Pre-match: Semi-final: Germany vs Italy - June 28 [R]

Well, whoever wins will fancy their chances after that dire, dire display by Spain.

 

Spot on!

"Now the obstacle seems insurmountable - it probably will be - but now that we have come so far we must dare to go a little further ... towards the DREAM ... towards the JOY ..."

"Forward, Italy!"

Gianluigi Buffon!

 

Don't worry, thankfully he's not the real Fabio Grosso ... nearby there's surely also a few "douche bags" among the German fans.

Dear Napoli friend, your understatement is really amusing!

Btw: I'm curious whether Prandelli is going to maintain the 4:4:2 (after Chiellini's comeback) or to switch back to the 3:5:2 (or even try the 4:5:1 without Cassano). We'll see.

 

Kicker has the likely line-ups. Not sure how correct they will be.

 

I'm glad you appreciated it!

I think Prandelli's formation will have alot to do with whether Chiellini, De Rossi and Abate are fit to play. He says that they are. We shall see.

Buona fortuna Borussia!

 

as the hour approaches, Germany seems to me a mountain to pass. the sky is gathering of clouds, and the Germans seem like 11 lions that want to devour! Let's face it. The Germans are fresh, younger, stronger than us, supported by a nation that all is well, overwhelm us like a tsunami. Cicero said " Historia magistra vitae est!". The Germans want to change it, because we can not continue it, trusting to the fact that history is not always written by the strongest? We could well lose, but at least it is with value. Here, I do not want to see tonight that Italy is transformed in England

 

Prandelli said he wants to attack like an animal. So the match tonight will be brutal and for real men only!

 

No Reus? Italy will be very happy for this.

 

Premonitory gloom, this morning.

I am 100% sure Italy will play a great game and give Germany fits. But I just don't know if it will be enough. Several key players are hurting (De Rossi, Abate, Chiellini), Germany have great depth, and the youth and fitness of this German team scare me.

What I do feel sure of is that Italy-Germany will again give the world a classic. They have done it twice in the past and they will do it again. Spain could not do it. Their sterility vs. Portugal was a poor show for soccer fans worldwide, and most of their matches to date have been stale. But Italy-Germany--this will be an epic!

 

No excuses. Italy is at full strength with one injury. Piggy, Güngodan are injured but Germany is not making excuses. Both teams have enough first choice talent. Whoever loses wont be due to the lack of choice players.

 

Wait--I thought Schweinsteiger IS fit? He is playing today, right?

 

It will be a battle. I still like Die Mannschaft. But nothing will be easy today for either side.

I don't see Prandelli attacking all out against Germany either. It's suicide and he knows it.

Italy will play a smart, tactical game as will Germany.

May the best team win.

 

I think LB meant Schwein probably isn't 100%. He should play.

 

Well, no excuses then. For Italy this is like Rocky vs. Ivan Drago.

 

Purposely setting my DVR to end after 120 mins, because if it goes longer than that I simply don't give a shiite who wins.

 

We're so close, I'm excited/nervous going to be great for football, you know these two are going to put on a show. As I said before the REAL final is today. Spain will try to bore the winner of this game to submission with their pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, midfield, pass, defender, midfield, pass, boring soccer with no attacking.

 

Spain always plays just good enough to win. It's made them reigning Euro and World Cup champs. I don't think it's going to work this time around. Both Germany and Italy are more than capable of beating them, especially if they dog it like yesterday.

 

If I am so f-in sick of their tiki-taka bs. Yes it makes them a great team. As a viewer it puts me to sleep.

 

I suppose its only fair that the Germans get their chance for revenge. If they win, it will be because they had the superior players and team play.

Although one thing sticks out in my mind, and that is the utter calamity we all witnessed in May when Bayern completely faltered in the Champions League final in front of their own fans against all odds. German fans might say that the German players weren't the culprits and exonerate them from that complete failure.

But I think differently. Granted this is an extremely talented generation of German born players, but they still haven't won anything yet at a national or domestic level. Of course there is still lots of time for them to be champions, however, there is similar time for them to choke while they're still figuring things out.

 

If Germany lose I am going to buy Rosetta Stone and learn Italian.

 

Rosetta Stone isn't proven to work.

You're better off just moving to Italy.

 

Coincidently, I was thinking about getting R.Stone to pick up some German

Canzano Rosetta Stone doesn't work?

 

Well, I am not a Bayern fan and actually wanted Chelsea to win but I do think Robben's PK miss in extra-time was ultimately the reason why it went to PK's. That, and poor man-marking in the last 5 minutes of the regular time allowing Drogs to score. In no time did Bayern look like they weren't going to win until the last few minutes of extra time were indicating that this was going to be decided on the penners.

My whole family from my wife's side are Italians and the calls are already coming in. 2006 was bad having to hear them troll me with "O Solo Mio..." So if we don't win I may have to unplug my phone...lol.