Our boys giving a very passionate delivery of our national anthem.
Should be a more balanced semi final than the first one. Only saw pieces of the first one but Spain were very impressive alright. Isco was very good and got a class goal. Morata really effective once again.
What has happened to Muniain? He was one of the standout players for Spain at the last Euros and two years on he seems to have regressed significantly.
The referee is being a cunt already, he gave a very debatable free against Italy on the edge of the box. He then proceeded to have the Italian wall a lot further back than they should have been. The Dutch hit the post from the free kick and then Borini gets a yellow card for a rather innocuous foul just outside the box from the rebound.
Verratti is a fantastic footballer, but he picks up far too many needless bookings.
The Dutch are overpowering us a little in the physical stakes.
Referee isn’t giving us anything.
We’ve been outplayed but have created a few decent chances between Borini and Immobile. We are really getting dominated in midfield by the Dutch, who are physically stronger and more energetic. Our defending has been very solid and calm. Bianchetti looks like a cracking prospect at centre back.
Gabbiadini replaces Immobile.
I’m not a fan of Caldirola, I’d much prefer Capuano in place of him.
Borini with a really well taken goal gives us the lead.
Referee was shocking. As blatant push barge on Caldirola there right at the end as Holland lauched a long ball in to the box and the referee clearly saw it and didn’t punish it.
Italy are through to the final, full value for the win. Italy were defensively perfect.
Zeman once said that possession is futile and that statement was vindicated tonight. Despite dominating possession and having the advantage in the midfield area, they just didn’t have the quality or invention to break down a super Italian defence. That performance was quintessentially Italian. Bianchetti was my man of the match. He’s not long turned 20 but played like a 32 year old who had seen it all and done it all, he was faultless. Donati was also excellent at right back. Verratti failed to influence the match as much as in previous encounters. Insigne is quality, we didn’t dominate the game so he wasn’t a prominent figure but every so often he would show real moments of class and assisted the Borini goal. Borini was very good tonight, he worked hard and his movement was great, great take and finish for the goal, he looked a lot more confident tonight than I have seen for a long time.
For Holland’s dominance they didn’t create anything substantial, they got into our final third but couldn’t figure out how to unlock our defence, relying on percentage balls into the box which we defended superbly and hoping to nick one from a free or corner.
To see defending like this is brilliant. It’s proper defending relying on intelligence, decision making, bravery and positioning which is refreshing in this day and age. Some of the more acclaimed defensive sides of today aren’t really good at the actual back 4 defending. Some teams like to pack men behind the ball and park the bus, Italy don’t do that we keep our natural shape and rely on the back 4 defending their areas with intelligence. Some teams like to defend from the front like Bayern and some teams like to defend by having the ball like Spain and Barcelona. Italy defend by having excellent defenders who are superbly disciplined and organised.
I think we will beat Spain who will be red hot favourites for the final. There’s no doubt about it that Spain have a lot more creative and decisive players in the final third than Holland did and we will be much more tested this time but I believe we are good enough to contain them and we have the players in attack to decide the match ourselves. Should be a very intriguing final.
1-1 after 10 minutes here in the final. Immobile with a lovely composed finish for Italy ruling out Tiago’s opener
Thiago puts Spain back in front
4-1 to Spain late on.
Shit, thought this was on at 7.30pm.
Overall I’m happy with our showing in the tournament. Spain were deserving winners, you have to remember that they have their very strongest squad at this level, Italy have the likes of Balotelli, El Sharaawy and De Sciglio off with the seniors as well as Marrone and Santon out through injury. The Spanish are much further ahead in their development, one of the problems with Italian football is that we are too cautious to blood our youngsters (although a lot of clubs are improving in that manner).
Borini looks like he is really regaining his form and confidence as well which is very encouraging.
The penalty awarded to Spain for the third goal seemed like a ridiculous decision. I’m open to correction as I have only viewed in once but it looked like Donati (I think) clearly won the ball.
bump