Italy vs Paraguay - 7.30pm RTE 2 and BBC HD

Catenaccio!

Totally against the run of play that. Italy looked good for the first 20 mins, then they let Paraguay get in to it a little bit. Gilardino is not getting the right service and Iaquinta has made a number of wrong decisions. Need to get Di Natale on instead of him. De Rossi has been quality, along with Cannavaro. Montolivo has been too quiet.

Catenaccio!

IvySlayer wrote: »

Some teams do it, needless to say it would've prevented a goal there.

For the free kick there? Never.

Peyton Manning

IvySlayer wrote: »

Some teams do it, needless to say it would've prevented a goal there.

Teams rarely put players on the posts for free kicks. They move up before the ball is kicked to try and catch the opposition offside 99% of the time. You're thinking of corners.

Cypher_sounds

De Rossi needs to push up the field a bit more

IvySlayer

I agree that when it's a DFK, very rarely players would be on posts. Really don't know why i said it :P

I'm just being stupid :pac:

AIR-AUSSIE

Catenaccio! wrote: »

For the free kick there? Never.

Totally agree. What keep every attacker onside ???

cooker3

Archimedes wrote: »

Teams rarely put players on the posts for free kicks. They move up before the ball is kicked to try and catch the opposition offside 99% of the time. You're thinking of corners.

Jesus, don't let Andy gray hear you or he will be off again.

The_Kew_Tour

More I see of Italy the more I think Ireland really had chance to win that group and prob should have in qualifying.

Bit more belief and think we would have.

Peyton Manning

Cypher_sounds wrote: »

De Rossi needs to push up the field a bit more

No he doesn't, that's not his job. Marchisio and Montolivio are there to provide the strikers, De Rossi's job is to provide the link between the defence and those two players, not to mention to break up Paraguayan attacks. Positionally, he's been sound.

Catenaccio!

Nah, we weren't good enough to qualify. Italy had that bit of class to them to see them through. I think they've looked good in the opening 20 mins here, passing has been nice and slick. Only problem is lack of attempts.

Catenaccio!

Another problem is Montolivo not doing quite enough. Pepe has looked good at times, even if he was a bit sleepy for moments.

Cypher_sounds

Archimedes wrote: »

No he doesn't, that's not his job. Marchisio and Montolivio are there to provide the strikers, De Rossi's job is to provide the link between the defence and those two players, not to mention to break up Paraguayan attacks. Positionally, he's been sound.

Yeah hes had a very good first half, actually your spot on maybe i should have said montolivio isnt providing enough as an attacking midfielder, something missing there for the strikers to get chances, when de rossi decided to motor up the field italy looked dangerous

Peyton Manning

Buffon coming off. Some sort of injury.

Mr.Nice Guy

Glad I don't have him in my FF team.

IvySlayer

Catenaccio! wrote: »

Another problem is Montolivo not doing quite enough. Pepe has looked good at times, even if he was a bit sleepy for moments.

Bring Pirlo on?

What happened to Buffon?

SarahBM

souness does nothing but whinge about italian football.

Paraguay are a good side. I think they might win.

but Im a girl. what do I know about football :eek:

_Bella_

Buffon off? thats a big blow for Italy

IvySlayer

SarahBM wrote: »

souness does nothing but whinge about italian football.

Paraguay are a good side. I think they might win.

but Im a girl. what do I know about football :eek:

Probably more than me.

conno16

Archimedes wrote: »

Buffon coming off. Some sort of injury.

he just didn't fancy it i'd say

Stevecw

Buffon gone, now they are down to 2 subs.

Cypher_sounds

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

Glad I don't have him in my FF team.

Exactly what i was thinking, im sure a good few people have picked him whats that just 2 points for him?

Peyton Manning

Cypher_sounds wrote: »

Yeah hes had a very good first half, actually your spot on maybe i should have said montolivio isnt providing enough as an attacking midfielder, something missing there for the strikers to get chances

From the looks of things, Marchisio and Montolivio seem to be mixed up. Marchisio seems to be the one that's more advanced up the pitch, whether that's Lippi's instructions or not is another thing, but I would much rather have Montolivio ahead of Marchisio.

McGrath5

adrian280582 wrote: »

More I see of Italy the more I think Ireland really had chance to win that group and prob should have in qualifying.

