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Euro 2012- Group C; ESP,ITA,CRO,IRE
Topic Started: Jun 5 2012, 06:38 PM (698 Views)
Yogi
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Agree about the discussions of a biscotto obscuring the real problems with Italy. They did seem to tire in the 2nd half against Croatia, Pirlo in particular. I am wondering if he is having trouble adjusting to playing two games a week? Remember with Juventus not playing in Europe, he rarely played more than once a week in this past season! ;)

Balotelli is getting critiqued for his misses but to his credit he ahs been working hard on the field and eventually those chances will fall for him. Plus he is Italy's only forward with a physical presence inside the penalty area and his energy enable shim to press the ball betetr than any other Italian attacker. Against Croatia the teams pressure decreased once Balotelli was subbed out
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valenciano
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Balotelli injured his knee in training and is now in doubt for Monday's game versus Ireland. I'd assume DiNatale will now start instead. He may not have Balotelli's physical presence but DiNatale is one of the smarter forwards around.

I would not expect any changes for Spain. I am curious to see how Croatia does against Spain, I am thinking Spain will have to be wary of the Croatians counter attacking ability but Spain look like they are on form now, I think it will take a special performance to beat them.
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gaviota
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i would not expect any changes to Spain's team either. Why break up a winning formula?

They just announced that prior to the start of the competition Vicente Del Bosque renewed his contract through 2014.
CHAMP13NS
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Manzanares
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I am happy to read of Del Bosque continuing on as Spain's coach.

I found this article on the possibilities in Group C:

Quote:
 
A win over eliminated whipping boys Ireland and their Italian coach Giovanni Trapattoni in the final Group C game on Monday would be enough for Italy to make the quarter-finals in second place if Spain or Croatia win the other match.

However, a draw makes the situation complicated because all three teams would be level on five points and head to head record is the deciding factor, with Italy having drawn 1-1 with both.

All three would have the same points in the mini-league and a zero goal difference so goals scored becomes all important.

A 0-0 stalemate between Spain and Croatia means Italy are through with a win against the Irish while a 1-1 draw brings goal difference in the entire group into the equation.

A 2-2 or higher scoring draw between Spain and Croatia, though, and Italy can do absolutely nothing as on the head to heads the other two will have scored more goals.


This is why the Italians are so transfixed by the talk of a biscotto. I guess that is more real to them than discussing how their team is actually playing. Maybe Trapattoni and Ireland will do us all a favor and beat or tie Italy so we won't have to hear more of this nonsense!
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Simon
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Spain 1-0 Croatia
Italy 1-0 Ireland

So no biscotto then, was an interesting night in Group C nevertheless. Spain lacked the fluency we're used to seeing, the ball retention wasn't really there as much, and Croatia had the better chances before Jesus Navas scored two minutes from time. Just to illustrate the wafer thin margins in this tournament so far, had it been the Croats who grabbed the only goal of the game (and it could have been), Spain would have gone out in the group stage. Add that to last night when Germany entered the final stages of their game knowing that one goal would have knocked them out, or Saturday nights shock results, and it's clear that nothing can be taken for granted here. Of course I'm hoping that that lesson is underlined in the England camp for tomorrow night, one mistake and you could be on the first plane home!

Credit the Croatians, their clever movement was getting them in behind Spain but they were helped by the performance of the Spanish full-backs - Jordi Alba was poor but I thought Arbeloa had an out and out stinker, he never seemed aware of what was going on or where the runners were. The most alarming example of that was when the entire Spanish defence was sucked over like schoolboys all flocking after the ball to allow Rakitic to steal in completely unmarked at the back post. Eduardo had a virtual Judo move committed on him at a corner as well, but no penalty. However if Spain were ropey at the back, then how good was that pass from Fabregas at the other end? Great composure and presence of mind to scoop the ball up and catch the Croats flat footed.

I saw the highlights of the other game as well, looked like Ireland were finally able to show a lot more of what they're really about than they've been able to so far. I thought they missed some decent openings to shoot though, and they still shot themselves in the foot at times with their carelessness. Nice movement and header from Cassano for the first goal, almost another 'goalline technology' moment but fortunately the officials gave the correct decision. Clever acrobatic finish from the sub Balotelli for the second goal, but it looked to me like he was just about to have a big go at Prandelli during his celebration and had to be forcibly stopped by Bonucci. I think Bonucci did him a big big favour, but I'm betting Prandelli's aware of the incident all the same. Balotelli just never does himself any favours!

So Spain first, Italy second. Some vulnerabilities from Spain tonight (and you could say against Italy as well), but hey, I would still rather avoid them! But let's just get through first...
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Winslow
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I'm just really, really glad that Navas and Balotelli scored at the end, because there's no chance of understanding why Italy would've topped the group with a 1-0 win and a draw in Gdansk. Three teams on five points, after Italy beat the Irish by one goal when Croatia beat them by two and Spain by four? How does that make sense?
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Simon
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I'm with you, Winslow. Seriously, I wish they'd just use straightforward goal difference. I understand there's a certain logic to head-to-head, but it seems to me to fly in the face of having a group system. Use goal difference and not only does everyone know where they stand, but there'd be fewer dead games where a team can't even theoretically go through because although they can still draw level on points with someone else, they've already lost the head-to-head game. Granted that latter scenario hasn't yet occurred in these Euros, but it does regularly in the CL.
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Don Balon
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Winslow,Jun 18 2012
11:07 PM
I'm just really, really glad that Navas and Balotelli scored at the end, because there's no chance of understanding why Italy would've topped the group with a 1-0 win and a draw in Gdansk.  Three teams on five points, after Italy beat the Irish by one goal when Croatia beat them by two and Spain by four?  How does that make sense?

