Big Phil's Big Scouting Adventure: Euro 2008 R - all matches!

[nicephoras]

I'm not happy the Italians are out, since I'm an Italy fan. But we looked dire in this tournament. Ambrosini? FFS. The only player to give a really good account of himself in the games was Grosso, who I thought was terrific. Everyone else? Meh.

[Spartak]

So. How long before Arshavin is wearing Chelsea blue?

[blackjack]

I'm not happy the Italians are out, since I'm an Italy fan. But we looked dire in this tournament. Ambrosini? FFS. The only player to give a really good account of himself in the games was Grosso, who I thought was terrific. Everyone else? Meh.

I thought Cassano looked good while he was on. Could have done some damage in extra time as Spain's defense tired. I know he's got attitude problems, but I think he should have been used more over the course of the tournament based on how he played. He certainly showed better than Camoranesi or Di Natale.

[Andy Bennett]

I'm not happy the Italians are out, since I'm an Italy fan. But we looked dire in this tournament. Ambrosini? FFS. The only player to give a really good account of himself in the games was Grosso, who I thought was terrific. Everyone else? Meh.
Yeah, sorry for ragging on them, nic.

The thing of it is that England supporters have always had to put up with stuff about being one dimensional and lacking technique so when we're presented with an Italy side packing the midfield, trying to grab the ball and then lumping it up to a big fella it's pretty difficult not to gripe about it.

Mind you, at least they got there :(

Having watched the tournament it still bloody amazes me how we're not. Some of the play has been shockingly bad. In the game last night there were periods when neither team could find their own players for more than a couple of passes at a time.

Still, with us out at least we got rid of McSven so it's not all bad news.

[fernb8]

Yeah, sorry for ragging on them, nic.

The thing of it is that England supporters have always had to put up with stuff about being one dimensional and lacking technique so when we're presented with an Italy side packing the midfield, trying to grab the ball and then lumping it up to a big fella it's pretty difficult not to gripe about it.

Mind you, at least they got there :(

Having watched the tournament it still bloody amazes me how we're not. Some of the play has been shockingly bad. In the game last night there were periods when neither team could find their own players for more than a couple of passes at a time.

Still, with us out at least we got rid of McSven so it's not all bad news.


agreed on all counts Andy. Funny that both Chelsea and England were in a similar position last year where losing important games may have been a sliver lining as it led to the replacement of a tactically inept coach.

as stated earlier, I am sure the football purists, ala Platini, will step foward to defend (no pun intended) the diabolic football displayed by the Italians, while the "brains of football" will continue to accuse England of the samel long ball tactics.

[nicephoras]

So. How long before Arshavin is wearing Chelsea blue?

He said today he preferred Spain.

[nicephoras]

I thought Cassano looked good while he was on. Could have done some damage in extra time as Spain's defense tired. I know he's got attitude problems, but I think he should have been used more over the course of the tournament based on how he played. He certainly showed better than Camoranesi or Di Natale.

I thought Cassano was useless except for one or two moments. He doesn't have the speed required for Italy's formation. He was barely in the game. I've always thought Camo was nexto useless, but Di Natale was pretty good - he actually put a header on goal (something Toni couldn't do).

[nicephoras]

Yeah, sorry for ragging on them, nic.

The thing of it is that England supporters have always had to put up with stuff about being one dimensional and lacking technique so when we're presented with an Italy side packing the midfield, trying to grab the ball and then lumping it up to a big fella it's pretty difficult not to gripe about it.

Mind you, at least they got there :(

Having watched the tournament it still bloody amazes me how we're not. Some of the play has been shockingly bad. In the game last night there were periods when neither team could find their own players for more than a couple of passes at a time.

Still, with us out at least we got rid of McSven so it's not all bad news.

Why sorry? The Italy games were painful to watch. When Perotta is your attacking fulcrum, you've got problems. Big ones. This was a side that started an all Milan midfield in game one - a midfield that brough home a 5th place finish in SerieA. Donadoni also didn't start Grosso in game 1 (bizzarrely). Italy looked old in this tournament, and tired.

