England v Italy

[El Pibe D'Oro]

It's easy to man mark a midfielder, you simply man mark, give him a shadow. Easy.

Nope, seen it fail plenty of times in the past. One example was the West Germans allocating a big fit burly guy to shadow Maradona in the 1986 Final, but he still got away and played the pass for the winning goal. IMO the marker can't seem to sustain shadowing a midfielder all over the park, compared to a defender just marking a forward in that zone.

Maybe if one marker was given the job in the first half, then when his concentration waned, allocate another marker to keep up the pressure...

Con it was Matthaus who man marked Maradona, about 2 inches bigger than Diego

[Soccer-Mad]

Arenet Italy always smarter. They win loads of games this way. A team that knows how to win, regardless if its worth watching or not.

[God is an Englishman]

Meanwhile, GIAE is clutching at straws at penalties that were 50/50 at best

I think you need to read my comments again.

[El Pibe D'Oro]

Best team won, even most of my English friends agreed that that the result was fair. England played well, but Italy controlled the ball and midfield. Also hit the post, cross bar and had a certain goal saved on the line.
Meanwhile, GIAE is clutching at straws at penalties that were 50/50 at best.

for me, Darmian was excellent and continued his fine form from Torino, Pirlo was unreal, but Palleta was rubbish and needs to be replaced.

i think England and Italy will get through the group at the end.

Englands problems are in the defensive side of the game and ball retention. IMO as long as Sturridge players as the focal point in the 4-2-3-1 then Rooney is almost surplus and should start on the bench.

England naturally looked very good going forward but yes ball retention was an issue. Hodgson has a massive decision to make vs Uruguay regards to Rooney. Sturridge is the in form striker so he can't play Rooney at #9, he's gotta play #10 and play Stirling out wide

Henderson is there to protect the back 4 I think ppl have been harsh on him.

The big issue is the back 4 and given they will face possibly the best attack at the WC in Cavani & Suarez this is where the biggest issue lies

[wizard]

I hope Italy go a long way in this tournament. They were brilliant to watch.

And not much more needs to be said about Pirlo, he was simply amazing.

That free kick right at the end, wow!

[wizard]

And now England vs Uruguay is going to be a massive game.

[alberto sordi]

it was the best England i have seen in a long time, they played very well. They just got beaten by a better team. i do think that if england man marked pirlo or at least minimised his space, england may have had a better chance. must never give pirlo space. he can be taken out of the game, despite what anyone says.

[Nice One Cyril]

Never a penalty. Ball going out of play. Paletta stepping in front of Gerrard. Not even Gerrard thought it was a penalty.

Anywhere else on the pitch and it might have been given as obstruction, but certainly not a pen. I thought the officials had an excellent game overall.

Still don't see why we're picking Henderson and Welbeck, bench warmers IMO.

Who would you suggest as an alternative to Henderson that is better?

I'd have Barkley or Wilshere tbh.

[MegaBonus]

not man marking him (great players will make you pay with their positioning off the ball)....but stop him from getting the ball.....press Italy's back 4...but how long can you do that for in those conditions...

England's problem is a double edged sword....they've implemented the more sophisticated 4-2-3-1 rather than the favoured 4-4-2. so by playing such attacking players wide like Rooney and Wellbeck out wide, you need defenders who can defend....Johnson and Baines' strength isn't defending...not on their own anyway...

Ashley cole would be been handy..........

[swannsong]

Personally, I thought England created enough chances to win...just didn't convert them...and Hart is a big enough unit to command his 'six yard box' but didn't against Super Mario.

[Ga Pala]

Great game to watch . England played quite well but the Italians had that extra quality they always seem to have in the big tournaments. Pirlo and Darmian were Italys standouts, while super Mario could be the difference in deciding how far Italy can go. Sterling was extremely dangerous for the Poms , but they always lack a top midfielder who can control a game .

[Nice One Cyril]

not man marking him (great players will make you pay with their positioning off the ball)....but stop him from getting the ball.....press Italy's back 4...but how long can you do that for in those conditions...

England's problem is a double edged sword....they've implemented the more sophisticated 4-2-3-1 rather than the favoured 4-4-2. so by playing such attacking players wide like Rooney and Wellbeck out wide, you need defenders who can defend....Johnson and Baines' strength isn't defending...not on their own anyway...

Ashley cole would be been handy..........

What does that mean? Why on Earth do we need two holding midfielders? Doesn't show a lot of confidence and I'd rather have played another central / attacking midfielder to cramp Pirlo's space. Added to that, it forces you to play Rooney out of position (again).

Sophisticated my arse. Roy should have stayed at Anfield

[God is an Englishman]

Great game to watch . England played quite well but the Italians had that extra quality they always seem to have in the big tournaments. Pirlo and Darmian were Italys standouts, while super Mario could be the difference in deciding how far Italy can go. Sterling was extremely dangerous for the Poms , but they always lack a top midfielder who can control a game .

Quality they always have in big tournaments. Haha!

[Russki Claw]

4 times world champions would back that fact up.

[El Pibe D'Oro]

Great game to watch . England played quite well but the Italians had that extra quality they always seem to have in the big tournaments. Pirlo and Darmian were Italys standouts, while super Mario could be the difference in deciding how far Italy can go. Sterling was extremely dangerous for the Poms , but they always lack a top midfielder who can control a game .

