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The defenses look pretty solid. Some good last line defending. Now the midfields on the other hand….
Well yeah perhaps I mean the whole defensive setup not the defenders specifically. Shall we discuss the difference for a few pages? 🙂
This is the new Italy. Defence is the old. No one tell Bunicco or Cheillini. If nothing else this game shows you how Mancini has changed the approach.
They are struggling with the tempo and pace that Spain, through Busquets, are setting.
You could probably play on your own against Spain, you'd never get the ball but they'd never score either.
You could probably play on your own against Spain, you’d never get the ball but they’d never score either.
Ouch. True though.
They are winning the 4 on 3 in the midfield. If I'm the Italian centre halfs,I'm pretty happy. Everything is in front of me, Not overly troubled. Italy is going to have to sub their midfield though, unless something else changes. They can't maintain this workfare.
Game on
Great finish. Shame we have half an hour of the blues cheating and time-wasting now though....
Can you hear the sound of a bus being parked?
The refs done well so far. Let’s hope he’s going to have none of the theatrics we’re about to see
Game over.
It's Spain - a tricycle will be ok no need for a bus.
When does Italy start falling over? Last 15min?
The minute Spain begin to threaten. So 2023?
Seriously Morata looks like a guy trying not to score. Gets in behind then decide to play 'hiw many touches til the slow old guy catches up'.
Some great calls lads.
RM.
Woops. Couldn't have times that worse.
Seriously Morata looks like a guy trying not to score
Trying and failing
Wow! Didn’t think Spain knew where the back of the net was! Great goal.
Enjoying this so 30 mins extra time will be nice.
Some great calls lads.
RM.
Ah now, no need…
Anyway, off we go again. 😀
Yep. Great goal from a team that can't score. Against a team that seems rather more intent on getting a second than falling over.
You've got 15 mins to edit / delete your comments, BTW
Some great calls lads.
Better to try and fail than be Mr Hindsight. No one likes Mr. Hindsight
You’ve got 15 mins to edit / delete your comments, BTW
Edukator keeps a data base of stealth edits.
I haven’t seen much evidence of Italy ‘falling over’ tbh. Running out of energy, yes
Great goal from a team that can’t score.
It was a good goal but looked like pretty poor defending to me.
Yup, thats what happens when you have a defence with a total age of about 150. Looked like Chielini got done for pace.
Aaannnddd the real Morata is back
I haven’t seen much evidence of Italy ‘falling over’ tbh
Well to be fair, they only fall over when they are winning.
Aaannnddd the real Morata is back
Captain Hindsight is back!
I haven’t seen much evidence of Italy ‘falling over’ tbh. Running out of energy, yes
To be fair, even they realise that you have to get close enough to an opponent to make it believable. They've had trouble getting close enough to step in a Spaniards shadow most of the game
Was that handball?
Captain Hindsight is back!
Huh?
Much as I'd love Chielini to get sent off, give away a penalty and headbutt someone, that would be a really harsh handball.
Given how the Italian team are now playing I want the Spanish to win
So put your money on Italy.
So put your money on Italy.
Unless it goes to pens. What was the final result of Spain's last shoot-out? 2-1?
Huh?
Saying he's crap just after he did a crap thing. He is crap though 🙂
the assistant coach giving the set piece briefing is possibly the most italian man I've ever seen.
Saying he’s crap just after he did a crap thing. He is crap though 🙂
"and the winning goal, scored by
Oh, I get you. He has is struggles. I wonder if the goal happened so fast he didn't realise it was him.
“and the winning goal, scored by
I told you not to use the infinite improbability drive unless England were playing.
oh Morata, you ****ta
Bernardescini's was a Shearer special. Just batter it into the top corner.
I am amazed they let Morata take one. Even his walk lacked confidence.
Italy probably didn't deserve that but that's football. Spain spurned the chances when they came.
OK I'm gonna say it - I don't think Italy look all that great. If we can beat Denmark we can 'ave 'em.
OK I’m gonna say it – I don’t think Italy look all that great. If we can beat Denmark we can ‘ave ’em.
I hope not. I have Italy in the sweepstake at work. 🤣🤣🙈
I called it perfectly. It was a total borefest
😜🙃😉
If Italy scores first then they will win, otherwise there is a chance for England if England can beat Denmark.
Never let Italy score first.
Oh ya ... England will beat Denmark. Me think 1-0 England wins.
