Italia vs. Romania 6/13/08 [R]

[ToonUSA]

2-0 Italy.

We didn't even play that badly against Holland we just couldn't put the ball in the net.

Romania will get counter chances but there's a big difference between Hollands counter quality and Romania. I also expect Italy to make the right defensive changes.

Hopefully the Dutch do us a favor and beat/tie France but I'm not holding my breath.

Just out of curiousity how many Romania games have you watched?

[VCFan]

I agree, didn't notice that comment... but Romania is a great counterattacking side, while Holland prefer to play their Total Football and only counterattack when the opportunity smacks them in the face (in this case, it was Materazzi being about two paces behind every attacker at all times :(). If Holland could burn us with two great counterattacks, I wouldn't be so sure that Romania couldn't do the same either.

But with the changes in our defensive lineup, namely the insertion of Chiellini, we should be able to prevent the Romanians from capitalizing like that.

[Campioni_2006]

It's pretty much confirmed that Del Piero and Chiellini will start for Italy. Del Piero will be handed the captain's armband.

[canzano55]

Just out of curiousity how many Romania games have you watched?Ironically I had Dutch fans telling me the same thing when I made predictions before the 9th. To their credit they were right and I was wrong, but what I didn't plan for was several Italian players having the single worst performances of their international careers.

When you win 3-0 against a world champion team, no matter who they are, in all likelihood it probably has more to do with how poor the world champions were as opposed to their adversaries performance.

Now I'm not taking credit away from the Dutch and similarly, I won't take credit away from Romania (before or after) because they're an excellent side in the Euro's. However my confidence in a positive outcome for Italy isn't baseless, simply; I think Italy has on average the most talented batch of players in Europe next to Spain. And more importantly (with the exception of defense) Italy is extremely balanced in attack and midfield.

Against Romania, France was unable to score because they're a team largely devoid of attacking ideas and other than Ribery they don't have players who can draw multiple defenders. Granted they are one of the favourites because their physicality and defensive brawn is unrivaled in this tournament but other then that they're a side without any real identity and I just don't see them being that lucky.

This time around Romania is going to have to be even more on guard defensively; Del Piero is a lightweight who gets lots of calls so expect to see several set plays in Romania's area - man marking Toni is a must because he can deflect aerial balls to his wingmen which is extremely dangerous - Cassano and Aquilani are options Donadoni can use later, one is a trickster who plays excellent through balls while the other is a sniper from long range. On top of the that there are a number of Italian players who are more than capable of scoring off of corners, namely Ambrosini, Chiellini, and Panucci.

If Romania gets the draw, than it will have been a poor game for both sides, but if Romania gets the victory it will be a momentous win and I'll honestly cheer for Romania until they get eliminated or win it all.

[ToonUSA]

Against Romania, France was unable to score because they're a team largely devoid of attacking ideas and other than Ribery they don't have players who can draw multiple defenders. Granted they are one of the favourites because their physicality and defensive brawn is unrivaled in this tournament but other then that they're a side without any real identity and I just don't see them being that lucky.

This time around Romania is going to have to be even more on guard defensively; Del Piero is a lightweight who gets lots of calls so expect to see several set plays in Romania's area - man marking Toni is a must because he can deflect aerial balls to his wingmen which is extremely dangerous - Cassano and Aquilani are options Donadoni can use later, one is a trickster who plays excellent through balls while the other is a sniper from long range. On top of the that there are a number of Italian players who are more than capable of scoring off of corners, namely Ambrosini, Chiellini, and Panucci.

If Romania gets the draw, than it will have been a poor game for both sides, but if Romania gets the victory it will be a momentous win and I'll honestly cheer for Romania until they get eliminated or win it all.

So I'll take it you haven't seen a Romania game outside of the opener against France? You failed to answer the initial question and your post proved as much.

[FNU]

It would be logical for Romania to play defense, and wait to play Holland who they know well enough by now. Counterattacking will be Romania's tactic, I can't see them pushing up unless slow Panucci is playing. Italy made the mistake of pushing too far ahead thinking Holland was also going to be pushing up, but they were caught on the counters, aside from shit tactics and slow/incompetent CBs.

