Netherlands Vs. Italy Part II

[footyfan1]

Depending on the result of the next game, either Romania or Italy will join Holland in progressing. France created absolutely nothing against Romania. I can't see them beat the Dutch. They'll be in a situation where they have to beat the Italians in the last game to stand a chance, you don't want to face the Italians in a do or die situation, ever.


That's funny. I've never seen a tournament where a team wraps up a spot in the next round with an opening match win.

This is football. Things change. Anything can happen.

[Chess_Panther]

I honestly thought that Italy was going to win against Netherlands. The decisive factor was playing like kamikazes...seriously, I've never seen a nt playing this open and offensive in a major tournament in years!

[Tetsuo]

and romania did? :rolleyes: come on, we sucked but they sucked even more (or equally at least)

yes both teams played ultra-defensively. "sucked" is perhaps a harsh word. the fact is France and Romania canceled each other. only the attack "sucked". i don't think the dutch or italians will easily break these defenses. in fact i believe they won't...:)

[Prawn Sandwich]

......and I hope Portugal get knocked out too.

Now we are even.


Portuguese sure do a lot of talking for a team that has never won a major tournament in their lives !!!

What does Portugal have to celebrate ????:confused:

They have NEVER won a tournament in their lives !!!!

....anyway Celebrating with Brazilians is not celebrating with opposing fans. It is jumping on someone else's bandwagon.

Funny stuff


Strange. I just checked the thread title and don't see any mention of Portugal. Can we keep thread on track please - if you want to branch out into a more general discussion then please use the Euro2008 general forum to do so

[forza_azzurri]

yes both teams played ultra-defensively. "sucked" is perhaps a harsh word. the fact is France and Romania canceled each other. only the attack "sucked". i don't think the dutch or italians will easily break these defenses. in fact i believe they won't...:)

Romania will stack the back even more against the Italians especially when nothing less than a win will do for Italy.

The only way things will open up is if Italy score.

[forza_azzurri]

Strange. I just checked the thread title and don't see any mention of Portugal. Can we keep thread on track please - if you want to branch out into a more general discussion then please use the Euro2008 general forum to do so

TRUE ...but the word "Portugal" was mentioned prior to my threads.

Why weren't they used as an example :confused:

[oldsam]

Pretty sure France won one 3-1, and drew the other.
:eek: I got it screwed up. I see now that it was Scotland that beat France twice and that Italy managed to beat Scotland twice to offset that advantage.

[forza_azzurri]

About Italy...I don’t like them in general, and I loathe their football fans. Can’t stand the sight of them, with their big mouths and their ‘big man’ attitudes. When push comes to shove, they’re all a bunch of momma’s boys.

But football would not be the same without them I guess, and they have a long and rich tradition both on and off the field. So I respect them marginally ;)

No offense taken.....you see in order to have a big mouth you actually need to have a team that actually wins something from time to time or at least is represented in later rounds.

Thanks for the compliment :D

[fliime]

No offense taken.....you see in order to have a big mouth you actually need to have a team that actually wins something from time to time or at least is represented in later rounds.

Thanks for the compliment :D


well said! As far as I see it (though we didn't play like it), we are still the WORLD CHAMPS.
:p

[Borussia]

I said they were "very impressive" because they did very well what they needed to do after scoring twice and then scored another one and won 3-0 against a very good team.


Squid, where did you leave your glasses before you watched the replay of the game? :eek::p;)

Italy was poor in all parts until Alex del Piero came in ... whereas Holland played great counter attacking football from the start to the end!



About Italy...I don’t like them in general, and I loathe their football fans. Can’t stand the sight of them, with their big mouths and their ‘big man’ attitudes. When push comes to shove, they’re all a bunch of momma’s boys.


Can you give some proof for this weird statement? I simply can't follow it...

[Heist]

Ok, so I'm neutral and I just watched the game for the 2nd time.

Holland were very impressive but this is what I think of the game :

Holland did not play any "beautiful attacking football". Germany and Portugal AND Italy have been better in that regard. I would put Italy level with Germany for that.

Italy created more chances and dangerous situations - that is, not quite proper "chances" but a good cross or through-ball away from a 1v1 with the goalie - in this match, of several types. You just got the sense that it was just one of those nights where nobody was going to finish for Italy.

I said they were "very impressive" because they did very well what they needed to do after scoring twice and then scored another one and won 3-0 against a very good team.

I'm also a neutral and I have to disagree with some of what you wrote. Holland had some amazing passes and attacking sequences, particularly on the second two goals, but at other times in the first half as well. The second goal was textbook counterattacking soccer and it was beautiful. Of course other teams have been better in the past. No one has been better in this tournament at it. Germany did well, but they weren't playing against a team with supposed defensive skill and organization like Italy.
What you are correct about is that Italy did a better job in the second half of passing, possessing, and creating chances. They just came up against a hot goalie.

[forza_azzurri]

well said! As far as I see it (though we didn't play like it), we are still the WORLD CHAMPS.
:p

YES....milk this for at least another 2 years.

Regardless of what happens this month ....that title can't be taken away :p

and I'll take a WC title over a Euro title or even two any day.

[DaveyGorgeous]

Squid, were did you leave your glasses before you watched the replay of the game? :eek::p;)

Italy was poor in all parts until Alex del Piero came in ... whereas Holland played great counter attacking football from the start to the end!

Yea, Italy blew the big one yesterday. They showed sparks off life with Grosso & ADP on the field, and had a few shots or passes been better, the scoreline couldve been 2-1 instead of 3-0. But either way, they were only chances. Chances don't always go in. So, in the end, Italy played horrible. Probably one of the worst Italian matches I have ever actually watched in my lifetime.

