Euro 2012 Discussion Thread | FC Barcelona - Messi = European Champions

what an unexpected lead that looks increasingly like it will hold up with just 20 minutes left for Germany to get 2 to tie! Rematch against the only team that scored on Espana all tournament.

Pretty decent game to watch. But damn ... didn't expect that from Germany. The were completely lost after the first goal and never regained their composure. It's as if they couldn't believe Italy had taken the lead. Maybe a bit over confident and too any lineup changes.

Italy's goals came from 2 really horrendous defending mistakes by the Germans. Really unbelievable stuff.

This German team is quickly becoming the eternal 2nd/3rd place team. They keep getting so close ... but ultimately fail to bring home the trophy.

Some of you probably saw this incredible fact, but after this result Germany has yet to beat Italy EVER in a major tournament: 0-8 all-time. I'm actually an Azzurri fan (grew up watching Baggio in '90 and '94), so that was sweet. And this Italia team defies all the stereotypes of catennaccio teams of yore. I think they have the most shots in the tournament, and are 2nd to Spain in all the possession stats. It's going to be a great final.

You just taught me a new word there, Monty, as well as something about yourself. You yourself are best equipped to answer that last question... but seeing as, from right to left in the photo, we have Iniesta (#6), Pedro (#7), and Xavi (#8) at their lockers, then the mystery tightie-whities must belong to #9, Fernando Torres.

That cartoon reminded me of this immortal scene from Escape to Victory:


Ronaldo, sir, you are no Pelé.

Sorry but the numbers say that Italy were pretty much dominated. It's just because Balotelli is a fantastic player with a great game yesterday and a bit of bad luck that non of the many German chances wanted to go in - a bit similar to Italy against England. That's the game. Here is hoping for a great final.

^ Nah. Italy was collectively better than Germany, nothing to do with luck.

They were better organized by far that's right. But there were half a douzend chances who can end in a goal despite that great team effort of Italy. And that's the reason why Italy derserve to go through. It's simple in the end, you have to shoot goals.

Easy to see bright future for Germany, young super quality team. Just need to not get crushed by huge expectations and be one level sharper in general from semis on. Next two WCs and Euros they're sure gonna win a major trophy IMO. But these dues they still had to pay. One of the big big favourites in Brazil 2014 WC. And it's not like they were bad in this Euro either, I mean since when is Italy a weak opponent and semis are not easily reached ever.

Agreed! After Balotelli scored Germany were visibly rattled and never looked good again. Predictable attacks that Italy could stop all night long in their sleep.

Spain should be worried as Italy doesn't appear to have any glaring weaknesses apart from defending corners (and not convinced Spain is the team to take advantage of that).

30 seconds before Balotelli's second goal, Italy had a fantastic chance to make it 2-nil. You make it sound like Italy had 2 chances and Balotelli took advantage of those 2 only chances. Once it was 1-nil, it always looked like Italy would make it 2-nil.

Their supporters and neutrals has been saying that in last 15 years

Italy played better in all aspect, better midfield & better chances ( another 3-4 clear chances in second half), and all Germany's can do was crossing over and over again and Buffon with Bonucci clears it again and again.

With some better-timed runs and finishing, Italy could've made it 3, 4 or 5-0. Germany was so open at the back toward the end of the game.

I don't know if we should judge Hummels's performance as a yardstick for how he'd do in blaugrana colors...

Lol I know and am not disappointed to be wrong. But like, just saying that they are young, they have quality and they have depth and they should keep believing in their team and they go as one of the big favourites to any tourney for a reason. When you make it far about every time, you're due to go all the way some time.

I have to interfere here. That is simply not true at all. Germanys "Re-Boot" started after 2008 and the Generation with great talent very well started AFTER the WC 2010. This Team is young, very young and still full of hunger.

Germany supporters' expectations are always high pre-tourney no? I mean, like, similarly with Brazil, when they go into a tourney their fans expect success? There are of course golden generations, transitional phases etc but still the expectations are always high.

