Adam Easy Wishes Posted July 1, 2012 Report Share Posted July 1, 2012 I be there are no Scots, other than Danny Wilson.It's been confirmed that there are no Scots at all. Not even Danny Wilson! Thought Steven Fletcher might have got a look in though.Will be interested to see if Gary Hooper is included. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soda Jerk Posted July 1, 2012 Report Share Posted July 1, 2012 Alan Smith is fucking GONE!He really does have a hideously inexcusable barnet. I can't believe a man of his age still bleaches his hair. His voice also doesn't match his babyface. Those deep tones are as close to the brown-sound as a human voice can get. It makes Barry White sound like Roadrunner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paranoid Android Posted July 1, 2012 Report Share Posted July 1, 2012 FINAL!!!Looking forward to the game tonight. I'd like something of the quality of the first match between the two teams but with a couple more goals.I want Spain to win but I wont be unhappy if Italy do it. Always liked them and they've been the most impressive side of the knockout stage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soda Jerk Posted July 1, 2012 Report Share Posted July 1, 2012 Really hope it's a good open game, and not just keep-ball for Spain.I also hope Llorente plays, and Balotelli does something either great or mental. I hope the winner is sportsmanship. or Italy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murrr Posted July 1, 2012 Report Share Posted July 1, 2012 Italy definitely *can* win it, but I'm predicting Spain. That said, I've written Italy off in just about every game they've played and they've always proved me wrong, thankfully. Spain should probably win if they start with a striker, unless it's that clown who played against Portugal. The key on Italy's side, for me, is good performances from Balotelli and Buffon. The rest of the team should take care of itself. The defence will be solid even though it looks like Abate will come in for Balzaretti (a poor decision, as Balza's been very good when he's played): Chiellini is very solid at LB were his clumsiness isn't such a factor, and Bonucci/Barzagli have been excellent all season. Pirlo will be ace, because he's the king. De Rossi and Marchisio will be solid, Montolivo will perform to his level (somewhere between "good" and "very good") and Cassano should continue to play well. He is quietly having an excellent tournament, even though he's only got about 60 minutes of football in him at the moment.Balotelli will get chances. Pirlo, Cassano, and, to a lesser extent, Montolivo should guarantee that. Buffon will almost certainly have to deal with a lot of shots, which will be a problem if he's as shaky as he was at times against Germany. Big performances from both of them will make Italy incredibly difficult to beat tonight.I find Spain a completely soul-destroying side to watch at the moment. I can't criticise them for adopting this playing style as it clearly works for them, but I don't enjoy watching it at all. They've not set the world on fire, but they've only conceded once. That's exactly what they planned, I think. Death by small cuts.I hope to God that Italy win. Look at the squad and compare it to that of 2006. Worlds apart. Prandelli deserves it after the incredible work he's done to get this far alone (Italy are ranked 12th in the world, remember... lower than England, Portugal, Croatia and fucking Denmark), it just feels like he's destined to win this. On another note, I'd like to see Cassano come out victorious. He's had to wait a long time for a genuine chance at a major international tournament and he's played very well.I'll say 1-0 to Spain but I hope I'm wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paranoid Android Posted July 1, 2012 Report Share Posted July 1, 2012 I'd like to see a change from Spain with either Pedro or Navas starting. Spain played their most exciting football of the tournament in the extra time against Portugal once they were both on. Although Portugal's tiredness may have had something to do with it. The only thing I'm sure of is that Iniesta will be great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paranoid Android Posted July 1, 2012 Report Share Posted July 1, 2012 Prediction: Balotelli to score first and Spain to win 3-2Going for 1-0 would be boring, wouldn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted July 1, 2012 Report Share Posted July 1, 2012 3-2 seems wildly optimistic for a major final. Goals will be sparse I fear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paranoid Android Posted July 1, 2012 Report Share Posted July 1, 2012 If I can't be wildly optimistic before the game, when can I be?Italy opening the scoring is key to it being a great match I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soda Jerk Posted July 1, 2012 Report Share Posted July 1, 2012 Italy having the bollocks to give them a hard time will be key too. For a 0-0, the Spain/Portugal game was very good, especially in the first half, and I think that was mostly down to Portugal not giving Spain the time on the ball they like to have. Eberyone says you have to be rigid and organised to defend against Spain, but they just threw that out of the window and went right for them. It was great. Italy will have a big engine in De Rossi and Marchisio. Lots of movement. Hopefully they're not too knackered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flights Posted July 1, 2012 Report Share Posted July 1, 2012 The bbcs balotelli bashing is pretty embarrassing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted July 1, 2012 Report Share Posted July 1, 2012 The commentary is pretty terrible. I briefly turned on the CBBC commentary on the red button but they're making too many high pitched noises. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soda Jerk Posted July 1, 2012 Report Share Posted July 1, 2012 Fuck this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Milner Posted July 1, 2012 Report Share Posted July 1, 2012 Who needs strikers?Craig Levin has started a revolution in football, fuck worrying about stirkers, just play a shit load of midfielders.To be fair to Spain tho, when that midfield has Silva, Xavi, Iniesta and Fab in it, you dont need a striker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murrr Posted July 1, 2012 Report Share Posted July 1, 2012 Oh fuck this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain America Posted July 1, 2012 Report Share Posted July 1, 2012 So unselfish by Torres there. Fantastic team win this, shame on Italy as the 10 men is really harsh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soda Jerk Posted July 1, 2012 Report Share Posted July 1, 2012 Football is stupid anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murrr Posted July 1, 2012 Report Share Posted July 1, 2012 Football is stupid anyway.Fucking right on. It's air hockey for me now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodsinho Posted July 1, 2012 Report Share Posted July 1, 2012 At least it was the good Spain that won the final rather than the refusing to try to score a goal Spain that had been playing in the tournament before tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paranoid Android Posted July 1, 2012 Report Share Posted July 1, 2012 Oooft, what a performance to pull out in the final. Italy played well but were defeated by the better team who played like I wish they would more often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flights Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 The commentary is pretty terrible. I briefly turned on the CBBC commentary on the red button but they're making too many high pitched noises.Never knew Gary Neville was doing the CBBC commentary! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moose Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 What was it? 6-0? 7-0? I started getting drunk towards the end and lost count. I don't think there is much else to say, other than congratulating Spain for consolidating the fact that they are the best national team of all time. To win these three tournaments back to back is one thing, to win the third final 9-0 against Italy is something else. As much as I wanted Italy to win the the thing, Spain were fantastic to watch last night. Fabregas is so fucking good. Also, Jordi Alba's goal was silly good. I made him my captain for the fantasy league and he won me 28 points, winning me the ab-mus league. That guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soda Jerk Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 I think 3 back to back tournaments definitely cements Spain as the best national team of all time. Who can even be compared to them? Pele's Brazil and Maradona's Argentina still never won back to back major trophies. Realistically they are still going to be favourites for 2014, as they've still got so many great young players coming through, though their line up isn't really that old anyway. I think only Xavi and Puyol will be question marks for 2014 who will be 34 and 36 by then respectively, though I wouldn't rule them out entirely. The only thing that would rule them out is fitness rather than not being good enough, for sure.They only conceded 1 goal and looked mostly comfortable. And they did it all without David Villa. And to think of all the younger players who will have more experience for club and country by the time 2014 rolls around. Alba, Martinez, Muniain, Thiago, Isco. Bloody hell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Milner Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 The last person to score against them in a knock out game was Zindane. Says it all really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moose Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 The last person to score against them in a knock out game was Zindane. Says it all really.It actually does! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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