Ireland vs Croatia, can't wait. Ireland will give us a masterclass in bus parking on their way to Euro glory. A 1-0 against Croatia and two 0-0s against Italy and Spain will do nicely!
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2011-12 Football/Soccer Thread
- Thread starter The_Chaser
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Croatia will beat Ireland, Ireland have had a spectacular run of draws and Croatia are a solid team; in any other group they would have gone through.
Italy: Buffon, Maggio, Chiellini, Bonucci, Motta, Marchisio, Giaccherini, De Rossi, Pirlo, Balotelli, Cassano
SUBS: Sirigu, De Sanctis, Ogbonna, Balzaretti, Abate, Barzagli, Montolivo, Diamanti, Nocerino, Di Natale, Borini, Giovinco.
Spain: Casillas, Piqué, Ramos, Arbeloa, Alba, Iniesta, Xavi, Fàbregas, Alonso, Busquets, Silva
SUBS: Valdés, Reina, Albiol, Martínez, Juanfran, Cazorla, Navas, Rodríguez, Torres, Negredo, Mata, Llorente.
Fabregas as a striker
SUBS: Sirigu, De Sanctis, Ogbonna, Balzaretti, Abate, Barzagli, Montolivo, Diamanti, Nocerino, Di Natale, Borini, Giovinco.
Spain: Casillas, Piqué, Ramos, Arbeloa, Alba, Iniesta, Xavi, Fàbregas, Alonso, Busquets, Silva
SUBS: Valdés, Reina, Albiol, Martínez, Juanfran, Cazorla, Navas, Rodríguez, Torres, Negredo, Mata, Llorente.
Fabregas as a striker
Spain v Italy Starting XIs
Spain: Casillas; Arbeloa, Pique, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba; Xavi, Busquets, Alonso, Silva, Fabregas, Iniesta. Subs: Valdes, Albiol, Javi Martinez, Juanfran, Pedro, Torres, Negredo, Mata, Llorente, Santi Cazorla, Jesus Navas, Reina.
Italy: Buffon; Chiellini, De Rossi, Bonucci; Giaccherni, Marchisio, Pirlo, Thiago Motta, Maggio; Cassano, Balotelli. Subs: Sirigu, Ogbonna Obienza, Balzaretti, Abate, Di Natale, Barzagli, Borini, Montolivo, Giovinco, Diamanti, Nocerino, De Sanctis.
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)
Spain start with no strikers, that's a weird choice considering this is possibly the worst Italian defence in recent years.
EDIT: Pipped by 11 seconds.
Spain: Casillas; Arbeloa, Pique, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba; Xavi, Busquets, Alonso, Silva, Fabregas, Iniesta. Subs: Valdes, Albiol, Javi Martinez, Juanfran, Pedro, Torres, Negredo, Mata, Llorente, Santi Cazorla, Jesus Navas, Reina.
Italy: Buffon; Chiellini, De Rossi, Bonucci; Giaccherni, Marchisio, Pirlo, Thiago Motta, Maggio; Cassano, Balotelli. Subs: Sirigu, Ogbonna Obienza, Balzaretti, Abate, Di Natale, Barzagli, Borini, Montolivo, Giovinco, Diamanti, Nocerino, De Sanctis.
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)
Spain start with no strikers, that's a weird choice considering this is possibly the worst Italian defence in recent years.
EDIT: Pipped by 11 seconds.
I must say Ireland - Croatia is quite an enjoyable match, both play quite decent and there are quite some goals (1-3 at 52 minutes).
Spain Italy was an amazing game. Really good quality football and felt like a PL game where the players couldn't make a mistake because every mistake would be punished. A draw was a fair result and I really liked the look of Italy, they were unbelievably good in all departments.
Ireland Croatia was the exact opposite. Ireland making mistakes left right and center, Croatia didn't create much with the possession gifted to them but they did score 3 somewhat bundled in goals and they deserved the win because Ireland were awful...
But not to worry, Ireland only have to beat Spain and Italy to go through and that was always the plan anyway - Traps army still on course for Euro glory!
Ireland Croatia was the exact opposite. Ireland making mistakes left right and center, Croatia didn't create much with the possession gifted to them but they did score 3 somewhat bundled in goals and they deserved the win because Ireland were awful...
But not to worry, Ireland only have to beat Spain and Italy to go through and that was always the plan anyway - Traps army still on course for Euro glory!
Croatia destroyed Ireland. It just.. God Ireland didn't have a chance. I admit that the goal was somewhat good, but after that Croatia leaded the rest of the game, or what was left of it.
Spain vs. Italy was an amazing game. Good play on both sides. I got to admit though, I was rooting for Spain. When Italy scored, then Spain scored, it was marvelous. I loved that.
Spain vs. Italy was an amazing game. Good play on both sides. I got to admit though, I was rooting for Spain. When Italy scored, then Spain scored, it was marvelous. I loved that.
If Spain continue to play Torres, I'm pretty sure with all the support he has in midfield he'll eventually get a goal or two. Though with Llorente raring to go, Torres will need to score soon to keep Del Bosque happy and Llorente on the bench.
