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| Euro 2008- Group C (R); ROM, FRA, NED, ITA | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: May 22 2008, 10:53 AM (977 Views) | |
| dafyd | Jun 10 2008, 08:01 AM Post #31 |
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Italy and Holland was indeed the best match so far. Hats off to Holland for the 3-0 display, but a word of warning as well, as there have been several major tournies I've seen them give similar displays only to disappear in the later rounds. van Nistelrooy's goal will certainly wake up the coaches as to that particular aspect of the offsides rule. I doubt that we'll see anything like it again for quite some time. |
| Leper In A Stange Land | |
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| Winslow | Jun 11 2008, 03:14 AM Post #32 |
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It's only fair to point out that if Buffon had let the original long ball go out of play instead of punching it, he wouldn't have knocked down Panucci, the Dutch would not have scored, and the offside issue would never have come up. Bad mistake by Gigi IMO. I won't go into a lot of details, but you can't underplay what a huge win this is for Holland. It makes it tough for Italy, but not too tough, especially if France and Romania keep playing as they did Monday. Loved that one tight-angle shot Anelka tried to pull off in the first half--was he trying to channel his inner van Basten? |
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| Manzanares | Jun 11 2008, 06:44 AM Post #33 |
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Funny I thought the same thing when I saw Anelka try that shot! Everyone is in agreement France-Rumania was just a dull match with neither team looking anxious to win. But their attitude has actually helped Italy even after they were given a lesson by the Dutch. Italy still controls it's own fate in the group. What can you add to what ahs already been discussed about Holland? Just that is the way I like to see football played. This is a team whose remaining matches will be must see events. |
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| Mr. Pither | Jun 11 2008, 10:51 PM Post #34 |
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I'll concur with the general view expressed here that while Italy were really outplayed by a great Dutch game, the Italians do still have a good chance to advance if they can beat the Romanians and French, neither of whom looked good on opening day either. But Italy's success will depend I think on Donadoni making adjustments to his team and playing Del Piero, Aquilani and Grosso. I liked how quickly Holland passed the ball and the speed they transitioned from defense to attack. Their defense came in for criticism before the event began but they held up well against the world champions while ripping Italy's defense apart with their speed and counter attacking abilities. |
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P-I-T-H-E-R ...as in Brotherhood, but with PI instead of the BRO and no HOOD | |
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| Simon | Jun 12 2008, 04:24 AM Post #35 |
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Funnily enough, Holland only had the shape they did the other night because of injuries. I had heard that Melchiot, Heitinga, Mathijsen, De Cler would be their defence, but injuries forced Van Basten into a change. This often happens, where a manager happens across his best formation only by accident. Ooijer looked big and strong in the centre of the Dutch defence and I was also impressed with Boulahrouz who, let's not forget, didn't initially make the Dutch squad! One of the reasons I didn't fancy Holland before the tournament was because their forward-line was dismal during qualifying. Although featuring plenty of good players they scored only 15 goals in 12 qualifiers in what was a weak group. After seeing them record 1-0 wins at Luxembourg, Slovenia, Albania etc I remember joking on here ahead of their decisive home qualifier with Luxembourg that they'd probably win it 1-0. Of course, that's precisely what they duly did! However, they seem to have clicked now and I'm looking forward to their game tomorrow with France. As for Italy, there seems to have been some pretty over-the-top criticism of Donadoni and his tactics. Pirlo has said that De Rossi should have played instead of Ambrosini and Gazzetta have reported that players in the Italy squad are texting scathing criticisms of their coach, his tactics, his set-up and the atmosphere in the camp back to non-selected players who they speculate to be Inzaghi or Oddo. Tough times for the azzurri, but a comprehensive win over Romania would blow most of this negativity away. |
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| Gunners | Jun 12 2008, 08:18 AM Post #36 |
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I finally had a chance to watch the match. Holland's finishing on the counter was extraordinary, but frankly, I think the final result flattered the Dutch. It was a much more even match than the score indicated. I won't be surprised if the Dutch follow up this performance with a loss to either France or Romania in the next 2 matches. I think this group is still very much open. Goal differential could come back to haunt Italy. |
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| raconteur | Jun 12 2008, 11:44 AM Post #37 |
