Euro 2012 Quarter-final: England v Italy 24/06/2012, 19:45, Olympic Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine [R]

One of the most nerve racking matches I've had as an England fan, but we got the result in their backyard. Come on England.

 

Exciting times my friends...Exciting times... Walcott on for Milner would be my only change in the squad from yesterday's match...

----------------------------------Hart-----------------------------
Johnson------------Terry------------Lescott------------Cole

--------------------------------Parker----------------------
Walcott---------------------------------------------Young
----------------------------Gerrard--------------------------

--------------------------Rooney
----------------------------Welbeck

 

I wonder if Carroll might play, they conceded from a cross against Croatia and Gerrards delivery has been as good as anyone's in the comp. And I though Carroll was a lot better than Danny against the Ukraine.

 

I would go 4-3-3 v Italy against their 3-5-2 system. This is one game where we should attack and not sit back .

 

I would play a sort of 433 as well, but with Jones and Parker holding in front of the back four and allow Gerrard to get forward into those advanced areas and win the game for us. Rooney should play up top on his own with Walcott and Young playing off him. But I cannot see Hodgson changing his system now, I think it will be the same as before but with Carroll leading the line instead of Welbeck

 

Would do sth similar but wouldn't drop welbeck and would have him interchange between CF and WF with Rooney. Keep Gerrard close to pirlo.

 

Have to admire winning the group to get to this stage considering how terrible the injury situation has been, even if the football hasnt been great. Organisation and spirit can go a long way in football

Italy have a good team but not good enough to turn us over imo, i expect a tight game similar to the 1-1 vs france

 

Yeh just spotted it and deleted the post. I remember those matches from WC98 and i have to say in the game in Rome, England played very well and Scholes looked great.

 

A sneaky 2 1 victory I hope, Italy havnt impressed me

 

Anything from this point on is a bonus.

 

This is my team, Haven't been impressed with Milner and would like to keep Walcott for the super sub role around the 60 minute mark


-------------------------Hart-------------------------

Johnson-------Terry---------Lescott-------Cole

Young--------Gerrard-----Parker-------Downing

----------------------Rooney-----------------------

---------------------Welbeck------------------------

 

.........welbeck
ox.......young......milner
.......parker..gerrard
cole...lescott...terry...johnson
.................hart

rooney isn't match fit imo and was generally off the mark, bring him on as a sub for young as well as walcott after milner has knackered their left wing back out

 

I agree with others that Hodgson will keep changes to a minimum. The pace of Walcott could be effective but I don't think Roy will be so ambitious as to start him - 70 minutes of Milner helping to keep it tight then on comes Theo. Perhaps Carroll instead of Wellbeck is the most likely change, if there is one.

 

I think Italy prefer a team to sit back against them! they hate teams that try to attack them. Hence English club teams having such a good record against them in European club games. Being defensive suits their game . Going for straight for their throat rattles them . Even ireland gave them a rough match when they decided to just attack .

 

Yeah I remember Woy's Fulham did well against Juve at home when they pushed up and attacked them. I don't think he'll change it now though.

 

If Rooney is left on the bench he will never be match fit, the fact is that he is England’s most dangerous player and has to play, we just need to allow him to grow into the tournament. With the way the Italians play with the two full backs, England needs to get as wide as possible and bombared their six yard box with crosses. Personally I would start with Walcott and stretch them as much as possible. It also now looks as though they have lost Chiellini at centre half, which is even better, I would definitely start with Carroll and let him drag them around

 

When Spain had their 4-6-0 out Italy were very happy! they only became rattled when they brought Torres on 15 mins from time and created afew good chances.

They got rattled when Croatia threw it all into attack and they forced an equaliser. Croatia tried to start out cautious too. The same story with ireland .

 

My prediction is, Italy or England will be in the Semis

 

They're used to playing against the slower paced Serie A teams, so maybe Walcott or Ox from the start would be better.

Terry and Lescott will need to have another big game, they've done well so far and I notice that the Rio bandwagon from the media has died down, we haven't needed him at all.

 

It's a no win situation, if we win everyone will say how we have fluked our way through the tournament playing bad football, and if we lose then everyone will post their usual dross about us.

But to be honest I couldn't care less. Fck the haters!

 

That's one of the fun things about being an England supporter. Every win pisses people off and It's hilarious. Same as with Chelsea last season.

England are a troll team.

 

OK Roy.