Euro 2012

[superfrank]

quite pathetic of Ronaldo, great player though he is, to wait for the possible glory penalty (while a centre-half takes and misses the 4th pen). not a team player - thinks too much of himself.

[giulio2010]

Spain = ZZZZZzzzzZZZZZzzzzzZZZZZ

[CaerMyrddin]

The spanish celebrated like they were the champions, didn't they?

[giulio2010]

Germany Vs Italy semifinal could be the real deal for football fans. The two sides have reached
27 times the semifinal, 19 times the final and are 11 times world cup and european cup winners. Germany 3 European cup titles and 3 World cup titles. Italy 1 European cup title and 4 World cup titles.
Below are the previous meetings.
1970 semifinal 1-1 in the 90 minutes, 4-3 for Italy in extra time. 5 goals were scored in extra-time. The journalists of the time named it the game of the century.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8t1AQZgPgk
1982 final Italy won 3-1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7O0zIXDcfHI
2006 semifinal 0-0 in the 90 minutes, 2-0 for Italy in extra time. Italy scored twice in the 118th minute and 120th minute of the game. Germany was playing home and was heartbreaking for Germans football fans.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7HUMGvvwf8
Germany were favorite in all games against Italy throw the history of football. In seven meetings though Germany has never won. 3L-4D.
below the BBC article.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18355490
Tonight will be played openly as they have always done and may the best team win not like the semi-final Spain vs Portugal. Italy has played a good European championship and established the roots for the next World Cup 2014. Germany record is impressive with a 15 games winning streak and have showned a higher standard compare to Italy and Spain. Their victory tonight will be worth much more than a final. The previous disappointments are still alive in their hearts even if they refused to admit it to the media. But if history were to repeat, Italy will take the final like a joyful bonus that no one would have expected.

[giulio2010]

nobody here will pay a tribute in favor of Italy. Here we are in the English forum and you can understand that. So cause I'm Italian I will make the first step. Italy has deserved the final and gave the strongest team of the competition a football lesson.
P.S. against Spain there was no fluke....

FORZA AZZURRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII.

History repeted it self..

[Euler]

I had to skip the match due to other commitments, but it looks like the Italians deserved it and I think they played better than Spain did in thier match. As an England fan I think you under estimate how we would like Italy to do well now.

Balotelli's second goal was stunning!

[giulio2010]

[giulio2010]

Balotelli second goal speed was 122 KMh (75.81 miles per h)

I had to skip the match due to other commitments, but it looks like the Italians deserved it and I think they played better than Spain did in thier match. As an England fan I think you under estimate how we would like Italy to do well now.

Balotelli's second goal was stunning!

The goal video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJrVhZPe ... re=related

[giulio2010]

