Italy - Spain (QF) (22 Jun 08)

[shahz_nerazzurri]

Its Azzurri's versus Spain in the last of the quarters on Sunday.
Gattuso and Pirlo are both suspended. While Gattuso is no big loss, Pirlo will be greatly missed by the Italians.

On form and on paper, Spaniards have a big advantage over Italy, but it remains to be seen if they can come over their psychological barrier, to beat the Italians, who they have not defeated since 1920!!!!!

My team.
----------------------Buffon-----------------

----Zambrotta----Gamberini---Chellini----Grosso---

--------Aquilani------DeRossi-----Perotta------

--------------------Cassano------------------

---------------Toni-------------DiNatale--------


Donadoni's team.

-------------------Buffon---------------------------

---Zambrotta----Panucci-----Chellini-------Grosso---

--Camronesi------Ambrosini----DeRossi----Petrotta--

-----------------------Cassano---------------------

------------------------Toni------------------------


Gamberini is so much more a better defender than Panucci. While Chellini will be able to handle Torres, Villa will probably tear Panucci a new hole. Donadoni is also in love with AMbrosini and Camronesi, so we'll definitely see both of them in the lineup again.

 

[Choppin Onions]

Aquilani needs to start. If Donadoni goes with the Camoranesi, De Rossi, Ambrosini, Perrota midfield, Spain wins easily. And Toni needs to bury his chances if Italia hope to progress.

 

[lonewolf19]

This is going to be awesome match.
On paper, Spain has better chance of reaching next round but we all know Spain always falter in the knock out stage.

De Rossi, Cassano, Perrota must start.

 

[Luka]

1) Donadoni won't play 4-4-1-1 shahz. That would be the same mistake Mancini made, when he tried something fancy in big games. Why play something that players didn't practise? Only 4-3-1-2, or 4-3-3 for them.

2) Panucci is very decent since he switched to the center. Gamberini, as much as I like the player, here experience is something that counts twice more, than tallent.

It will be a great game indeed, and a must see game, for any football fan. Another proof, that the tactics is the ultimate power in football, and I hope Italy will again proove it.

 

[mexican_azzurri]

Poor spain before to know that italy gonna be the other team in QF, all was confidence, "with this team we can win the euro"....and now "Italy is the worst option", they have a great team but in the head have so many fears yet.


Italy-Spain-> Italy

 

[M.Adnan]

1) Donadoni won't play 4-4-1-1 shahz. That would be the same mistake Mancini made, when he tried something fancy in big games. Why play something that players didn't practise? Only 4-3-1-2, or 4-3-3 for them.

Donadoni isn't really smarter than Mancini, so I see no reason why he won't make that mistake.

Some coaches are just too chicken and in love with shitty Juve and Milan players like Ambrosini and Camoranesi. Donadoni is one of them.

 

[shahz_nerazzurri]

My bad, he wont play 4-4-1-1. He will use the exact same team, and play Perotta as a trequartista.

 

[Ajesh]

Panucci is organising the defense well.Donadoni will include him rightly in the line up.Two inexperienced Defenders in the back are not bright tactics at this stage.

 

[minterke]

Not scared of Spain, they've had an easy group and proved nothing yet, their midfield is only good on paper. Torres can be contained, Villa is our only problem.

Btw, is Puyol still injured?

 

[Pulsar36]

Spain will win.

 

[Suneet]

Same team like last time. Get Del Piero in and play him as trequarterista.

Gattuso-De Rossi-Perotta would be a good midfield, please dont play Ambrosini.

 

[Luka]

Gattuso can't play.

Unfortunetly there is no way Ambroshit won't play in this game.

Also, Del Pierro if will play, he will only play as a striker. He refused to play for national before because Donadoni didn't want to play him as a striker. If someone will play behind them it is Cassano.

Actualy that's what I think we will see upfront from Italy.

Toni - Del Pedro

-- Cassano ---

 

[tonyloo]

Spain hasnt really impressed, they had big problems against Sweden and Greece(Spain had a reserve team against Greece though). Russia wasnt a problem since they're an even more offensive team than Spain, they were a perfect opponent for Spain.

Im curious to see what Spain can do against a balanced team, Sweden and Greece are extremely defensively balanced teams(The spanish players could pretend they were in La Liga playing as Real Madrid or Barcelona against Murcia), Russia were an extremely offensively balanced team and that gave players like Silva, Villa and Iniesta so much space that they had no option but to score goals.

Im interested to see what Senna and Xavi can do against De Rossi, Ambrosini, Perotta and Aquilani or whoever it might be in Italy's central midfield.

The people of Spain are scared to death, Italy have a mental advantage.

 

[rockball]

For the first time ever I say Ambrosini should play. We need some defensive cover against Spain.

Camoranesi - Perrotta behind Toni-Cassano should be good.

 

[Azzkikr]

Not playing Ambrosini would be suicide. Italy cant compete with the technique, pace and talent in spains midfield, not playing a real DM like Ambrosini would be certain failure.

 

[AntonTheGreat]

Chielini will be ripped apart by torres, and villa will rip panucci apart as well. Its gonna all be up to how well spains midfield and defense do. The attack is good enough to score 4 goals against a crippled italy. I don't see how italy will stop villa torres and iniesta if they get good distribution. Hmmmmm should be interesting.


Prediction 2-0 or 3-0 spain

but if italy play well and lucky 2-1 italy.

 

[minterke]

Not playing Ambrosini would be suicide. Italy cant compete with the technique, pace and talent in spains midfield, not playing a real DM like Ambrosini would be certain failure.

France have the same technique and pace as Spain, and we played them off the park with our passing game. No Pirlo we'll definetly hurt us, the guy is world class and there's probably no one in Europe who can pass a ball like him.

But De Rossi has great technique and is very underrated...watch out for him.

 

[tonyloo]

Chiellini is a fcing idiot, but he can use his elbows and dirty tricks in a smart way without being punished, he's like Materazzi in his 06/07-season(without the offensive power), Panucci is decent, he's good enough to contain these kind of players on his best day.

Italy will have to rely on De Rossi and Ambrosini, both players have been able to step it up in difficult moments.

The real question is the offensive, Di Natale, Del Piero or Casano? All of them? If Del Piero starts its a disaster, Cassano and Di Natale must start behind Toni. Thats it. If not, Del Piero will waste everything, he'll use Cassano's space, he'll draw the balls that should've gone to Di Natale and so on.

Del Piero = loss!

...and dont get me started on Camoranesi, he has been a disaster, he cant handle pressure, he has Moggi's mentality in him. Just look at him when he was owned by the "unknown" Pelé, he almost kicked Pelés leg off. He'll cost Italy, just like Moggi did.

 

[lonewolf19]

Villa is going to kill the Italian defence lineup.

 

[shahz_nerazzurri]

Chellini is a top top quality defender, probably the only one from the need breed of Italian defenders likely to be reach the heights of Cannavaro and Nesta.

Pace in Spain's midfield? lol. Apart from Sivla, there isnt really much attacking threat from Spain's midfield. Fabregas starts on the bench.
A true DM would be good for Italy but they dont have one decent enough. Ambrosini would just stand in the middle, watch the game play go around him.