What do you think ? How will the game be and who will win ? Think both teams going to play very defensivly, cause both teams know their attack qualitys. Sweden will be confident just that they dont let Italy score they will get a goal sooner or later. Sweden got a good start, but the team doesnt want to fly away on the succes. They know that they must play better to beat Italy. Italy wasnt good at al against Denmark, and have alot to prove. They need to start playing like a team, and really fight. Its quite weird that a small country as Denmark can have a chance against a much bigger country there soccer is really big, or like now even dominate a hole match. I think both team will score, but hopefully Sweden will score the most. Sweden will win with 1 goal ahead. 2-1 And Zlatan will probably get his second yellow card and miss the game against Denmark.
Re: Sweden v Italy Maybe I'm going out on a limb a little, but I see a 90th minute Pirlo freekick giving Italia all 3 points. On Sauturday morning all of Italy will have forgotten about Totti and they will all hail Italy's new king, Andrea Pirlo.
Re: Sweden v Italy 1-1. Sweden score first, probably Larsson. Italia scrambles to get a precious point late in the game which will end up seeing them through on the last round. That's the usual for Italy, isn't it?
Re: Sweden v Italy Italy right now is a team that is engulfed in drama and doubt, which is a typical situation for Italy in a presitigious event such as this... with all their shi++y playing vs. Denmark and the conflict with Totti. But let's face it.. Italy's destiny is in their own hands. Hands down, on paper, even without Totti, Italy is a superior team than Sweden. People keep talking about new formations and starting lineups and all that bull, but whatever happens, whoever they start... if Italy goes out and plays well, they should get the 3 pts. In no way am I saying it is going to be an easy match, as Sweden impressed the other competitors in its win over Bulgaria, as they are a team Trap should be rightly weary of. But even still.... Totti is not Italy, we have plenty of able world class players... Zambrotta, Vieri, Cassano, Del Piero, Gattuso, Pirlo, etc... but they all need to play! they can't not produce. Not now. It's all in their hands... FORZA ITALIA
Re: Sweden v Italy Good God, whenever I think about this upcomming match I turn ill. This whole campaigne was a disaster before it even started and I'll be the first one to admit it. On a brighter note lets just hope however the game turns out, Italy get the result they want. P.S No bookings please!
Re: Sweden v Italy It isnt all about the line up but where players are placed on the field leads to how effective they can be during the game. By disrupting a formation or starting the wrong players a tiny mistake might occur, and that can lead to a goal. Trapa has to think smart on who to place where on the pitch. I'm very skeptical about Del Piero taking Totti's position and also about the rest of the midfield. I just don't think they can deliver to Vieri like they should. Sweden is a very explosive side that can quickly create chances out of any situations. I really hope Italy take all 3 but with all this pressure and drama it can only lead to uncertainty.
Re: Sweden v Italy This championship is crazy. One matchday teams play bad, the other they are great. Now, Italians want to get a win here, especially if Danes beat Bulgarians. You don't want to get into a tied table spot with a team that scored 5 goals in a game. Swedes should also play for a win if Denmark wins, because they could lose that last game. I am SURE that Sweden will not play a boring game and the Italians WILL pick it up. We are in for a TREAT. Italy wins in the end 3-2 and we have a great Scandinavian derby on the third matchday. By the way, most of my predictions did not come true
Re: Sweden v Italy Feels like this game is totally open, so who knows. But if we look what the teams have preformed this far Sweden must be the favorite. Both teams didnt have alot of ball their first games, so will be intressting to see who will lead this match. But it looks like both teams want to play offensive, if you can call it that. Offensive play from super defensive nations, thats just normal soccer. I really hope that Sweden will win or atleast get a tie, that would be great. Cause this group is totally open, can actually see that Bulagria still can win the group.
Re: Sweden v Italy On paper, Italy seemed to have everything going down. I thought this might actually help them to overcome their over confidence and high expectations. If Italy can winh big against Sweden, they will win the whole thing.
