Pirlo because of the great goal against Croatia and the brilliant assist vs Spain and that penalty topped it off last night .DDR 2nd no doubt.
Yeah I voted pirlo, but de Rossi has been great. Once pirlo retires ( tbh probably should be afrer this tournament, at 35 is just too old!...right?!?) the midfield goes into good hands with de Rossi.
I just don't want let go off Pirlo =( He still plays at the highest levels As for the best player so far, still didn't change my mind: Pirlo Pirlo Pirlo DDR/Buffon DDR/Buffon DDR/Buffon
Pirlo. That chipped penalty vs. Hart was my favorite moment of Euro 2012. Since his game isn't predicated on speed or physicality, I think he could play till 2014.
You what impressed me the most about Pirlo yesterday? Count how many times he dispossessed England and how many headers he won. I couldn't believe it. He was working like a dog and still looked fresh out there. Pirlo was possessed yesterday. We'll need a similar performance against Germany who has a much better midfield. I think we have to be honest with ourselves. Pirlo at 35 in the Brazilian heat is probably not going to be that effective. We have to either pray Verratti is everything he seems to be, or we will have to change our style of play a bit to adapt to the newer generation's strengths. We have a young generation of supremely talented seconda punte like Insigne, El Sharawy, etc. and so we will have to play to their strengths.
Good point Rob. I forgot about that. It should be fairly pleasant then. Nothing like Qatar in the summer
I still think De Rossi has been spectacular. His distribution and defensive play has been top notch. Against England he was involved in 3 of our best opportunities (the slice off the post, the strike which led to rebounds chances for Balo and Monto, and his scuff just in front of Hart). Can't deny Pirlo's magic thus far either, it's about even but for contrarians sake I'll stick with De Rossi. Though as far as MVPs go it's Pirlo because De Rossi can be somewhat replaced. There's been some great midfield play in this tourny Pirlo, De Rossi, Ozil, Schweinsteiger, Kehdira (much better for Germany than Real), Iniesta, Xavi, Silva, Xabi, Moutinho, and Gerrard (at times) have all been excellent.
As great as Pirlo has been we have come to expect it. I have to say that De Rossi has impressed me more than anyone. If he had not adapted to his role who knows if we would have come this far. He has played in that deep position almost as if it was his natural role. For the first time, I have to say that he has been vital to Italy's success so far.
De Rossi. Warrior today. Total gladiator. He was everywhere. A lion. Pirlo and he have been immense. Legends. Mario Balotelli for best young player of tournament. Three goals, spectacular performance today. Big game player. Need him vs. Spain.
Pirlo is playing like he is 25 years old. Unbelievable. De Rossi continues to change the way I see him as a national team player. *And Balotelli has still managed to avoid a red card!* In many ways, we were immense today!
Our backline, which I was always hesitant about after the departures of Nesta and Cannavaro, has come along nicely. Barzagli, Chiellini and Bonucci all having a solid tournament.
people don't give Chiellini enough credit on this team. he has been absolutely superb. also people need to understand balo is not as bad a the media says he is. we need to stop feeding into the media's crap about him being some kind of crazy menace that's out of control. both di natale & de rossi said balo has been class. his past childish image from the serie has stuck with him because the media keeps using it just to paint a bad boy image of him. yes he has done some dumb stuff on man city. but euro 2012 just shows you that the guy is slowly maturing. i keep telling people di natale is having a big impact on balo. they seem to be best friends on the team. di natale is always talking to him. does this look like the heartless, crazy thug with no emotion that the media try's to tell you he is the guy just likes to have fun. ( classic example below) if anything he's some what childish. but then again he's a 21 year old millionaire.
Who said Balotelli was heartless? Or a thug? And what does the media have to do with anything? I will bet you that most of Italy's fans are impressed and pleasantly surprised that Mario has not created an "incident" yet. It's not the media, it is his history that worried us!
DDR and Pirlo remind me of Pirlo and Canna from WC 06. Pirlo has a magnificent match but Canna proves to be even more decisive that day. This time around Pirlo has taken over for Canna and the roles are reversed...kinda (I know theres more to DDR's game than combat). DDR is this tournaments Marco Senna.
No question Pirlo. But frankly, as an outsider, he has always been taly's best player bar Nesta. 2006 is often described as Zidane's tournament, and Canna won the awards, but for me Pirlo was the standout player in that tournie too. The diamond is the best formation in football if you have a player like Pirlo polishing the tip. Pirlo, Seedorf, Gattuso and Kaka were so awesome as a combination. Begs the question - how ********ing stupid were Milan to allow this guy to go on a free???!!! It beggars belief.
Over six games Pirlo was Italy's best player, even if he didn't have a brilliant final. Balotelli gets my vote for Best Young Player of the tournament. And I think De Rossi and Buffon should be given a shout in Best XI of Euro 2012 write-ups.
Pirlo hands down. He is at the heart of our attacks and he is still one of the world's best midfielders. Regardless of the poor performance in the final, I still think that he is as good as Xavi and Iniesta. Sadly the other Italian midfielders are not, at least for the time being.