[blackjack]

Why sorry? The Italy games were painful to watch. When Perotta is your attacking fulcrum, you've got problems. Big ones. This was a side that started an all Milan midfield in game one - a midfield that brough home a 5th place finish in SerieA. Donadoni also didn't start Grosso in game 1 (bizzarrely). Italy looked old in this tournament, and tired.

Italy also really missed Pirlo yesterday. He's very important in their counter-attack, as they don't really seem to have anybody else that can hit the killer pass to spring somebody. Watching Italy play yesterday almost reminded me of watching us in the matches when both Lampard and Ballack were out early in the season. We had Drogba, so we could still sneak some goals, but with the useless Toni Italy could have played for a week and not scored.

[mshankb]

Italy were, quite frankly, very very poor. They got lucky in the groups against Romania and managed to beat an - amazingly - even worse French team.

I predicted a few days ago that Spain would outplay Italy, but that Italy would go through. Well.. I was nearly right.

Grosso looked good until Aragones made one simple change.

[fernb8]

well since things are slow anyone want to have a go at their best and worst teams of Euro 08 so far. This is about players and not nations btw.

My best so far

GK- Canizares
Boruc- yes Poland were crap, but my how he saved their blushes

LB- Lahm
Grosso

CD- Pepe
Metzelder

CD- Puyol
Denis Kolodin- yes they were crap in the first game, but I like the look of this lad

RB- Van Bronkhorst
Bonsingwa

LM- Polodski
Zhirkov

CM- Deco
Modric

CM- VDV
Ballack- may be a little biased but I though the lad has played very well in the last 2 games. Honorable metion to Chivu with Romania.

RM- Sneijder

F- Villa

F- Arshavin
Nihat

most disapointing so far

GK- Cech- sorry that howler puts him here
D- Abidal, and the entire Greek defence
M- Ribery, Malouda, Moutinho, Pirlo, Simao
F- Toni, Anelka, Smolarek, and of course his highness- Mr. Ronaldo.

as you can see there are more to add, but thats all I can think of atm. Please feel free to jump in.

[TerminalVertigo]

I thought Cassano was useless except for one or two moments. He doesn't have the speed required for Italy's formation. He was barely in the game. I've always thought Camo was nexto useless, but Di Natale was pretty good - he actually put a header on goal (something Toni couldn't do).

Although, that back header by Toni i though was very very creative, and would have been special, had it dipped under the bar.

Thats a skill you dont see very often.

[yasik19]

without Pirlo, Italy is just not creative going forward at all. It also didn't help that Toni looked so clumsy the whole tournament.

[Kazuma]

Italy looked like crap.

When it came to penalties I thought Cesc was going to miss mainly due to the pressure.

[Andy Bennett]

Why sorry?
Let me guess... you didn't read all of my posts :)

[Andy Bennett]

without Pirlo, Italy is just not creative going forward at all. It also didn't help that Toni looked so clumsy the whole tournament.
Yeah, Pirlo's a great player. I remember watching him in a Italy/England U21 match a few years back. You could tell he was going to be good even then.

[nicephoras]

Let me guess... you didn't read all of my posts :)

I did. Sometimes Italians play dour boring football. Other times they're efficient. And other times, they're crap. Like they were this time around, for the most part.

[Kerry Dixon's Boots]

I did. Sometimes Italians play dour boring football. Other times they're efficient. And other times, they're crap. Like they were this time around, for the most part.

Oftentimes efficient and dour/boring are one in the same. I think yesterday their defending was very efficient but I also felt their attacking in the same game was dour and boring. And the penalty taking was crap (as an England fan I am qualified to make that statement from experience).

Spain v Russia could be a great game if the coaches are committed to playing open football.

And is anyone writing off Turkey? After Greece in '04 I will only do after the final whistle has been blown. It's like watching Jason Vorhees, only without the camp counselors having all the nookie.

[L.G.S]

Italy were, quite frankly, very very poor. They got lucky in the groups against Romania and managed to beat an - amazingly - even worse French team.

I predicted a few days ago that Spain would outplay Italy, but that Italy would go through. Well.. I was nearly right.

Grosso looked good until Aragones made one simple change.

Do you watch football? Romania were lucky to get a point from Italy, not the other way around. They also outplayed France.

[Walter3000]

Do you watch football? .

Way to interrupt a proper discussion by being a dick.