Spain vs Italy [P+R+Why Italy Will Win]

[Sevillista]

Disclaimer: Much of this post is biased and meant to be in good humor and should not be taken very seriously... and yes I was quite bored when I wrote this.

The perpetual underachievers vs the luckiest sons of b*tches alive.


Probable lineups
(barring further injuries or suspensions in the Spain - Greece match)

Spain
------------Casillas------------
Ramos--Puyol--Marchena--Capdevila
------------Senna--------------
----Iniesta---Xavi-----Silva------
----------Torres---Villa----------

Italy
(with help from locco)
----------------Buffon--------------
Zambrotta--Panucci--Gamberini--Grosso
----Camoranesi---De Rossi---Ambrosini--
--------------Del Piero--------------
-----------Toni----Cassano---------

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Three reasons why Italy will win this match

They cheat

Italy eliminates Australia after simulating a penalty in the last moments of their 1/8 final match at WC2006.

They play dirty, and get away with it

Luis Enrique after Tassotti broke his nose in the penalty box. No penalty
was given and Italy advanced 2-1 in the WC1994 quarterfinals.

Vieri breaks Kim Tae-Young's nose in the WC2002 1/8 finals.
No card was given. Italy proceeded to blame the loss on the ref...

Late-match luck
(The following is a non-comprehensive list of examples from recent history)

-Baggio scores equalizer in 88th minute against Nigeria (WC1994 1/8 finals)
-Baggio scores game-winner in 87th minute against Spain (WC1994 1/4 finals)
-Italy is forgiven a clear penalty in stoppage time against Spain (WC1994 1/4 finals)
-Baggio scores penalty kick in 85th minute to tie Chile (WC1998 Group Stage)
-Baggio scores game-winner in 89th minute to beat Austria (WC1998 Group Stage)
-Del Piero scores game-winner in 88th minute to beat Sweden (Euro2000 Group Stage)
-Del Piero equalizes in the 85th against Mexico to advance (WC2002 Group Stage)
-Cassano scores game-winner in 94th minute to beat Bulgaria (Euro2004 Group Stage)
-Totti scores non-existant penalty in 95th minute to beat Aussies (WC2006 1/8 finals)
-Grosso and Del Piero score in 119th and 121st minute to beat Germany (WC2006 1/4 finals)
-Buffon saves penalty against Romania that would eliminate them in 81st (Euro2008 Group Stage)


Two reason why Spain will lose

They're underachievers

Despite entering EVERY World Cup and Euro tournament as one of the favorites, Spain has not advanced past the
quarterfinals since Euro 1984. So sure are the Spanish of their eventual fate that TV's were sold
before Euro 2008 with the guarantee of refunding 25% of the price if Spain advances past quarterfinals.

If we don't screw ourselves over, the refs do


The ref anulls two goals for Spain and blows a critical offsides call against Korea in the WC2002 quarterfinals

​

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All ranting aside, I predict Italy beating us on penalties after a 1 - 1 match. Toni and Villa with the goals.

 

[$teauA]

God I hope Spain wins this match.

 

[locco]

About Italy's line-up :

System : 4-3-1-2

gk : 1 Buffon

rb : 19 Zambrotta
cb : 2 Panucci , 5 Gamberini
lb : 3 Grosso

rm : 16 Camoranesi
cm : 10 De Rossi
lm : 13 Ambrosini
cam : 10 Del Piero

st : 9 Toni , 18 Cassano

The same system you said , some other players ...probably more like this ...

 

[per75005]

Humm I'm affraid that now Italia will be able to win this match.... and the Euro....

I hope to see all these good young spanish player do something good.... and see Fabregas!!!!

 

[theo]

Villa for top goal-scorer.

 

[per75005]

Villa for top goal-scorer.

Great player!!!! Can someone know where he will play next season???

 

[KingPaulV]

I hope Italy get destroyed of the sides remaining they play the ugliest football...so for the sake of keeping the beautiful game beautfiul lets go Spain!

 

[johnnybrubacker]

i also hope italy get destroyed and then moan about it for the next 2 years, come on spain!!

 

[Gunnersgoal22]

Italy haven't been too lucky so far this tournament.
I've got a feeling it's Spain's turn this time. Torres and Villa are just deadly playing together.

 

[Johnny_Big]

Spain are favourites nonetheless that questionable (but quite funny and in some terms, correct ) introduction post. Gattuso and Pirlo are out = no midfield for Italy. Spain needs to use that advantage bringing in Fabregas or something.

And yeah, Italy are some lucky b*tches

 

[Sevillista]

Italy haven't been too lucky so far this tournament.
I've got a feeling it's Spain's turn this time. Torres and Villa are just deadly playing together.

-Buffon blocked the penalty that would have eliminated them
-Ribery's injury
-Penalty and red card for Abidal
-Goal scored off Henry

yes, they have been lucky

 

[locco]

-Buffon blocked the penalty that would have eliminated them
-Ribery's injury
-Penalty and red card for Abidal
-Goal scored off Henry

yes, they have been lucky

- Buffon blocked the penalty cause he's the best goalkeeper in the world
- Ribery injuried because he was stupid and tackled like an amateur
- Abidal deserved 100% that sent off

The fact that France team it's stupid doesn't mean luck ...I'm not an Italian fan but let's be realist . Anyway , if Italy will win deserved against Spain , you will still say they were lucky even they'll play good so ...

