Euro 2012 | Day 3 (Sunday 10th June)

[Geordie Ahmed]

Spain v Italy
17:00
ITV

R. of Ireland v Croatia
19;45
ITV

[freelance_cricketer]

SPAIN vs ITALY







In less than 2 hours. Big game. Let's see how Spain plays.

[Big Mac]

I assume every sane human being will be cheering on Italy? Yes? Cool.

[freelance_cricketer]

With Torres !

[Big Mac]

Spain: Casillas; Arbeloa, Ramos, Pique, Alba; Alonso, Busquets; Silva, Xavi, Iniesta; Fabregas.

Italy: Buffon; Bonucci, De Rossi, Chiellini; Maggio, Motta, Giaccherini, Pirlo, Marchisio; Cassano, Balotelli.


Italy just begging to get ripped apart with that lineup, De Rossi in the middle of defence ffs. Still, the return of the libero brings joy to the heart of all old school fans

Meanwhile Spain have taken their Tiki Taka tactics to the logical extreme. If your only aim in a game is to accumulate as many short, sideways passes as possible then why bother with a striker?

[Big Mac]

Oh yeah, Balotelli and Cassano up front :*)

[Geordie Ahmed]

Fabregas as the striker (false 9), I can see this being a frustrating game for Spain, they will dominate possession as always BUT will they have the cutting edge up front

Love the Italy forward lineup, as mental as you can get

[Big Mac]

Not just mental but don't forget Cassano had a stroke and needed heart surgery in the middle of this season as well. Feel good comeback story of the tournament.

Spanish just going to crowd the middle of the pitch and ensure Pirlo has no time on the ball to do anything.

[Geordie Ahmed]

Yeah, amazing comeback from Cassano, thought his career would be over yet here he is

What formation are Italy going to use?

[Big Mac]

3-5-2, De Rossi playing as a sweeper :/

All going to end in tears.

[freelance_cricketer]

National anthems time

[HaMmy FinE LeG StriKeR]

italy is gonna win

[Geordie Ahmed]

Originally Posted by Big Mac 3-5-2, De Rossi playing as a sweeper :/ All going to end in tears.

lol, that is going to be fun

[freelance_cricketer]

What an atmosphere !

[Big Mac]

hope spain have 100% possession without ever getting into the Italian penalty area before Italy get a 98th minute penalty which Balotelli converts and then gets sent off for his celebration.

Forums and newspapers across the globe to be full of Spanish/Barca fanboys crying about anti-football and "we had more possession so we basically won the game" for the next 2 days.

[freelance_cricketer]

[freelance_cricketer]

Originally Posted by Big Mac hope spain have 100% possession without ever getting into the Italian penalty area before Italy get a 98th minute penalty which Balotelli converts and then gets sent off for his celebration. Forums and newspapers across the globe to be full of Spanish/Barca fanboys crying about anti-football and "we had more possession so we basically won the game" for the next 2 days.

Would be epic,.

[freelance_cricketer]

Wooooooooo lovely pass.

[freelance_cricketer]

Exhilarating play so far, loving the game.

[freelance_cricketer]

Italy not passing well.

[freelance_cricketer]

No gollasso yet

[Big Mac]

How is that a booking for Balotelli but Fabregas got nothing for taking out Chiellini with zero attempt at getting the ball minutes earlier?

[Big Mac]

Great save from Casillas

[HaMmy FinE LeG StriKeR]

nice game

[Shaheerthe2nd]

Cassano has had a good comeback game so far.

[ZAK]

Is it just me or is Roberto Martinez actually very likable?

[Geordie Ahmed]

Italy playing quite well, have stifled Spain and restricted their chances

Some lovely passes from Pirlo, guy is a genius when it comes to passing BUT he needs to stop trying to take on, lost the ball a few times that way

Spain need to bring on Llorente

[Geordie Ahmed]

Decent start to the 2nd half for Spain, had a few shots and Iniesta just went close. Still think they need to bring on Llorente soon

[Geordie Ahmed]

*** was Balotelli doing there? got in a great position and then just sort of stopped

[ZAK]

Balotelli is too casual at times.