Re: Sweden v Italy It's all up to Trap. If he employs a formation (4-3-1-2) and lineup (Pirlo, Fiore and Gattuso) that strengthens the midfield, and links the defence to the attack, the Azzurri win 3-1. If not, nail biter that could go either way, 1 - nil. I pray for the former. Forza Azzurri!
Re: Sweden v Italy Though I am a huge Sweden fan, I hope Sweden going to win but my guts tell me that it is hardly possible to break down Italy's defense. And I don't think Italy will score anyway without Totti. So I will go for a draw, probably 0-0.
Re: Sweden v Italy I'll go for a draw here. That'll leave Italy against BUL to decide if they progress. Italy traditionally start out slow in these major tournaments and will step it up at the next group stage, if they reach it.
Re: Sweden v Italy If Sweden scores 4 goals, I'll eat my hat. In the first game, Italy showed about as good defense and goalkeeping as any top team in the tourney so far (better than France, France would have given up a goal to Denmark). The problem was the attacking in the midfield and forward area. Buffon is now considered the steadiest and best overall gk in the world, even if he is assaulted with shots it won't be easy to score 4. I'm not saying Italy is going to win however.
Re: Sweden v Italy i agree that buffon did well last time, but had some of those danish shots not been directly at buffon or just a foot over so they dont go wide, he would have let in a few goals. sorenson made some great saves, but from what i remember most of buffon's saves the ball came right to him, but going like 100000mph
Re: Sweden v Italy Well, regardless, I'd rather have Buffon in the net than anybody in the world right now, except for perhaps Barthez. Yes, Barthez gives up more goals than Buffon, but he always makes the critical stop when France needs it.
Re: Sweden v Italy I will throw out a 2-1 Swedish Victory, my old boy Henrik is gonna get two more...
Re: Sweden v Italy 3-1 for Italy. The Azzurri are always more dangerous when they are beseiged and have something to prove. When the Italian media is lauding them and telling them how wonderful they are, they generally play flat.
Re: Sweden v Italy Please, i know this is a Euro thread, but Buffon is not the best goalie in the world.....id take any of the three American goalies before buffon...hands down or hands up i guess
Re: Sweden v Italy LOL, thanks I needed that laugh. The American gks are decent but no way near the calibar of many of the goalies in this tournament. Buffon is the most expensive goalkeeper in the world for a reason. Day in and day out, he puts up consistent performances. Of course, there are those who would disagree, but if you search google for discussions and lists about the best goalkeepers in the world, Buffon tops a lot of them. 2 years ago, it was Kahn in my book. The best goalkeepers just happen to be in Europe as opposed to the Americas, but Rustu is very good and it's arguable whether you consider a Turkish person European.
Re: Sweden v Italy Lol. The american keepers in England are doing good in a time when the Premier League doesn't have the best keepers. I've never seen any of them pull as good a game as Buffon on a good day, and Buffon is more stable than Barthez, whom these keepers are often compared with by americans. They're good, but lack of European games (mainly Champions League) mean they seldomly play against the best from other leagues, making it hard for people who watch mainly english and american football, as most americans do, to compare them with the other keepers in Europe. In Timmys CL games he played some of his worst games this season, so that can't really be compared. He has potential to become a truly great keeper, Keller and Friedel are too old, and will be remembered as "Rather Good". And yes, I have watched international games where the keepers appear as outstanding, but they mostly do so because of the defenses blunders, which give plenty of opportunitys to make seemingly fantastic saves - just like a bad defense can make a keepers statistics look bad, it can also make that same keepers saves look spectacular.
Re: Sweden v Italy FYI a mod will need to add an [R] to the thread title or i will have to start a new thread for the PbP c'mon dude... get real
Re: Sweden v Italy I Definitely agree... Italy has arguably the best defense in the tournament, how can some of you in fathom that Sweden will score 3, 4 goals agains them. Italia's defense is many levels above that of Bulgaria, def won't be a lot of goals. Again I agree FireTrap, Buffon is rated one of the best keepers in the world, although his season was slightly below his normal excellence, he is exactly what Italy want in the net for this tournament. I don't see many goals being scored on him.