Euro 2012: Day 3 Thread

[Duty281]

Spain v Italy (17:00, ITV 1)
Republic of Ireland v Croatia (19:45 ITV 1)

Group C commences tomorrow with the reigning World and European Champions Spain kicking off against the dangerous Italy and that's followed by what should be a good game between Ireland and Croatia. Given I've got all 4 predictions wrong so far, I'll abstain this time!

[westisbest]

Spain to edge out out Italy 2-1.

My heart is ruling my head on this one.

Fancy us to edge out Croatia 1-0

The amout of Irish fans will certainly help the lads out.

Gonna be tough though.
We need to go at them fast right from the get go.
We dont concede many, but dont score enough, but think we'll nick this one.

Then let the green army go wild.

Wish I was out there with the bro and the lads.

[Bull]

Spain 2-1 Italy

Croatia 1-0 Rep

[JamesLincs]

difficult to predict todays matches

spain 0-0 italy
croatia 1-1 ireland

[Liam]

Spain 1-0 Italy

ROI 1-1 Croatia

[Crimey]

I think it'll be...

Spain 1-0 Italy

Ireland 2-1 Croatia

I think the Spain/Italy game could end up being the most boring one of the tournament.

[JamesLincs]

I think it'll be...

Spain 1-0 Italy

Ireland 2-1 Croatia

I think the Spain/Italy game could end up being the most boring one of the tournament.

me too

[Duty281]

I think it'll be...

Spain 1-0 Italy

Ireland 2-1 Croatia

I think the Spain/Italy game could end up being the most boring one of the tournament.

me too

I've actually gone with the same picks for Sportsguru.

[The Special Juan]

Spain are missing something.... a striker?

Casillas, Arbeloa, Alba, Ramos, Pique, Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Xavi, Iniesta, Silva, Fabregas.

No Di Natale? Booo!

Buffon; Maggio Chiellini Bonucci Motta; Marchisio Pirlo De Rossi Giaccherini; Balotelli Cassano

[Bull]

they have Torres up front TSC.

[The Special Juan]

No they don't. That's the team above ^^. No one called Fernando starting.

[Duty281]

So Spain playing 4-6-0? Hang on, let me rephrase that. The reigning World and European Champions playing 4-6-0 against Italy. That shows a massive lack of faith in Torres or Llorente.

[The Special Juan]

Did Craig Levein pick this team?

[Bull]

This is the team i saw

Iker Casillas
Alvaro Arbeloa
Sergio Ramos
Gerard Piqué
Jordi Alba
Xavi Hernandez
Sergio Busquets
Xabi Alonso
David Silva
Fernando Torres
Andrés Iniesta

[Crimey]

Del Bosque is a big fan of Craig Levein's tactics, didn't you know?

It's sort of playing to the strengths of the Spanish side, but it could end up failing. Fabregas did play as a false number 9 (not that I know what that means) for Barcelona in the beginning parts of the season but then was dropped from that position.

[Crimey]

This is the team i saw

Iker Casillas
Alvaro Arbeloa
Sergio Ramos
Gerard Piqué
Jordi Alba
Xavi Hernandez
Sergio Busquets
Xabi Alonso
David Silva
Fernando Torres
Andrés Iniesta

That will have just been speculation, the team has been confirmed by BBC as Fabregas in for Torres.

[Crimey]

Looks like my prediction of the most boring game so far may come true.

[Bull]

yeah i think this will be an awful game now.

[Crimey]

yeah i think this will be an awful game now.

It was always likely to be.

Spain were one of the most boring sides at the World Cup, they lack the dynamism of Barcelona and only have all the passing.

Italy are always a defensive side.

[mystiroakey]

omg spain are playing 4-6-0

lol 80% possesion and no golas- you heard it here first!!

[The Special Juan]

De Rossi at CB for Italy though, that's a risk. 0-0 here we go! (There's darts and tennis on )

[Bull]

all ways got revision to attend to. if this is awful which it will be.

[Crimey]

I don't think De Rossi is in defence...

[Bull]

is he not at DM?

[The Special Juan]

He might be. 1 team sheet had him at CB, another had him at DM.

[Guest]

I think they said he was playing the sweeper role?

http://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2012/06/10/europe/european-championships/spain/italy/1063196/

[mystiroakey]

gonna change my mind on this(from my guru picks)- spain have had it if there are gonna play this sort of game v italy. Italy to nick this on the counter 2 or 3 nil.

betfair offering 90's and 160's for them an all- stuck a cheeky 5er on each

[The Special Juan]

3 at the back for Italy. Hmmmm.

[mystiroakey]

ok so we are off

Forza italy

[Thomond]

Ireland v Croatia could be boring, Spain haven't picked a striker but they have plenty of attack minded midfielders, who are kind of like the old wing forwards.

[mystiroakey]

ireland v croatia will not be boring for you tho!!!!

im gonna be cheering you on as well..

[Thomond]

Could induce a heart attack even in young people like myself. Given could be under a lot of pressure. Looking for Richard "The Iron Curtain" Dunne to have a game like he had in Moscow.

Spoiler:

[mystiroakey]

You must have constant butterflys in your belly!!

almost there ..

I expect you guys to give it 100%, that hasnt happened from the rest of the teams(bar russia and denmark that is)

[mystiroakey]

Italy with alot more play than i expected!!

i kinda like this game so far..

[Crimey]

De Rossi looks like a beast in the that position, tackles flying in everywhere.

Spain, despite the fact that have six midfielders aren't dominating that midfield as you'd expect. Pirlo proving to be the metronome once more.

[mystiroakey]

wow!!!

go italy!

[Guest]

Can anybody ever remember a more enigmatic frontline than Cassano and Ballotelli?

[mystiroakey]

yeah shearer and owen

[Thomond]

Two headcases in the one team, hard to think of a crazier or more enigmatic duo. Ronaldo and Romario were both a bit nuts but not that bad.

[Guest]

Two headcases in the one team, hard to think of a crazier or more enigmatic duo. Ronaldo and Romario were both a bit nuts but not that bad.

Not to mention Edmundo in reserve. Proper batty that guy was!

[Crimey]

De Rossi has one long sleeve...one short short sleeve.

[Guest]

Them Italians are trend setters Crimey.

[Guest]

Is that Cliff Richard sat next to Del Bosque?

[cremmer]

Fascintating game. Two big chances at the end there, one for each team. I could see someone like Torres or Negredo getting in behind the Italy back three through but it would take a change in style a bit for Spain to do that.

[Duty281]

A tad dull as expected, can't believe how negative Spain are being in not picking a front man. Italy have had the best chance and only a great save from Casillas kept it at 0-0. Right now, I'm fancying Italy to take this one.

[Duty281]

UEFA has just charged the German Football Association for the behaviour of their supporters while the Portuguese face proceedings for a delayed start to the 2nd half.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18388042

[Gibson]

This is a really top-level game. Loving it. Italy's control and passing is giving Spain serious problems. Not many teams can do that.

[Gibson]

Balotelli you eejit!

[cremmer]

What a waste from Balotelli!

[Crimey]

I think he was looking for the penalty, hoping somebody would just clatter into him.

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