France vs. Italia 17/6/08 [R]

[DaveyGorgeous]

France was total class, star player goes on, go behind, aren't diving and begging for a penalty like some teams do, those kinds of teams can never be supported, sorry sportsmanship.

Class? Maybe. Quality? Lacking.

And one who doesnt think that was a PK, doesnt know football.

[1shot1kill]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I knew Hunter would come through!

Took him a try or 10 before he finally did.

[Fan123]

Italy should find themselves a new striker. Toni is crap. For one of the finest strikers in Europe, he must have missed at LEAST 15-25 chances to score (in the last match and this match).

[Pike]

There shouldn't be any complaints from the French man. They were unlucky but, they played like they wanted to lose. No courage, no spirit, no nothing. Congrats to Italy.

I have no idea what game you were watching. They were 10 men down and playing minus a midfielder, and yet, they continued to push forward creating more chances than you might expect. Even beofre they were reduced to 10 men, they game was open. I seriously doubt anyone (but maybe youself) would say the french players didn;t play with effort. If anything, they were handicap by poor decisions of the coach.

[TheGrimSweeper]

Italy should find themselves a new striker. Toni is crap. For one of the finest strikers in Europe, he must have missed at LEAST 15-25 chances to score.

I have no idea whats wrong with him. By far he should be leading the scoring race by now, he has no confidence.

[Pit-182]

The game anyway was really great (for us)... we played really well. Toni seemed tired, but I hope he will find the form for game against Spain. De Rossi, sometimes Gattuso, Pirlo, BUFFON (SANTO SUBITO!), Cassano, compliments!

And compliments to Donadoni. He didn't deserve all the hate at all, because in the first game we played against (probably) the strongest team around right now, and Romania is a great team and it's hard (now) have a great result against them. Our coach prepared the today's match really well.

No problem with the refereeing.

[GrosMoulin]

France was total class, star player goes on, go behind, aren't diving and begging for a penalty like some teams do, those kinds of teams can never be supported, sorry sportsmanship.

There was a major conflict between the old (Maké, Vieira, Henry) and the new generation... And Domenech is probably the first responsible for this. In WC 2010 we'll have only the young and i hope we'll do as good as the Dutch. Without Domenech btw...

In spite of this, we can have regrets because refereeing was always against us in this Euro : you don't see a hand that keeps the ball from scoring (Henry), and you red card our player in first half.

Ribéry's leg is broken (L'equipe said).

Well great teams attract luck, and France was not lucky tonight. Bravo Italia, see you in 2010.

[DaveyGorgeous]

I have no idea whats wrong with him. By far he should be leading the scoring race by now, he has no confidence.

That's exactly it. Did you see his first shot like a few minutes? He rushed it. He had time to set himself up. Should've buried it. We need him to improve big time.

[dc0011]

I heard he broke his leg. :eek::(

Get well soon, Frank!




Domenech is a fool...

After the Italians, the French will hate him as well now! :p

HAHA i don't think you have to be Italian or French to hate this guy. He is the cause of a complete waste of talent on the pitch.

[Pike]

2. no it doesnt it still happens alot

hmm,... yet France was reduced to 10 men and as a result gave up a PK which resulted in a goal. In this case, no circumvention. It worked.

Maybe if Abidal doesn't get stupid and maybe Italy scores, but now, France is still 11 v 11 with Nasri still in the game. In this worse case scenario, France still has a reasonable chance to tie or win the game.

Whether or not it STILL hapeen or not is not important. What is important is the circumvention is not successful.

[canzano55]

Domenech will be a candidate for worst coach of the Euro's.

How you don't bring a player like Mexes and play Flamini from the beginning is completely beyond me. France was destined to lose from the beginning.

For the sake of sportsmanship good luck to you in 2010 and I wish Ribery the best.

[dc0011]

The game anyway was really great (for us)... we played really well. Toni seemed tired, but I hope he will find the form for game against Spain. De Rossi, sometimes Gattuso, Pirlo, BUFFON (SANTO SUBITO!), Cassano, compliments!

And compliments to Donadoni. He didn't deserve all the hate at all, because in the first game we played against (probably) the strongest team around right now, and Romania is a great team and it's hard (now) have a great result against them. Our coach prepared the today's match really well.

No problem with the refereeing.

Indeed, i like this Italian squad more than the previous ones. Donadoni left the defensive style behind, and now they are playing a more enjoyable-to-watch style of play.

[Reaper2004]

France is shite without Zizou he should be the new French coach:mad:

[Fan123]

I have no idea whats wrong with him. By far he should be leading the scoring race by now, he has no confidence.

Italy's biggest problem right now is not losing Pirlo and Gattuso, but having an off-form Toni on the pitch squandering chances after chances.

[GrosMoulin]

France is shite without Zizou he should be the new French coach:mad:

Didier Deschamps should be. We need team spirit and we need to bring up this talented generation that was not totally given its chance.

[1shot1kill]

In spite of this, we can have regrets because refereeing was always against us in this Euro : you don't see a hand that keeps the ball from scoring (Henry), and you red card our player in first half.


The referee's were not against France all the time, if they were then France would go home without any goals scored, now they got 1, from a very close but still offside position.

[Suyuntuy]

I think everything was clear after the Romania - Italy game: the Romanians were lucky to keep it 1-1. At the end of the France - Romania game, Romania were in the attack and closer to scoring.

So Netherlands was the class in this group and the other three, even if close, had the Italians as the best of the lot. It'd have been a 1-0 had it remained 11 vs. 11, but the red was fair.

Sad day for Les Bleus, my heart is broken. I know we can improve from here, this is a transition time, but is small consolation.

All in all, the two best teams in the group moved on, and even though it hurts losing to the Italians, they did their job and Les Bleus only have themselves to blame (including the awful Domenech subs).

Bonne chance! Now I can watch the rest of the tourney as an unbiased observer who just loves good football.

[glennaldo_sf]

I have no idea whats wrong with him. By far he should be leading the scoring race by now, he has no confidence.

To be fair on him, it was his excellent control that won the penalty to set up the opening goal ... but I do agree, he resembled a cross between Guivarch and Ade Akinbiyi at time there tonight.

[DaveyGorgeous]

To be fair on him, it was his excellent control that won the penalty to set up the opening goal ... but I do agree, he resembled a cross between Guivarch and Ade Akinbiyi at time there tonight.

Very true... that was a lot of control. But, honestly, he could have had a hat trick this game. He needs to improve if Italy have a chance

[glennaldo_sf]

Didier Deschamps should be. We need team spirit and we need to bring up this talented generation that was not totally given its chance.

Deschamps would be an excellent choice of manager but I feel sorry for the next French manager because of the expectations thrust after France's brilliant team of the late 90s/first half of 2000s. I just don't think the talent is quite there like it was 5-10 years ago