But if you have a weak heart then try not watch the final ...
No idea why they keep playing Morata - cow's ass and banjo.
If England do get through the Italians will resort to every trick in the book. Against a northern European side. At least Spain knew how to counteract it.
No idea why they keep playing Morata – cow’s ass and banjo.
He was not confident at all ...
If England do get through the Italians will resort to every trick in the book.
LOL! They will win Oscar for their acting skills hence never let them score first.
OK I’m gonna say it – I don’t think Italy look all that great
Neither do Engerland. They were flattered by the last game.
Italy look a lot cannier than Engerland by a mile though. And Engerland still need to get past Denmark. I don’t think I’ll be cashing out my bet on them going out on penalties just yet
OK I’m gonna say it – I don’t think Italy look all that great
They are very good. Plus the fact that they are also good actors so it will be hard to beat.
The best way to put pressure is to score first against Italy.
Better to play Spain than Italy.
Italy have now had 120 minutes practice against the best pressing team in the tournament, let's see how the second best one does tomorrow.
Edit
I doubt it will go to penalties, if it goes to extra time the England will overwhelm Denmark. Same would have happened against Germany if Muller had equalised and the game had gone into extra time.
It's Southgates plan, England ran out of steam in Russia but that doesn't look like happening this time. The team are managing their efforts and conserving energy, they go through the gears much better. With the extra subs rule and the strength in attacking depth, England may not have the best starting 11 in the tournament but they've probably got the best finishing 11. If it goes to extra time then England will go into 5th gear and do everything to avoid penalties.
Not a betting man but Denmark are 9/2, think that might worth a go.
If it goes to extra time then England will go into 5th gear and do everything to avoid penalties.
If it gets to a shootout then who would you rather have between the sticks? Pickford or Schmeichel.
Theres only going to be one winner there
At the start of the tournament I stuck a fiver on Engerland going out on penalties at 5/1. My betting has been absolutely woeful so far, so let's hope I'm as wrong as usual tonight.
If it gets to a shootout then who would you rather have between the sticks? Pickford or Schmeichel.
To some extent that depends on of it's Pickford the England keeper or Pickford the clown who pulls on an Everton jersey during the regular season.
You always get the feeling that Pickford has a potential howler in him. We very nearly had one against Ukraine
I do like the chant the Liverpool fans sing at him:
He can't reach up to the crossbar
He can't reach up to the crossbar
He can't reach up to the crossbaaaaaaar
He's only got little arms
Well he certainly got his vengeance in for that last season
Reading had a goalkeeper once, Steve Death (real name) who'd struggle to look over the corner flag but he was a very good goalie. Quick in the box and with cat-like in movement.
Most of Pickford's howlers have been when flapping at crosses or charging out the area. I think there isn't much between him and KS when it comes to making reflex saves, they are both pretty capable in that regard. So wouldn't say there's much to choose between them when it comes to penalties. Let's hope if it goes that far Henderson doesn't step up.
I have this very strange sense of calm and that a strong feeling England will win tonight. The last time I felt like this was in the lead up to the Iceland game in Euro 16. I've since chucked £10 on Denmark to win in the 90 mins and £5 for them to progress to cover them winning in ET/pens.
Mrs Binners has stuck money on Denmark to win in the 90 mins too.
She bet not only England losing to Iceland in that match in Euro 2016, but also got the correct score. That was a very lucrative evening.
OK I’m gonna say it – I don’t think Italy look all that great
Oh come on! They're not completely invincible but they do look pretty great. They're very inventive going forward but not afraid to be simple and direct when they need to be. Last night's game was fantastic, either side could have won that and would have deserved it.
Both sides faded by extra time with the numerous substitutions, by the end it almost felt as if we were watching a different two teams.
I reckon every Italy player volunteered to take a penalty. They're totally winning this.
If it gets to a shootout then who would you rather have between the sticks? Pickford or Schmeichel.
I think that the goalkeeper is the only position where there could be some debate about which is better. For every other position on the pitch, now that Erikson isn't playing, I am struggling to see any who would not only challenge for a place in the England starting lineup but even get a place in the squad.
Of course that would traditionally result in an embarrassing performance and loss. But the functional way that we are currently playing makes me think everyone knows how to do their job and stick to it. I think we might ne on for a comfortable win, not a walkover by any stretch of the imagination, but I think we can beat Denmark by a couple of goals and probably keep another clean sheet.
