Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to Soccer Futbol Forum. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Euro 2008- Group C (R); ROM, FRA, NED, ITA
Topic Started: May 22 2008, 10:53 AM (975 Views)
Merengue
Administrator
[ *  *  * ]
A place to discuss the matches from the "Group of Death" in this tournament, Group C involving Italy, France, Netherlands and Romania. Reuters previews of the four teams in this group:

Romania:
http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=reu-...uters&type=lgns

Netherlands:
http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=reu-...uters&type=lgns

France:
http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=reu-...uters&type=lgns

Italy:
http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=reu-...uters&type=lgns

http://twitter.com/#!/SocrFutbolForum
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Mr. Pither
Member Avatar
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
I feel sorry for Romania getting drawn into this group. In almost any other group in the competition you'd say they'd have a realistic chance of qualifying for the quarterfinals but in this Group of Death their chances will be remote.

I just wonder if France, Italy and Holland will beat up on one another so much that whomever emerges will have been weakened for the elimination rounds? I also wonder which Dutch player Van Basten will alienate in this tournament?
P-I-T-H-E-R ...as in Brotherhood, but with PI instead of the BRO and no HOOD
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
rosarino
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Mr. Pither,May 22 2008
11:45 PM
I just wonder if France, Italy and Holland will beat up on one another so much that whomever emerges will have been weakened for the elimination rounds? I also wonder which Dutch player Van Basten will alienate in this tournament?

That is a good question Pither but whichever teams do emerge from this group, I am sure the top two from Group D who will play them won't be relishing going against Italy, France or Holland. Not only do the Dutch often have internal problems but their defense is I think a question mark going into these games. Nobody doubts their attack and midfield but I don't see Holland's defense being the equal of France's or Italy's.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Yogi
Member Avatar
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
I also posted this in the Italy forum in the Azzurri discussion thread but thought it worth posting here too as it is about Italy's final prepration game.

Italy had a comfortable win tonight over Belgium, 3-1 the final score with 2 goals by DiNatale in the first half and another one early in the 2nd by Camoranesi. Belgium scored their goal in the 93rd minute. Italy looked good although Belgium really didn't provide much opposition. Their neighbors Holland will obviously be a tougher opponent in the Azzurri's first Euro 2008 game.

Italy began the game this way:
----------------------Buffon--------------------
Panucci-----Cannavaro-----Barzagli--Zambrotta
--------Gattuso------Pirlo-----Aquilani--------
Camoranesi---------Toni------------DiNatale

I liked this lineup as Aquilani gave the midfield more passing ability than they'd have had if either Ambrosini or DeRossi were alongside Pirlo and Gattuso. In fact it was Aquilani whose pass set up DiNatale's 2nd goal. His first was from a nice assist by Pirlo. Having Camoranesi and DiNatale in the lineup also gave a lot of width to the team and Camoranesi and Panucci worked together well down the right side as did Zambrotta and DiNatale on the left.

At the half several changes were made, Chielini came in for Cannavaro in central defense, Grosso entered for Panucci with Grosso playing on the left and Zambrotta switching to cover where Panucci played on the right and Del Piero entered for DiNatale. But Del Piero did not play wide on the left, he played as a second forward alongside Toni with Camoranesi dropping deeper into midfield.

And it was Del Piero who played well in his minutes and he set Camoranesi up early in the 2nd half to make it 3-0. After 15 minutes Cassano came on for Camoranesi and Italy switched it's formation around again with Cassano dropping in behind Toni and DelPiero. Cassano did fine with his time on the field and was applauded by the fans for his work. With a half hour left Borriello came on for Toni and Ambrosini for Aquilani in straight positional switches.

Overall a good game by Italy, they got to use a lot of players and showed the team's tactical flexibility. That will I think be an important factor in this difficult group they've been drawn into.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Merengue
Administrator
[ *  *  * ]
In addition to the squad previews above, here are the rosters and individual numbers for each team in this group,

FRANCE (shirt numbers yet to be announced)

Goalkeepers: Gregory Coupet (Olympique Lyon), Sebastien Frey (Fiorentina), Steve Mandanda (Olympique Marseille).

Defenders: Eric Abidal (Barcelona), Jean-Alain Boumsong (Lyon), Francois Clerc (Olympique Lyon), Sebastien Squillaci (Olympique Lyon), William Gallas (Arsenal), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich), Lilian Thuram (Barcelona).

Midfielders: Lassana Diarra (Portsmouth), Claude Makelele (Chelsea), Jeremy Toulalan (Olympique Lyon), Patrick Vieira (Inter Milan).

Forwards: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Karim Benzema (Olympique Lyon), Sidney Govou (Olympique Lyon), Samir Nasri (Olympique Marseille), Bafetimbi Gomis (St Etienne), Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich).

