England were great in the first but Italy's game plan had them run out of steam in the second. Englands tactic was to hit them hard and fast, hard to keep that up in that heat for 90mins. How many England players pulled up with cramp, three or four? Italy had none. Second half England were wrecked and Italy happily soaked up their weak attacks. As usual Pirlo bossed the midfield. If his free kick at the end had of gone in that would have been one of the best free kicks ever. Outside of the right foot, fooling Hart. Legend. Uruguay and England is crunch time now for both of them.
Italy have always looked average compared to the flashy teams in these competitions but tactically they are always spot on. And that usually takes them far in cup tournaments. And they have a gem in Pirlo who can the tempo of the game, not many players can do that.
Did you come to England and were mugged or something? 90+% of your posts are anti England and anti England teams. Genuinely asking here, what is your problem with England?
He's the most plastic fan here.. Claimed he was English in another article, yet is the biggest Spanish groupie that supports Real Madrid and Spain.
He has some bizarre vendetta against English football, it's really really strange. He pretends he's making grounded comments by throwing around a few bs statistics, but really he has a full on agenda, strange boy.
mynameisq - No, I was born in West Yorkshire. Most of my opinions are grounded with facts and depict the reality of said situations.
FlunkinMonkey - So you can't argue against my comments and turn to ad hominem? Sad, but expected. As above, born in West Yorkshire and lived in West Yorkshire all my life.
It's sad that most of the world think England has the best football or the best teams or the best league. Nothing indicates that when we see these teams play in the big competitions. Like Keane said, "load of rubbish, it isn't the best league, we don't have the best teams, we've been conned" or words to that effect.
Everything I say is factually accurate, prove it isn't!
Sorry, what points am I arguing against? I'm just saying it how it is, you're a glory hunting odd ball who supports SPAIN when he's ENGLISH, i find that hilarious.
Awww hominem, diddums.. Did i hurt your Spa.. sorry, WEST YORKSHIRE feelings.
England are un underwhelming team, everyone knows it, doesn't need your smug superiority complex thrown in the mix with every single article.
SPANISH GROUPIE - PLASTIC FAN. Doesn't even support his own country, you are no fan.
FlunkinMonkey - Again, not arguing against my opinions just against me, ad hominem and nothing more. I don't really care that you and others do it. It just shows how right I am, how you can't defend your position and how I win the arguments by default because you have to use ad hominem attacks instead of debating your point. SWEET!
I was brought up to support Manchester United yet wasn't born in Manchester. I was brought up as a Catholic too, young minds are easily indoctrinated! I grow up, and I delivered my own interests in many subjects including sport. Around 12 years of age, I stopped supporting my family's team of United and started supporting Real Madrid. Since then I've purchased over 20 Real Madrid shirts, be it home, away, GK, Champions League, training, etc. I also stopped believing in fairy tales at age 14, hence I'm an atheist now! I must say, it's good being a free thinker and not conforming to what people want from you! ;)
Still waiting for you few people to prove what I'm saying isn't factually accurate! :)
You are absolutely OBSESSED with winning these so called debates with 'factual grounded comments'. What a pile of bs, your desire to be right is just a sign of deep insecurity. There is nothing to debate here, you are a plastic fan as you don't even support your own country! Your passive aggressive arguments don't work with me either.
Your sob story below (which nobody asked for) about a deep and troubled childhood that is full of religious indoctrination, sheds light on your odd and entirely odd opinion of this country and it's football. You've bought some t-shirts? AWESOME, top fan. Why the hell do you support Spain then?
No position to defend on my side, I think England are pretty shat, but i don't have a blind hatred for them or the league, which is something you are obsessed about.
Plastic. 5-1 to the Dutch the other day, how are those stats? Cry me a river.
At least we actually attacked for once, we looked decent but just panicked in the final third, the corners were horrendous all night, the crossing from everyone was pretty poor too. The biggest mistake was not addressing the Italian right hand side when it was obvious from 10 minutes in that Baines was always left 2 on 1 and ultimately that is the side from which the winning goal came. There are positives to take here though, we ran Italy close and it probably should have been 2-2 but Rooney dragged his shot wide :( We should get out of the group. Thursdays match against Uruguay is vital and it seems like Suarez wont be fit for it
"it probably should have been 2-2" - Yeah, whilst Italy hit the woodwork twice and Balotelli had a chance cleared on the line. Italy earned that win, England deserved to lose, not clinical enough.
Actually great start for Italy. They always have problems starting into a tournament but it was enough for England. Call me a liar, call me clown or call me a faggot but I see them stronger than 2006.
most of the time the first or even the second game in a tournament is not something really special. Italy always start like that. In fact the victory over England in game 1 is realy good. England played fast and good. I think they can beat Costa Rica and even Uruguay. Think about the conditions they were playing in the hell of Manaus. They both did really good. Just saying there are better teams is easy. But winning a WC is difficult and a lot of things count in the end.
I thought England were mostly good, better than in the last 2 tournaments anyway. Italy were just slightly better, they cynically shut down the game when they went 2-1 up and it was game over at that point. England had more chances to score and we were more dangerous, our finishing was lacking unfortunately.
Ha, Called it.
It felt like Sterling Vs. Italy, rest of the England team played extremely bad.
And Pirlo was a class act, as always.
Really can't figure where Rooney was aiming when he took that corner.
England were great in the first but Italy's game plan had them run out of steam in the second. Englands tactic was to hit them hard and fast, hard to keep that up in that heat for 90mins. How many England players pulled up with cramp, three or four? Italy had none. Second half England were wrecked and Italy happily soaked up their weak attacks. As usual Pirlo bossed the midfield. If his free kick at the end had of gone in that would have been one of the best free kicks ever. Outside of the right foot, fooling Hart. Legend. Uruguay and England is crunch time now for both of them.
Italia hit the woodwork twice and had a goal line clearance. England had 19 shots, 5 only on target.
Italy looked pretty average against this poor England side. Uruguay can take heart from that. None in this group will win mind.