Author Topic: football anyone? as in soccer... (Read 464289 times)

Smell Good · « **Reply #1650 on:** June 24, 2012, 04:53:36 AM »

The quality was definitely there for France, lots of little flashes and sparks from that French side but that is not enough to stop a powerhouse like Spain or Germany who are just steamrolling through matches.

C'MON ENGLAND!!

SFblah · « **Reply #1651 on:** June 24, 2012, 07:00:36 AM »

I guess I'm going for England today. Cannot stand Roonie but really don't like the Italian Diving Team.

Alan · « **Reply #1652 on:** June 24, 2012, 07:13:32 AM »

Not a fan of either team, but I don't see England breaking the Italian defense (although they've played more openly in this tournament).

Beer Keg Peg Leg · « **Reply #1653 on:** June 24, 2012, 07:41:26 AM »

I'm in Italy so I'm hopping on the azzuri bandwagon for the first and only time

MaryhillVibe · « **Reply #1654 on:** June 24, 2012, 10:25:37 AM »

I hope england get absoloutly buggered by the Italians.

Spike Hawke · « **Reply #1655 on:** June 24, 2012, 10:26:47 AM »

Quote from: MaryhillVibe on June 24, 2012, 10:25:37 AM

I hope england get absoloutly buggered by the Italians.

Said like a true Scot

brycickle · « **Reply #1656 on:** June 24, 2012, 10:31:54 AM »

Ingerland!! I only say that because I can't stand Italy.

MaryhillVibe · « **Reply #1657 on:** June 24, 2012, 10:33:26 AM »

Quote from: Spike Hawke on June 24, 2012, 10:26:47 AM

Quote from: MaryhillVibe on June 24, 2012, 10:25:37 AM
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I hope england get absoloutly buggered by the Italians.

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Said like a true Scot

The new lady is a massive Germany fan too so it all works out pretty well.

Spike Hawke · « **Reply #1658 on:** June 24, 2012, 11:26:53 AM »

Quote from: MaryhillVibe on June 24, 2012, 10:33:26 AM

Quote from: Spike Hawke on June 24, 2012, 10:26:47 AM
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Quote from: MaryhillVibe on June 24, 2012, 10:25:37 AM
Expand Quote
I hope england get absoloutly buggered by the Italians.

[close]
Said like a true Scot
[close]

The new lady is a massive Germany fan too so it all works out pretty well.

Nothing better than having an international chip on your shoulder

thepman · « **Reply #1659 on:** June 24, 2012, 11:30:14 AM »

Once again getting nervous for this England game, not sure what to expect but praying for an England win. Welbeck to win it for us! Come on England!!!

poster · « **Reply #1660 on:** June 24, 2012, 02:17:06 PM »

England is the worst. I hope Italy takes it after all.

edit: YES!!

cringe. · « **Reply #1661 on:** June 24, 2012, 02:40:05 PM »

life is over, if rome isnt a nuke-ravaged wasteland by tomorrow morning i think i will literally cry my body into a shrivelled husk and die

mds · « **Reply #1662 on:** June 24, 2012, 02:42:05 PM »

damn that Pirlo pen

thepman · « **Reply #1663 on:** June 24, 2012, 02:45:01 PM »

Quote from: thepman on June 24, 2012, 11:30:14 AM

Once again getting nervous for this England game, not sure what to expect but praying for an England win. Welbeck to win it for us! Come on England!!!

Haha I look pretty silly now, we were outclassed, well done Italy. Pirlo was magnificent. But no one expected us to get out the group stage, and we can take some positives from the tournament.

holden caulfield · « **Reply #1664 on:** June 24, 2012, 02:48:26 PM »

surprisingly entertaining for a game that finished 0-0. italy definitely deserves to go through too

Alan · « **Reply #1665 on:** June 24, 2012, 02:53:04 PM »

Didn't expect England to be this weak. And Pirlo's Panenka, fucking hell!

"England recorded 35% possession against Italy - their worst amount of possession in the tournament. Against France it was 39%, Sweden 48% and Ukraine 45%."

