England V Italy

Jimmy Iovine

Wonderful strike from De Rossi. Goal of the tournament is it had gone in.

The save from Johnson's shot would have been a world class save for any keeper other than Buffon. Just a normal one for him.

Cassano has been great again. He's floating around and picking up the ball in great positions. England can't find him at all. The ball from Pirlo to him was magical. The header back across was even better. Pity Balotelli didn't anticipate it.

Terry has been both good and bad. Did well to get back for the Balotelli chance, but nearly screwed that up by his mistake for the other Balotelli chance.

Ballotelli has done well to get into the positions but he just doesn't look like scoring any of them. He and Italy could end up regretting it.

I really don't like Parker in midfield. He just runs in straight lines with the ball. It's like he's afraid he'll do his ligaments if he turns with it. He hasn't been all that bad with his passing but the difference between him and Pirlo is worrying for England.

kryogen

Mr Alan wrote: »

Rooney looks a pale imitation of his usual self. Really poor so far.

Could never have been any other way with the lack of matches.

SirDelboy18

Think Giovinco could be the difference here if given a chance.

livinginkorea

Did Rooney take off his shirt and hand over to an Italian player going down the dugout?

Renn

mike65 wrote: »

That was Terry, if we are talking about the same chance.

Pretty sure it was Johnson (even though RTE said Terry). Terry did make the block though.

Kirby

Tox56 wrote: »

Milner does fit this system and style of play, but the way he wastes good positions is infuriating, England won't have many of them and they need to take advantage. When he gets one on one he looks clueless

You aren't watching what he does when he doesn't have the ball. Half of the "Oh Johnson did well there" comments come from Milner going outside him and dragging players with him. Not to mention the defensive tracking he does.

The issue is he does more running than anybody else and by the 40th minute, he looked like he was knackered. He looked completely done. I can see him being taken off after 10 minutes of the second half for the Ox.

Paul Tergat

livinginkorea wrote: »

Did Rooney take off his shirt and hand over to an Italian player going down the dugout?

Unsure but its not uncommon. He swaps with one player now and does so again at FT with his replacement shirt

Rooney coming off is a no no. He's comfortably our best player who is capable of something the rest really arent. Him and Welbeck link well, they just need more of the ball and support around them

Mr Alan

Renn wrote: »

Pretty sure it was Johnson (even though RTE said Terry). Terry did make the block though.

BBC also attributing it to Terry

darkman2

Anyone watching the BBC pundits? They think England are on top? Even the most biased must see Italy are clearly the better team in the first half.

Alan Hansen taking the piss I think with his English colleagues.

Hulk Hands

Rooney was poor that half, yet created one of England's only 2 chances with a superb bit of skill. He's about their only true matchwinner these days

whatawaster

kryogen wrote: »

Mr Alan wrote: »

Rooney looks a pale imitation of his usual self. Really poor so far.

Could never have been any other way with the lack of matches.

Every other player wasn't given that excuse in rounds 1 and 2 of the group stages

PhlegmyMoses

Mr Alan wrote: »

Disagree. These lads don't look particularly strong aerially at all. Chielini is a big loss for em there. At the minute they're loving playing against Rooney, that's for sure. Wellbeck & Carroll were very good against Sweden, if Rooney can't up his game sharpish, he should be getting hooked. Surprised anyone would disagree.

He'll win the ball in the air and then what? No midfielder is running beyond the strikers to support flick ons. Carroll is one paced and one dimensional. The Italians would lap it up.

Yeah, they should take their best player off for Andy Carroll. Take Ronaldo off for Almeida after a quiet first half. Gomez off for Cacau. Ribery off for Malouda.

If Carroll comes on it will be for Welbeck.

kryogen

Rooney just needs game time, if England come through this, he will be much better for it in the semi final with almost 2 games under his belt. He never hits the gorund running.

Paparazzo

This game has been 100 times better to watch than Spain France yesterday

darced

This post has been deleted.

Mr Alan

Basically you're saying Rooney should be untouchable in the England team, regardless of how he performs? I disagree.

kryogen

whatawaster wrote: »

Every other player wasn't given that excuse in rounds 1 and 2 of the group stages

Eh, they were actually.

Most players start a tournament a little slowly and get better as they go.

kryogen

Mr Alan wrote: »

Basically you're saying Rooney should be untouchable in the England team, regardless of how he performs? I disagree.

This to me?

(It probably isn't cause it doesn't resemble anything I have said)

Kirby

Sitter.

rebel girl 15

incredible miss by De Rossi

ollie1

What a miss :eek:

Hank Scorpio

what a miss

GLaDOS

Should be 1-0 Italy

PhlegmyMoses

Mr Alan wrote: »

Basically you're saying Rooney should be untouchable in the England team, regardless of how he performs? I disagree.

Yeah, that's exactly what I'm saying. Your powers of deduction have seen me come unstuck.

Nuri Sahin

Oh dear.

whatawaster

That was tough technique in fairness on the turn

kryogen

Oh Daniele

Kirby

Can see the headlines tomorrow.

"Oh dearrossi!"

JokerD

I wonder if Neville is shouting at the players "It's written in the stars" after that.

kitakyushu

A very 'Italian' foul there by Milner.

helimachoptor

3 man city players on the pitch :p

A Dub in Glasgo

What a miss that was

Soups123

I reckon a few of the Italians have this backed for nil all!

double GG

How many chances are Italy going to waste? That's miss of the tournament by De Rossi anyhow.

rebel girl 15

Great defending by Terry again

rebel girl 15

Hart nearly cost England there! :eek:

double GG

Oh holy god! how is this still 0-0?

grohlisagod

England's luck has to run out soon.

Should have scored!

RGDATA!

helimachoptor wrote: »

3 man city players on the pitch :p

"in the picture" i think

Will I Amnt

Good Jaysus,will you just put it in Mario ffs.

kryogen

How many ****ing chances do they want

You know whos winning this game

GLaDOS

Soups123 wrote: »

I reckon a few of the Italians have this backed for nil all!

I reckon you're right!

PhlegmyMoses

Jesus Hart. He's been wobbly on those long shots today.

shrewdness

Dodgy by Hart.

Kylo Ren

Christ on a bike get in the goal.

kitakyushu

England defending like a bunch of Irishmen.

murpho999

This game should be 4-1 to Italy.

darkman2

Italy should be 5 up.

Paparazzo

Balotelli should have a hat trick by now.