ITALY

Goalkeepers: 1-Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), 14-Marco Amelia (Livorno), 17-Morgan De Sanctis (Sevilla).

Defenders: 5-Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), 23-Marco Materazzi (Inter Milan), 2-Christian Panucci (AS Roma), 6-Andrea Barzagli (Palermo), 19-Gianluca Zambrotta (Barcelona), 4-Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), 3-Fabio Grosso (Olympique Lyon).

Midfielders: 21-Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan), 8-Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), 13-Massimo Ambrosini (AC Milan), 10-Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), 20-Simone Perrotta (AS Roma), 22-Alberto Aquilani (AS Roma), 16-Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus).

Forwards: 9-Luca Toni (Bayern Munich), 7-Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus), 11-Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), 12-Marco Borriello (Genoa), 15-Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese), 18-Antonio Cassano (Sampdoria, on loan from Real Madrid).

NETHERLANDS

Goalkeepers: 1-Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United), 16-Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax Amsterdam), 13-Henk Timmer (Feyenoord).

Defenders: 14-Wilfred Bouma (Aston Villa), 15-Tim de Cler (Feyenoord), 3-John Heitinga (Ajax Amsterdam), 4-Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg SV), 12-Mario Melchiot (Wigan Athletic), 2-Andre Ooijer (Blackburn Rovers).

Midfielders: 20-Ibrahim Afellay (PSV Eindhoven), 5-Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), 8-Orlando Engelaar (Twente Enschede), 17-Nigel de Jong (Hamburg SV), 10-Wesley Sneijder (Real Madrid), 23-Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg SV), 6-Demy de Zeeuw (AZ Alkmaar).

Forwards: 21-Ryan Babel (Liverpool), 19-Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Ajax Amsterdam), 18-Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), 9-Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid), 7-Robin van Persie (Arsenal), 11-Arjen Robben (Real Madrid), 22-Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (Celtic).

ROMANIA

Goalkeepers: 1-Bogdan Lobont (Dinamo Bucharest), 23-Eduard Stanciou (CFR Cluj), 12-Marius Popa (Poli Stiinta Timisoara).

Defenders: 2-Cosmin Contra (Getafe), 15-Dorin Goian (Steaua Bucharest), 14-Sorin Ghionea (Steaua Bucharest), 4-Gabriel Tamas (Auxerre), 17-Cosmin Moti (Dinamo Bucharest), 13-Cristian Sapunaru (Rapid Bucharest), 3-Razvan Rat (Shakhtar Donetsk), 22-Stefan Radu (Lazio).

Midfielders: 5-Cristian Chivu (Inter Milan), 6-Mirel Radoi (Steaua Bucharest), 7-Florentin Petre (CSKA Sofia), 8-Paul Codrea (AC Siena), 20-Nicolae Dica (Steaua Bucharest), 16-Banel Nicolita (Steaua Bucharest), 19-Adrian Cristea (Dinamo Bucharest), 11-Razvan Cocis (Lokomotiv Moscow).

Forwards: 10-Adrian Mutu (Fiorentina), 9-Ciprian Marica (VfB Stuttgart), 21-Daniel Niculae (AJ Auxerre), 18-Marius Niculae (Inverness Caledonian Thistle).

http://twitter.com/#!/SocrFutbolForum
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Hector
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Ryan Babel hurt his ankle and will miss Euro 2008. Holland have not yet named a roster substitute. So long as Robben stays healthy, I guess a doubt with his history, Robben is the starting left wing for Holland and a healthy Babel was going to be his substitute.
iPuerta amigo, Sevilla esta contigo!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
raconteur
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Hector,May 31 2008
03:59 PM
Ryan Babel hurt his ankle and will miss Euro 2008. Holland have not yet named a roster substitute. So long as Robben stays healthy, I guess a doubt with his history, Robben is the starting left wing for Holland and a healthy Babel was going to be his substitute.

Holland are replacing Babel with a defender Khalid Boulharouz. I suppose van Basten feels he needs to strengthen up the defensive end of things as they have enough attacking options..
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Mr. Pither
Member Avatar
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
I think that is a wise move by Holland. They have enough attacking options already but prior to naming Boulharouz to the team they only had 6 defenders listed. That isn't enough in my opinion for a team with pretensions of advancing far in the tournament. Adding Boulharouz strengthens their defensive depth.
P-I-T-H-E-R ...as in Brotherhood, but with PI instead of the BRO and no HOOD
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
raconteur
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
As we discuss in the Italy forum, Fabio Cannavaro is out due to an ankle injury suffered today in practice and is being replaced by Fiorentina's Alessandro Gamberini. :(
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Manzanares
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
raconteur,Jun 2 2008
03:01 PM
As we discuss in the Italy forum, Fabio Cannavaro is out due to an ankle injury suffered today in practice and is being replaced by Fiorentina's Alessandro Gamberini. :(

Even though he plays for that "other" team in Madrid I feel for Cannavaro. This likely was going to be his last hoorah with Italy and he unquestionably is the leader of their defense. That's a big blow for the Azzurri so soon to the start of the tournament. Materazzi really stepped up in 2006 when Nesta went down injured at the World Cup and he'll have to do that again now and become the defensive leader. But does he have the personality for that?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Nkono
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
This is the team I'd like France to use to start this tournament. Honestly I don't think Vieira's absence will be that much of a loss, Toulalan is an excellent, and much younger, standby.