[ToonUSA]

It would be logical for Romania to play defense, and wait to play Holland who they know well enough by now. Counterattacking will be Romania's tactic, I can't see them pushing up unless slow Panucci is playing. Italy made the mistake of pushing too far ahead thinking Holland was also going to be pushing up, but they were caught on the counters, aside from shit tactics and slow/incompetent CBs.
Romania expects to see an Italian side with all of the pressure in the world piled on them. Our tactics will be very similar to what we played against France but with 1 attacking wrinkle. A special player who will give us a big threat on the counter and when we can get forward. This won't be 7 men behind the ball and lumping the ball long day. Expect us to get forward with the WBs but not enough to get caught out. If Romania stays as disciplined as they've played over the last couple of years it will be one of the greatest performances tactically people will have seen in a while.

[FNU]

I really don't think the Romanian back 4 will push too far up unless it's set pieces. Italy's weakness is down the middle, so Romania will counter through Chivu most likely IMO. Mutu will also come closer to the center with Dica pushing in from the left. If Donadoni is smart, he's play Gamerbini on Mutu.

[ToonUSA]

I really don't think the Romanian back 4 will push too far up unless it's set pieces. Italy's weakness is down the middle, so Romania will counter through Chivu most likely IMO. Mutu will also come closer to the center with Dica pushing in from the left. If Donadoni is smart, he's play Gamerbini on Mutu.

This was Prosports team:

http://storage0.dms.mpinteractiv.ro/media/401/581/7952/2705995/2/romania.jpg

Contra and Rat are very good going forward but I'd rather them not. D. Niculae has no business playing but Piti likes that fact he's tall and can knock balls down to Mutu.

This is the team I'd use:

--------------------------Lobby-----------------

------Contra--------Tamas--------Goian-------Rat-----

--------Codrea----------Chivu-----------Radoi-------

---------Nicolita-----------------------Mutu---------

------------------------M. Niculae------------


However this could easily be another one:

--------------------------Lobby-----------------

------Contra--------Tamas--------Goian-------Rat-----

------------------Codrea----------Chivu---------------

---------Nicolita-----------------------Mutu---------

-------------------------Dica------------------

------------------------M. Niculae------------

[Pit-182]

This is the judgement day
http://www.gazzetta.it/tools1024/includes/primapagina/primapagina_large.jpg

[squidward123]

good luck! i'll be cheering for italy.

(not that there's anything wrong with romania...)

[exeprime]

In other news, the game starts in less than 4 hours. I predict a good game Mutu, and overall a more offensive demeanor for both teams.

[!Bob]

Can we stick to football?

[adhoc]

Lobonţ - Contra, Tamaş, Goian, Raţ - Codrea, Rădoi, Chivu - Fl. Petre, D. Niculae, Mutu.

[Boian]

I'll be happy with a draw, but I think the game will not end scoreless. The game is wide open to any result, it will be interesting how Romania will approach the game.

[canzano55]

So I'll take it you haven't seen a Romania game outside of the opener against France? You failed to answer the initial question and your post proved as much.I am informed about Romanian players but no, I haven't seen any of their qualifiers.

But to be honest I don't think it makes difference in what I'm trying to argue.

[DonMancini]

This is the judgement day
http://www.gazzetta.it/tools1024/includes/primapagina/primapagina_large.jpg

So does this mean that it's official that DeRossi, Perrotta and Chiellini are starting?

[TheGrimSweeper]

Gazzetta is reporting there will be 5 changes:
De Rossi for Gattuso
Perrotta for Ambrosini
Chiellini for Barzagli
Grosso for Materazzi
Alessandro Del Piero for Di Natale

[squidward123]

Gazzetta is reporting there will be 5 changes:
De Rossi for Gattuso
Perrotta for Ambrosini
Chiellini for Barzagli
Grosso for Materazzi
Alessandro Del Piero for Di Natale

awesome

although i do like di natale...why the hecks he being dropped?? he played well against holland from what i remember

[!Bob]

awesome

although i do like di natale...why the hecks he being dropped?? he played well against holland from what i remember

He played OK but he doesn't complement Toni. A lot of people were calling for that change from the start and it looks like it's happening. Not quite sure about Chiellini for Barzagli, but everything else seems pretty good. (I used to disagree with De Rossi for Gattuso, but an Italian friend convinced me!!)