England v France today and even though we have never won our opening game of the Euros, I'm quietly confident/hopeful that we'll scrape a draw or maybe get a goal from a counter-attack. Then again we'll probably be smashed, but I can always hope :/
A clean sheet for England will also do me a favour in the Fantasy League :P
England v France today and even though we have never won our opening game of the Euros, I'm quietly confident/hopeful that we'll scrape a draw or maybe get a goal from a counter-attack. Then again we'll probably be smashed, but I can always hope :/
A clean sheet for England will also do me a favour in the Fantasy League :P
If England start with Carroll, Milner, and Downing, or at any time bring Henderson on, then I am expecting a defeat by two or three goals sadly, despite England's defensive solidity of late.
I'd much rather see:
This would be better suited to what I believe our tactics are against France. Stay compact and hit them on the counter. The problem with the anticipated line-up including Young behind Carroll and Downing on the left basically defeats the purpose of counter attack IMO. We're putting Young in a position where it's harder for him to counter attack and we're playing Milner out wide (which I still suggest anyway but would like to see the Ox) and Downing who is dog-shit at football pretty much. Nothing is going to come of it. It also leaves Gerrard deeper where I think he is less effective as he even admitted himself that he can't be bombing forward from deep anyway. That's all Gerrard is good at, so play him more advanced and stick Young on the left... It seems obvious to me. We have Lampard (assuming he's fit) to play the deeper role. He's a better passer and just as mobile so that makes more sense to me as well.
Obviously the play would seem like we will rely on width from the full backs, but I don't see the point in Downing or Milner cutting inside to join the attack when neither of them can score a goal for toffee. I'd much rather have Young cutting in and taking players out of the game instead of most likely getting man-marked in central midfield.
If we start the way that most people have predicted, we're going to have be amazing defensively to stay in it. But I think France would eventually break through and by the time we make the changes to play the formation I hope for it could be too late.
This game will probably end 1-1 or France will win 2-0 or 3-1. If England can draw this and avoid defeat to Sweden, I think we'll go through as group's runner-up.
I'd much rather see:
Hart
Johnson Terry Lescott Cole
Lampard Parker
Milner Gerrard Young
Welbeck
Johnson Terry Lescott Cole
Lampard Parker
Milner Gerrard Young
Welbeck
This would be better suited to what I believe our tactics are against France. Stay compact and hit them on the counter. The problem with the anticipated line-up including Young behind Carroll and Downing on the left basically defeats the purpose of counter attack IMO. We're putting Young in a position where it's harder for him to counter attack and we're playing Milner out wide (which I still suggest anyway but would like to see the Ox) and Downing who is dog-shit at football pretty much. Nothing is going to come of it. It also leaves Gerrard deeper where I think he is less effective as he even admitted himself that he can't be bombing forward from deep anyway. That's all Gerrard is good at, so play him more advanced and stick Young on the left... It seems obvious to me. We have Lampard (assuming he's fit) to play the deeper role. He's a better passer and just as mobile so that makes more sense to me as well.
Obviously the play would seem like we will rely on width from the full backs, but I don't see the point in Downing or Milner cutting inside to join the attack when neither of them can score a goal for toffee. I'd much rather have Young cutting in and taking players out of the game instead of most likely getting man-marked in central midfield.
If we start the way that most people have predicted, we're going to have be amazing defensively to stay in it. But I think France would eventually break through and by the time we make the changes to play the formation I hope for it could be too late.
This game will probably end 1-1 or France will win 2-0 or 3-1. If England can draw this and avoid defeat to Sweden, I think we'll go through as group's runner-up.
I know Barry, Cahill, and Defoe have? I heard Lampard and Parker were injured but I assumed they both pulled through.
Edit: Actually, it seems as though Roy has made the right move and gone without Downing. This is the team to start against France apparently:
Edit: Actually, it seems as though Roy has made the right move and gone without Downing. This is the team to start against France apparently:
Hart
Johnson Terry Lescott Cole
Gerrard Parker
Milner Young Oxlade-Chamberlain
Welbeck
Johnson Terry Lescott Cole
Gerrard Parker
Milner Young Oxlade-Chamberlain
Welbeck
That is why Roy Hodgeson is England manager and Havak, fortunately for us, is not! :PPPPP
On a more serious note I do agree that Young's best position is on the left but we don't have any playmakers that can play in that position between the opponent's midfield and back four so with Rooney injured, Young is the best choice. Gerrard would have been perfect for the role two years ago but he hasn't been doing that for Liverpool lately and it looks like both Dalglish and Hodgeson have decided that Gerrard is best kept back to help control the midfield and leave the bombing forward to younger guys. I would just like to see a proper winger who is in form get the nod ahead of Downing. The rest of the team pretty much picks itself imo.
On a more serious note I do agree that Young's best position is on the left but we don't have any playmakers that can play in that position between the opponent's midfield and back four so with Rooney injured, Young is the best choice. Gerrard would have been perfect for the role two years ago but he hasn't been doing that for Liverpool lately and it looks like both Dalglish and Hodgeson have decided that Gerrard is best kept back to help control the midfield and leave the bombing forward to younger guys. I would just like to see a proper winger who is in form get the nod ahead of Downing. The rest of the team pretty much picks itself imo.
the best thing about oxlade-chamberlain is that the team-sheet makes it look like we're fielding twelve players. he's an okay player too i suppose.
in ox we trust
France and England both play very sloppy, I blame it on the high temperatures
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