Rooney. 
Rooney
Immobile for Balotelli has been a poor sub and put pressure on us. Immobile is more a striker youād bring on chasing a goal, he doesnāt have the same ability to bring others into the game and hold it up as Balotelli has and the ball is not sticking up there. Immobile is looking to go in behind the whole time and keeps getting caught off.
5 minutes extra 
Magic from Pirlo there. Showing these headless chickens how the game is supposed to be played.
Easy street, we never shed a drop of sweat out there tonight.
Thought we defended very well, Chiellini had a really tough night but itās understandable when heās not a left back. Darmian, Barzagli, Pirlo, Marchisio and Candreva were great. Sirigu is such a calming keeper, he always parries extremely safely.
West Brit OāHerlihy is seething.
fuck you John Bull, Pirlo and our boys just fucked you up the ass.
Expected nothing more than 3pts tonight,job well done and should easily top the group now!
[QUOTE=āIl Bomber Destro, post: 962384, member: 2533ā]
I think weāre holding back a bit here, England are doing a fair bit of pressing high up the pitch and I canāt see them maintaining it for the full 90.[/QUOTE]
You were proved right there, England did a lot of chasing and hounding in the first half particularly. Meaning that with 20 minutes left to play, they had nothing left in the tank. To me it looked as if Italy were content to leave England have possession towards the final quarter, knowing they could defend their own 18 yard box well enough, restricting England to mostly long distance shots.
Henderson did a half decent job of curtailing Pirlo for spells in the first half, yet the bearded genius still dictated the midfield. It was hilarious to see Gerrard chase shadows all night. The dummy from the corner that created the chance for Marchisioās goal was simple yet brilliant, taking out Rooney and Henderson in one go. A well executed training ground move.
Honestly couldnāt believe Rooney was left on for the the entire 90 minutes, he gave so little protection to Baines, who was being raped every time by Darmian and Candreva. The former who I thought was excellent on his competitive debut. If I was an England fan, Iād be calling for Milner to come in on the left for the Uruguay game with Shrek dropping to the bench.
Very effective performance by Italy all in all, should be topping the group without much difficulty.
Vai Azzurri!
Thoughts about the team for the Costa Rica game?
I think it is important that we keep the team fresh. De Sciglio will probably miss out again and Buffon remains a doubt, De Rossi and Barzagli are also struggling with a neck injury and tendinitis respectively. I wouldnāt chance any of them, the team I would pick would be as follows
Sirigu
Darmian Paletta Bonucci Abate
Parolo Pirlo Motta
Cerci Balotelli Insigne
[QUOTE=āIl Bomber Destro, post: 964961, member: 2533ā]Thoughts about the team for the Costa Rica game?
I think it is important that we keep the team fresh. De Sciglio will probably miss out again and Buffon remains a doubt, De Rossi and Barzagli are also struggling with a neck injury and tendinitis respectively. I wouldnāt chance any of them, the team I would pick would be as follows
Sirigu
Darmian Paletta Bonucci Abate
Parolo Pirlo Motta
Cerci Balotelli Insigne[/QUOTE]
I agree that unfit players should not be risked. Sirigu has to continue between the sticks. I would rather Chiellini start beside Bonucci as they know each otherās game. Not sure about Abate at left back but I know that options are limited. Iād leave midfield as it was minus De Rossi. Candreva canāt be dropped after his performance in Manaus. Canāt stand Thiago Motta, heās not international standard in my opinion.
The only other change i would like to see is Insigne playing in a free role behind Balotelli.
Gigi, Abate and Motta in for Sirigu, Paletta and Verratti.
Darmian will switch to left back.
Bit of a scrappy game so far, Balotelli is doing well up front.
Candreva has been poor so far.
Italy have been second to everything in the last 10 minutes and Balotelli has been left isolated up top.
Costa Rica 1-0 up and deservedly so.
Gigi doesnāt look fit Bomber.
I donāt see the need to rush him back when Sirigu played really well on Saturday. The shape is wrong for me and itās inviting pressure on us, Iād definitely get Cerci on for Candreva straight away. We need a win here today, I donāt want to go into the Uruguay game needing a result and Iād definitely expect Costa Rica to get something off England.
Typical Italian display against an underdog.
Cassano coming on.
Motta off.
Candreva is really struggling today.