Casillas to the rescue as youthful Spain eliminate world champions Italy from Euro 2008

For the right to play Russia in the semifinal of Euro 2008 on the June 26, both Spain and the world champions Italy played to a goalless draw at the end of regulation and extra time in close encounter that saw the winner being determined by penalty kicks.

It was to be a night for a goalkeeper and Real Madrid and Spanish captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas saw his team through with two saves that denied the Azzurri from progressing to the semifinal of Euro 2008. Italy’s Daniele De Rossi and Antonio Di Natale were denied by Casillas who also saw his teammate Daniel Guiza miss his spot kick. The Spanish won 4-2 on penalties to set up a mouthwatering clash with Euro 2008 surprise semifinalists Russia.

The Spanish are making their first major appearance in a semifinal in 24 years; 1984 being the last time they went to a major semifinal. Italy’s aspirations of adding Euro 2008 championship title to their world cup triumph saw their dreams deferred. The Italians have not lost a game in a major tournament in regulation time for the last 20 years, penalties and golden goals have proved to be their down fall.

Euro 2008 Prematch Analysis: Spain vs Italy Live Online

Euro 2008 Championships, Quarter Final
Teams: Spain vs Italy
Date and Time: Sunday 22 June 2008, 20:45 CET
Venue: Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna
Match official: Herbert Fandel

Youthful Exuberance

The Spanish team whose average age is approximately 24 have been in no uncertain terms fabulous throughout the Euros with a host of young players that are at the top of their game and ready to lay their tag as the “biggest underachievers” to rest and at the helm is coach Luis Aragones. They qualified for the quarter finals of Euro 2008 with maximum points from three games; finishing top of Group D. They have scored eight goals in three games, and will go into this match as favorites to progress to the semi-finals.

We have seen on many occasions that Spain are not capable of playing as they can when it really matters and the question on everyone’s lips is; will Spain fail to deliver when it really matters?
This was the case at the last World Cup, when Spain played some delightful football in the group stages, only to then lose 3-1 to France in the second round.

The Spanish are certainly in better form than their Azzurri opponents, but they have a dreadful competitive record against their Italy. There is also the small matter of the June 22 curse. It is important to note that Spain has been eliminated three major tournaments on penalties on this date in recent times, losing to Belgium at World Cup ’86, England at Euro ’96, and South Korea at World Cup 2002.

Slow Starters

The Italians have always been slow starters in every major tournament and Euro 2008 was no exception; the Azzurri confirmed their place in the quarter finals of Euro 2008 with a 2-0 victory over France in a repeat of the 2006 world cup final; after losing 3-0 to Holland and drawing 1-1 with Romania.
Roberto Donadoni’s men were much improved against Les Bleus, and they will now be hoping that they have started to hit form at just the right time.

Italy is also a team that plays when they should and it is no doubt Spain are in for the fight of their tournament when they face the Azzurri.

A Look at the teams

Spain

Defender Carles Puyol was thought to be a doubt for this game due to injury, however he will be fit enough to start. Luis Aragones will bring back all of his key players after resting many of them during Spain’s final group game against Greece on Wednesday.

Possible Starting XI: Casillas; Ramos, Puyol, Marchena, Capdevila; Senna; Iniesta, Xavi, Silva; Villa, Torres

Italy

The AC Milan-duo Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo are suspended. Coach Donadoni will probably choose his best four from Daniele De Rossi, Simone Perrotta, Alberto Aquilani, Massimo Ambrosini and Mauro Camoranesi to replace them. Defender Andrea Barzagli picked up an injury in training on Thursday and is out for the rest of the tournament.

Possible Starting XI: Buffon; Zambrotta, Panucci, Chiellini, Grosso; Camoranesi, Ambrosini, De Rossi, Perrotta; Cassano, Toni

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Spain

Fernando Torres: Coming off an outstanding club season for Liverpool, Torres has been overshadowed at Euro 2008 by his strike partner David Villa; however the 24-year-old has the pace and trickery to trouble the Italy backline if he is afforded the space to do so. This could open up space for Villa who is Euro 2008 leading goal scorer on 4 goals.

Italy

Luca Toni: The Bayern Munich hit man has failed to score in Euro 2008 so far and missed numerous chances in the 2-0 win over France. However he has played well and many feel it is only a matter of time until he finds the back of the net. If anyone is to score against Spain surely it will be Toni. With his height, ball control and skill; the Spanish defense will not stand a chance if he is given a proper supply of the ball and with Pirlo out, it could be up to him.

