England v Italy

[Cohiba Stevie]

I will get this post in before the penalties are taken...

If england go through it will be a severe injustice for the italians.

Ive never watched such a brutal performance. Awful, awful team.

C'mon italy!

[rckymtn22]

Neither team was that great. Cannon fodder for the Germans I think.

[Cohiba Stevie]

Justice has been done.

Joe hart = biggest tosser in football.

[rckymtn22]

Justice has been done.

Joe hart = biggest tosser in football.

Maybe,Rooney is up there too.

Both teams sucked in this game.

[Cohiba Stevie]

Maybe,Rooney is up there too.

Both teams sucked in this game.

Think its unfair to say both teams sucked, italy were the far superior side.

[phoenix]

I will get this post in before the penalties are taken...

If england go through it will be a severe injustice for the italians.

Ive never watched such a brutal performance. Awful, awful team.

C'mon italy!

Agree. In the end, justice was served...

[almudawi]

Think its unfair to say both teams sucked, italy were the far superior side.

Agreed.. The Italians were far better than england.. Justice has been served. Good riddance of Hodgson and his negative tactics.. What were the guys in the FA thinking?

[winelover]

I guess Cohiba Steve you were supporting the Italian's as the same reason that the Scots were - a hatred of the English.

We (England) did well to take the match to penners as we were outclassed and Pirlo was imperious. Not sure why you have it in for Joe Hart though.

Well done Italy, will be an interesting semi against Germany. Shaping up to be en enticing conclusion to the tournament.

G

[Puros Y Vino]

Italy fan here. Very surprised to see them put on so much offensive pressure. I never like a game to go to kicks but they deserved this win. England didn't suck but they surely were outchanced. England's defence had too much work to do.

[rckymtn22]

Think its unfair to say both teams sucked, italy were the far superior side.

Think that is unfair to call the Italian's the far superior side. Yes,slightly better . Both played uninspiring football. No show case game , neither deserves to go on.

[Cohiba Stevie]

I guess Cohiba Steve you were supporting the Italian's as the same reason that the Scots were - a hatred of the English.

We (England) did well to take the match to penners as we were outclassed and Pirlo was imperious. Not sure why you have it in for Joe Hart though.

Well done Italy, will be an interesting semi against Germany. Shaping up to be en enticing conclusion to the tournament.

G

Wrong... I dont hate the england squad,

They are just a horrible side, watching them is a chore.

And this is coming from somebody who supports the republic of ireland. Im just telling it like it is.

[khomeinist]

Sometimes drinking an ale or two during a match can help drain away some piss and vinegar. Try it sometime.

Italy looked ok. England squandered a few good chances as well. Germany should roll on to a showdown with the Iberian winner.

[brutusthebuckeye]

Forza Azzurri.....England playing the old Italian catenaccio was a grind to watch .....Bring on the krauts! !!

[Ken Gargett]

i thought the quote of the week came from an english fan - "two things england can't do. take penalties and make porn films'.

[Guest Robo]

Great day for Italy! Any team could have won, but the best team came out on top, IMHO. Two more wins for EURO glory. Italy can beat Germany, remember WC 2006? Forza Azzurri!

[riazp]

the better side won in my opinion. Pirlo is pure class and found a second life in his career. They dominated play, hit two posts, Hart made some good saves. Had England won in penalties I would be saying that it was pure luck. Italy V Germany will be interesting. I just read that Bastien Schwieinstiger is doubtfull for thursday game due to a lingering ankle injury.

[winelover]

i thought the quote of the week came from an english fan - "two things england can't do. take penalties and make porn films'.

Classic.

Re penalties - was surprised Cole missed as he is usually

a great penalty taker but I think it is the curse of the shirt.

[mazolaman]

We defended all tournament, and got to where we deserved...

Germans should walk through though.

Not too keen on your bile spitting, however.

[Cohiba Stevie]

I think a few of you (english) need to reassess my comments regarding the team and their performance last night.

You may want to refer to a previous post i made regarding the unforgivable and sickening performance from rep of ireland.