#PrayformrsBinners
"I reckon every Italy player volunteered to take a penalty. They’re totally winning this."
At the end of extra time the whole Italy squad were bouncing with excitement, smiles and laughs all round. Their heads didn't drop when they missed the first penalty either.
Should England get to the final it will be seen as a battle for who has the best team spirit. As much as we worry about Pickford, in a penalty shoot out he'll be buzzing off his tits, which is a problem in normal time but an advantage when you're facing a nervous penalty taker.
Also, I don't think a team has ever won two penalty shootouts at the Euro's so I wouldn't expect Italy to be quite as confident as last night should the final go to penalties. I'd certainly favour Denmark against Italy in a penalty shoot out should it be they who progress.
Oh come on! They’re not completely invincible but they do look pretty great. They’re very inventive going forward but not afraid to be simple and direct when they need to be. Last night’s game was fantastic, either side could have won that and would have deserved it.
Both sides faded by extra time with the numerous substitutions, by the end it almost felt as if we were watching a different two teams.
Italy faded badly by about 2/3 of the way through normal time. Spain were largely dominant but their finishing was woeful. I'm not saying Italy are rubbish obviously but I think they are being wildly overrated TBH.
I’m not saying Italy are rubbish obviously but I think they are being wildly overrated TBH.
I tend to agree and I would be very interested to see how their defence (a combined age of about 300 years old) would cope against our incredibly mobile players like Sterling, Grealish, Saka and Sancho should we get through tonight.
There's a fine line between confidence and arrogance, but one idiot was on 5 Live earlier utterly convinced that Denmark are on for a 7 or 8-0 trouncing later. A lot of other callers seemed to think it's nailed on and all they have to do is turn up...we'll see.
There’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance, but one idiot was on 5 Live earlier utterly convinced that Denmark are on for a 7 or 8-0 trouncing later.
There will always be the bulldog type fans who say all this - it's kinda fun to hear their enthusiasm as it gets you in the mood 🙂
I am sure they don't really believe it though!
Mrs Binners has stuck money on Denmark to win in the 90 mins too.
She bet not only England losing to Iceland in that match in Euro 2016, but also got the correct score. That was a very lucrative evening.
wasn't there an octopus that could do that in the last world cup - I seem to recall?
There has been an Octopus, crab, hippo and elephant that I can remember. Don't know how MrsBinners record stacks up but the sausages are in the freezer as we speak. Do we draw lots for the dog as usual?
Sako in as a counter to Maehle. He's a better shield in front of Walker than Sancho or Grealish, although at the expense of a bit of unpredictability in attack. Depending on how the game goes I expect he'll come off around 60 or 70 minutes. Hendo if in the lead, Sancho/Grealish if not.
Big banana skin here for England. 8 guys, 11 goals. Can't just mark one guy out of thr game. The press are banging on with nonsense about what'll happen when England lift the trophy at Wembley.
If the players look as terrified as they did in the tunnel for the last couple of semis, they are finished before they start. If not, there is hope.
Buckle up. I think the first 15 minutes are going to be banging. Denmark high energy, high press, trying to use Dolbergs pace and Maehle. Just like Belgium. If England survive, game on.
It's coming home 😛
Not if the centre halfs get opened up that easily
first touch has been poor on three or four occasions, when a bit of composure would have found us in decent positions. Part nerves, part the intensity from Denmark.
And Jordan just needs to calm down a bit.
They all need to calm down. I was surprised by how willing they were to play the quick ball forward. Even more surprised that they were finding space to do it between the Danish lines. That's not the defending I'd expect from the Danes. The reds have settled down, the whites haven't. The spaces aren't there anymore but they are still trying to hit them.
It's not coming home 😳
Superb free kick! Pickford maybe should have saved it but still...
Some goal, that.
Couldn’t help feeling if Pickford had bigger hands… 😀
Christensen had been watching Italy. That was a dive. Cracking free kick though
He can’t reach up to the crossbar
He can’t reach up to the crossbar
He can’t reach up to the crossbaaaaaar
He’s only got little arms
Yeeeeesssss. Great free kick but Pickitoutofthenet shoulda done better.
all ball watching gathering around the ball. no width and kane back deep again.
Saaaaave!!
EDIT: And the equaliser!!
and kane back deep again.
He isn't going to beat the giants the Danes have at the back in the air, so dropping off and playing low balls in for Sterling to run onto is smart.
yesss denmark score again