That yellow card situation is very bad given that rule. Remember, Conte basically called up no CB reserves except Ogbonna. That's it. There is nothing behind Chiellini, Bonucci, and Barzagli unless you move De Rossi back there. I'm never one for intentional yellows... but if we are leading Sweden late, I might tell them to do a shirt tug or two.
If Italy are tied late, it might be advisable to have the CBs get carded. Four points essentially means qualification. It would be best to obviously finish first to avoid better sides until later, but this side can't be without BBC.
Congratulations on your victory. I hope this opens the eyes of the KBVB (it won't, but one can always hope).
I still think you get out of the group 4 best 3rd place teams out of 6 groups go through ( 66 percent or 2/3 of 3rd place teams ) I think you will pick up the necessary points in the next 2 matches and go through and I'm not taking the piss
After rewatching parts of the match, Belgium were the perfect opponent. When Italy was in the defensive bloc, the 3-5-2 reverts to a 5-3-2. The three CBs are compressed and nullify the middle. The weakness is that this can be broken down if the opponent overloads the Italian wing back 2v1. What did Belgium do? Their wingers both attempted to cut inside while their outside backs rarely made the overlapping runs necessary. Vertongen was never consistently high enough for example. Belgium never felt comfortable trying to exploit this weakness because it would leave Italy's partnership 2 vs 3. Italy were content pushing everything in the center and Belgium were happy to oblige. Teams like Germany with Boateng and Hummels will certainly be more comfortable allowing their outside backs to attack. Bayern in 2013 exploited Conte because they weren't afraid of leaving their CBs isolated vs Juve's two CFs. Imagine Pelle and Eder vs Hummels and Boateng or Pique and Ramos? When Italy face actual attacking outside backs as they will if they play Spain or even Croatia in the next round, it will be crucial for Conte to adjust. Allegri has Juve switch up where at times they play a line of 5 but then change the way they defend by creating two banks of four. Conte was a master today. He is a great coach. However, my hope is that he will have learned to be more flexible in his defensive shape since leaving Juve. As for the attacking part of the game, Italy carved up Belgium multiple times only to misplace crucial passes. Too often this broke down very promising attacks. I think this is more up to the players having to improve individually. Actually Belgium's most dangerous attacks came from cheap turnovers when Italy were on the offensive. When the wingbacks are that high up the field, if the ball is unexpectedly turned over, it's not possible for them to sprint back quickly enough. BBC on a few occasions were completely stretched trying to defend counters.
The only good bit from Eder is getting a yellow card to prevent belgium's counter attack and can anyone tell me on this what buffon supposed to do primarily?
Do Italian fans in general not travel well or is there just a lack of interest in the Euros this year? I was disappointed in the low outcome of Italian supporters for a game in Lyon. Or maybe I'm overstating the proximity between Lyon and Italy *shrug*
Italians (from Italy) have never been particularly nationalistic (after WW2) or traveled that well. Typically it is the Italians living abroad that are the most fervent and pack stadiums during tournaments. The Italians living in Italy are more practical. They typically wait until Italy advances and then start to travel a bit more, but they never move in masses the way...say the Dutch fans do. They also don't organize themselves like that. It's part laziness, part lack of organization, and part practicality. Also, let's face it...the Italian economy hasn't done so well in the last decade and $$$ affects travel. That said, there are a lot of Italian immigrants in France and I expect any of our games in the south to be well attended as the tourney goes on. Frankly, if Italy is in the quarters and tickets are available, and our conazionali in Italia can't get off their fat asses in the North and drive a couple hours...well...shame on them.
We're just lazy for the most part, it's also the early part of summer and everyone is enjoying some vacation time. We still support from home even if it means using a projector on a van My uncle sent me this yesterday, it's in my hometown in Italy
Support for the Azzurri internationally has never been great. Italians are way more invested in their clubs than la Nazionale. In countries like England, firms put aside their differences and usually come together for the national team. That doesn't happen in Italy because very few ultra groups get along. That said, there were a lot of French Italians in the stadium yesterday. Place was very loud for both Italy goals.
The next round setup is stupid. You are better off finishing 3rd and playing some weak winners of other groups or better yet the 2 runner ups play each other in some instances.
Too bad. I figured the Italians would come in bunches and when I saw all the Belgian support, I thought we were going to have a great balanced crowd. Turned out that even sitting in the Italian end that the Belgians were heard loud and clear.
He was trying to swing off the crossbar, through the net and into the loving crowd. But he fell on his side and shouted with glee instead like the crazy superman he is
@falvo reminds me of Cinema Paradiso "Alfredo!!!???.....Alfredo!!!????"......."Aiuto!!!!....Aiuto!!!"
I believe he said ( to me ) somewhere near Cagliari if not Cagliari itself. He is definitely from Sardegna.....I remember that