[freelance_cricketer]

Golden opportunity missed by Italy Waited too long.

[Geordie Ahmed]

Di Natale coming on for Balotelli, this guy certainly knows where the back of the net is

[ZAK]

Di Natale comes on for Balotelli.

[Big Mac]

I am still in shock at Balotelli...

[Geordie Ahmed]

Originally Posted by Big Mac I am still in shock at Balotelli...

I would love to know what was going on in his head at that moment

[Geordie Ahmed]

GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Di Natale

[freelance_cricketer]

1-0

Italy

[Big Mac]

Di Natale \o/\o/\o/\o/\oi/\o/\o/\o/\o/

[HaMmy FinE LeG StriKeR]

uhhh what i said

uhhh what i said

uhhh what i said

[leatherface58]

the 2 teams are cancelling each other out. well Yale s special moment and it comes!!!! di,natale awesome

[Geordie Ahmed]

Class pass from Pirlo and a brilliant finish

[ZAK]

Di Natale scores!!!

[Geordie Ahmed]

For a second thought he was going to square it to Cassano

[Big Mac]

Pirlo showing Xavi who's boss :*)

[freelance_cricketer]

Great goal from Natale. Perfect from italy,w ell deserved.

[freelance_cricketer]

Very impressed by Italy tonight. I think they are back in contention.

[Geordie Ahmed]

Spain stunned, need to bring on Llorente now and mix it up

[Geordie Ahmed]

Navas getting ready to come on, not sure how that will help unless they bring on a striker as well

[freelance_cricketer]

Waste of a sot from Iniesta

[Geordie Ahmed]

GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!

Fabregas equalises

[freelance_cricketer]

1-1


lol

[ZAK]

Fabregas equalises.

[Big Mac]

****, carved the defence open with ease there

[leatherface58]

world champs fight back

[Geordie Ahmed]

Lovely pass from Silva and a simple run from Fabregas

The lead did not last long

[freelance_cricketer]

Shoddy defense there from Italy.

[Geordie Ahmed]

and after that pass Silva goes off for Navas

also Cassano goes off for little Giovinco

[ZAK]

Jesus navas replaces David Silva.

[freelance_cricketer]

Best match of Euro so far, absolutely loving it.

[Geordie Ahmed]

goal music is awful

[MVP26]

Its been a good contest so far.

[freelance_cricketer]

One of these teams will play final with a group B team most probably.

[ZAK]

Torres is about to come on!

[Geordie Ahmed]

Torres on for Fabregas

[ZAK]

Torres replaces Fabregas.

[freelance_cricketer]

My man Torres in for Fabregas.

[Geordie Ahmed]

Torres went through BUT fails to round the keeper

[freelance_cricketer]

Goshh, Torres had a big chance there.

[Big Mac]

haha Buffon doesn't even bother using his hands when he sees Torres coming

[MVP26]

Torres.blew a golden opportunity.

[Geordie Ahmed]

Oh, Di Natale with a chance on the volley, goes wide

[Big Mac]

holy ****, what a ball from Giovinco. That would have been beautiful

[ZAK]

Beautiful ball by Giovinco.

[Zaz]

To be honest it was a difficult angle for torrres to try and round the keeper from

[Geordie Ahmed]

Iniesta wins a free kick just outside the box

[Geordie Ahmed]

Xavi hits the wall, 10 mins left

[freelance_cricketer]

Not bad for tourney opener. Italy and Spain look ready

[Geordie Ahmed]

Torres gets a yellow card, has done nowt since coming on, should have been Llorente on

[freelance_cricketer]

Yellow card for Torres

[Geordie Ahmed]

Torres goes close with a chip, just over