Italy is one of those teams that just loves to agonize their way into a Final though. It is like a dramatic opera with a happy ending. I am not counting them out one bit.
This was Italy's first time playing against a team that can keep possession. And Spain starting with a zero-top and working the ball around really tired Italy out. Dani Olmo was everywhere and brilliant throughout, but unfortunately for Spain skied his PK.
England aren't in the final yet buddy. And either way it'll be a completely different matchup. England would have the home advantage though.
Not denying that Spain had the better game, in the end though there's only one winner, good job Italia.
Not a deserved victory for Italy, who of course started diving and flopping around late in the match and into the extra periods. Spain was the better team today. Italy is...cagey.
Looking globally at the tournament Italy deserve to be in the final. But if we look at tonight's performance Spain would have deserved it more.
I remember the last time people were saying Italy did not deserve to be in a Final due to a flop. They went on to win in 2006.
The Spanish manager was quoted as saying "we don't practice penalties". If true, that is professional malpractice, given the likelihood a knockout match will be decided by them. And yes, you can improve your odds by practicing them. If you can put the ball in the top corner of the net 20 times in a row during practice, it's pretty likely you can do it in a match as well.
Most of the players practice penalties with their Clubs I imagine. And it is difficult to simulate the pressure of a stadium with fans and the weight of the moment. But yes, it is strange Luis Enrique said that.
I disagree. The situation in a knockout stage game is completely different from training. It's not about skills. It's much more about mental strengh.
We also have to consider they apparently knocked out the Swiss without practicing. That was their practice.
It's like telling a basketball player not to practice free throws because you can't simulate the pressure of a game-ending situation. He would laugh at you. With enough practice, any physical act becomes familiar and comfortable. And you don't feel anywhere near as much pressure because you've already done it over and over again.
Do NBA players practice free throws as a team or on their own individually? I remember years ago Shaq had to hire some guru and he still could not make them.
^^^I guess the better question is do the Olympic basketball teams practice free throws as a team since it is more analogous as National teams.
I doubt that most teams get in a line and take turns, but AFAIK every team requires a player to practice them during their workouts.
I'm sure they do. Granted, it's somewhat different because basketball players shoot foul shots so often they've already reached a comfort level with them. And if they haven't, you can bet the remedy is shooting more of them, not just ignoring them the way some football managers apparently handle penalty kicks.
Sure, but the point is they can stay after practice and individually work on them on their own if they feel like they need more practice in addition to what they probably do at their Clubs.