Euro 2021 - Page 11

JedB · #**151** 07-02-2021, 01:57 PM

Azzzurrriiiii~~~

BobC · #**152** 07-02-2021, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JedB

Azzzurrriiiii~~~

This is arguably the finale.

so much talent on display.

martl · #**153** 07-02-2021, 03:20 PM

Italy has a counterspell to Belgium magic it seems.. They always were a tough team to play against, and they evolved quite a bit from their more destructive times. Never understood the hype about Belgium, that world ranking doesn't mean much. They got de Bruyne, Lukaku, Hazard and Courtois, the rest plays in Brügge or Leichester. There were some more talented teams at this Euro.

Johnnysmooth · #**154** 07-02-2021, 04:21 PM

Didn't see but last 20min or so but one thing I learned - those Italians sure can act.

BobC · #**155** 07-02-2021, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martl

Italy has a counterspell to Belgium magic it seems.. They always were a tough team to play against, and they evolved quite a bit from their more destructive times. Never understood the hype about Belgium, that world ranking doesn't mean much. They got de Bruyne, Lukaku, Hazard and Courtois, the rest plays in Brügge or Leichester. There were some more talented teams at this Euro.

Italy is the team to beat. Mancini has them playing so well & they are the most complete, deep team.

I hope Sterling was taking notes on how Doku played, it seems that Italy's weakness is they are susceptible to speed in the back.

Spain continues to be unimpressive. I don't get the fascination with Morata. He makes Diego Costa look world class.

poff · #**156** 07-02-2021, 04:34 PM

Forza Azzurri!

JedB · #**157** 07-02-2021, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnnysmooth

Didn't see but last 20min or so but one thing I learned - those Italians sure can act.

Yes, they can:

https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comm..._italy_scores/

echappist · #**158** 07-02-2021, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobC

Italy is the team to beat. Mancini has them playing so well & they are the most complete, deep team.

I hope Sterling was taking notes on how Doku played, it seems that Italy's weakness is they are susceptible to speed in the back.

Spain continues to be unimpressive. I don't get the fascination with Morata. He makes Diego Costa look world class.

Diego Costa is par excellence at s***housery though

Quote:

Originally Posted by martl

Italy has a counterspell to Belgium magic it seems.. They always were a tough team to play against, and they evolved quite a bit from their more destructive times. Never understood the hype about Belgium, that world ranking doesn't mean much. They got de Bruyne, Lukaku, Hazard and Courtois, the rest plays in Brügge or Leichester. There were some more talented teams at this Euro.

Well, and at bottler extraordinaire, Tottenham.

This was always a team that was overhyped, b/c they have some truly generational talents amongst its attacking players (De Bruyne and Hazard). But the defending has always been somewhat leaky, and it's now been 3+ years, and it's still resorting to wingers to play as wingbacks.

Hell, had Remco (yes, that Remco) stayed with football, he might even have featured as a second-choice outside back for this team.

In contrast, Insigne is the most heralded of Italy's attackers, and Immobile more often finds himself the butt of jokes of certain English-speakers. But that team is just well drilled and integrated.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnnysmooth

Didn't see but last 20min or so but one thing I learned - those Italians sure can act.

Well, par for the course, when quite a few of the Italy first 11 literally play/played for a film producer (sorry @wc1934).

Jest aside, they have tradition. The wily veterans of this Italian team (namely Bonucci and Chiellinni) are some of the best practitioners of the dark arts. "Arts" used, as it never looks bad on initial glance, but they know just how to get away with things (unlike Pepe or Ramos, who try to get away with worse and then act surprised when they are caught).

Also, look up catenaccio. Il Azzuri may have flair now, but the catenaccio mentality never went away

JedB · #**159** 07-02-2021, 05:20 PM

Nothing wrong with a solid system of defending.

I share your opinion about Pepe and Sergio Ramos. Zero refinement in their game.

Ozz · #**160** 07-02-2021, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JedB

Nothing wrong with a solid system of defending.

I share your opinion about Pepe and Sergio Ramos. Zero refinement in their game.

Hah! Pepe is a thug, but I have always like Sergio Ramos....go figure. I guess I have a soft spot for attacking defenders...

JedB · #**161** 07-02-2021, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ozz

Hah! Pepe is a thug, but I have always like Sergio Ramos....go figure. I guess I have a soft spot for attacking defenders...

I have a lot of respect for his ability to defend, to move forward on attack & support corners in the air.

I'm just of the opinion that he doesn't have the refinement that, say, Pique or Semedo or Rudiger have.

Ozz · #**162** 07-02-2021, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JedB

I have a lot of respect for his ability to defend, to move forward on attack & support corners in the air.

I'm just of the opinion that he doesn't have the refinement that, say, Pique or Semedo or Rudiger have.

Yeah, he would have been a hero back in pre '90's.

Pique is a class act all they way.....Beckenbauer was the best though. (just showed my age....).