Oops.

weedpop · « **Reply #1666 on:** June 24, 2012, 03:07:49 PM »

England never set out to have a lot of possession of the ball. Their plan was to defend solidly - which they did for the whole game - and to try and score from set-pieces and counterattack with pace along the flanks. The latter they did pretty well during the first half but their counterattacking game disappeared as they started to tire. Italy clearly are more skilled and deserved to go through, but shit, that Rooney bicycle kick would have been the most dramatic moment of the tournament if he hadn't fluffed it.

Pirlo took that penalty "like a boss". So important to have someone with that much calm and experience at this stage in a tournament.

pica · « **Reply #1667 on:** June 24, 2012, 03:14:09 PM »

buffon.

nuff said.

Alan · « **Reply #1668 on:** June 24, 2012, 03:16:54 PM »

Quote from: weedpop on June 24, 2012, 03:07:49 PM

England never set out to have a lot of possession of the ball.

It seems that that was their strategy for the whole tournament, and with which they basically announced that they don't really want to do well.

holden caulfield · « **Reply #1669 on:** June 24, 2012, 03:28:34 PM »

ive been telling you guys, england just went for the chelsea strategy...play negative football and hope for a lucky goal. just look at the stats.. similar possession (ridiculously low), very few attempts on target, similar formations...

and no this is not just a desperate jab at chelsea over CL bitterness, it's literally what they did.

Beer Keg Peg Leg · « **Reply #1670 on:** June 24, 2012, 03:37:54 PM »

No one cares what you think

thepman · « **Reply #1671 on:** June 24, 2012, 03:54:35 PM »

Quote from: Beer Keg Peg Leg on June 24, 2012, 03:37:54 PM

No one cares what you think

weedpop · « **Reply #1672 on:** June 24, 2012, 04:00:59 PM »

He's right though... England didn't have the midfield to compete with any of the top 5 or 6 teams in this tournament. If you saw how many times they gave the ball away in all their games it was obvious that they would've failed with a possession based approach. They did about as well as they could have given the players at their disposal and the amount of time they had to develop their system. In the end, the 4 strongest teams made it through to the semi-finals. Germany-Italy should be a great game.

Tale Crab · « **Reply #1673 on:** June 24, 2012, 05:29:21 PM »

holden caulfield · « **Reply #1674 on:** June 24, 2012, 06:21:42 PM »

Quote from: thepman on June 24, 2012, 03:54:35 PM

Quote from: Beer Keg Peg Leg on June 24, 2012, 03:37:54 PM
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No one cares what you think
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lol you're just upset that I'm right. or in denial..

Mark Renton · « **Reply #1675 on:** June 25, 2012, 03:39:26 AM »

Hooray for Italy

Matze · « **Reply #1676 on:** June 25, 2012, 04:04:18 AM »

meehtaly

noileum · « **Reply #1677 on:** June 25, 2012, 05:25:49 AM »

England have never been able to play the ball out of defence, and this will continue to fuck them up when playing against anyone half decent. Every other team in the Euro's managed to play the ball out and through midfield with confidence.

At the end of the day England just aren't good enough, and Quarter Finalists is a fair reflection of where they are.

Hopefully things may improve in years to come with the more recently retired pro's being brought into the FA's setup (Neville, Southgate and I read Hargreaves is going to be fast tracked through this coaching education).

Smell Good · « **Reply #1678 on:** June 25, 2012, 06:19:13 AM »

I actually found myself to be quite impressed with Andy Carroll. All those long balls hucked at him by Hart or the guys in the back, I'd say he received them 90+% of the time with very little fuss.

noileum · « **Reply #1679 on:** June 25, 2012, 06:30:46 AM »

Quote from: Smell Good on June 25, 2012, 06:19:13 AM

I actually found myself to be quite impressed with Andy Carroll. All those long balls hucked at him by Hart or the guys in the back, I'd say he received them 90+% of the time with very little fuss.

Don't get me wrong, Carroll was pretty good, and as you say got to a massive % of all the long balls up to him, they didn't do anything with the 2nd balls that he knocked on\down though. Most of the time it was back with the Italians in their defence, who played it up through the midfield/wing and got it in the England final third.

I came to terms with no expecting anything from England this year early on, and wasn't disappointed\surprised at the result. They were outclassed last night, and probably would've been decimated by the Germans on Thursday if they had got through