Italy vs Wales...

[ECMoney]

This Saturday is the key matchup between Italy and Wales for 1st place in Milan. I am pretty sure that Italy will beat Wales and I think they will do it in dramatic fashion as Wales will be outplayed and outclasses in Milan.

What do you guys think, what are your predictions for this game?

[SueB]

Well I had predicted a 2-0 result some time ago, with Italy getting their second late. But with Totti out and now Vieri probably missing as well, I'm not quite so confident. I know Wales has some injury problems as well. It'll definitely be tight. I'll say 1-0 for Italy.

[SueB]

At least it now looks like Vieri will play after all.

[ManUtd R16]

I think it'll be 2-1 to Wales . . . but that's wishful thinking . . .

[Germanshepherd]

Italy didn`t play well against Germany some weeks ago.

I don`t think they are that good to trash Wales.

I predict a 1:1.

[afgrijselijkheid]

maybe i'm an idiot but i think wales is going to make for a very gloomy azzurri evening in milan - DAMN!! i wish this was on in switzerland, should be a barnburner

[comme]

2-1 really flattered Italy at the Millenium so hopefully wales can repeat that performance. I think we will get something, so I'll say a 1-1 draw.

[Clan]

I think it will all depend on whether or not Wales can score a goal before Italy.

If Wales score first i can see them losing 3-1 in the end, if it is early enough, as the Italians will be forced to actually play football.If Italy comes out to really play i don't think wales will be able to stop them.

If Italy score early i can see an "all hands in front of the goalie" type bore fest ending in a draw, as Wales will eventually score if given enough of the ball.

[afgrijselijkheid]

Originally posted by bluedaddy19
maybe i'm an idiot but i think wales is going to make for a very gloomy azzurri evening in milan - DAMN!! i wish this was on in switzerland, should be a barnburner

ok yeah i'm an idiot

[ECMoney]

So Italy thrash Wales 4-0, and it could have been more as they hit 2-3 posts as well and had all the pressure for the entire 90 minutes. I didn't even see Buffon in the 2nd half!!!

[SueB]

A dominating performance by Italy, but there were definitely some nervous moments for the Azzurri before they finally scored in the 59th minute. Especially when Giggs was 1-on-1 with Buffon in the first five minutes. But after that first goal, it's like Wales was too exhausted to respond, and the floodgates just opened. Far from sitting back, it seemed like every Italian was trying to get in on the action. Even Gattuso took a shot!

[comme]

I thought that Wales were more than a match for the Italians in the first half, and really had the better chances, but in the last half hour Italy were rampant, it could have been more.

I have to say that the ref made some poor decisions. Savage's deserved to be booked but the challenge for which he was booked was nothing, also Bellamy was booked for nothing, he was virtually assaulted by half the italian team and did nothing. The pen was simply a tangle in which Pippo went down very easily, it should have been play on. All in all no complaints about the result, but the scorline didn't reflect how close the game was for the first 60 mins.

Also the Welsh fans were magnificent singing their hearts out for the duration, while the italians pelted them with missiles from above.

Italy still have a tough game in Belgrade on Wednesday, the group is not decided yet.

[ECMoney]

Originally posted by comme
I thought that Wales were more than a match for the Italians in the first half, and really had the better chances, but in the last half hour Italy were rampant, it could have been more.


I don't know what game you were watching. When did Wales even have a chance in the first half, it was constant Italian pressure. Giggs had that one chance in the opening minutes on a bad giveaway by Panucci, but that was pretty much it! I think Wales stormed down the field once more in the 45th minute but they were far and few between!

[comme]

Giggs' chance, and the time when Giggs went through on goal and squared it for Hartson who blazed it over.

What chances did Italy have? They hit the bar with Del Piero but that wasn't a chance, it was a piece of individual genius. Italy had pressure, but they didn't create any chances.

[kotzunder]

Originally posted by comme
Giggs' chance, and the time when Giggs went through on goal and squared it for Hartson who blazed it over.

What chances did Italy have? They hit the bar with Del Piero but that wasn't a chance, it was a piece of individual genius. Italy had pressure, but they didn't create any chances.

the goal missed by Vieri was almost like Giggs chance but he fell when he was gonna shoot (wrong foot) instead of pass behind

[SueB]

Savage was booked for persistent fouling, not that particular offense. He fouled just about any time he got near the ball.

And I'm not sure how you get Pippo (?) "going down easily" in a "tangle" on the penalty call. Zambrotta cleanly beat his man who had no choice but to bring him down.

Here's a listing of all the Welsh chances:
- Giggs saved by Buffon after Panucci gaffe
- Hartson shot over after pass from Giggs

And a listing of the Italian chances:
- Vieri - headed over on a cross by Zambrotta
- Vieri's - one-time left-footer (these are usually his bread and butter, BTW) shot straight at Jones
- Inzaghi - shot deflected off the bar
- goalline clearance by Page
- Del Piero - long shot saved onto the bar by Jones
- Zanetti - shot hit post
- Del Piero - shot curled wide of the far post'
- Camoranesi - header saved by Jones
- Vieri - rounded Jones but fell on his ass as he tried to get it to his left foot.

And, of course, the four goals.

[comme]

Sorry to bring this back up after a few days, but to just to clear things up.

I wasn't saying that Italy didn't have chances, just that they didn't have any clear chances in the first half. Wales had 2. Italy were rampant in the second half and it could easily have 6 or 7.

Was it Zambrotta who went down for the pen? By then I probably couldn't see for the tears in my eyes.

Also I wasn't saying that Savage shouldn't have been booked, he was very lucky not to have been sent off. It was just that the challenge he was booked for was one of the few fair ones all night.