 

[Sevillista]

- Buffon blocked the penalty cause he's the best goalkeeper in the world
- Ribery injuried because he was stupid and tackled like an amateur
- Abidal deserved 100% that sent off

The fact that France team it's stupid doesn't mean luck ...I'm not an Italian fan but let's be realist . Anyway , if Italy will win deserved against Spain , you will still say they were lucky even they'll play good so ...

Your idea of luck and my idea of luck are very different. With possibly the exception of the Buffon penalty, the rest are things that conveniently happened to Italy. I say they are lucky, but I also say that soccer requires lots of luck. As a team you can only do so much... you need elements outside of your power to fall into place as well if you want to win a tournament.

And if Italy win on some scrappy goal, bullsh*t penalty, etc. then yes, I will say they are lucky. Otherwise I will concede defeat. I really doubt they can beat us legitimately though.

 

[lanze07]

I hope that Spain will win, even if i am half Italian (I life there bu I am half Soutirolean, my dad is peruvian my mum southtirolean)
Because Spain has win a title after more than 40years.
And Italy without Pirlo and Gattuso....
I hope Villa will score and he will play next season for us (real madrid)
I think Spain will win 2:1

 

[daS]

Spain will get this i think ..

 

[dimo]

hahaha. italian luck this, italian soccer sucks that. same crap fans of italian soccer have been hearing for years. people who hate serie A dont actually watch that much soccer(only league they probably watch is the prem or something; 'duh, ill pick manyoo as my favourite team") or are just stuck in the past and tow the same line that italian football is boring. you dont win 4 world cups and 1 euro if you're domestic league isnt up to par or if you cant attack. plus, we wouldnt have been in the position to be "lucky" in this year's euros if acutal goals were counted. toni's goal would've gave us the win in the romanian game and then there wouldnt be all this 'luck' talk. jealously talks, and people are jealous of italy's accomplishments. the best european team, alongside germany, so they receive the most hate. the usual anti-italian rhetoric, that's all it is.

i really hope italy destroys spain so that spain can fail once again. 1 euro victory doesnt make you the best in the world, ask denmark. conversely, if spain win, i hope they make it to the final and lose there just so the fact is cemented into the spanish that they're never gonna win anything. ever.

 

[RobbieD_PL]

If Spain don't win this match, they should be castrated. They're playing agianst a teams that's lost its 2 brightest sparks and that has one of the oldest age averages in the tournament, only making it through by beating a team that was led by a hippy.

 

[KingPaulV]

Let us not forget Spain hasnt beaten Italy in an official tournament in 88 years....also...Spain's problem has never been its football its always been mental and I do believe Italy have as of now the mental edge...The Spanish coach and media started shaking in their boots the moment they heard it was Italy they would have to play, even thought if you look at who has had the better tournament then they should be fully confident of their abilities...9 games unbeaten for Spain, but yet, they are shaking at an italian team that barely made it into the second round and that was effectively destroyed by Holland and dominated by a descent if not great Romanian side for large periods of their game.....interesting I think

 

[Sevillista]

hahaha. italian luck this, italian soccer sucks that. same crap fans of italian soccer have been hearing for years. people who hate serie A dont actually watch that much soccer(only league they probably watch is the prem or something; 'duh, ill pick manyoo as my favourite team") or are just stuck in the past and tow the same line that italian football is boring. you dont win 4 world cups and 1 euro if you're domestic league isnt up to par or if you cant attack. plus, we wouldnt have been in the position to be "lucky" in this year's euros if acutal goals were counted. toni's goal would've gave us the win in the romanian game and then there wouldnt be all this 'luck' talk. jealously talks, and people are jealous of italy's accomplishments. the best european team, alongside germany, so they receive the most hate. the usual anti-italian rhetoric, that's all it is.

i really hope italy destroys spain so that spain can fail once again. 1 euro victory doesnt make you the best in the world, ask denmark. conversely, if spain win, i hope they make it to the final and lose there just so the fact is cemented into the spanish that they're never gonna win anything. ever.

I've supported my "rhetoric" with several solid examples. And my post was directed at the Italian national team, not its domestic league.

I think I was the first to say that we never win anything.... you're arguing against nobody.

 

[newbie original]

If you're going to beat Italy, now is as good a time as any with Pirlo and Gattusso out. However, their goalscorers...Toni, Cassano, Di Natale and Del Piero are due....in a big way! Spain had problems dealing with headers against Greece...they aren't the biggest team and Italy could really capitalize there.

This Italian team gives me the impression that they're destined to go all the way now. They were on the verge of elimination and survived.....that has almost breathed life right back into them although the 2 AC Milan MFs missing will hurt no doubt. It's really close to call but I sense that Italy has only just arrived....they're going from strength to strength and, even though they haven't shown it so far, they're capable of playing in a watchable manner. I was hoping that they'd be knocked out in the group stages, but now I think they've got the bit between their teeth and can smell blood...

Italy 2:0 Spain