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Italy were flat in this game and hopefully the Dutch result will wake them up. Donadoni of course is going to make some changes for this next game, one is to add Del Piero to the starting lineup, another is Chiellini for the plodding Materazzi. Good moves and I expect those won't be the only ones Italy makes for tomorrow's game. The team do need a shakeup and we'll learn what kind of grit this Azzurri squad has. But Romania are an opportunistic team and one who won't give much away defensively. |
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| Yogi | Jun 12 2008, 01:07 PM Post #38 |
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Italy needed a good sharp kick in the pants after that first game against Holland and hopefully these lineup changes Donadoni is planning will be able to do just that. That first match was one of the poorest I've ever seen from Italy but as so many have rightly pointed out, all is not yet lost in this group. If Del Piero plays then I don't see DiNatale in the lineup which is a shame but there just doesn't appear to be room to accomodate both of them at the same time. Since Del Piero is unlikely to play 90 minutes then we may see DiNatle sub in for him. I am really glad to see Materazzi go to the bench. His form entering the tournament was awful and for awhile it seeme dlike he wouldn't start that first game but the coach opted for his experience. But Materazzi played horribly and the younger and quicker Chiellini should eb a good addition to the backline. In midfield even a milanista like myself must admit it is time to take out Ambrosini and put in Aquilani. Against a Romania likely to sit back and defend, Aquilani's passing skills and ability to hit a long range shot will be necessary. |
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| Nkono | Jun 13 2008, 07:25 AM Post #39 |
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Italy aren't the only team going to make lineup changes for today's games. If L'Equipe, a French sports daily is to be believed, Domenech will play a 4-2-3-1 tonight, the formation that brought so much success at Germany two summers ago, with Thierry Henry as the lone striker with the line of three behind him being composed of: Govou, Ribery and Malouda! So that would mean no place for Karim Benzema in the starting lineup! I am not wild about that lineup but then again I rarely find myself in agreement with Raymond Domenech. I'd drop Malouda, who is out of form, and insert Benzema to team up with Henry, those two played well together in qualifying. |
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| raconteur | Jun 13 2008, 10:09 AM Post #40 |
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Grazie Gigi! Gigi Buffon with the huge penalty save against Adrian Mutu to preserve the 1-1 tie between Italy and Romania. An exciting and dramatic game in my view. Italy created plenty of chances but the ball just wouldn't go into the net. Well Toni did get it in just before the half but it was, wrongly called back for offside. Romania scored when Mutu pounced on a poor back header by Zambrotta towards Buffon. Italy responded immediately though when Chiellini headed a corner to panucci at the far post to knock in. Italy kept the pressure up and a Toni chest pass to DeRossi was well saved by Lobont in Romania's goal. Then came the controversial penalty in favor of Romania which Buffon did really well to save. A betetr offensive performance from Italy but they need to finish and there are some players, I'm talking about you Pirlo, Cassano and zambrotta who really need to pick up their play. Well Italy stay alive but the high hopes many of us had for the Azzurri doesn't seem well placed now. |
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| Mr. Pither | Jun 13 2008, 02:17 PM Post #41 |
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Netherlands 4 France 1 Italy 1 Romania 1 So Netherlands join Portugal and Croatia in clinching first place in the group after only two matches. Yet another wonderful passing and finishing display by the Dutch. On their first goal off a corner Kuyt just outfought Malouda, who was draped all over him to head it in. France picked up it's play after that and had several good chances but they either shot directly at van der Sar or saw the Dutch keeper turn away their efforts. In the 2nd half both Robben and van Persie came on as subs and after van Nistelrooy tried a spin move to get away from a marker, Robben carried the ball to near the end line and crossed to van Persie to shoot against the grain and past Coupet for 2-0. France pushed forward and finally got a goal as Henry, who did start this game, redirected a low cross by Sagnol past van der Sar to give France hopes once more. But just as Italy did in the earlier game, Holland immediately replied and Sneijder sent a nice through ball to Robben who fighting off Thuram fired in from a tight angle past Coupet. That goal broke France's resistance and the game was over after that. van Nistelrooy almost made it 4 with a soft header just over Coupet's head but the keeper got back to palm it off the goal line but in injury time, Sneijder, in great form in this tournament, turned and fired in a shot from outside the penalty area. Holland are winning and winning big against the World Cup winners and runner up. Now they'll have to live up to the high expectations they are bringing upon themselves but this is a Dutch team who play very attractive football to watch. And they are showing they can be very effective too. Italy may have been hard done by that Toni goal being annulled but Romania played them fairly evenly throughout the game. I don't think they should have any complaints about the penalty called against them as Panucci had his arm around the Romanian player's neck! But Buffon showed why he is still one of the world's best with that fine penalty save on Mutu. Holland win the group but this now sets up a dramatic final day where only Romania controls it's fortune, they win and they'll advance. Italy and France will need some help from Holland against the Romanians to move on. |
