Italy v Bulgaria

SlickRic

i thought i'd create a thread for this. if the mods see it as pointless do as you wish, but seen as this game will significantly affect Ireland prospects of automatic and playoff qualification, i assume people will be watching.

i'm predicting 2-2.


Italy Probable Starting XI (4-4-2): Buffon; Zambrotta, Chiellini, Cannavaro, Grosso; Pepe, Marchisio, De Rossi, Camoranesi; Gilardino, Iaquinta

Bulgaria Probable Starting XI (4-4-2): Ivankov; Kishishev, Milanov, Kotev, Manolev; Angelov, Yankov, S. Petrov, M. Petrov; Berbatov, Rangelov

ANTIFA!

3-0 Italy. But come on Bulgaria. Praying for a point. Gilardinho and Iaquinta as a partnership wouldn't strike fear into me if I was Milanov or Kotev.

ShooterSF

I'd love a draw but will take an Italy win as Bulgaria winning will make our last two games very tough.

ANTIFA!

Don't Bulgaria still have to go to Nicosia. Regardless of result I could definelty see Cyprus beating them.


I don't see this being a cracker by any means though. Hopefully Petrov and Berbatov can put on a performance.

Diabhal Beag

1-1 with Berbatov scoring with a stunning run and hard work for a change :rolleyes:

Lets hope that a few 2nd placed teams have a few slip ups too.

Necronomicon

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

1-1 with Berbatov scoring with a stunning run and hard work for a change :rolleyes:

Didn't see his goal and 3 assists against Montenegro then?

deise48

hoping for a result for bulgaria and croker will be rocking next month for the italian game lets hope we dont need a play off as there are a few so called big teams in there

Mr. Presentable

George Hamilton: Berbatov = "extraordinary goalscoring record - 42 goals with 7 caps!"

Trampas

Is it me or does it sound like George is in a room and not in the stadium

DirkVoodoo

I'm trying to think what result would suit Ireland best. Are we still clinging onto hopes of winning the group even after seeing the "second string" team embarrass themselves last night. I would have thought a draw would be the favourable outcome, but the less points to Bulgaria the better.

AARRRGH

I also see a 1 - 1 scoreline.

The Volt

wtf with the camera work! =/

ShooterSF

Nice finish!

Pro. F

Nice goal 1-0 Grosso

Lord Trollington

1-1 draw all over it....

Bounty Hunter

booo

Necronomicon

Great finish from Grosso.

flahavaj

Best player on the pitch gets the opener. Savage player.

The Volt

Bulgaria do look dangerous going forward, next goal is crucial

ShooterSF

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

I'm trying to think what result would suit Ireland best. Are we still clinging onto hopes of winning the group even after seeing the "second string" team embarrass themselves last night. I would have thought a draw would be the favourable outcome, but the less points to Bulgaria the better.

Surely a draw? Bulgaria picking up a point here will not effect our last two games as we would still need atleast a win to finish second. The same as if they lose (assuming they win their last two). But a draw offers us hope of topping the group. It's not a hard decision.

Pro. F

Bulgaria learn to defend lads!

flahavaj

Voltwad wrote: »

Bulgaria do look dangerous going forward, next goal is crucial

They seem reluctant to break in numbers however. Maybe the goal will change that.

Lord Trollington

Italy look good on the ball up to the final 3rd...

ANTIFA!

Bulgaria look horrible.

The Volt

Shooting fail from Petrov there...

Lord Trollington

Berbatov is some whingy little b@llox, how Fergi picked him over Tevez is beyond me...

Necronomicon

What an unbelievable save :eek:

ShooterSF

"if you're a right back or a left midfield you have to go with your runners". Is that not a bit lopsided?

Tyranax

And Buffon shows why he's regarded as highly as he is. What a save!

ANTIFA!

Time and time again Buffon saves the Azzurri.

The Sparrow

Great save from Buffon. Bulgaria are starting to come into it.

Hopefully Itlalians will be happy to sit on their lead and bulgaria can get a goal

flahavaj

whycliff wrote: »

Berbatov is some whingy little b@llox, how Fergi picked him over Tevez is beyond me...

Tevez has whinged a million times more than Berbatov in the last 12 months to be fair.

Fuhrer

whycliff wrote: »

Berbatov is some whingy little b@llox, how Fergi picked him over Tevez is beyond me...

Because hes a far better player?

Lord Trollington

Fuhrer wrote: »

Because hes a far better player?

Take it your a united fan then...

The Sparrow

Don't want to backseat mod but you should probably put spoiler tags around those scores.

Damn Iaquinta!!:mad:

ANTIFA!

Well thats the Bulgars finished. Second it is so.

JerryHandbag

Bulgaria are now surely dead and buried in this group.

Sherifu

Done & done.

dogpile

Now we can put to bed this nonsense of winning the group(with Whelan/Andrews in midfield? Lol)...playoffs it is and probably France or Russia, goodnight Vienna

JerryHandbag

dogpile wrote: »

Now we can put to bed this nonsense of winning the group(with Whelan/Andrews in midfield? Lol)...playoffs it is and probably France or Russia, goodnight Vienna

Johannesburg actually

Diabhal Beag

dogpile wrote: »

Now we can put to bed this nonsense of winning the group(with Whelan/Andrews in midfield? Lol)...playoffs it is and probably France or Russia, goodnight Vienna

You do know about Ray Houghton's goal against Italy :pac:

In all seriousness this is a strong performance so far from the Italians. Iaquinta could cause a few problems. Grosso is a world-class full-back.

Fuhrer

whycliff wrote: »

Take it your a united fan then...

Or someone who can easily spot a superior player.

Lord Trollington

There's no easy teams in the play off's, maybe with exception of Northern Ireland, but Czech Republic are hot on their heals

Lord Trollington

Fuhrer wrote: »

Or someone who can easily spot a superior player.

Yeah take it your a united fan...

ccosgrave

Am I correct in sayingthat Montenegro's lead against Cyprus is a good thing for us with regard to coming second-place?

Edit: Oh wait, no, it seems I am an idiot.

Unearthly

Ah well.

Reality check for me. Thought we had the group won, and was dreaming of going all the way in the world cup, then winning the euro's 2 years later.

ANTIFA!

We've got second place but it be better if Montenegro had finished bottom. But barring a disaster it shouldn't matter.

Tyranax

Jesus, brutal stuff there from RTE, how long were they back for?!? A minute?

ANTIFA!

They couldn't show Bohs in the Champions League against Salzburg due to 'financial situation)but can ship Collins and Whelan off to Turin?:rolleyes:

Lord Trollington

Can see how Cyprus v Serbia mont would have any bearing on where we finish

lisbon_lions

what's the story with this fitness regieme rte have ronnie whelan on? stair master ron.