Tonight It's the final. Euro2012 come to its conclusion and it was one of the best I have seen in years. Most of the games have been played openly eccept for some teams that have decided to come back in the past and play a defensive game but, overall was a great spectacle to watch. It 's still an event that happens every 4 years and because England don't play does not sound like a good excuse not to follow the game.
Spain-Italy, who wins tonight in Kiev, takes it all. Roja will also take place in the legend of football if they won, completing the treble of consecutive successes: Euro 2008 in Austria-Switzerland, the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and Euro 2012 in Poland-Ukraine. Italy will resume the scepter instead, if won tonight, after winning the World Cup in 2006, in Berlin. Italy after the 2006 world cup seemed to pass the ball to Spain when in Vienna ended 4-2 on penalties in the quarter the European Championship and from that moment Spain began the cycle of success. Then it was a hand-over, who knows may be repeated tonight in roles reversed. There may be a successful balance of contemporary history: a World Cup and a European each in the last four big competitions. There will be a duel between 2 giants in football.
Why Spain? Del Bosque team is certanly the winning generation. Like a few others, in the history of football. The successes are written down for ever , but these Spaniards have dominated the scene even with the clubs, as evidence of their absolute value. Especially with Barcelona, the backbone of Spain, the various Pique, Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, Fabregas. Players accustomed to lift trophies and because of that they may feel stronger. They have confidence and conviction. And yet the group of Real Madrid, Casillas in the head with Mourinho on the bench has started to put on the bulletin board trophies. It 'a core used to playing the finals, knows how to interpret it. Then Spain, or rather, the Barcelona and Spain, by extension, has released a patented and unique way of playing. Which is seeking, with appropriate corrective peculiar, also Italy. The characteristic features are: playing ball on the ground, possession prolonged offensive mentality, territorial dominance, pressing high and not an attack centered on the individual, but on the concept of space in depth. Now, when two teams that play in a similar manner, usually the stronger one wins, or at least the most tried and tested. Finally, Spain has an extraordinary motivation, complete the treble: it is no coincidence that the Spanish clans talk about the most important game than ever.
Why Italy? Italy arrives in Kiev with the best mood: that of someone who has gone beyond expectations, with less pressure on the final, although a final of a European is a unique opportunity. And with a growing mental and physical condition. The Italy of direct elimination matches is better than that seen in the group, and Germany has gone one better than with England. A gradual awareness of his own means. While Spain has limp semi-final with Portugal. The Azzurri should be optimistic after Spain display in the semifinal but of course the final will be a new game and will be making new highlights. In 11 previous ufficial meetings Spain has won only once, although it should be added the success of 2008 on penaltys to make 2 victorys for Spain out of 11 meetings. And yet, even that super Spain from 2008 struggled against Italy. In August 2011, in a friendly in Bari, Italy has won, playing well and also three weeks ago, in Gdansk, in the their first European game, the teams drew 1-1, playing even, and moving ahead. It made realized, to the italian that "the Spanish are human." Italy has a center attack, what is missing in Spain, although it could still play in front of Fabregas, which is a great playmaker. But if Balotelli will be the same as Warsaw with Germany, Italy will be more accustomed to verticalization of the narcissistic Spain and that is difference between the tika-taka ( Spain) and deadly attack from Italy.


Last game Italy and Spain formations were different then tonight final. Italy played 3-5-2 and Spain played without strikers. Here an explanation how it worked for both teams.
http://www.zonalmarking.net/2012/06/10/ ... e-a-3-5-2/

Tonight formations may be those:

Italy (4-3-1-2): Buffon; Abate, Bonucci, Barzagli, Chiellini; De Rossi, Pirlo, Marchisio; Montolivo; Balotelli, Cassano. Ct: Prandelli

Spain (4-3-3): Casillas; Arbeloa, Piquè, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba; Busquets, Alonso, Xavi; Pedro, Fábregas, Iniesta. All.: Del Bosque

[Euler]

Good luck for your boys Giulio. I sort of hoping Italy win because it will make England look better. Not sure Spain have looked that dangerous this tournament but the Germans did fail to take their chances in the semi. Should be an interesting match, lets hope either team tries to win it rather than not lose.

[smartypants59]

Spain spain spain, we are all singing the winning song already.... well i hope)

[Euler]

Well done Spain a very convincing performance.

[pdupre1961]

The funny thing is that only one of the scorers plays in Spain. The other three play in England...

[giulio2010]

Spain has played the best game of European championship. The 4-0 does not reflect what shown in the field. It was a heavy defeat and we should give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. The fate was already written and when a team scores 2-0 at halftime with Italy having the same opportunities we knew that there would be history in favor of Spain. The referee saved 2 red cards to pique and alonso and you understand that there is nothing to do tonight even if we had played better. The second half Italy could mark but again the heavy play of spain made us play in 10 for 30 minutes after killing Tiago Motta on the pitch and therefore killing the game. Cesare Prandelli had favorable decisions for the whole season, but tonight he made ​​some mistakes but we Italians are confident and we will overcome this moment of humiliation. Chiellinin was already injured and he could not cope the dirty game full of mown play of the Spaniards. The other mistake, was the 4-3-2-1 which favors the Spaniards, he should have played 3-5-2 as in the first game. However we are one step ahead of Netherlands, Germany, England and Portugal and we can only do better for the next tournament or close. I am a fan and I admire the fair-play and I can say that Italy has played fair play but not the Spanish team. Spain played well and deserved the win but if some of their killers would have been fairly punished me may had e better chance to challange Them.

[pdupre1961]

Totally agree...

I wonder if Spain could win without cheating.... I doubt it.