Spain v Italy Euro 2012 Final , Sunday 1st July

darkman2

Meanwhile in Kiev....

Super-Rush

Balotelli to either kill someone or score a hat trick of bicycle kicks from the halfway line.

Whatever happens, I can't wait.

monkey9

Mont wrote: »

I agree, no team deserves anything. Its like people were saying Chelsea deserved to win the CL, they didnt.

I fancy Spain. Balotelli will prob. play rubbish on Sunday night as he has gotten his brilliant game out of the way in the semi's.

They did.

Father Damo

Well done to Prandelli. Italy have been absolutely tragic since pretty much the day after the final in 2006. It certainly is some hell of a turnaround.

monkey9

I can't wait for this match. For me, it's one of those finals where i don't mind who wins. I'm hoping for Spain ultimately though just to annoy the people on here who don't want them to win.

Kilkenny14

I say it will be 1-0 to Spain but il be cheering for Italy. I hope it's a good game with no extra time as il have to go to work once the 90 minutes are up.

FORZA ITALiA!

TripleAce

Italy to win 1-0 ...Marchisio match winner!

Renn

Vokes wrote: »

Reckon he'll go back to a 3-5-2 too. But would think that a CM combination of Marchisio-Pirlo-De Rossi would be a sure thing with Montolivo dropping to the bench for Abate or Maggio at RWB.

Prandelli wrote:

In all honesty, no, I haven’t considered it,” he says. “We maintained a certain balance over the last few games, although we understood that during the match we can switch to a 3-5-2 if we want to.

.

kitakyushu

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

I reckon this is the man to inspire Spain and boss the show. Again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv-TggbPn_0

I hope it's a good final.

Check out the Italian players at 1:57 after he passes the ball. Even better than that recent Iniesta pix doing the rounds.

Barr

Hope Italy win this - should be a great match.

S28382

aindriu80 wrote: »

i think Italia can do it ! 2-1 with balotelli getting one.

God i hope they win 2 -1 ill be 150quid richer if they do

Leftist

i've watched each euro final since i've been old enough to sit still for a full game of football and i think this'll be the first i officially dodge. spain are stinking up international football and even if they don't win, it's italy who are not exactly exciting for neutrals.

or maybe I'll just stick it on when the inevitable penos start.

really is a muck year for football.

Fight_Night

Leftist wrote: »

i've watched each euro final since i've been old enough to sit still for a full game of football and i think this'll be the first i officially dodge. spain are stinking up international football and even if they don't win, it's italy who are not exactly exciting for neutrals.

or maybe I'll just stick it on when the inevitable penos start.

really is a muck year for football.

Your loss. Not a fan of Spain by any means, in fact I'd go so far to say that I dislike the current team's style but it's a fascinating encounter. Go to your local park and watch an U10s game of you want a goal fest. Italy have also been very entertaining this tournament. This cliche that they are a boring defensive team is unjustified.

Morzadec

Leftist wrote: »

i've watched each euro final since i've been old enough to sit still for a full game of football and i think this'll be the first i officially dodge. spain are stinking up international football and even if they don't win, it's italy who are not exactly exciting for neutrals.

or maybe I'll just stick it on when the inevitable penos start.

really is a muck year for football.

They're the 2 best teams in the tournament and I feel sorry for you if you can't appreciate the talent both teams have and the quality of football they produce.

As for muck year for football, I just can't see where that's coming from at all. This has been the best major football tournament for a while in terms of the quality of football produced imo, with some really entertaining group games and some absorbing knockout games too.

G.K.

Leftist wrote: »

i've watched each euro final since i've been old enough to sit still for a full game of football and i think this'll be the first i officially dodge. spain are stinking up international football and even if they don't win, it's italy who are not exactly exciting for neutrals.

or maybe I'll just stick it on when the inevitable penos start.

really is a muck year for football.

Spain don't stink up internationall football, it's teams who just defend deep against them that make them seem 'boring' (Though I don't think it's boring even then). The 1st half of the Portugal match (Common consensus, I enjoyed the whole thing personally) and the Italy game in the group were excellent to watch.

As for Italy, I can only assume you feed off sterotypes and haven't watched them. They aren't a park the bus team, they are very nice to watch. Against Spain, England and Germany they were very good. (I can't remember the Croatia game very well and I didn't watch them against Ireland).

Blatter

The last time Spain conceded more than one goal at a tournament was in 2006 against France, when the French won 3-1.

They have an incredible defensive record, particularly in the last couple of years.

Morzadec

TripleAce wrote: »

Italy to win 1-0 ...Marchisio match winner!

Going to throw a bet on this actually - 125/1

Italy are well capable of winning 1-0, and Marchisio has a decent scoring record at Juve, but has yet to score in this tournament. Worth a euro or two anyway!

Fight_Night

Blatter wrote: »

The last time Spain conceded more than one goal at a tournament was in 2006 against France, when the French won 3-1.

They have an incredible defensive record, particularly in the last couple of years.

They really do it's astonishing how consistent they've been. Can anyone breach that defense(in a competitive game)? It's not even that their defenders are that good defensively more that their possession game is so effective. Going off topic but I'd love to see Brazil - Spain competitively.

