Also lol Szczesny.
And now LOL Van Persie too
― Tom D (Tom D.), Sunday, 10 June 2012 12:17 (eleven years ago) link
i fully expected poldolski to finish a couple of his chances, too. maybe not quite to lol category.
― mizzell, Sunday, 10 June 2012 12:18 (eleven years ago) link
The England v France game will be about 75 minutes of Koscielny and Walcott falling over one another.
― Matt DC, Sunday, 10 June 2012 12:26 (eleven years ago) link
re: gif mizzell posted - goalie deserves yellow for that overacting rolling around + grabbing his head job, imo.
― StanM, Sunday, 10 June 2012 13:46 (eleven years ago) link
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/06/09/article-2156976-13878A91000005DC-372_634x400.jpg
A picture says more etc.
― HO WBEAUTIFUL IS THE GENTLYFALLINGBLOOD? (Le Bateau Ivre), Sunday, 10 June 2012 14:28 (eleven years ago) link
How do the Dutch media react to such things?
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 10 June 2012 14:47 (eleven years ago) link
Not good :)
It was just sub-par, a huge disappointment. What irks the press (and myself) even more is that Van Marwijk refuses to say it was bad. They are all holding up the "we played really good, but if you don't score..." story. Which is sticking your head in the sand imo.
Van Bommel was invisible. Heitinga and Vlaar seemed scared to build up properly which lead to Nigel de Jong constantly having to be a mailman (pick up the ball and bring it forward). Robben was shite, made the wrong decisions. Van Persie getting the most flack though. The whole Huntelaar vs. Van Persie debate loomed over the tournament already before it started and only intensifies now. Playing with both of them has never really worked.
The only plusses were for Sneijder, who played a great second half, and Willems, who did a great job for an 18 year old and youngest Euro player ever.
I think Van Marwijk will stick to his guns though and will play Van Persie again. Not that it really matters who's our striker now, the whole team just is too weak.
― HO WBEAUTIFUL IS THE GENTLYFALLINGBLOOD? (Le Bateau Ivre), Sunday, 10 June 2012 15:01 (eleven years ago) link
Ouch. I take it nobody's got much hope of a win over Germany? Because they looked beatable last night I thought.
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 10 June 2012 15:04 (eleven years ago) link
ยก Casillas; Arbeloa, Ramos, Pique, Alba; Alonso, Busquets; Silva, Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas !
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 10 June 2012 15:12 (eleven years ago) link
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.
― HO WBEAUTIFUL IS THE GENTLYFALLINGBLOOD? (Le Bateau Ivre), Sunday, 10 June 2012 15:13 (eleven years ago) link
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.
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 10 June 2012 15:16 (eleven years ago) link
Fabregas False Nine!
― pandemic, Sunday, 10 June 2012 15:24 (eleven years ago) link
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.
― pandemic, Sunday, 10 June 2012 15:25 (eleven years ago) link
with de rossi at cb i'd guess not very well
― sonderangerbot, Sunday, 10 June 2012 15:26 (eleven years ago) link
Are Italy playing 3 at the back or trying to make Motta play LB? Or Chiellini at LB and De Rossi CB?
― pandemic, Sunday, 10 June 2012 15:29 (eleven years ago) link
I predict Llorente'll be on before halftime
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 10 June 2012 15:29 (eleven years ago) link
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