PREDICTION

This game will certainly be close and one should not rule out the possibility of extra time or even penalties. Clinical finishing could a major difference between both teams. With Pirlo and Gattuso out for Italy they really have no antidote for the Spanish attacking midfield. It will be tight but the youthful Spanish will conquer.

Spain 2-1 Italy

Watch Spain vs Italy Live Online

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Euro 2008 Pre-match Analysis: Italy vs France Live Online

European Championships, Group C
Teams: Italy (3rd, 1pt) vs France (4th, 1pt)
Date and Time: Tuesday 17 June 2008, 20:45 CET
Venue: Letzigrund Stadion, Zürich

On the brink of elimination

The Azzurri and Les Bleus are both on the brink of elimination from the group stages of Euro 2008, with both teams booked as possible favorites for Euro 2008, neither has lived up to their expectations. As such neither team thought qualification for the knockout stages of Euro 2008 would be up to a repeat of the Euro 2000 final.

If the Romanians beat Holland who have already qualified in the other match in the group, then the result in the Italy-France match would be irrelevant as neither would qualify.

With neither the world champions nor the French assured a spot in the quarter final, winning tomorrow’s game must be the last chance for either team, who have looked a shadow of themselves throughout the competition. Both teams however, have been plagued by injury to key players ahead of their opening matches and will feel that this may have affected their team performance.

France will feel confident they can beat the world champions having beaten them 3-0 in qualifying and drawn the return tie 1-1.

A Look at the teams

Italy

Roberto Donadoni made five changes for the Romanian game, and it is possible he will make changes to the team for the repeat of world cup 2006 final with France. The two players who seem certain to be dropped are Andrea Pirlo and Alessandro Del Piero, with Antonio Cassano definitely coming in for the latter. Even though it is a speculative move to drop Pirlo, Coach Donadoni may be trying fresh tactics, but with no one to replace Pirlo, he could start.

Possible Starting XI: Buffon; Zambrotta, Panucci, Chiellini, Grosso; Camoranesi, Pirlo, De Rossi, Aquilani; Cassano, Toni

France

Raymond Domenech could make some changes following a disastrous 4-1 thumping by Holland. Veteran defender Lilian Thuram could be axed but will probably be saved, while Samir Nasri is being tipped to return to the side to support veteran striker Thierry Henry. Patrick Vieira may play his first game of Euro 2008 if he can prove he is fit following his thigh injury, but he is still a doubt. William Gallas will start despite an ankle injury.

Possible Starting XI: Coupet; Sagnol, Thuram, Gallas, Evra; Ribery, Makelele, Toulalan, Malouda; Nasri, Henry

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Italy

Luca Toni: Has failed to make his mark on Euro 2008, but he was incredibly unlucky not to hit the back of the net during the draw with Romania, having a valid goal wrongly disallowed, and also seeing a header miraculously saved by Bogdan Lobont. If any Italian is to score against France surely it will be Toni.

France

Franck Ribery: Like his Bayern Munich team-mate and friend Toni, Ribery has also not really shone at the Euros but his class is without question. The only real creative force in the French team, Ribery must lead from the front. The pressure will be on Ribery as he aims to keep the French in Euro 2008.

PREDICTION

Games between the French and the Italians are always close encounters, and although both need to go for the win, these two teams know each other quite well and the possibility of a draw cannot be ruled out. However if the scores are level late in the game, and both know that a win will be enough to take them through, there could be chances as men are thrown forward in search of a goal. Neither wants to be eliminated and so it will come down to the team who wants it more, the Italians have not shown that they are ready for Euro 2008, nor has the French but the French will be victorious.

Italy 1-2 France

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The Oranges -Les Bleus feel the Bleus

The French team was given a lesson in soccer yessterday when they were whipped 4-1 by a Dutch team that looks simply unbeatable. With the Oranje’s beating two of Euro 2008 favorites, it’s safe to say that they are now one of the favorites of the competition and face the prospects of a place in Vienna, Austria on June 29.

The “group of death” has not lived up to its expectation of being the most difficult group in Euro 2008, instead it has seemed like a one sided affair with the Dutch dominating. The world champions and the mighty French are not playing the brand of football that the world has grown accustom to seeing them play and one would have thought based on previous form that both nations would be head to head for first place in the group.

Robbed by injury certainly all the teams in the group has had problems with injury to key players but the most noticeable being the injuries to players in the French and Italian teams. However, both teams have depth and quality players that should be able to fill any gaps that arise in the team.
The problem I think is the coaching and similarly both France and Italy have coaches that have been heavily criticized for their tactics. This in itself has proven that both coaches make decisions that may or may affect the players and the way they play on the field. I think you will agree that neither France nor Italy have played their natural game.