Very well said. The team went to the Tournament with an worldclass Qualification record and impressing games against Holland or Brazil. But it´s still the youngest team, Schweinsteiger as the key player is still partially injured which was quite visible and many Bayern Players came in (very late for the pre-tournament prepertation) mentally ********ed from the CL Final. Well, it is what it is. Jogi Löw is probably to blame quite a lot for the Semi loss with this weird tactic-mixup. Anyways, the Main- Goal is 2014 now.

Germany seems at its best when they get the early goal and the other team needs to press, that is when Germany has its awe inspiring 4-0 type of games. They are a great front runner (they do a great job of absorbing the other team's attacks and counter attacking quickly and decisively with great spacing and passing).

What we saw against Italy was that they are at a bit of a loss when the other team scores first and they have to attack a team that does not really need to attack them (though to Italy's great credit they did continue to attack, albeit they started countering more).

If they played Italy again today they might well win as was widely predicted before the Italy game, but after the first Italian goal Germany never looked the same, and, after the second forget about it, they were not even creating more chances than Italy when down 2-0.

I'm still unconvinced that Bastian is quite as good as he is widely perceived. It could be that he is still injured and literally played the whole season injured when he played at all or maybe he simply isn't one of the best midfielders in the game. To be fair even our own Xavi was almost completely anonymous vs. Portugal and we did much better with Iniesta in Xavi's role and Pedro marauding in tandem with Alba's overlapping runs down the left side where Iniesta had been.

Germany could have easily been one or two goals ahead before Balotelli scored. I think we all agree that after that, Germany seemed to be flustered or in a state of shock. Very bizarre. This Italian team is very good, usually I can't stand them, but they have played really great football at this tourney. Pirlo is running the show in the midfield, but everyone seems up for it.

People are saying that Germany ran out of ideas in the second half, and its true they did. However, we see this all the time with Barcelona when teams sit deep and play two banks of four (not that Italy did this, just wait for my point). My point is, there's only a few ways to break down a "bus", play it out to the flanks and cross it, play direct over the top, try and pass the ball around and draw the defense out....or hope for individual brilliance. You could throw in set pieces too, but thats not really a tactic that can be employed. Against world class players who know how to play defense and play at top teams, its very hard to break them down. I think we, as fans, need to realize how difficult it is to break down eight-ten defenders who have positional sense.

Thankfully Italy beat Chelsea, um, England I mean and we don't have to watch someone play chicken and hope to win. Here's to a feast of goals in the final. I don't think Spain have hit their stride at all in the tournament and they're in the final. It's funny because the media is complaining about how boring Spain are, yet when Chelsea was being as boring as can be in the Champions League....they were "brave".

"Never beaten" doesn't mean they've lost every game.
They've met 4 times in group play and all four ended in draws. 3 of those were the opening games for both teams so nerves and trying not to start off on a bad note likely contributed to those results. The '96 meeting had Germany basically needing a draw to cement first place in the group while Italy spent most of the match (scoreboard watching the other group game between Russia and Czech Republic) knowing that they needed a win to advance to the quarterfinals.
But when the chips were down in knockout play, Italy won all four meetings (two required extra time).

1962 World Cup group stage: West Germany 0-0 Italy (opening group game for both teams)
1970 World Cup semifinal: Italy 4-3 a.e.t. West Germany
1978 World Cup 2nd round group stage: Italy 0-0 West Germany (opening group game for both teams)
1982 World Cup final: Italy 3-1 West Germany
EURO 1988 group stage: West Germany 1-1 Italy (opening group game for both teams)
EURO 1996 group stage: Italy 0-0 Germany (final group game for both teams, Italy needed to win to stay alive in tournament. Italy had a penalty saved in the 9th minute.)
2006 World Cup semifinal: Germany 0-2 a.e.t. Italy
EURO 2012 semifinal: Germany 0-2 Italy

good summary but you forgot Ozil extra time PK

I don't think here in Brazil is like that... We only start to believe during a tourney, not before.

Our media sometimes try to overrate the team, but not with the same intensity like in England, for example.

Mirror UK actually said England has bright future right after they got eliminated in quarterfinal as usual

True, Brazil 2002, Italy 2006, Spain 2008, Serbia 2010, Spain 2010, Italy 2012. These are major tournament matches where Germany conceided first. Not coincidence I guess.