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Euro 2012- Group C; ESP,ITA,CRO,IRE
Topic Started: Jun 5 2012, 06:38 PM (697 Views)
Merengue
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The thread to discuss Euro 2012 Group C with Spain, Italy, Croatia and Ireland. A tough group with the world and European champions, always tough Italy and Croatia and an Ireland team led by the wily old fox Giovanni Trapattoni.

Spain Preview and Squad Biographies

Italy Preview and Squad Biographies

Croatia Preview and Squad Biographies 1 and 2

Ireland Preview and Squad Biographies 1 and 2
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Gunners
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Who will start in Italy's defense? Chiellini of course is an automatic choice, but the rest of the starting defense seems to be something of a mystery at this point.
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calimocho
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There is talk in the press in the aftermath of Italy's 0-3 defeat in a friendly to Russia that Prandelli may opt to play 3 central defenders, Chiellini, Bonucci and maybe even DeRossi and use two wing backs in midfield, like Maggio and Giaccherini. If so it would be a drastic change in Italy's style of play just before an important match.

In the Spain thread we were discussing beforehand that Del Bosque likely will go with Fernando Torres at forward and use Pique-Ramos as his central defencive pairing in the absence of the injured Carles Puyol. Valencia's Jordi Alba playing left back is the one addition to the team since South Africa who should start.
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libero
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According to the Italian press there is a good chance this could be Italy's team to face Spain:

--------------------Buffon--------------------
--------Bonucci----De Rossi----Chiellini------
---Maggio----Motta----Pirlo----Marchisio----Balzaretti--
------------Balotelli--------------Cassano----------------

Intriguing, in effect I think DeRossi will just act as a deep lying defensive midfielder, much like Busquets does with Barcelona as Maggio and Balzaretti will be the outside defenders with freedom to move forward when needed. Looking forward to see a Balotelli-Cassano attack, I get the feeling there will be no middle ground with those 2 in attack, either they will work really well together or they will flop! Also looking forward to seeing Pirlo against Spain's excellent midfielders.
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Merengue
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Every coach is guarding his lineup closely leading to their initial game, nobody wants to show too much to their opponent beforehand. Would not surprise me too much if neither Spain nor Italy go exactly with the XIs we've speculated on here.

I still maintain that 4 years ago Spain's win over Italy, previously their bete noire, is what propelled Spain on to the title as it gave them the confidence that they could beat one of Europe's elite teams. It has been all forward since then for Spain and hopefully that continues after tomorrow's match. This should be on eof the marquee matchups of the group stages.
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Yogi
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Spain 1-1 Italy
Ireland 1-3 Croatia

Merengue was correct as both Italy and Spain had some surprises, for Italy it was Giaccherini playing at left wing back and for Spain it was Cesc Fabregas playing as a false nine instead of Fernando Torres. A pretty entertaining game with both teams moving the ball around well, Spain with their typical possesison game but it was Italy scoring 1st after an hour when Pirlo set up sub DiNatale with a great through ball and he got past Pique and scored. DiNatale was on as a sub for Balotelli, who after picking up an early yellow, was pretty ineffective. But DiNatale was a threat and nearly added a 2nd although Spain tied it only 3 minutes after Italy took the lead when another intricate buildup led to Silva feeding the ball to Fabregas to score.

Torres later came on for Fabregas and gave Spain a target forward which made them dangerous and twice he could have scored the game winner, on the first Buffon, looking more like a central defender than goalie, took the ball off his foot and on the 2nd Torres' chip went over the bar when played clear through.

In the end Italy's experiemntal 3 man defense worked all right with DeRossi playing pretty well but they ahd trouble dealing with Torres and my guess is the Azzurri will go back to a standard back 4 for the enxt two games.

As for Spain, I think Torres starts from here on out and while he creates danger he also needs to finish. Defensively Spain look a little more vulnerable than they did in either 2008 or 2010.

Overall a decent enough start for the group's 2 favorites though.

Croatia with 2 goals from Mario Mandzukic, 3 minutes into each half and with a 3rd goal from Nikica Jelavic just before the end of the first half with a pretty comfortable 3-1 win over Ireland. The Irish tied the game in the first half when StLedger headed in a cross but apart from some rare attacks they did not I think trouble Croatia much. As with Russia in their win over the Czechs, you are not sure if Croatia were really that good or Ireland that bad. We will start to find out in the next set of group games.
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xeneize
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I thought Spain-Italy was the best played game so far, each team passed well and put the opposition under pressure. Why am I not surprised that Italy's poor friendly form would end once the games began to count?
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Sammy Maudlin
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I too enjoyed Spain-Italy and was not shocked by Torres' misfiring. I think both Torres and DiNatale have won starting jobs for game 2. DeRossi, Pirlo, DiNatale and Cassano caught the eye for me from Italy, Iniesta, Silva, Fabregas for Spain.

Both teams are noted for stingy defenses but neither backline frankly looked at its best to me.

Nice passing from Croatia, they are more than just Luka Modric and coach Slaven Bilic's suit and wool cap look! :lol:
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Dorian gray
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Spain did look more dangerous after Torres came on. It was surprising to see Torres given a nod over LLorente. who is also technically adept and has had a much better season. It was fascinating to watch the formations of these two teams.

A question for the members of the board: Is the 'false nine' Guardiola's creation or has it been around even before that? thanks. :)
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vince stravino
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Wow, Modric is a small man. Never realized that til today!
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Mr. Pither
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I think Rinus Michels the old Dutch coach is the one who started using a "false 9" utilising this guy named Johan Cruyff in that role.

It was an interesting tactical battle and Italy held their own against Spain. Include me with those thinking Spain will miss Puyol in this competition. Not just his defending but his leadership too.

Nice work from Croatia, not only smooth passing but a pretty solid defence which shut Ireland down. I frankly expected more from the ROI (Republic of Ireland.)
P-I-T-H-E-R ...as in Brotherhood, but with PI instead of the BRO and no HOOD
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Winslow
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Italy certainly exceeded my expectations--De Rossi was immense--while Spain looked a bit lost in attack until, as mentioned above, Torres was inserted as a target man. We're going to have to keep an eye on the Spanish back 4, because it was soft in the middle and both Arbeloa and Jordi Alba didn't offer much IMO.

The Boys in Green didn't play their best, but they were more unlucky than good--two first-half goals on defensive mistakes, plus a pair of tremendous headers (one by Mandzukic and one by Given) on the last goal to seal the result.
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raconteur
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I was satisfied with Italy's play against Spain, overall I think it was the best game of the first round of matches with both teams looking to go forward. Spain had more possession but Italy did about as well as any team could in taking the ball away from Spain and in keeping it themselves. Others have already praised DeRossi, Pirlo and DiNatale and they were each standouts but Cassano also looked good especially when he moved out wide left and drew Spain out of position. I am looking towards seeing this Italian team play Croatia but after the Croatians first round win, Italy must win that game to have a realistic chance of qualifying for the 2nd round.

With Spain, I too agree Torres will start from now on but who sits, Cesc Fabregas? Probably him but he played pretty well, it is just that Spain needs a forward.
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Onslow
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So much for Ireland being a difficult team to break down defencively.
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gaviota
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I did not realise this before but Croacia have never before lost to Italy. An interesting bit of info ahead of their game on Thursday. Both teams passed the ball well in their group openers, should make for an attractive game.

Spain are keeping their starting team quiet but most are expecting Del Bosque to go with Fernando Torres against Ireland. I would as even with his struggles to score goals, his size and speed should not only cause troubles for Ireland but also occupy defenders so that there will be openings for others, notably David Silva and Andres Iniesta.
CHAMP13NS
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