Love, it's Italy. If the Azzurri win, every other football fan across the world screams about "cheating". Whether it's true or not, doesn't matter. When Italy deservedly defeated Germany in the 2006 WC semi-final (the best match of the tournament), anybody and everybody who wanted Italy to lose talked about cheating, even though there had been none. That's just how it goes. Enjoy the hatred: it means that they fear Italy. But also, let's not pretend the players need Roberto Mancini to teach them anything about "the dark arts", either...
So many games one can watch and see how it's done in a "professional" manner. That display was silly, and only attracts deserved negativity. Sorry, but it can't be defended. There's a much better way of wasting seconds, and slowing the pace. Many examples even in this tournament so far.
Chiellini is the classic old school Italian defender in the form of the greats. If you noticed the way he plays, he reminds you of a Ferrara , Costacurta , Maldini or Baresi. Maybe he isn’t as good as those guys were but he still has it even though he is turning 37 next month! Incredible player still at an advanced age!
Italy have not won a EURO since 1968...2021 now that's 53 years of not winning it all. I would say given that you guys have 4 World Cups, it is actually interesting that you guys only have 1 EURO Cup title. I just find it interesting that's all but with the overall collective talent that this Mancini version of Italy has, it wouldn't surprise me if Italy win the EUROs
I recognize you. You're posting style is the exact same as another username ( I'll go back and figure out which one ) who has this sense of guilt or fake sense of guilt when Italy and Juventus seem to dive in your opinion. You are like the only person I've ever seen who largely self criticizes their own teams when it comes to your obsession with ones own teams diving ( Italy and Juve ). I'm sure if I go back in my posting history I could find out what other name you once used in the Italy and Juventus forums as your posting styles are the exact same as is your hang up with diving. GTFO https://www.bigsoccer.com/posts/34180263/ https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/italy-vs-sweden.2032672/page-10#post-34180372 That's you ain't it ? Again GTFO
Fantastic game, fantastic team. This is the most fun I’ve ever had watching Italy in my whole life. The bar exploded when Insigne nailed the “o tir, a gir” I was hoping he would hit one this tournament and I glad he got it. Verratti /Jorginho partnership was top class today. I was worried that Verratti would draw another yellow after that PK. What an absolute shame about Spinazzola. But I’m confident that Emerson is up for it. I trust in Mancini
1. I only have one username in here and it this one. I don't know who the other person is, but it not me. And I'm not even a Juventus fan. I like Ronaldo that doesn't equal to me be a Juve fan. 2. GTFO or not is not up to you, let me remind you, you NOT the Admin/Mod. If your skin is so " thin " to the point that by me criticize Italy for ' over the top ' diving, then feel free to report my post to the Mod/Admin so they can read it and see if it violate any rule. 3. It not up to you to dictate what other fans think. And relax, if something someone post over the computer offend you like this, then I wonder how you reacts to things that in real life. Chill, it not good for you to stress over what someone write on the internet. Back to topic. Btw, if I think they are " over the top " in time wasting and diving, then I will criticize. And don't even give me the well Belgium did it, so what, that doesn't mean we Italy need to go down to the low level as them. Support the team is one thing, but that doesn't mean you blindly support them to the point that they criticize free and their fart smell like roses. Diving, time wasting is a tactic in football, but that doesn't mean it needs to be OVER THE TOP. When you get to over the top, then that is the problem. I hope next round Italy won't rely on these over the top wasting time and tactics again. It embarassing when one of the team that win the most WCs, and you got enough talents to get the team through.
Lol I think that was Falvo after Giovinco went to the MLS and became Falvo's official Italiano pro MLS spokesman. Yea , yea we got it. The level of the league isnt that important, right? .....just messing with you Falvo
Great win today. Have no problem admitting when I'm wrong. Insigne had a wonderful game. I'm glad he made me look stupid. Chiellini was immense. Those two can be co-MOTM for me. The midfield looked like their old self after the shaky display against a far more physical side in Austria. Now we play Spain who are anything but physical. Its going to be a real battle for possession. I think our edge will be that their defense is extremely shaky. Could be a nervy low scoring game...but I can also see us jumping on them early if we take our chances. Too bad about Spinazzola.
Immobile was bad today. I mean epically bad. He simply couldn't control the ball and a couple of times his poor touches turned goal scoring opportunities into big counter-attacks for Belgium. But, one thing Ciro is usually good at is playing against a defense with a high line. If Spain play high up and try to do possession ball, it may be wise to have Immobile's speed out there with Chiesa.
Anyone who watched this match and was concerned about playacting is either clueless or biased. Going into the game, the knock on Italy was that they did not play anyone. Now they have beaten the #1 FIFA-ranked team outplaying them for large stretch in the first 75 minutes of the match. We should have scored more than two, and if we had a real #9, that would have happened. You'd have to be a fool not to acknowledge this side's accomplishment or recognize that this team is for real, and the rightful favorites to win the tournament at this point. The only thing that concerns me is the loss of Spinazzola. He was such a critical component of what we did well and no one has the same qualities in the sense that we don't have another fullback that will be a threat down the wing, especially with the loss of Florenzi. That said, I'll take what we have seen from Italy thus far over Spain or England.
For some reason Italy just did better at the World Cup from the 70’s to the 2000’s. I’m not sure if it just happened that way or because they cared more about the WC or both. Either way, it seemed that each time a Euro came up, it was always after their WC success or failure and maybe that time was needed to rebuild. Looking at their record during that time , I could see how the players lost it…. 1970 WC -second place 1978 WC- fourth place 1982 WC - champion 1988 Euro semi finalist 1990 WC third place 1994 WC second place 1998 WC quarterfinals 2000 Euro second place 2006 WC Champion 2008 quarterfinals 2010 WC first round 2012 Euro second place 2014 WC first round 2016 Euro quarter finalist From what the 82 players said , there was a kind of sense of euphoria after the WC win that prevented them from playing at a high level. I think the same thing happened after 2006. I think it has to do more with rebuilding or regrouping. Anyway, it’s sad that Leonardo Spinazzola got injured. Not sure who will replace him as he has had a good tournament up until now. Some players play on the right and left side with no problem. I think Maldini and Panucci were like that as well as playing in the middle. Could Alessandro Florenzi play on the left back spot or is he strictly a right back??
Replacing Spinazzola is tough. Remember, Ferran Torres is going to be crashing down the right side all game long. Mancini has a few ways he could go. 1. Plug in Emerson. This is what he did last night and Emerson is a pure left back. The problem with this is that Emerson isn't the best defender and he doesn't have Spinazzola's speed or lungs. When Emerson overlaps, are we relying on Insigne to track back? 2. Play Florenzi on the left. Florenzi's preferred role is on the right but he is capable of playing terzino sinistro. He's a better defender than Emerson and has the speed to get forward. He's not left footed though. 3. Go with a 3-5-2. Completely changing the formation doesn't seem Mancini's style. He is a "stick with what got you there" type of manager. Depending on his fitness, I may be leaning to option 2.
People are forgetting that Palmieri played very good for Mancini in the past two years when he was called upon. I remember specifically a game vs. Poland in the nations league where he connected very well with Insigne. I know that Spinazzola has been vital to our play, but we're going to have to make due. We have no choice. I trust that Mancini will come up with a new strategy now. For those wondering, Di Lorenzo has been played at LB for Napoli before in emergency situations (also CB). But I'm more confident with Emerson because it's his real position
Which episode was it and who said it? What was going on , like what was the context if you remember ?
Phil Leotardo said it in the episode where Johnny gets taken back to jail in the middle of his daughter's wedding. And Italy is the only all POC team in the tournament so of course the racists are complaining.