Euro 2004: Italy - Sweden (Group C) (5 Viewers)
- Thread starter Stu
- Start date
Always the same thing for Italy huh? Never able to go for the juglar and get that second goal. They were inspired in the first half, but unable to finish. They had a few florishes in the second but around the 70th, it was obvious they weren't going to add another. The defense got disorganized for a moment and Ibhamrovic scored a beauty. Italy really should have had 3 points though, I don't know why Trap took his foot off the gas.
I thought Zambrotta and Pannucci played great today, as did Cassano and I'm not sure why they took him off so early. I would have taken off Gattuso, he really is only a thug and was lucky not to get sent off. I think Italy will be better off without him in the next match, considering they need to score some goals. Ale played pretty well, Vieri couldn't hit the broad side of a barn however. I would look elsewhere next match although I can't say I'm that much more confident in Di Viaio, maybe Corradi would be a good option. I didn't like the decision to start Perrotta and Gattuso but this one came down to finishing. If Vieri or Del Piero was able to knock in one of the many chances they had, Italy would have won.
I thought Zambrotta and Pannucci played great today, as did Cassano and I'm not sure why they took him off so early. I would have taken off Gattuso, he really is only a thug and was lucky not to get sent off. I think Italy will be better off without him in the next match, considering they need to score some goals. Ale played pretty well, Vieri couldn't hit the broad side of a barn however. I would look elsewhere next match although I can't say I'm that much more confident in Di Viaio, maybe Corradi would be a good option. I didn't like the decision to start Perrotta and Gattuso but this one came down to finishing. If Vieri or Del Piero was able to knock in one of the many chances they had, Italy would have won.
IMO gattuso was really wanting to do his job there...and in my view he tackled and gained a good number of balls..... but sadly he abuse with th ephysycla game which s his speciality, and he turns to be a double edged blade.
But i would use him instead of the zanetti-perrota combo anyday.... it hink that it was the big difference in this game...as our def mid was lost in the last one.
But i would use him instead of the zanetti-perrota combo anyday.... it hink that it was the big difference in this game...as our def mid was lost in the last one.
zambrotta was like his usual self but somehow lack clinical end result like panucci did...
nesta was great today... stop almost ever ball coming his way... and Pirlo did very very good in the deep playmaking role... dictating plays, holding up ball....
and i dun think Dp was all great.... better on his standards....but still everage for this level........certainly cannot be put the same as cassano .. he only did some great moves on islolated cases but still lack the consistent sharpness like cassano did... lucky there are pirlo to take over the playmaking role from him...
nesta was great today... stop almost ever ball coming his way... and Pirlo did very very good in the deep playmaking role... dictating plays, holding up ball....
and i dun think Dp was all great.... better on his standards....but still everage for this level........certainly cannot be put the same as cassano .. he only did some great moves on islolated cases but still lack the consistent sharpness like cassano did... lucky there are pirlo to take over the playmaking role from him...
I guess he didn't play all that poorly, I just think him and Perotta leave something to be desiered. The Italian midfield has no width with Cassano, Pirlo, Perotta and Gattuso. Of course Zambrotta and Pannuci did very well on the wings but that leaves the back somewhat suspect. Maybe that is why trap felt the need for two defensive midfielders. Still I would have started Firoe in favor of either Perotta or Gattuso.
Italia (4-3-1-2): Buffon 6.5, Panucci 7, Cannavaro 6, Nesta 6.5, Zambrotta 6, 8 Gattuso 7 (31' st Favalli sv), Pirlo 6, Perrotta 6, Cassano 7.5 (25' st Fiore sv), Vieri 6, Del Piero 6.5 (37' st Camoranesi sv) (12 Toldo, 15 Oddo, 6 Ferrari, 23 Materazzi, 16 Camoranesi, Zanetti, 11 Corradi, 17 Di Vaio, 22 Peruzzi). All. Trapattoni 6.5.
Svezia (4-4-2): Isaksson 7, Nilsson 5.5, Mellberg 5.5, Jakobsson 5.5, Edman 5 (32' st Allback sv), Wilhelmsson 5.5 (21' st Jonson sv), Linderoth 6, Svensson 5.5 (9' st Kallstrom sv), Ljungberg 6, Larsson 6, Ibrahimovic 7. (12 Hedman, 23 Kihlstedt, 4 Mjallby, 13 Hansson, 14 Ostlund, 17 Andersson, 19 Farnerud, 20 Allback, 22 Wahlstedt). All. Soederberg_e Lagerbaeck.
from Rai.
I would have given DP an additional 0.5 for that lob effort
Svezia (4-4-2): Isaksson 7, Nilsson 5.5, Mellberg 5.5, Jakobsson 5.5, Edman 5 (32' st Allback sv), Wilhelmsson 5.5 (21' st Jonson sv), Linderoth 6, Svensson 5.5 (9' st Kallstrom sv), Ljungberg 6, Larsson 6, Ibrahimovic 7. (12 Hedman, 23 Kihlstedt, 4 Mjallby, 13 Hansson, 14 Ostlund, 17 Andersson, 19 Farnerud, 20 Allback, 22 Wahlstedt). All. Soederberg_e Lagerbaeck.
from Rai.
I would have given DP an additional 0.5 for that lob effort
Zambo were here, there and everywere. He was amazing (as always) with his combinations to DP and Cassano.
Nesta was very shaky, and made a couple of errors, his passing upfield was also poor.
Pirlo on the other hand started good, but faded away, he had many ball losses in the midfield, and his long passes was useless today. When rino got subbed, Pirlo collapsed.
DP was one of the best men today. He was good to speed the game up and down on the right occasions. He had good passes and good runs. He was both defending and attacking and also constantly switching places with Cassano. He didnt loose the ball that much today, and had great vision for the game. Today i saw DP as a captain!
Nesta was very shaky, and made a couple of errors, his passing upfield was also poor.
Pirlo on the other hand started good, but faded away, he had many ball losses in the midfield, and his long passes was useless today. When rino got subbed, Pirlo collapsed.
DP was one of the best men today. He was good to speed the game up and down on the right occasions. He had good passes and good runs. He was both defending and attacking and also constantly switching places with Cassano. He didnt loose the ball that much today, and had great vision for the game. Today i saw DP as a captain!