However, despite the loss, I still think a winning team can be fielded from the Italian 23man roster. They will have to pick their heads up and play harder and better than their remaining two opponents if they want any chance at this thing.

I'm sick of the Italian NT always keeping the fans so freaking nervous; despite WC 06, the Italian NT always has horrible starts that make us sweat the entire tournament. We need to win convincingly in both games, grab 6 points and move on. I don't want any of this 4 points and lets see if someone else can help us out bullsh!t. C'mon, enough is enough.

[TheGrimSweeper]

Italy started the wrong lineup. We saw this in the 2nd half, once Grosso came on and switched Pannuci to center back and ADP came on the 2nd half was largely dominated by Italy. Some great saves by van der sar and poor finishing it was over.

Props to Netherlands though they played the counter attack perfect. Kinda weird eh? Usually Italy is the one defending defending then hitting em back on a break. This is one of the most attacking games I'd ever seen Italy play.

[Borussia]

:rolleyes:

Holland were continually pushing 6,7,8 men up into the final third - even AFTER their THIRD goal. How is this not attacking? Most teams would've left at least 10 men behind the ball at all times.

Their attack might not have been as direct as Germany (historically they prefer playing a possession game) but they certainly didn't decide at any point to sit back and defend a 1-0, 2-0, or even 3-0 lead; instead they continually pressed for more chances - even if that meant allowing Italy more chances to get back into the game.

Fully agree with you.

Squid's match analysis can be pretty entertaining sometimes...;)


I honestly thought that Italy was going to win against Netherlands.


I knew that Holland won't be easy to beat (despite their pretty poor run under Van Basten) at this EURO ... but I surely didn't expect a 3:0 loss for Italy (predicted a draw)! :eek:

[Prawn Sandwich]

TRUE ...but the word "Portugal" was mentioned prior to my threads.

Why weren't they used as an example :confused:
Apologies - yours were just the last of the OT posts and were probably a little "stronger" than most. Had intended to go back and edit to make that clear but as you've answered so quick theres no need.

That request was aimed to all on this thread - those sort of posts are likely to attract aggrieved posters from other nations and those discussions are fine as long as they take place in the general forum.

Again, apologies, didn't mean to single you out

[Borussia]

Italy started the wrong lineup. We saw this in the 2nd half, once Grosso came on and switched Pannuci to center back


Barzagli & especially Materazzi were awful! Can't imagine seeing them play together again...

[Abebe]

Thank you, Thank you Holland for Glorious football.

Those who say Italy came alive in the second half are not recognizing that Holland took their foot off the gas and went into a deensive mod to protect a 2-0 lead, they became cautious. but their natural spirit came back on the counters.

Great display.

"I've got my spine, I've got my orange crush..." - REM

Neutral observer (Did the Azurri leave too much young talent at home? We have seen the Italians with their backs to the wall before).

:p

[AFCA]

I can't agree that Netherlands are already in the quarters and France have no chance. Player for player France have the superior talent by some distance in just about every outfield position. Tactically they were poor against Romania, although Romania are difficult to break down and handled the Dutch without a problem in qualifying.

I expect France to come out firing in the next game, while it will be difficult for Netherlands to maintain the same effort from this game with such a short period to the next one.

Great win for the Netherlands but Italy were made for them with such a slow team.


Yes, but in 1934....

This Dutch team has NOTHING to do with the Dutch team in qualifying. They play a different system, with different people in different positions following a different gameplan.

Besides, I think you may be wrong in your player to player analysis.

yes both teams played ultra-defensively. "sucked" is perhaps a harsh word. the fact is France and Romania canceled each other. only the attack "sucked". i don't think the dutch or italians will easily break these defenses. in fact i believe they won't...

True. Lucky for us, we don't have to, while having a formidable counter attack ;)

No offense taken.....you see in order to have a big mouth you actually need to have a team that actually wins something from time to time or at least is represented in later rounds.

Thanks for the compliment

It was hardly a compliment, but no one is arguing that Italy has a rich footballing history. So rich that the current team is almost a musuem material ;)

Squid, where did you leave your glasses before you watched the replay of the game?

Italy was poor in all parts until Alex del Piero came in ... whereas Holland played great counter attacking football from the start to the end!




Can you give some proof for this weird statement? I simply can't follow it...

Proof? I've followed Ajax to Italy on a number of occasions. I've met Italians all over.

Pherhaps you disagree, but I find that many people worldwide will immediately understand what I mean.

A good example however, would be the fact that they have the nerve to complain about a legit goal (albeit a bit harsh pherhaps) while they owe their place in the WC 06 2nd round to blatant cheating.


Props to Netherlands though they played the counter attack perfect. Kinda weird eh? Usually Italy is the one defending defending then hitting em back on a break. This is one of the most attacking games I'd ever seen Italy play.


They were trailing us for 2/3 of the game. Should they have dug in?


The group is still open, but we are leading. I expect NL and Italy through. I hope Italy crashes out though, for a variety of reasons. One is that I don't want to meet them in the semi's ;)

[DaveyGorgeous]

Those who say Italy came alive in the second half are not recognizing that Holland took their foot off the gas and went into a deensive mod to protect a 2-0 lead, they became cautious. but their natural spirit came back on the counters.

I appreciate your input as a neutral observer and I do think that the Dutch played great football yesterday. But, I do think Italy came alive in the 2nd half though their efforts were futile. And I disagree that the reason they were able to do so was because the Dutch played cautiously. The Dutch played attacking football throughout the 90 minutes. Though at some stages of the game, their degree of attacking may have been more than othrs, I cannot say that they "went into a defensive mode" and "became cautious." Sorry, have to disagree. They played great though; well-deserved victory for them.