levein's tactical innovations make their way onto the big stage.
― Merdeyeux, Sunday, 10 June 2012 15:31 (eleven years ago) link
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.
― sonderangerbot, Sunday, 10 June 2012 15:34 (eleven years ago) link
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.
― pandemic, Sunday, 10 June 2012 15:46 (eleven years ago) link
they don't really have another wingback in that xi though. are they playing giaccherini on the other wing?
― sonderangerbot, Sunday, 10 June 2012 15:58 (eleven years ago) link
i think so
― pandemic, Sunday, 10 June 2012 15:59 (eleven years ago) link
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.
― boxall, Sunday, 10 June 2012 15:59 (eleven years ago) link
Don't think Italy will lose. Poor old Torres.
― pandemic, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:00 (eleven years ago) link
De Rossi's one-sleeve look is a bit odd
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:03 (eleven years ago) link
The pitch looks poor to me.
― pandemic, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:05 (eleven years ago) link
craig burley should shut his gub.
― Merdeyeux, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:11 (eleven years ago) link
hate burley
de rossi been p good so far
― pandemic, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:12 (eleven years ago) link
De Rossi a lucky boy if he didn't get booked there
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:13 (eleven years ago) link
i like these italy kits
― mizzell, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:19 (eleven years ago) link
giacherrini's been really good too so far.
― sonderangerbot, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:20 (eleven years ago) link
Balotelli looks very accomplished in this side
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:20 (eleven years ago) link
and cassano has made the best runs
― pandemic, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:23 (eleven years ago) link
ooh gutsy by de rossi
― sonderangerbot, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:24 (eleven years ago) link
thought fabregas? could have turned and shot there
― pandemic, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:32 (eleven years ago) link
poor from fabregas. couple of turnovers high up the pitch in spain's favour last couple of mins.
― pandemic, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:34 (eleven years ago) link
they called a foul on balotelli there?
― mizzell, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:35 (eleven years ago) link
oof
― pandemic, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:36 (eleven years ago) link
if italy were playing 2 CBs one of those balls would have got thru by now i reckon.
― pandemic, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:40 (eleven years ago) link
I'm finding those tunnels in the corners very distracting. I keep thinking the cameraman's put his finger into the frame.
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:41 (eleven years ago) link
craig burley calling someone ugly? glass houses etc
― pandemic, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:42 (eleven years ago) link
i swear the spain corners are designed for the clearing header to fall to iniesta on the left corner of the box.
― pandemic, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:44 (eleven years ago) link
alonso has benn average, at best.
― pandemic, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:45 (eleven years ago) link
nice save casillas
― pandemic, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:46 (eleven years ago) link
loved that spontaneous 'ooh' for Balotelli
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:46 (eleven years ago) link
iniesta has been great
― mizzell, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:46 (eleven years ago) link
omg what a great goal that would've been after balotelli's backheel
― sonderangerbot, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:47 (eleven years ago) link
casillas save looked much better in the replay, much less straight at him than it seemed to me in real time.
― Merdeyeux, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:47 (eleven years ago) link
This is my kind of game, I'm all tensed up here. Best avoid the punditry I think.
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:48 (eleven years ago) link
iniesta and de rossi best 2 players so far.
― pandemic, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:48 (eleven years ago) link
agh that mars bar ad.
― Merdeyeux, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:50 (eleven years ago) link
Jonathan Wilson @jonawilsThis is too much! A back three against a false nine?
― mizzell, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:53 (eleven years ago) link
haha
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:56 (eleven years ago) link
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!
― pandemic, Sunday, 10 June 2012 16:57 (eleven years ago) link
Michael Cox @Zonal_MarkingWell, this should be interesting. Do Italy have three spare men at the back, or none? Enjoy...
― mizzell, Sunday, 10 June 2012 17:01 (eleven years ago) link
was strachan just subtitled there?
― it looks like something rupert the bear would wear (Algerian Goalkeeper), Sunday, 10 June 2012 17:01 (eleven years ago) link
That'd be some fast typing
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 10 June 2012 17:02 (eleven years ago) link
was there a kick out off the ball from busquets there?
― pandemic, Sunday, 10 June 2012 17:04 (eleven years ago) link
Loving this so far. And loving Italy, Spain's way of playing seems to be past the expiration date tbh.
― HO WBEAUTIFUL IS THE GENTLYFALLINGBLOOD? (Le Bateau Ivre), Sunday, 10 June 2012 17:04 (eleven years ago) link
Sergi looks very comfortable higher up the pitch than he normally gets to play for club, I bet we'll see more of this in years to come.
― boxall, Sunday, 10 June 2012 17:06 (eleven years ago) link
nah, they just haven't got a frwd they rate. If villa was fit he'd be in.xp
― pandemic, Sunday, 10 June 2012 17:07 (eleven years ago) link
ooh, creating chances now.
great slo-mo there
― pandemic, Sunday, 10 June 2012 17:08 (eleven years ago) link
That's amazing reverse footage on that replay
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 10 June 2012 17:08 (eleven years ago) link
dawdle
― pandemic, Sunday, 10 June 2012 17:09 (eleven years ago) link
Ridiculous from Balotelli
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 10 June 2012 17:10 (eleven years ago) link
lol balotelli
― it looks like something rupert the bear would wear (Algerian Goalkeeper), Sunday, 10 June 2012 17:10 (eleven years ago) link