The French does not possess the attacking creativity has wee have grown used to seeing when they go forward or the fluid transition from defense to attack. They are missing the Great Zidane, who for so long has been their “go to” guy when they needed inspiration and so we clearly that a player like Zidane cannot be replaced. Karim Benzema has not lived up to the expectations placed on him, could it be that he is not one for the big occasion?

The Italians need Del Piero and Totti and the inspirational Cannavaro on the field at the same time and with Gattuso and Pirlo in midfield they would simply be gigantic on the field.
So with both France and Italy on 1 point from 2 games and Romania on 2 points, the stage is set for a repeat of the 2006 World cup final as France and Italy do battle for a possible place in the knockout stages of Euro 2008 on June 17.

Euro 2008 Pre-match Analysis: Italy vs Romania Live Online

European Championships, Group C
Teams: Italy (4th, 0pts) vs Romania (3rd, 1pt)
Date & Time: Friday 13 June 2008, 17:00 CET
Venue: Letzigrund Stadion, Zürich

Win or Go Home For Italy

Italy will come into this match knowing that they must win if they stand a chance for qualifying to the knockout stages of Euro 2008.
With Coach Roberto Donadoni coming under heavy scrutiny from both players and the Italian football federation, it is imperative that the world champions and one of the tournament’s favorites win on Friday. Veteran striker Alessandro Del Piero has been named as captain and will be hoping he can turn things around for the Azzurri who will be short on confidence following their thrashing by Holland.

Romania Hoping to Surprise the World Champions

When the Group C draw was made, Romania were almost immediately discarded as free points for everyone, with Italy, France and Holland expected to fight it out for the two qualification places. But such is the game of football; with their draw against the French, the Romanians shocked the world and may well think they can do one better against the world champions who looked a bit in disarray on Monday.

A Look at the teams

Italy

Roberto Donadoni will certainly make tactical changes for this game. Marco Materazzi and Andrea Barzagli are both set to be dropped, with Giorgio Chiellini and Fabio Grosso coming in to form a make shift defensive unit. Daniele De Rossi will certainly start in midfield, as will new captain Alex Del Piero up-front.

Possible Starting XI: Buffon; Zambrotta, Panucci, Chiellini, Grosso; De Rossi, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Camoranesi, Toni, Del Piero

Romania

Romania will play the same disciplined system they employed successfully against beaten world cup 2006 finalist, France. Ciprian Marica will recover from a head injury but will probably be on the bench, with Daniel Niculae given the knod. Christian Chivu will again play in centre midfield following his outstanding performance on Monday. Chivu’s role in the game will be a determing factor in the Romanians game plan

Possible Starting XI: Lobont; Contra, Tamas, Goian, Rat; Nicolita, Codrea, Chivu, Dica; D Niculae, Mutu

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Italy – Alessandro Del Piero: Restored to the Italy line-up after impressing as a substitute against the Dutch, for the first time possibly in his international career, Italy will rely on Del Piero to do for them what he did for Jeuventus. The 33-year-old has just had his best season in a decade, finishing top-scorer in Serie A, and will surely be high in confidence. With the captains arm band on, Del Piero should lead from the front.

Romania – Christian Chivu: The Inter Milan defender was colossal figure against France in their opener. He was authoritative and showed his intelligence class in an unfamiliar central midfield position. He will be expected to battle in midfield against the likes of Pirlo and Gattuso.

PREDICTION

Romania will be playing for a draw and will look to punish the Italians on the counter, as their vulnerability on the counter was highlighted on Monday by the Dutch. The Italians must be patient and should not be over eager to finish the game in the first half. However, the Romanians have not shown that they are attackingly threatening and even though the world champions are featuring a make shift defensive unit, I can’t see the Romanians breaking them down but surprises happen.

Italy 1-0 Romania

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Donadoni’s tactics under scrutiny!

“If De Rossi had played then I would’ve been further up the field, but there are 23 of us in the squad and the Coach makes his decisions.” stated AC Milan’s playmaker Andrea Pirlo who questioned the tactics of the Azzurri’s coach, Roberto Donadoni after the world champions were beaten 3-0 by the Dutch in their “group of death fixture.

Also being criticized the media and the Italian fans, Roberto Donadoni could find himself out of a job if the world champions and one of the favorites Italy make an early exit. With Romania and 2006 world cup beaten finalist France to come, Donadoni must pull his team that must be devastated together but that must be seen as a peripheral task with the task at hand being the fact that some key players in the Italian team disagree with his tactics.

What will the Italian tactics be on June 13?

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