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P-I-T-H-E-R ...as in Brotherhood, but with PI instead of the BRO and no HOOD | |
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| xeneize | Jun 13 2008, 02:42 PM Post #42 |
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While almost everybody was expecting Del Piero, Grosso and Chiellini to come into the lineup and they did with a reasonable amount of success, what was surprising to me was that Gattuso was dropped for this game against Romania. Italy played better in this match against a lesser opponent it must be said, than they did versus Holland but the ball just isn't going in for them. Lobont made a couple of nice saves but overall Italy are lacking a sharpness in attack and Toni isn't getting enough help offensively. Italy still have a chance to qualify as raconteur pointed out but he is right to say they don't look like title contenders at all. And neither do France who were taken apart by Holland. Even France's fearsome defense was opened up by Holland's speed and precision. This looks like the end of the road for the last remnants of the World Cup winning generation. Surely France will now be saying au revoir to Thuram, Makelele, Vieira, Sagnol and Henry won't they? |
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| Pepe | Jun 13 2008, 03:33 PM Post #43 |
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What can you say about Holland's play? It has been beautiful. Great passing and teamwork. France had some moments but they not only looked old (which they are) but appeared more like a group of individuals than a team. Meanwhile I'm intently following the Real Madrid trio on Holland's team and all three are playing well. Looks like Van Nistelrooy had been watching some films from Zidane with that pirouette leading to Robben passing to Van Persie for the 2nd goal! Holland just took apart the world champions and runner up. You can't ask for a better start you only hope they have not yet peaked. |
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| Yogi | Jun 13 2008, 09:42 PM Post #44 |
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Holland are young and hungry, Italy and France look aged and disinterested. Italy had some opportunities against Romania but I don't like how they are using Luca Toni. The team are hitting too many long balls and centers into the penalty area looking for Toni to either head towards goal or lay it off for a teammate. That has never been the Azzurri's style of play and makes the team more predictable in attack. I'm going to disagree with raconteur in that I thought Cassano made a some good passes when he came in off the bench but nobody coudl get on the end of those passes. Donadoni was making the right moves leading to Euro 2008 but once he's gotten there it is as if the pressure is getting to him and his personnel choices have left a lot to be desired. I disagree with sitting Gattuso in this past game as he is the heart and soul of the team, and where was DiNatale, at least as a sub? And that isn't even considering that for the 2nd staright game Aquiulani, who looked so good in the pre tourney games, has been nowhere to be seen. Instead we get Ambrosini off the bench and Perrotta starting. The good aspects of this game, Buffon's goalkeeping, Grosso's play on the left flank and Chiellini in central defense. If the Azzurri can't get up for a rematch with France then nothing will get this squad motivated! |
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| Martin | Jun 13 2008, 10:21 PM Post #45 |
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I agree with Yogi that Italy seem to have gotten away from the lineup which proved so successful leading up to Euro 2008. It is as if Donadoni is panicking a bit. Adding Grosso and Chiellini to the starting team were good moves today, Del Piero did Ok but ran out of gas and like Yogi I wonder where Aquilani has been in this tournament? If I were Donadoni against France I'd play Cassano behind Toni and DiNatale and then use Del Piero as a second half substitute. Holland are making a joke of the so called "Group of Death." Van Basten said France were a tougher opponent for his team than Italy were and France were close to tying the game when it was still 1-0 and then looked to be back in business when Henry scored to make it 2-1 but Holland hit back so quickly with that great angled shot by Robben (and fine buildup play leading to it) that it just took the wind out of France's sail. The Dutch movement, speed and finishing were just too much for France. It was "Les Bleus" worst lost in over 25 years! |
| Club Sportivo Desamparados | |
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