Euro 2020 (Semifinale): Italia - Spagna

Discussion in 'Italy: National Teams' started by calabrese8, Jul 4, 2021.

  1. calabrese8

    calabrese8 Member+

    Feb 9, 2008
    Vancouver
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    [​IMG]

    Italia v Spagna... what more could you want from a semifinal. They play similar to us.. and like us have questions in consistency from their strikers. But we have Lorenzo Magnifico... i'd love to see him score O' Tir a Gir for the 2nd consecutive match.

    Don't expect too many changes from the lineup. Immobile despite disappointing the last few games should still get the start as he is more suited to play teams that give him space as Spain will surely afford him (compared to Austria / Belgium play styles). Only change will be likely Emerson Palmieri coming in for the injured Spinazzola. Yes he does not have the same engine and characteristics as Spina... but he was the starting LB for most of Mancini's tenure with the Azzurri.. so he is no slouch either.
     
  2. r0adrunner

    r0adrunner Member+

    Jun 4, 2011
    London, UK
    Club:
    AS Roma
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Emerson is a clear downgrade on Spinazzola though.

    Club loyalties aside, Immobile should never have been starting striker and his recent performances have been disgraceful. I would be bold and play Raspadori up front.
     
  3. 'Uaglio

    'Uaglio Member+

    Jun 8, 2004
    NYC
    I like Raspadori and think he's got a bright future. But, it's hard to throw a guy with only a few minutes of Senior squad experience into starting during the Semifinals of a European Cup.

    I've been Immobile's biggest critic for years, and I prefer Belotti. However, against the Spanish back line, I do like Ciro's speed.
     
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  4. indestructible

    indestructible Member+

    SSC Napoli
    Jan 14, 2007
    Mercato Professor
    Club:
    SSC Napoli
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Raspadori? I don’t hate it. But it won’t happen
     
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  5. indestructible

    indestructible Member+

    SSC Napoli
    Jan 14, 2007
    Mercato Professor
    Club:
    SSC Napoli
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    If twitter is anything to go by, Italy and England fans think the final 2 is already decided.
     
  6. calabrese8

    calabrese8 Member+

    Feb 9, 2008
    Vancouver
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Yea I’m not buying the finals are set. The Spanish won’t be a cake walk. I’d put us as favourites but we must not disrespect our opponent and pretend like we are playing San Marino.
     
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  7. indestructible

    indestructible Member+

    SSC Napoli
    Jan 14, 2007
    Mercato Professor
    Club:
    SSC Napoli
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Italy vs. Spain is always a great battle (except for the Euro 2012 final that we should all have wiped from our memory). To me the victory of 2016 has been completely canceled by the beating they gave us in the WC qualifying. So the players should play with the mindset that this is a revenge game.
     
  8. indestructible

    indestructible Member+

    SSC Napoli
    Jan 14, 2007
    Mercato Professor
    Club:
    SSC Napoli
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    HISTORIC BATTLES:

    One of my favorites and one that is often overlooked by people is the 2008 quarter final. I believe that this has an important historical significance because it represents the precise moment where our style that won us the WC became antiquated, and the Spanish really took off with their ultra possession/ tikitaka. It was such a tense and even game that could have gone either way.

     
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  9. falvo

    falvo Member+

    Mar 27, 2005
    San Jose & Florence
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Can Alessandro Florenzi play on the left side in place of Spinazzola?

    Is he ambidestro like Panucci was?
     
  10. saj7866

    saj7866 Member+

    Dortmund
    Germany
    May 10, 2014
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    #10 saj7866, Jul 5, 2021
    Last edited: Jul 5, 2021
    No matter who comes in for Spinazzola he will not be on the same level. That guy was one of the best players in the tournament before his injury. Hopefully it doesn't effect your teams performance that much.
     
