39' 1-0 Li Ying chases to 9m wide right, cuts past Bartoli (still gimpy?) to 3m mid-right, crosses over 6-box to 3m left post, Guagni(?) heads away to the left. 39' 1-0 Italy subs in (1 of 3) #4 Aurora Galli for #10 Cristiana Girelli This game seems fast-paced because both teams are making their passes early, with quick decision-making. When they choose to dribble, they do it decisively, and otherwise they get the ball off their feet before they run out of space. So both teams are able to move the ball, and defenders never have time to close down. 42' 1-0 Wang Shuang fk at 30m wide right, Wang Shanshan is offside through box top center. Li Ying stoop-heads at 8m 3-right, off right post 1/4 high, it bounces away to the right, AR flags it dead.
44' 1-0 Li Ying taps back to Han Peng way up at arc top box right, throug-ball to Wang Shanshan at 14m mid-right, she taps back to Wang Shuang through arc right. Linari(?) clears ball off Wang Shuang, it reflects toward 6-top left post and almost reaches Gu(?), Guagni reaches across her and clears into near touch. +3'. 45+1' (of +3') 1-0 Wang Shuang slows up for a ball dying behind her at circle top, passes upfield and Bartoli clatters into her from the right flank. Foul. 45+2' (of +3') 1-0 Wang Yan, Gu, and Wang Shanshan ping a triangle at arc top left. Wang Shuang shoots from arc top right, way wide right low.
Italy are the pleasant surprise of the tournament. They're skilled, precise, and fun to watch. But they aren't going to be a contender until their conditioning improves. They looked gassed at the end of the Brazil game, and they're already looking gassed here. Maybe they survive China today, but teams like Germany, France, and especially the USA are going to run them into the ground.
45+3' (of +3') 1-0 Li Ying chases a long switch through box top mid-right, cross blocked over by Bartoli. 45+4' (of +3') 1-0 Wang Shuang right ck, Li Ying header, Giuliani catches? HT 1-0. Italy 7(3)-(3)7 shots(sog), 0-6 corners , 2-1 offsides, 4-5 fouls, 9-6 tackles, 31-23 clearances, 50% possession, 62% (106/170) - (183/253) 72% passing. Wow, identical possession and shots. China cross from the wings and earn corners (Italy are happy to defend corners), while Italy look for through-balls up the center.
Yeah, to win a team really needs to be about 15 or 16 deep. I don't think Italy is that deep yet. But, man, they really could be the next power.
It's more than one year that he's not seen here on BigSoccer anymore. Not sure why. Maybe, as @Bonnie Lass, he will suddenly come back!
Told you so, guys. The second post of this thread stated that I was very happy to see Giacinti start.
Exactly. To win as a dark horse, you need either extremely fit players or good depth. Skill will only take you so far in a tournament.
For records, Patrizia Panico retired in 2016, at age 42, and she's now commenting the match for Italian TV!
I really wished he had been around for the group stages. I hope he's able to enjoy the team he has so passionately supported for so long.
46' 1-0 China subs in (1 of 3) #9 Yang Li for #17 Gu Yasha(!) 47' 1-0 Li Ying chases to 5m wide right. Backpass to Han Peng(?), cross floats way high to 3m 1/4 left, Giuliani catches high. 48' 1-0 Italy longball up centerline to 30m, China momentarily misplay the bounce, Italy collect but miss a pass. 49' 2-0 Italy cross from wide left through 4m misses everybody, out through box right. Bonansea wins a challenge at 12m wide right. Liu Shanshan(?) clears up box left, Guagni intercepts at 28m box (her) right. Square pass left to Galli at 25m arc right, Galli shoots right roundhouse through the high line across mouth, it skips once past Peng Shimeng's dive, into back left low. WHAT A STRIKE! Aurora Galli doubles Italy's lead with a low driven shot from outside the box. 2-0! 🇮🇹 #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/9IhfWeoyg3— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 25, 2019
i love montpellier. It does get hot in summer but it is dry heat. not as hot as vegas, more like hills of san diego.
Lets not forget this Italian team came last in their EURO 2017 group behind Russia, Sweden and Germany. "Euro 2019" and they are as good as in the quarter finals.