This is because the first tie breaker would be head to head records amongst the teams equal on points, the 2nd tiebreaker, goal differential in the games between the tied teams (in this case that would exclude each nation's results versus Ireland), the 3rd tiebreaker, total goals scored in the games amongst the tied teams and then the next tiebreaker is the one so many of us think should be used, goal differential in ALL group games. It is very confusing and the system FIFA uses for the World Cup is I think more straight forward and more fair.

Back to Monday's matches, a tough game for Spain. I credit Croacia for playing a solid defensive game and they looked dangerous on the break. In fact it was Casillas with several good saves who kept Croacia off the scoreboard. Croacia were very difficult to break down. I also thought Spain played a little too slowly, the speed of play we saw versus Ireland was not present in this game. Iniesta was excellent again but Xavi is not at his best, I do not know if it as a result of his persistant injuries this season or what but he is not playing well. In addition to Iniesta, at least Cesc and Silva also are playing well and that makes up for Xavi's lower level of play. In fact it was Cesc who lifted the ball up for Iniesta to beat Croacia's trap and slide the ball over to Jesus Navas to score the only goal.

Torres was not effective in this game and I was surprised by del Bosque's decision, not so much in taking him off, but in replacing him with winger Jesus Navas. Spain did need width to their attack but I think to make Navas more effective he needs to play with a true number 9.

This ended up being a very difficult group with both Italy and Croacia each giving Spain a difficult game. My hope is that strengthens Spain for the knockout stages, my concern is Spain still lacks a goalscoring threat besides the inconsistent Fernando Torres and as Simon discussed both fullbacks have looked vulnerable at times.
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Yogi
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Not Italy's best game but it never is easy for the Azzurri to play Ireland and at least they got some revenge for that game 18 years ago today, one which I attended, at Giants Stadium outside New York, when Ireland beat Italy at USA 94 with a Ray Houghton looping shot over Gianluca Pagliuca's head.

Thankfully we can bury the biscotto discussions for awhile too. Italy went out looking for the win which they needed and even before scoring his goal I thought Cassano looked especially sharp. He is setting up teammates and put away his chance, heading in a goal against the taller Irish defenders. But he is not yet ready to play 90 minutes and was subbed off after a little over an hour and that adversely effected Italy's play.

But Balotelli came to the rescue and added a spark to the team when he entered for DiNatale. A typical Balotelli performance, just before scoring his acrobatic goal, he mishit a shot which was a good 20 yards high and wide of the goal! But Balotelli gives Italy a penalty area presence as we saw on his goal, an irish defender was draped all over him and could have been whistled for committing a penalty but Balotelli held him off and acrobatically shot into the goal. And then Bonucci puts his hand over Balotelli's mouth after he scored the goal to keep him shouting something which could have earned him a yellow card. That had me cracking up, but thank you Bonucci for the quick thinking!

A concern was Giorgio Chiellini limping off. But by finishing 2nd Italy will play the Group D winner on Sunday so the team will have a week to recover.

Croatia may have gone out of this tournament but like Denmark and unlike Holland, Russia or Poland they can go out with their heads held high. Croatia played well and in most other groups likely would have qualified. They had the misfortune of being placed with the last two World Cup winners.
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Merengue
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Quote:
 
Back to Monday's matches, a tough game for Spain. I credit Croacia for playing a solid defensive game and they looked dangerous on the break. In fact it was Casillas with several good saves who kept Croacia off the scoreboard. Croacia were very difficult to break down. I also thought Spain played a little too slowly, the speed of play we saw versus Ireland was not present in this game. Iniesta was excellent again but Xavi is not at his best, I do not know if it as a result of his persistant injuries this season or what but he is not playing well. In addition to Iniesta, at least Cesc and Silva also are playing well and that makes up for Xavi's lower level of play. In fact it was Cesc who lifted the ball up for Iniesta to beat Croacia's trap and slide the ball over to Jesus Navas to score the only goal.

Torres was not effective in this game and I was surprised by del Bosque's decision, not so much in taking him off, but in replacing him with winger Jesus Navas. Spain did need width to their attack but I think to make Navas more effective he needs to play with a true number 9.


Like Don Balon I too think Spain did not play well against Croatia and Xavi and I would include Xabi Alonso each have not been at their best in these Euros, but Spain won the group and advances and now is when they really will get the chance to show what they have and you would expect two old warriors like Xavi and Xabi Alonso to raise their play now.

Navas entrance did give Spain more width but again I am in agreement with Don Balon, the team needed to either keep Torres in or send Llorente on to give Navas a player in the middle with whom he can use as a target.

I have a lot of confidence in del Bosque's coaching but that was a decision which did confuse me.
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valenciano
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I think many Spain fans were questioning the decision to take off Torres and add Navas without there being a set target man in the middle. But once again Vicente Del Bosque's selection paid off as it was Navas scoring the match winning goal. In addition his entrance did add width to the attack, I am a big David Silva fan but by always looking to cut inside, Silva made it more crowded in the middle. Adding Navas spreads out the attack and the opposing defense. But I still think the wily fox Del Bosque has more tricks up his sleeve and don't be surprised at some point to see Llorente in these knockout rounds.

Croatia played well, Spain did not have their best game but remember in the end it was Spain winning. This ability to win matches when playing at less then your best is an important quality which Spain now possess.
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Pepe
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With both finalists coming from Group C it turns out this was the real Group of Death. You wonder what Croatia would have done in any of the other groups? As it was they pushed the two finalists all the way.
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ursus arctos
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I have no problem asserting that Croatia were better than at least two of the teams that qualified (Greece and the Czech Republic), and at worst the equal of England.
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