I think its quite an outlandish comment even to say the english deserved to be at the quarter final, their performance over the tournament was sub standard, simple as that.

Secondly, all the comments stating that they done well to get to penalties are unsubstantiated, ball posession st the 90 minute mark put italy at over 60%. Then england lost on penalties to one of the worst penalty taking teams in the history of international football.

Then theres joe hart, he was suspended when he played for the england under 21s for coming off his line during a penalty shootout to goad one of the swedish players as he stepped up to take a penalty, he actually missed the final because of said incident. Then last night all he did was smile like a cheshire cat even when his team were 4-3 down on pens, this is even after pirlo made a boy out of him with one of the best penalty kicks ever taken...

That my friends is why he is a tosser.

And for the people who are misconstruing my comments as hatred for the english, i think its quite pathetic that a few grown men cant talk about football on a forum without anybody getting annoyed that im attacking their country. My comments towards the england team have been completley about their footballing merit (or lack thereof) and nothing else. Some of my close friends are english and as i work for vodafone i travel quite frequently to england for work purposes and have no animosity for yourselves as a nation whatsoever.

But yous cannot play football...

Lol

[frenchkiwi]

I think a few of you (english) need to reassess my comments regarding the team and their performance last night.

You may want to refer to a previous post i made regarding the unforgivable and sickening performance from rep of ireland.

I think its quite an outlandish comment even to say the english deserved to be at the quarter final, their performance over the tournament was sub standard, simple as that.

Secondly, all the comments stating that they done well to get to penalties are unsubstantiated, ball posession st the 90 minute mark put italy at over 60%. Then england lost on penalties to one of the worst penalty taking teams in the history of international football.

Then theres joe hart, he was suspended when he played for the england under 21s for coming off his line during a penalty shootout to goad one of the swedish players as he stepped up to take a penalty, he actually missed the final because of said incident. Then last night all he did was smile like a cheshire cat even when his team were 4-3 down on pens, this is even after pirlo made a boy out of him with one of the best penalty kicks ever taken...

That my friends is why he is a tosser.

And for the people who are misconstruing my comments as hatred for the english, i think its quite pathetic that a few grown men cant talk about football on a forum without anybody getting annoyed that im attacking their country. My comments towards the england team have been completley about their footballing merit (or lack thereof) and nothing else. Some of my close friends are english and as i work for vodafone i travel quite frequently to england for work purposes and have no animosity for yourselves as a nation whatsoever.

But yous cannot play football...

Lol

stevie, don't worry, some people get very touchy about their national teams when they lose, especially when their expectations get built up year after year after year by sensationalist media ... england managed to get to the quarters, and the way they played, that was a pretty good result. much like a hapless france. the highlights reel is full of italians hitting posts and missing by inches from just in front.

bring on spain v portugal, both sides should be having a crack at each other and playing attacking football ... (although spain might try to shut them out through ticky tacky like they did france... effective but not always enterprising)

and when's the last time you could say: Germany v Italy, should be entertaining, plenty of shots on goal??? my how times have changed.

[tmac77]

As a London born England fan now living in Canada I, unfortunately, can not help but agree with some of the previous comments on England's dismal performance in this year's Euro. Yesterday's match against Italy, although it started with some promise, ended up being one of the most dreadful perfomances from the team that I have seen in many a year. Clumsey first touches, errant passes, gave away possession cheaply, lack of fitness..... I could go on and on.

If Gerrard and Parker were was so bothered by cramps, as stated by the manager, to the extent that neither could muster up the guts to play two way football as thier positions require, one or both should have been replaced at the half. Gerrard turned in an especially woeful performance and was for the most part invisible throughout the game.

In the end, despite my loathing to see Italy go through over my beloved Three Lions, the better team won. my only regret is that I doubt that this loss will percipitate any significant changes to the management or make up of the squad and I lost a cigar to Frank with a bet on the game.

[Puros Y Vino]

.......and I lost a cigar to Frank with a bet on the game.

Well put Tom. I'll see you and that SLR DC tomorrow.

