Neither do I my man, neither do I. We go way back, so the banter is to be expected. Still don't know if anyone's picked up on the reply to your post, don't agree with Poland, France wins easily, bit, when you didn't pick them out of the group stages lol.
A lad that hails from Taunton, always comes thru in the clutch. Same with Brians. Unless your last name is Tinnion that is.
Cannavaro is out for the tournament. As is probably Viera (Flamini recalled). Torres sprained his ankle in training, and could miss the first game. Cristiano Ronaldo also injured himself. Lloris is confirmed at Lyon, replacing Coupet.
The heart and soul of the azzuri out of the tournament...just devastating. It'll be interesting to see how they cope without him. The team will now just have to rally around other warriors like Gattuso, Buffon, Chiellini, Zambrotta, and De Rossi. I'm fairly sure Chiellini will take his place and I have no doubt he'll do a decent job, but those are some mighty big shoes to fill.
Very likely Chiellini will take his place, but dont be surprised of Bonera does as well. Either way, that is a HUGE loss for us.
http://www.euro2008.uefa.com/news/kind=1/newsid=704508.html#italy+lose+captain+cannavaro sad to hear that.
Yeah, I was about to post the calling of Gamberini. Regardless, I hope our starting 4 is; Zambrotta -- Materazzi -- Barzagli -- Panucci
Group A Czech Republic Portugal Switzerland Turkey Group B Austria Croatia Germany Poland Group C France Italy Netherlands Romania Group D Greece Russia Spain Sweden I love this tournament. I actually prefer it over the World Cup to be honest. Go Croatia!
Interesting, Italy doesn't make it out. Yeah this tournament is great. I rather watch the WC though lol.
You and me both. I was hoping Donadoni would smack Nesta upside the head and convince him to join when Cannavaro went down. Wishfull thinking, I know......but I can dream can't I ? We should be fine at the back. The rest of our team wont make the defense have to do much anyway.
Of course! The WC is so much more emotional, it is so much more crazier, and there is so much at stake.... But in terms of the soccer. The Euro is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better played. I mean all they are missing is Argentina and Brazil and they got all the good teams.
And with good reason. It's much more competitive top to bottom. There's no dogs in the field; no Saudi Arabia to lose 3 matches by an aggregate 11-1 score and get a hearty pat on the back and a "thanks for showing up, mates!" Incidentally, I've no idea who I'm pulling for (since I know you're all dying to know). No Ireland and no England mean there's little ancenstral rooting interest here. I'm part French-Canadian, but no one likes the French, so I just say I'm part Canadian and leave it at that.
Just watch him play and you will see Yes he got Zidane but that was in injury time and the only effect it had was not having Zidane for a penaly kick I hope I'm wrong
He played extremely well throughout the match, and buried one of the PKs in the shootout. He even scored Italy's only goal of the game! Good God, man, what more do you want?!?
He gets dumb yellows and reds all the time watch him with Inter. Yes he had a good game 2 years ago. I will predict if he plays in the first 3 games he will foul someone and give up a penalty
http://www.rovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ThroughTheYears/0,,10303~78780,00.html 1905 - 1914: The Best Team In The Land!!!!!
Gash? Hmmm, granted, he takes dumb cards, but like I said, he will not be a liability if he doesn't play rough. Im interested in seeing your opinionated list of 10 central defenders better than Materazzi. Im not exactly a fan of Marco, but I have to admit, he is a force when playing on his game and with a clear mind. I've watched many games myself and feel he deserves a spot on this team, and would like him to start over the likes of Chielline and Gamberini. Boomer, you had to expect to be called out on that comment.....
But they dont pick them. Why is that? There has to be a reason? It is because he does a job. Ferdinand does didly squat for England IMO, just like Owen and a couple others. But they are still picked anyway. I could probably pick 5 players that are better than these players, but it wont happen, just like Referees wont reprimand players that continually abuse or swear at them all through a match. If I were a ref I would go into each dressing room before a game and tell the players that if they swear at me they will be cautioned and then be sent off if they persist. They cant complain then. And as for foreign rules where players are allowed to dive for penalties. I would take them out the back and shoot them if found guilty. British guys I would give a more severe penalty, as it is our game , and we should be setting an example. We have to start somewhere.
He is gash. Unless you only watch big tournaments or World Cup finals. He was miserable with Inter this year. Had an injury blighted season, and still managed to cost them their place in the CL by his own teammates admission. At 35, he's a mannequin central defender, who would be taken up and down like a whore's drawers if he had to play the full 90 for Italy. Doesn't have the pace, and never had the cool. Considering Zambrotta, and Panucci's old legs, it's no wonder Donadoni flirted with the idea of 3-4-3 this week. EDIT: I've been reading up on Romania, and they're an interesting side. Beat Holland 1-0 earlier this year, by playing Inter centre back - and 10x the player the aforementioned chav is - Cristian Chivu deep in midfield alongside Paul Codrea, with Dorin Goian and Gabriel Tamas in tandem in the center of defence. Holland enjoyed almost 70% of possession, but couldn't convert, or beat the protective barrier. Razvan Rat, the Shakhtar Donetsk full-back, is able to get forward and provide attacking thrust on the left, allowing Piturca to employ a more defensively minded player on that side of midfield. Up front, they've got the silky Chivu, with a bustling young colt, Ciprian Marica, supported by Nicolita's darting runs from midfield. So a bit of a quirky, unknown side, with an innovative coach on Monday.
Gash = rubbish. But worse. Matterazi is awful. I've seen ships turn quicker than him. Anyone who watched any part of Serie A last season knows that Chiellini is a far superior player, as is Andrea Barzagli, Gamerberini had a better season than Matterazi, Cannavaro is a much better defender, Christian Maggio can play centre half and is a better player, Alessandro Nesta is obvioulsy a better player, Paolo De Ceglie at Siena is playing left back but is the future other half of the centre back partnership at Juventus with Chiellini, Marco Andreolli is a better player, Andrea Coda, etc. How Chiellini wasn't starting alongside Cannavaro was beyond me.