-------------------Coupet-----------------
Sagnol-----Thuram------Gallas---Abidal
Ribery-----Toulalan----Makelele--Malouda
-------------Benzema----Henry----------
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
libero
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Manzanares,Jun 3 2008
09:12 AM
raconteur,Jun 2 2008
03:01 PM
As we discuss in the Italy forum, Fabio Cannavaro is out due to an ankle injury suffered today in practice and is being replaced by Fiorentina's Alessandro Gamberini.  :(

Even though he plays for that "other" team in Madrid I feel for Cannavaro. This likely was going to be his last hoorah with Italy and he unquestionably is the leader of their defense. That's a big blow for the Azzurri so soon to the start of the tournament. Materazzi really stepped up in 2006 when Nesta went down injured at the World Cup and he'll have to do that again now and become the defensive leader. But does he have the personality for that?

We also are talking about this in the Italy forum under the Azzurri discussion but it looks now that Materazzi may not even start either! Chiellini appears to be the probable candidate to start along Barzagli. Makes for a surprising defensive pairing for Italy but certainly a much younger one.

But with Panucci getting hurt today at practice Donadoni may have to refigure the defense once again. If any team can adapt to these type of changes I think it is Italy as it's players are used to the defensive strategy Donadoni will employ.

Nkono, on paper France do look good and you are right that Vieira's absence won't be that much of a loss but while their defense is strong I question with an off form Henry and Anelka if their attack will be strong enough to get out of such a difficult group?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
libero
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
There are more changes to Italy's likely lineup from my last post. I'm assuming now that the tournament starts this is where we should be discussing individual national teams rather than their own dedicated threads? Help out a newcomer here please!

Panucci should be ready but likely won't start and if the Italian press is to be believed not Aquilani nor Ambrosini will start in midfield but De Rossi! :(

This is expected to be Italy's lineup versus Holland: Buffon; Zambrotta, Barzagli, Materazzi, Grosso; De Rossi, Pirlo, Gattuso; Camoranesi, Toni, Di Natale

I like it except I'd prefer Aquilani's greater versatility and passing ability to DeRossi's hard man style of play.

Holland will be without Arjen Robben and with their other left wing Ryan Babel out for the tournament suddenly they have a big hole on that side. Could give Zambrotta room to attack then down that side of the field.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Martin
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Thanks for the info on Italy's lineup libero. To use the Copa America situation from a year ago as an example, we discussed the games and the particular teams in the threads like these about specific groups. If you want to really get in depth discussing a team which has it's own thread, like Italy or Spain this year in Euro 2008 or in the Copa America last year, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico or the US, then you'd go over there. Hope that helps.

In Madrid they call Robben the "glass man" because he's so fragile. Too bad because when he does play he usually does well. I read where van Persie might be available for this game especially now that Robben is out and Babel is back home injured but the Dutch will have to do some last minute scrambling around to set their lineup. Of course Italy is doing the same but on their defensive line. Like libero I think they'd be better off with Aquilani than DeRossi but caution is the word of the day in the opening game.

France v Romania should be an interetsing match too. France have looked nearly impossible to score on in their warm ups but they also are not putting the ball in the net too often themselves. Benzema had a great season with Lyon but it is asking a lot to have a 20 year old carry a national team's scoring load. Henry will need to refind his form for France to have success i think. As for Romania, the names may be different but I'd bet like with the Hagi generation this will be an orderly team with a strong defense and who will counter attack quickly.
Club Sportivo Desamparados
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Yogi
Member Avatar
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
I don't want to parrot what libero and martin wrote, but why not as they both are intelligent posters, but I too would prefer Aquilani to DeRossi. He's a card waiting to happen. Aquilani could help Italy's attack yet still provide defensive cover. DeRossi will help defensively and collect cautions!

The question with the Dutch is their defense, so hopefully the Azzurri will be able to put them under pressure. Playing DiNatale and camoranesi wide of Toni will I think do that. My concern though is without Aquilani will ther be enough connection between midfield and the attack? It will be up to Pirlo to provide that.

Here's hoping Adrian Mutu has something special in store for France tomorrow!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · UEFA · Next Topic »
Add Reply