  11. indestructible

    indestructible Member+

    SSC Napoli
    Jan 14, 2007
    Mercato Professor
    Club:
    SSC Napoli
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    The early report is that it’s going to Emerson at LB
     
  12. indestructible

    indestructible Member+

    SSC Napoli
    Jan 14, 2007
    Mercato Professor
    Club:
    SSC Napoli
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Sid Lowe had a good stream of old articles on his twitter account detailing the Spanish press’s hatred of Italian soccer:



    If we beat Spain tomorrow not just one the score sheet but by completely outplaying them, they will lose their minds
     
  13. johnny6

    johnny6 Member+

    AC Milan
    Italy
    Jun 29, 2011
    Club:
    AC Milan
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Really unsure about tomorrow's game, Spain is no joke and they are very unpredictable. Sometimes they play really bad and other times they are simply amazing so who knows what we'll get.

    I don't like playing the "favorites" guessing game unless it's a much lesser quality team. I have faith in Mancini and the boys so we should do well.

    Not a chance we'll see Raspadori, going to be the same line up except for Emerson and maybe Florenzi at some point.
     
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  14. Il Ciuccio

    Il Ciuccio Member+

    Feb 17, 2010
    Club:
    SSC Napoli
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    I hope Mancini goes with 3 in the back now that Spinazzola is hurt.
     
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  15. indestructible

    indestructible Member+

    SSC Napoli
    Jan 14, 2007
    Mercato Professor
    Club:
    SSC Napoli
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    I’ll just say that I was more confident about beating the Belgians
     
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  16. johnny6

    johnny6 Member+

    AC Milan
    Italy
    Jun 29, 2011
    Club:
    AC Milan
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Same.
     
  17. gumbacicc

    gumbacicc Member+

    Dec 7, 2004
    USA
    I don't care how many goals they scored in the prior matches, Spain have not impressed me at all. It would be a big disappointment to go out against them as this Italy side have more quality and play better football than this edition of the Spanish side. This isn't the Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Ramos, etc. Spain side.
     
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  18. 'Uaglio

    'Uaglio Member+

    Jun 8, 2004
    NYC
    Spain is certainly capable of playing well. If their forwards start finishing, they are going to be incredibly tough to beat. We have to bring our A game tomorrow. No relaxation. No let up.

    I have a hard time believing that Mancini and Co. will be taking this game lightly. Some of these players remember WCQ very well from 2018. I have to think they'll be fired up.
     
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  19. calabrese8

    calabrese8 Member+

    Feb 9, 2008
    Vancouver
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    [​IMG]

    Have a feeling this guy is going to have a big bounce back game tomorrow. Few shit games in a row.. and being ridiculed by the media.
     
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  20. r0adrunner

    r0adrunner Member+

    Jun 4, 2011
    London, UK
    Club:
    AS Roma
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    I wish I shared your confidence but, again putting club loyalty aside, I think it is vrtually impossible.
     
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  21. indestructible

    indestructible Member+

    SSC Napoli
    Jan 14, 2007
    Mercato Professor
    Club:
    SSC Napoli
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    LET’S BE POSITIVE!
     
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  22. tripwire

    tripwire Member+

    Sep 23, 2012
    Club:
    SSC Napoli
    If ever there was a game for Immobile to show what he is, this is it.
     
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  23. joe83

    joe83 Member

    Nov 4, 2009
    Club:
    AC Milan
    Spain know they are the less talented team and underdogs going into this game. In order to conpensate, they will be giving everything they have mentally and physically, pressuring Italy and battling for ball possession early on in the game. Im sure they will be pressing hard for an early surprise goal. Italy need to match the intensity right off the bat and withstand the early pressure and stay focused..as the game progresses, I can see us taking more control over the game. Just need to maintain a clean sheet early on or it could be tough to get back in it.
     
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  24. saj7866

    saj7866 Member+

    Dortmund
    Germany
    May 10, 2014
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    I think Italy will beat Spain in normal time, and if you press England or Denmark non stop at a high intensity then there's no question you will beat either of them also in the final.
     
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  25. foreverazurri

    foreverazurri Member

    Oct 13, 2009
    Chiesa will out run Jordi Alba and win a penalty with his quick feet. Immobile scores it as a winning goal and that's how he breaks the ice.
     

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