Inconvenient things like facts always let you down.
Messi has been part of a Barcelona side that have faced Italian opposition in the knock out stage on 5 occasions, with Barcelona winning 4 of those 5… Barcelona beat Juventus in the 2014/15 final. Barcelona prevailed over Milan on three occasions, 2005/06 semi final, 2011/12 quarter final, 2012/13 round of 16. The only blip is the 2009/10 semi final defeat to Inter.
I’m discussing Messi, not Barcelona. Stay on point please.
They are indistinguishable.
No they aren’t. Why can’t Mythi replicate it at international level without his Tiki Taki supporting cast?
Who do you think is the best footballer of the last ten years?
Buffon, Chiellini, Pirlo or Totti for me.
Ditto on this.
What about JJ Watt, pal?
If that’s so why have Italy not got past the group stages in the last two World Cups?
Italy and Juventus (with 3 of those 4) have really under achieved with the four best footballers of the last ten years in their ranks.
Italy won the World Cup, mate.
Just like the Real Madrid team that had Figo, Zidane, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, David Beckham et al
Totti retired after 06.
Pirlo and Buffon only played one half of football each at the 2010 World Cup.
Pirlo is a fucking myth. He chipped an England keeper with a penalty and everyone fell in love. Strolls around the pitch. Very good player but would not lace the boots of Roy Keane or Zidane.
And Zlatan of course
Roy Keane was a laughing stock across Europe, mate.
Agreed a complete myth.
Lifted the trophy in the lottery system after a drawn final in 2006.
There have been two World Cup’s and two European Championships since 2006 and Italian performances on the whole in those four tournaments have been modest bordering on poor. With all these great players its surprising there hasn’t been an Italian era of international dominance like Brazil 1958-62, West Germany in the early 70’s or Spain 2008-12. Instead Italy have been losing to Costa Rica and drawing with New Zealand.
Zlatan has repeated success wherever he has gone.
Never won a European Cup and negligible impression for Sweden in World Cup’s and European Championships.