Final: Spain vs Italy

Could've been worse, it could've rained.

I was supporting Italy as I always do, I wanted them to win against Spain because nowadays, I see Spain a team full of glory hunters, especially, those kind of people who pretend to know everything about football just by watching Spain's glory years and not having the chance to watch other nations'. Nonetheless, I also wanted spain to loose because I honestly dont like Sergio Busquets (Despite being a Barca fan second behind Milan). On the other side, I wanted players that I love in the spanish team such as Llorente, Mata, Jesus Navas, David Silva, Iniesta and Torres to add another great memory to their career. Anyways, Congrats Spain but forever Forza Italia and Brazil!

chinaglia wrote:

paxtonpale wrote:Casillas
Ramos
Pique
Alba
Busuests
Alonso
Xavi
Iniesta
Fabregas
Torres
Pedro
Silva
Arbeloa
Brilliant game and it was a game that we didn't totally dominant...

You played against 10 men for a third of the match. Let's not go overboard. This is probably the first time that it has happened in a final.

Yes, it was unfortunate though I feel that Italy might not have scored with 11 men. Yes, Motta substitution was for italy to start winning balls and creating chances through Pirlo though I felt that the Spanish defense + Casillas was able to cut them out. In the end well Spain, like Barcelona do take most of the chacnes with a team down to 10 men though I felt if Ramos scored that cheeky backheel at the 93rd minute, I would have felt angried at Spain... That would have taken it too far!

Wow. That Juan mata goal was so stupid.

juveman17 wrote:Wow. That Juan mata goal was so stupid.

Lol, defending was awful though the Torres assist was . I found that Torres migh thave been offside by a head though in reality for a linesman, its hard to pick up thos.

Congrats Spain, the best team in the tournament won.

danyjr wrote:

free_cat wrote:I'm all for Spain losing and all. But Spain old? I'm afraid they are more than young enough for dominate again in Brazil. In 2014 they will still have a team like this:

Castillas
Any RB Pique Ramos Alba
Iniesta Busquets Thiago
Silva Cesc/Adrian/Torres... Pedro

Even Xavi and Alonso could still be playing at a good enough level and they'll have players like Mata, Cazorla, Javi Martinez, and some youngsters from the currently european subs will surely become world class...

:S

Puyol and Villa were supposed to be part of the tournament if it wasn't for their injury. They won't be in Brazil, or you'd hope so. I'd say the same for Alonso and Xavi and Iniesta will be 30. The truth is, these are the players who made/make the difference for Spain and are the spine of the team. I don't think La Roja will be nearly as good without the aforementioned.

Well, Puyol and Villa weren't in this tournament and we have seen how superior Spain was to anyone.

Xavi will be a sensible loss, off course, but Spain will still have the best midfield in the world by far with Iniesta, Busquets, Thiago, Javi Martinez, Mata, Silva, Cazorla and probably others.

Alonso leaving won't matter much.

And there are some real quality players coming from the youth ranks like Isco, Deulofeu, Alcacer, Samper...

danyjr wrote:Anyone else thinks Italy would have been better off playing 3-5-2 or is it just me?

You mean 532 surely?

Not that it's important but...




Bonucci Robbing Ramos of a goal

I think the game was over before it even started. Italy was completely exhausted after only 30 minutes, and you could see them limping around as 40-year olds, completely different energy than in the other games. Motta injury stopped an already impossible comeback, and I switched off the telly pretty quickly.

Spain played it safe with the 4-6-0. Their were superior in fitness and formation to a tired Italy with even fewer days to rest, who will also be sorry to see their formation being a clear mistake for this game. Im just sad it was over before it started, not even a game.

Eivindo wrote:I think the game was over before it even started. Italy was completely exhausted after only 30 minutes, and you could see them limping around as 40-year olds, completely different energy than in the other games. Motta injury stopped an already impossible comeback, and I switched off the telly pretty quickly.

Spain played it safe with the 4-6-0. Their were superior in fitness and formation to a tired Italy with even fewer days to rest, who will also be sorry to see their formation being a clear mistake for this game. Im just sad it was over before it started, not even a game.

Well, Italy shouldn't have finished second in their group, then. They all knew the consequences, so stop making excuses for them.

free_cat wrote:Well, Puyol and Villa weren't in this tournament and we have seen how superior Spain was to anyone.

I wouldn't call their performances dominating. They barely made it out of their group considering how that last match against Croatia went. Won on penalties against Portugal and barely had any chances in that game and had it not been for Cristiano choking at important moments as usual it could have been a different story entirely. I'm not saying Spain weren't the best team in the tournament, but they weren't as dominating as 4 years ago and could have done much more with world class players like Puyol and Villa, who to me are irreplaceable. Martínez, Cazorla, Mata, Thaigo and Silva are work in progress, as well as Deulofeu, Samper and the rest who aren't even proven at their clubs yet.

italy will come stronger. current italy team is great, they just lacked some fitness and they were badly fatigued. the current team aside, this team will be upgraded to become even better. giuseppe rossi criscito will be back.

then next year lot of italian youth will be getting chance. i am pinning hopes stramacchioni plays talented inter youth because their youth won everything domestically and in europe, juve has good youth, milan not so much but we have good some good young players in our first team.

watch lorenzo insigne becoming a star of napoli this season, he is even better than lavezzi.

veratti will be another player to watch. both will definitely go to world cup,

italy will be better and stronger

Italy boss Cesare Prandelli will have a say in who replaces Ciro Ferrara on the Under-21 bench, the Italian Football Federation have revealed.

Ferrara will be released from his contract with the Azzurrini to take charge of newly promoted Serie A outfit Sampdoria.

“I’ve spoken with Sampdoria and with Ferrara,” FIGC President Giancarlo Abete noted. “He has expressed a desire to tie himself to Sampdoria and we have given him our approval.

“Now it will be up to Prandelli, FIGC Vice-President Demetrio Albertini and youth sector co-ordinator Arrigo Sacchi to identify a new Coach for the Under-21 side.”

The decision to consult Prandelli is the first clear step in the FIGC’s plans to give the Coach a greater say in how the national side is run.

“The aim of the Federation is to allow a more organic relationship between the Coach with the Under-21 side, as well as the other youth teams.”

Prandelli spoke earlier today of the need to change the way Italian football is run and the desire for clubs to be of more assistance to his requirements.

“The Lega Calcio has never had such an insignificant role with respect to the Federation as it does now and that causes damage,” Abete continued.

Can someone explain to me why it was not ended exactly at 90 minutes...?

Beacuse the ref was being too strict with the rules.

Playing injury time in a 4-0 game was really not needed at all. Iker is old school deserves a lot of respect because of what he's done and how he carries himself.

Zealous wrote:

is that iker asking to blow final visle early for the respect of Italia ?

Casillas showing mercy on Italy

im starting to like him

Iker has always been the respectful Madrid player who represented the classy Real Madrid of the old, unlike the rest of his club in whom the majority show behaviour of animals on a frequent basis.

I'm now happy Italy lost.

juveman17 wrote:


I'm now happy Italy lost.

Spoiler:

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And the ULTIMATE willy move!

Spoiler:

I'm sure he wears it all the time like a true fan............... with the tag still on it and all

What a Madrid and Barca fan... Surely he must be confused... Anyway, who is this fan?

Zealous wrote:Beacuse the ref was being too strict with the rules.

Playing injury time in a 4-0 game was really not needed at all. Iker is old school deserves a lot of respect because of what he's done and how he carries himself.

What a douche.

@ Paxton- that is Justin Bieber