Quality they always have in big tournaments. Haha!

Any chance of you explaining the haha?

Yes Italy were poor in 2010 but the same happened to France after they won the WC and they went home early.

1990 semi
1994 final
1998 1/4 lost to France on pens
Euro 2000 final
2002 second round
2006 winners
2008 euro quarter final lost to Spain
2010 disaster
Euro 2012 final

I'm sure you wouldn't mind if England's record was similar in recent years, they couldn't even qualify in 1994

[God is an Englishman]

Great game to watch . England played quite well but the Italians had that extra quality they always seem to have in the big tournaments. Pirlo and Darmian were Italys standouts, while super Mario could be the difference in deciding how far Italy can go. Sterling was extremely dangerous for the Poms , but they always lack a top midfielder who can control a game .

Quality they always have in big tournaments. Haha!

Any chance of you explaining the haha?

Yes Italy were poor in 2010 but the same happened to France after they won the WC and they went home early.

1990 semi
1994 final
1998 1/4 lost to France on pens
Euro 2000 final
2002 second round
2006 winners
2008 euro quarter final lost to Spain
2010 disaster
Euro 2012 final

I'm sure you wouldn't mind if England's record was similar in recent years, they couldn't even qualify in 1994

You have explained it yourself. Clearly they are not quality in all tournaments

[God is an Englishman]

4 times world champions would back that fact up.

Winning it 4 times (only twice really though) doesn't mean they are ALWAYS quality.

[Rookie]

why do you bother argueing with the peanut brain!!!!!!!

[El Pibe D'Oro]

why do you bother argueing with the peanut brain!!!!!!!

Yeah not sure really, given the lack of validity in his own a arguments I should just leave it.

I see he likes to be fairly literal when it suits.

[Con M]

It's easy to man mark a midfielder, you simply man mark, give him a shadow. Easy.

Nope, seen it fail plenty of times in the past. One example was the West Germans allocating a big fit burly guy to shadow Maradona in the 1986 Final, but he still got away and played the pass for the winning goal. IMO the marker can't seem to sustain shadowing a midfielder all over the park, compared to a defender just marking a forward in that zone.

Maybe if one marker was given the job in the first half, then when his concentration waned, allocate another marker to keep up the pressure...

Con it was Matthaus who man marked Maradona, about 2 inches bigger than Diego

Sorry, EPD. You're right. I thought the athletic Briegel was involved at one stage monstering Diego with tight-marking....

But the point I'm making is it is a good thing easier to effectively mark a forward out of the game than it is to mark an everywhere midfielder...

[Black_Panther]

Nope, seen it fail plenty of times in the past. One example was the West Germans allocating a big fit burly guy to shadow Maradona in the 1986 Final, but he still got away and played the pass for the winning goal. IMO the marker can't seem to sustain shadowing a midfielder all over the park, compared to a defender just marking a forward in that zone.

Maybe if one marker was given the job in the first half, then when his concentration waned, allocate another marker to keep up the pressure...

Con it was Matthaus who man marked Maradona, about 2 inches bigger than Diego

Sorry, EPD. You're right. I thought the athletic Briegel was involved at one stage monstering Diego with tight-marking....

But the point I'm making is it is a good thing easier to effectively mark a forward out of the game than it is to mark an everywhere midfielder...

Pirlo certainly fits that description

[Russki Claw]

England are always shit. argue that point GIAE

[God is an Englishman]

why do you bother argueing with the peanut brain!!!!!!!

Yeah not sure really, given the lack of validity in his own a arguments I should just leave it.

I see he likes to be fairly literal when it suits.

Simple question, do Italy always perform well on these tournaments?

[God is an Englishman]

why do you bother argueing with the peanut brain!!!!!!!

Yeah not sure really, given the lack of validity in his own a arguments I should just leave it.

I see he likes to be fairly literal when it suits.

Simple question, do Italy always perform well on these tournaments?

[Juventino]

The more chatter about Pirlo, the more Prandelli will play him 'out of position', while Verratti will get involved to a greater degree. De Rossi too.

[Ga Pala]

In comparison to England, Italy's performances in major tournaments is much much better

[Doome]

Balotelli fills up World Cup sticker album with pictures of himself, that's cute.



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shop for Italy cheap world cup jerseys

[El Pibe D'Oro]

why do you bother argueing with the peanut brain!!!!!!!

Yeah not sure really, given the lack of validity in his own a arguments I should just leave it.

I see he likes to be fairly literal when it suits.

Simple question, do Italy always perform well on these tournaments?

Not always, more often than not I would say.

How would you rate English performances in the same period?

[ozzie owl]

why do you bother argueing with the peanut brain!!!!!!!

Yeah not sure really, given the lack of validity in his own a arguments I should just leave it.

I see he likes to be fairly literal when it suits.

Simple question, do Italy always perform well on these tournaments?

No sides perform well at major tournaments, but the reality is at senor level they have out performed England.

For senior WC and Euro's since 1970

Italy: 2 wins, 4 Runners up, 5 semi finals and failed to qualify once.

England: 0 wins, 0 Runners up, 2 Semi Finals and failed to qualify five times.

[God is an Englishman]

Not always, more often than not I would say.

How would you rate English performances in the same period?

As long as we can agree that I was right to laugh then I'm fine.

England have been unlucky in a lot of world cups but 1990 aside, generally poor.