Final: Italy - England

[RickyMaravilla'sRightFoot]

Italy’s weak spots at fullback have been exposed.
Best chance at coming back is to keep controlling the tempo like Italy did in the last 15mins.

 

[Nerazzurri's Hoe.]

What are you going on about? Italy midfield is dominating.

This is Italian offence vs. England defence. England sitting back and not being bothered much.

Earlier in the game they were not did you even see the amount of space between the midfield and the defense line? But later yeah they are dominating becau as you said England is sitting back now

 

[sdvroot]

Mancini will come up with something during the break, must win the match

 

[wera]

Naaah am talking about the technical side these three are superior to the English ones thats why it’s baffling to me but I guess if I were to compare them physically then yeah they are definitely weaker

but are they all that more technical? Rice is really slick for a big guy tbh, that is also why he is playing and not Henderson

Locatelli not playing is the problem here. They need more grit in that midfield...also Kane is coming back into the pocket all the time and no one is marking him, sheesh

 

[brehme1989]

this is where, imho, england's home grown rules have driven the right behaviours. Look at how broad this England squad is, in terms of clubs called up from.

Everton, City, City, Utd, Atletico, Leeds, West Ham, Utd, Chelsea, Tottenham. 8 clubs in the starting line up.

And you cant say they arent great players for the most of it too - young, energetic, playing well, etc. It's somehow driven through a lot of good talent.

And Italy has starting players from: Milan, Napoli, Juventus, Chelsea, PSG, Inter, Lazio, which is 7 clubs...

 

[Tamirk]

I hope to see berardi and bastoni instead of dumb and dumber...

 

[.h.]

And Italy has starting players from: Milan, Napoli, Juventus, Chelsea, PSG, Inter, Lazio, which is 7 clubs...

yeh, but in some weird way, i ddont see any of those clubs as being comparable to West ham, or Leeds, or Aston Villa, for example. Even Everton. Somehow England's gotten quite good at driving through young talent *across the league*. I mean when was the lst time you'd expect a midfielder from a club that *just* got promoted to be starting for England? And actually look good, too?
I think my point is, somehow, after years of failure, England has gotten good at rdiving a lot of talent across the league, whereas (personally) in Italy it still feels like if you're any good, you're getting snapped up by Juve/Inter/Milan/the big clubs. I appreciate there are some players like Berardi, for example, in the wider squad - and Fiorentina and Torino.

Dunno. Maybe I'm just clutching at straws. But for me, right now, England has an embarrasment of riches in talent.

 

[thatdude]

Locatelli and Berardi need to be in be in this game. Italy has struggled more to create in the games Locatelli hasn’t started. There is more “control” with Verratti but less ability to hurt teams.

Berardi needs to come on so Chiesa can play on the left side so Italy can take advantage of his directness. Right now if he makes a move and beats a player he has to shoot with his left foot. You have to play to the strengths of your best player. immobile just has to come off and never play for Italy again.

 

[wera]

And Italy has starting players from: Milan, Napoli, Juventus, Chelsea, PSG, Inter, Lazio, which is 7 clubs...

and at least 3 of the players are the wrong players on the pitch

 

[wera]

well at least it's still 1-0, the game is still open

 

[I'mNewHere]

Icardi and Immobile are very similar players

 

[thatdude]

I have a feeling England will strike again early in the 2nd half. Hopefully I’m wrong.

 

[thatdude]

Icardi was invisible, Immobile is something worse. He gets involved too much and almost always fucks up.

 

[Choppin Onions]

England will sit back and with their team defense as good as it is, it’s gonna be real tough unless Mancio throws the kitchen sink at them.

 

[Tamirk]

Icardi and Immobile are very similar players

As much i hate icardi, he really better than this garbage, not that is too hard..

 

[Nerazzurri's Hoe.]

I just hope he makes the changes soon and not too late :/

 

[thatdude]

No changes at halftime…

 

[.h.]

honestly, bastoni cross-field passes from LB to Chiesa/Barella would be fucking deadly.. Chiesa cutting inside, which he's been very good at...

 

[sdvroot]

Would be great sub Raspadori to Immobile

 

[Nerazzurri's Hoe.]

Obligatory Barella yellow card