EURO 2012

¡ Casillas; Arbeloa, Ramos, Pique, Alba; Alonso, Busquets; Silva, Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas !

If we have so much trouble with a poor Denmark already, I don't think there's much to be optimistic about against a Germany with Ozil, Schweini, Muller, Podolski and Gomez. Germany weren't all that good though, so many errors. But they seem to actually *win* even when bad. That's a big difference with Holland.

But one never knows, maybe they'll surprise us (in 1988 Holland lost the first game against Russia and won the tournament). But somehow I can't see that happening this time.

There is a theoretic chance Holland can still progress even if they lose to Germany btw. Then Portugal has to win from Denmark, and in the last round Germany should beat Denmark and Holland should win from Portugal. Then Holland/Portugal/Denmark all have 3 points and it will come down to goal diff.

Buffon; Bonucci, De Rossi, Chiellini; Maggio, Motta, Giaccherini, Pirlo, Marchisio; Cassano, Balotelli

I'm looking forward to this so much. Italy are going to do them.

Fabregas False Nine!

I was wondering how they'd get him in the side. He's no Messi but interesting how the Italy CBs cope with having no reference point.

with de rossi at cb i'd guess not very well

Are Italy playing 3 at the back or trying to make Motta play LB? Or Chiellini at LB and De Rossi CB?

I predict Llorente'll be on before halftime

levein's tactical innovations make their way onto the big stage.

pretty sure it's 3 at the back for italy, bonucci,chiellini and de rossi playing as a cb regista like he's done for roma this season.

Well I've repped for them playing a 3 since the Russia friendly. Maggio is twice the player as a wing-back then he is as a RB.

they don't really have another wingback in that xi though. are they playing giaccherini on the other wing?

i think so

Giaccherini is a very skilful player as well, really interesting to see him in the XI. When I still thought they'd play a diamond I was hoping he might get to feature ahead of Montolivo at some point.

Don't think Italy will lose. Poor old Torres.

De Rossi's one-sleeve look is a bit odd

The pitch looks poor to me.

craig burley should shut his gub.

hate burley

de rossi been p good so far

De Rossi a lucky boy if he didn't get booked there

i like these italy kits

giacherrini's been really good too so far.

Balotelli looks very accomplished in this side

and cassano has made the best runs

ooh gutsy by de rossi

thought fabregas? could have turned and shot there

poor from fabregas. couple of turnovers high up the pitch in spain's favour last couple of mins.

they called a foul on balotelli there?

oof

if italy were playing 2 CBs one of those balls would have got thru by now i reckon.

I'm finding those tunnels in the corners very distracting. I keep thinking the cameraman's put his finger into the frame.

craig burley calling someone ugly? glass houses etc

i swear the spain corners are designed for the clearing header to fall to iniesta on the left corner of the box.

alonso has benn average, at best.

nice save casillas

loved that spontaneous 'ooh' for Balotelli

iniesta has been great

omg what a great goal that would've been after balotelli's backheel

casillas save looked much better in the replay, much less straight at him than it seemed to me in real time.

This is my kind of game, I'm all tensed up here. Best avoid the punditry I think.

iniesta and de rossi best 2 players so far.

agh that mars bar ad.

Jonathan Wilson ‏@jonawils
This is too much! A back three against a false nine?

haha

ha

always thought the conventional wisdom was a back 3 would struggle against a lone striker cos they would have 2 free men. today they have all 3 with no-one to mark!

Michael Cox ‏@Zonal_Marking
Well, this should be interesting. Do Italy have three spare men at the back, or none? Enjoy...

was strachan just subtitled there?

That'd be some fast typing

was there a kick out off the ball from busquets there?

Loving this so far. And loving Italy, Spain's way of playing seems to be past the expiration date tbh.