1) WC 2006 Well let's look at world cup performances just 2 years ago should we... Italy: Won world cup, beating France in final, eliminating hosts Germany in SF Russia: did not qualify. Lost 7-1 to Portugal and lost out to Slovakia for 2nd place. 2) History - Italy: Current and four times world champions. Former euro cup winners and finalists. - Russia: Never been to knockout stages of any tournament. 3) Player qualities - Italy: side packed with proven, world class players. Former champions league and world cup winners playing for the highest profile teams in top 3 league Serie A + abroad - Russia: Bunch of unproven, no name players playing in the upcoming but still largely unfamiliar Russian League. 4) Qualifying: - Italy topped a group with France, Ukraine + resurgent Scotland - Russia - qualified but struggled. lost 3-0 at England and Israel. Narrow victory vs. Andorra guaranteed qualification. I'm sorry but if you were to have insinuated that Russia were more of a threat than Italy prior to the tournament than most people would have thought you were either crazy or simply know nothing about football. The only thing Russia had going for them was their coach and a slightly more easier 1st round group. But the Russians have played well and surprised everyone.
Seriously, what are you trying to prove? The arguments you mention at best label Russia as a dark horse. iow they are unproven and lived up to hopes rather than expectations. Nobody could have predicted this, even Hiddink mentionned several times he would be glad if they would get passed the groupstage. Which country are you from?
So this warranted them being rated more likely to perform in this tournament that Italy? Really? Dismissing glennaldo's post as ignorant rather than address the entirely reasonable points he gave marks you out as either a troll or an idiot - which is it?
Your response to glennaldo shows your lack of willingness to debate. If you want to carry this on in the hopes of a reasonable discussion then you are welcome to detail why the reasons you gave for Russia's potential good showing at this tournament outweigh those provided by glennaldo. If you don't then have the decency to leave this thread alone and take your trolling elsewhere
LOL most unreasonable delusional poster goes to......UEFA2008! For stating that Russia were a threat ONLY AFTER they made to the Semi Finals! Congratulations, you have no opinion. glennaldo gave a history lesson that wasn't needed everyone including Russian's would of given Italy a better chance of making it far then their own country.
Group of Death, Romania NT did theyr best ,they lost theyr big chance in Italy game last minute pk. Maybe France didin't ready for mentaly to this tournament? (aspecialy last game vs Italy ,unluck Ribery injury and red card etc, team cemistry hurt''?'') or they were not too strong without Zidane France vs Italy at 2006<> 2008 match up. Romania were come so cloe in last match of group game..but,they didint show rhytm and tempo at offansive line in last game of group match up. over all, it was a interesthing matchs, and two of them went to the quarters...later on they stop too... @ Whats gonna be next group of death in the 2010 finals?