Bit more belief and think we would have.

Agree with you there, it's fustrating watching the teams we have seen so far knowing we would have had a good chance of turning them over.

Cypher_sounds

Archimedes wrote: »

From the looks of things, Marchisio and Montolivio seem to be mixed up. Marchisio seems to be the one that's more advanced up the pitch, whether that's Lippi's instructions or not is another thing, but I would much rather have Montolivio ahead of Marchisio.

Well both of them need to show for the ball and make a lot more good runs if italy are to score, though they always have their threat at set pieces.

Cypher_sounds

Perfect Choice wrote: »

Agree with you there, it's fustrating watching the teams we have seen so far knowing we would have had a good chance of turning them over.

Sshh dont make me start thinking of it again:(

DirkVoodoo

adrian280582 wrote: »

More I see of Italy the more I think Ireland really had chance to win that group and prob should have in qualifying.

Bit more belief and think we would have.

Forget that, the more I watch of this world cup the more I think we might have had a chance of getting to the final. Real lack of quality so far, Germany and Argentina aside.

Iaquinta should be causing those CBs some more problems, I guess without Pirlo he isn't getting the service. Come on Marchisio!

Peyton Manning

Buffon was having lower back/leg issues. Something to do with his sciatic nerve apparently.

McGrath5

When is Pirlo due back? Italy miss him.

Peyton Manning

Perfect Choice wrote: »

When is Pirlo due back? Italy miss him.

Was forecasted to miss the opening two games, but he may be rushed back after tonight's display.

IvySlayer

Pirlo is on the subs.

Peyton Manning

Criscito needs to come off, he's offering no help down the left side. Move Zambrotta to the left and bring on Maggio imo.

IvySlayer

Camoranesi on for Marchisio.

SarahBM

Pepe is good but Italy lack some real pace.
Cameronassie on and gets a good shot on target! :eek:
this may get good!

Seaneh

Di Natale on, Pepe to RW, Di Natale LW and Mauro into the number 10 position and Italy might have a chance.

Cypher_sounds

Rossi not on the bench, was he not picked in the WC squad?

Dean820

1-1!

_Bella_

aaagh paraguay... you were doing so well

Peyton Manning

Cypher_sounds wrote: »

Rossi not on the bench, was he not picked in the WC squad?

Nope

Nick Hogan scores!

IvySlayer

Goooalll, only one man on the post

Cypher_sounds

Good man De Rossi you legend a member of my FF team:)

jester77

Awful goalkeeping

Aidric

Escape from Alcaraz.

/facepalm

Stevecw

Oh keeper that was horrible!!!

Morzadec

The escape from Alcaraz... Awful stuff George

Cypher_sounds

Archimedes wrote: »

Nope

Nick Hogan scores!

That baffles me a bit, i mean he is always a big threat to defenders even to have him on the bench come on if italy are in trouble

A Primal Nut

Morzadec wrote: »

The escape from Alcaraz... Awful stuff George

So good he used it twice. Delighted with himself.

Defender was shocking for that goal; so focused on the player didn't even notice the ball coming. If you can't keep your eye on the ball and the player you shouldnt be playing at that level.

Peyton Manning

Cypher_sounds wrote: »

That baffles me a bit, i mean he is always a big threat to defenders even to have him on the bench come on if italy are in trouble

Especially after a good season, and being their best player at the Olympics 2 years ago. What's more baffling is what Di Natale has to do to get a start.

Seaneh

Cypher_sounds wrote: »

That baffles me a bit, i mean he is always a big threat to defenders even to have him on the bench come on if italy are in trouble

The only person he deserves to be there ahead of is Iaquinta and there was no way Lippi was gonna drop his pet.

Fact is Qua and Di Natale deserve their spots.

Cypher_sounds

Seaneh wrote: »

The only person he deserves to be there ahead of is Iaquinta and there was no way Lippi was gonna drop his pet.

Fact is Qua and Di Natale deserve their spots.

I'll be honest and say i dont know enough about Qua and Di Natales season to say whether or not rossi should be there but ive alwayst rossi is a brilliant little forward and very dangerous from what ive seen of him on the other hand ive seen Iaquinta a few times now and hes been dissapointing

IvySlayer

Pepe is quite greedy.