I don't like Italy but they're pretty entertaining these days. They score alot of goals in 2006. Serie A is super high scoring lately. Their defense this time is not any good so they might not have any choice but to go forward and score more!
Messi won't score a goal
I agree that Greece is super boring, so are France and Switzerland.
North Korea will play with 10 defenders.
I think when it comes down to it, Italy will go back into that defensive shell that won them the world cup last time around, although I hope you are right!
I can't really blame North Korea seeing as they are in by far the hardest group with Brazil, Ivory Coast, and Portugal, all 3 of which are offensive powerhouses. N. Korea would probably need 13-14 defenders to stop those teams.
Add Portugal to that list. I don't think I witnessed two more boring qualifying campaigns than France and Portugal's.
I think Portugal will definitely play an entertaining style come the World Cup. The games between Portgual, Brazil, and Ivory Coast during pool play all have the potential to be the most entertaining game(s) out of early play and will be ones I will definitely be watching!
On another note, I hope Torres will be ready to go for Spain.
I think when it comes down to it, Italy will go back into that defensive shell that won them the world cup last time around, although I hope you are right!
I can't really blame North Korea seeing as they are in by far the hardest group with Brazil, Ivory Coast, and Portugal, all 3 of which are offensive powerhouses. N. Korea would probably need 13-14 defenders to stop those teams.
As an Italian fan I am a little biased, and will admit they usually play defensive football, but they actually played more attacking in 06 and have been playing much more offensive since then.
They got a bad rap for boring football in that tournament, but they played some exciting games that tournament. That semi-final game against Germany, especially the extra time, was one of the most exciting, nail biting soccer games that I have ever seen. By the end up it I think both Italy and Germany were playing with 4 strikers and were trading chances end to end.
I think they will try to be a bit more offensive in this tournament, as they do not have the defensive quality that they traditionally have in their back four and through the midfield, with Chiellini being the only true defensive stud.
They got a bad rap for boring football in that tournament, but they played some exciting games that tournament. That semi-final game against Germany, especially the extra time, was one of the most exciting, nail biting soccer games that I have ever seen. By the end up it I think both Italy and Germany were playing with 4 strikers and were trading chances end to end.
Those extra minuets owe me a new TV and my Mum a nice birthday dinner. I went to pick her up for her Birthday after I destroyed my TV and she wouldn't go.
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Thank you for everything CP. Good memories and thankful for everything that has been done to help me out. I will no longer take part on these boards. Take care, Go Flames Go.
Teams I like, for largely incomprehensible reasons:
Mexico
Uruguay
Argentina
Greece
England
USA
Algeria
Ghana
Paraguay
Brazil
Korea DPR (underdog factor, not totalitarian sympathies)
Ivory Coast
Spain
Switzerland
Chile
You need to pick one more... that way you'll be cheering for the half the countries in it.
Those extra minuets owe me a new TV and my Mum a nice birthday dinner. I went to pick her up for her Birthday after I destroyed my TV and she wouldn't go.
The stress of that game was unbelievable.
The post and crossbar that Italy hit, then a couple of big saves by Buffon and I thought I was going to have a heart attack.
Thankfully Grosso scored a beauty and Italy came through in that game, but judging by your avatar you probably saw the end of that game a little differently then I did.
Should be a very entertaining team to watch, I would expect them to score a lot of goals but then again give up quite a few as well.
As soon as they play a decent all around team they're going to get embarrassed. As amazing as that attack is, unless the defending and goaltending pull off a miracle any other team with a decent attack is going to victimize them badly.
Soccer is not a game where the Washington Capitals' strategy works of scoring your way out of trouble.
They might still make it deep depending on how their group turns out, they ought to win their group, Nigeria should give them problems, they should tear Greece and Korea apart.
If they win that group then they probably play USA, thats a crap shoot, after that who knows but I'd imagine they'd run into trouble after that.
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The post and crossbar that Italy hit, then a couple of big saves by Buffon and I thought I was going to have a heart attack.
Thankfully Grosso scored a beauty and Italy came through in that game, but judging by your avatar you probably saw the end of that game a little differently then I did.
Forza Azzurri
Yes, But hey at least we lost to the champions and some that don't even know the Italian National Anthem.
__________________
Thank you for everything CP. Good memories and thankful for everything that has been done to help me out. I will no longer take part on these boards. Take care, Go Flames Go.
