там сабе будь! (darraghmac), Sunday, 1 July 2012 14:25 (eleven years ago) link
That article seems unsure as to when it was Ireland actually did concede the first 2 goals in the Croatia game.
― pandemic, Sunday, 1 July 2012 14:41 (eleven years ago) link
Spain XI: Casillas, Arbeloa, Piqué, Ramos, Alba, Busquets, Xavi, Alonso, Iniesta, Silva, Fábregas
Italy XI: Buffon, Abate, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, Pirlo, Marchisio, De Rossi, Montolivo, Cassano, Balotelli
― killer camel beej (cozen), Sunday, 1 July 2012 17:46 (eleven years ago) link
Kinda want Italy to do but only after Mario goes off with cramp.
or if its Spain then to do so with a ton of goals, a Barca style demolition job.
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 1 July 2012 18:01 (eleven years ago) link
Probably get neither. But maybe a headbutt will be involved.
Vialli's enthusiasm is endearing
― Number None, Sunday, 1 July 2012 18:27 (eleven years ago) link
those boring closing ceremonies..
― nostormo, Sunday, 1 July 2012 18:35 (eleven years ago) link
oh what a fantastic goal that would have been
― it looks like something rupert the bear would wear (Algerian Goalkeeper), Sunday, 1 July 2012 18:57 (eleven years ago) link
Spain are boring?
― it looks like something rupert the bear would wear (Algerian Goalkeeper), Sunday, 1 July 2012 19:01 (eleven years ago) link
Look determined to win in style.
― Temporarily Famous In The Czech Republic (ShariVari), Sunday, 1 July 2012 19:01 (eleven years ago) link
Spain killing it tonight
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 1 July 2012 19:01 (eleven years ago) link
that were good
― r|t|c, Sunday, 1 July 2012 19:02 (eleven years ago) link
Jesus that goal
― m bison, Sunday, 1 July 2012 19:02 (eleven years ago) link
tackle by Pirlo
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 1 July 2012 19:07 (eleven years ago) link
noooooooooo espn freezing/dying
― DX Dx DX (dan m), Sunday, 1 July 2012 19:08 (eleven years ago) link
An Italian goal is coming
― Özil Gummidge (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Sunday, 1 July 2012 19:20 (eleven years ago) link
otm
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 1 July 2012 19:28 (eleven years ago) link
that was fabulous
― it looks like something rupert the bear would wear (Algerian Goalkeeper), Sunday, 1 July 2012 19:28 (eleven years ago) link
the end
― Ludo, Sunday, 1 July 2012 19:28 (eleven years ago) link
what a pass
― mookieproof, Sunday, 1 July 2012 19:28 (eleven years ago) link
Any minute now
― Özil Gummidge (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Sunday, 1 July 2012 19:28 (eleven years ago) link
stood up to applaud that
― r|t|c, Sunday, 1 July 2012 19:28 (eleven years ago) link
that was exquisite
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 1 July 2012 19:29 (eleven years ago) link
Beautiful.
― EZ Snappin, Sunday, 1 July 2012 19:29 (eleven years ago) link
how are Spain so good
― m bison, Sunday, 1 July 2012 19:29 (eleven years ago) link
spain seems good @ this
― johnny crunch, Sunday, 1 July 2012 19:30 (eleven years ago) link
Italy clinging on now
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 1 July 2012 19:31 (eleven years ago) link
That was a magnificent half of football
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 1 July 2012 19:33 (eleven years ago) link
Boring?
Those 2 goals were just so beautiful.
― pandemic, Sunday, 1 July 2012 19:35 (eleven years ago) link
A lot of critics are keeping low right this min - great stuff.
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 1 July 2012 19:35 (eleven years ago) link
um, do you guys not notice any difference in Spain's approach?
― Number None, Sunday, 1 July 2012 19:36 (eleven years ago) link
shh dont disturb the crowing
― r|t|c, Sunday, 1 July 2012 19:37 (eleven years ago) link
faster, more incisivexp
Italy have been decent I think.
― pandemic, Sunday, 1 July 2012 19:37 (eleven years ago) link
believe this is what's technically known as a schooling
― coopflaggypost (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 1 July 2012 19:38 (eleven years ago) link
decent wont be enough here
― nostormo, Sunday, 1 July 2012 19:38 (eleven years ago) link
Iniesta, my G_d!
― pandemic, Sunday, 1 July 2012 19:38 (eleven years ago) link
Alba's first touch for the goal is incredible
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 1 July 2012 19:40 (eleven years ago) link