[winelover]

I think its quite an outlandish comment even to say the english deserved to be at the quarter final, their performance over the tournament was sub standard, simple as that.

We won our group and thjs deserved to be in the quarter finals. Ipso facto. Also France were even worse.

Secondly, all the comments stating that they done well to get to penalties are unsubstantiated, ball posession st the 90 minute mark put italy at over 60%. Then england lost on penalties to one of the worst penalty taking teams in the history of international football.

As Italy had the ball possession and were dominating the game, again it speaks for itself that it was an achievement to get through to penalties (admittedly a lucky one).

Also I very much doubt Italy have a worse spot kicks history than England. We are consistently rubbish at penalties and with a worse history than most major teams I'd say.

Then theres joe hart, he was suspended when he played for the england under 21s for coming off his line during a penalty shootout to goad one of the swedish players as he stepped up to take a penalty, he actually missed the final because of said incident. Then last night all he did was smile like a cheshire cat even when his team were 4-3 down on pens, this is even after pirlo made a boy out of him with one of the best penalty kicks ever taken...

That my friends is why he is a tosser.

Without your explanation it seemed like a harsh insult without context. I don't know enough about Joe Hart to get worked up but I did hope that he might pull off at least one save. I think his youth and boyish features make him look unserious but doubt that is really the case.

And for the people who are misconstruing my comments as hatred for the english, i think its quite pathetic that a few grown men cant talk about football on a forum without anybody getting annoyed that im attacking their country. My comments towards the england team have been completley about their footballing merit (or lack thereof) and nothing else. Some of my close friends are english and as i work for vodafone i travel quite frequently to england for work purposes and have no animosity for yourselves as a nation whatsoever.

But yous cannot play football...

I think we have known all tournament that we are mediocre at best and it is about trying to get something out of say a mid tablre premiership side. Look at Carrol up front, hardly world class. Not a vintage team by any means and we did well given the absence of talent. Usually we are full of great individual talents but then can't get it together. Never the case here and the Brit public knew it. If we won it would have been almost akin to Greece winning in 2000. We knew our limits. Yes because we are a proud footballing nation, I am sure some of your comments rubbed people up the wrong way, and particularly so because initially they were made without much justification for your view.

Accept you are not an England hater, I just meant so in a friendly way. For example my friends parents are Scots, great folks and they live in England and have plenty of English friends. Of course they hate us in sport and wish that we'd lose which is entirely expected and not begrudged one bit. Surely the Irish hate us too, like the Aussies and Kiwis like to pommie bash? Admit it? No?

[Cohiba Stevie]

Firstly, Finishing top of group D is no spectacular or noteworty feat.

Secondly, The only luck england had was that italy didnt score one of the many chances they had in the game. Here are a few stats for you to mull over...

England had on average 39% of the possession in their four euro 2012 games

Italy had more shots on target in their quarter-final match than England had in the whole tournament (4 matches)

England averaged 300 passes per match. The four semi-finalists have averaged 479 (last nights total passes for england was around the 170 mark)

England completed only 15 passes in the 15 minutes of the second period of extra-time against Italy (shocking)

England's most successful passing combination against Italy was the goalkeeper Joe Hart to the substitute striker Andy Carroll

Andrea Pirlo had more passes against England than England's four starting midfielders had against Italy (seriously)

So you can see when i read a comment stating that england played well or remotley deserved to get to a quarter final, i approach it with natural skepticism.

The most shocking stat ive read so far is that the majority of the english public have voted steven gerard as the best england player in euro 2012. This actually proves that you are the most unrealistic and deluded supporters in the world. Stephen gerard was diabolical. John terry however did actually defend quite well.

I stick by my comments about hart, hes a massive tosser. Ipso facto

I honestly dont think i need to justify my comments about england any further, if you are going to take it to heart and get upset then frankly im unconcerned. I think you need to lighten up mate, its just a game, im a tottenham supporter and ive spent most of my life on the recieving end of people declaring how bad my team are, that goes for my country too.

[Cohiba Stevie]

I forgot to add that italy statistically have a worse penalty taking record than england.