Forza Italia

Leftist

Morzadec wrote: »

. This has been the best major football tournament for a while in terms of the quality of football produced imo, with some really entertaining group games and some absorbing knockout games too.

in your opinion. What are the outstanding games? the only drama from the group games was greece and russia. Portugal holland was probably the best game. The rest were forgettable. Aside from the irish games which I wish were forgettable.

edit: also never said italy were boring, but it's hard to get excited about them, imo.

Crann na Beatha

This post has been deleted.

Diabhal Beag

Italy to win on penalties and I'll go out on a limb and say Pirlo will score the decisive penalty. If Spain don't win it will all be thanks to that supposedly new Italian standout Andrea Pirlo who never played in the Premier League.

mike65

I'm sure its nonsense but on BBC radio it was mentioned that some source had said Del Bosque could start with 3 strikers! Obviously none is much more likely.

willowthewisp

Hope Italy beat Spain, but I think it will be a terrible game.

G.K.

mike65 wrote: »

I'm sure its nonsense but on BBC radio it was mentioned that some source had said Del Bosque could start with 3 strikers! Obviously none is much more likely.

Mistranslation. Del Bosque said 3 forwards (Meaning, presumeably, Iniesta, Silva plus 1 more).

Dempsey

Leftist wrote: »

in your opinion. What are the outstanding games? the only drama from the group games was greece and russia. Portugal holland was probably the best game. The rest were forgettable. Aside from the irish games which I wish were forgettable.

edit: also never said italy were boring, but it's hard to get excited about them, imo.

The Spain/Italy game in the group is probably the match of the tournament

Neeson

Hope Italy win, can't be arsed with this Spanish play anymore. It may be great but I'm getting sick of it at this stage.

darkman2

Shane732

Any sign of the starting team lineups yet?

Big Pussy Bonpensiero

Rumours have it that Torres is to start, completely unsubstantiated of course

Blatter

Apparently it'll be Fabregas.

Casillas, Arbeloa, Piqué, Ramos, Alba; Busquets, X.Alonso, Xavi; Silva, Iniesta, Cesc.

Renn

OctavarIan

Words can't express how much I want Italy to score an early goal.

ArmaniJeanss

Leftist wrote: »

in your opinion. What are the outstanding games? the only drama from the group games was greece and russia.

Final games of the other groups.

In Group B a Denmark win would have knocked Germany out and they gave it a right go, before an 80th min German goal sealed it.

In Group C Croatia had a decent go at Spain, with a goal having the potential to knock Spain out. Even after Spain scored a late Croatia goal would have knocked Italy out.

In Group D Ukraine needing a victory had a really good go at England in the final game.

I really don't see any lack of drama there, even if ultimately none of the fairytales happened.

Big Pussy Bonpensiero

Obligatory preview;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghtyk7luGDc

Gone with Balotelli first goal @ 15/2. Double odds if he scores a second.

5/2 anytime to score.

Blatter

Italy Starting XI: Buffon; Abate, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Pirlo, Marchisio, De Rossi; Montolivo, Cassano, Balotelli.

Renn

Guessing Abate is fully recovered then. Balzaretti did extremely well defensively the other night (harsh peno against him) but Italy never looked to get him involved and he pretty much remained at the RB position all game. Chiellini was bombing up that left flank quite a bit so I'm guessing Abate will try and do similar on the other side.

Big Pussy Bonpensiero

Blatter wrote: »

Apparently it'll be Fabregas.

Casillas, Arbeloa, Piqué, Ramos, Alba; Busquets, X.Alonso, Xavi; Silva, Iniesta, Cesc.

Confirmed.

closeline

Could this be got on radio lads??

Jax Teller

closeline wrote: »

Could this be got on radio lads??

5 live I'd imagine

Big Pussy Bonpensiero

closeline wrote: »

Could this be got on radio lads??

It's on 5live alright, doubt any Irish station will have it.

closeline

Ya I'm looking for something on my car radio. Can 5 live be got on the phone anyone?

Jax Teller

closeline wrote: »

Ya I'm looking for something on my car radio. Can 5 live be got on the phone anyone?

You can get 5 live on 909 on the am frequency

Renn

OctavarIan wrote: »

Words can't express how much I want Italy to score an early goal.

Doesn't really matter IMO. Italy are not like most of the other sides in the competition. If Italy concede early it's not as if they don't have it in them to create enough to get back in the game. If Italy score early the same goes for Spain.

Jimmy Iovine

I don't really care who wins as long as we have a great match. That all depends on Italy. If they play like they did in the group match, and like how they have been all tournament, then we potentially have a classic on our hands.

If they don't play like that then it'll be garbage.

kryogen

I would like Spain to have 60% possession and this game to go to penalties, can be a 3-3 thriller or a 0-0 tactical fest, those two outcomes will make me very happy.

Thefirestarter

The music for the closing celebration is like something from an Austin Powers film.

keith16

My money is on the green team! COYBIG!

Nuri Sahin

Very good piece on Balotelli by the BBC.

Superbus

That whistle looked like an ejaculating penis.