The incident in which the ball hit the bar after Buffon's mistake reminded me of the same which occurred for Pagliuca and made him kiss the post 
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Official Azzurri (Italy) Euro 2008 Thread (22 Viewers)
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Italy is outplayed by Spain due to the suspensions of Pirlo and Gattuso and Spain had a lot of fun in the midfield, only to be denied by the class of Chiellini and Buffon. Spain has displayed their beautiful football on the pitch and taught the Italians on the lesson of attacking football. Dodadoni and Toni are the main culprits for the goalless draw as both of them are terrible and failed to deliver at the crucial moments, thus resulting to Italy being eliminated of Euro 2008.
Buffon - Didn't had much to do and deal with the attacks comfortably, but a professional player like him shouldn't have spilled Senna's shot, otherwise he will look like a fool. His perception on saving penalties from players are still mind-baffling despite being one of the best goalkeepers in the world. 6.5
Zambrotta - Nothing special in the 1st half, but looked lively in the 2nd, defending and attacking, even made a cross which Toni failed to convert. 6.5
Panucci - Is always positioned at the right place at the right time, but old age seems to get to him as he is outmuscled by Torres. 6.5
Chiellini - The only bright spot in the Italy team. His pace, positioning and sliding tackles are always a great sight to watch, making both Torres and Villa look like amateurs who gets more time moaning rather than having the ball on his feet. He is definitely confident and is growing to be a matured player who makes marking world class strikers seems so easy for him. Had it not been him, Italy will definitely lose this game. Italy has generated another young defender who will be great for ages to come. 8
Grosso - Not much of an influence compared to the game against France. Silva proved to be a tricky costumer. He did give assurance for his teammates for being the 1st penalty taker to blast his shot into the goal. 6
De Rossi - Started well, but becoming more of a defender than his usual offensive self. Took his penalty well, but was denied by a world class save by Casillas. 6
Aquilani - Because of Donadoni's tactics, he played poorly, letting the Spanish midfield do their usual work. Should have been taken off earlier. 5
Ambrosini - Senna has proven to be a better defensive midfielder than he is. Lucky not to concede a penalty. 5
Perrotta - Perrotta is always a physical player with lots of stamina and not a technical player. What can Perrotta do in a playmaker position when he doesn't offer anything? This just proves that Donadoni is stupid, anybody will put Perrotta as a DM in the expense of Gattuso's suspension. 5
Cassano - Always wanted to offer something interesting for the team, but too bad none of it comes out. Should have played behind the strikers. Rightfully substituted. 5.5
Toni - What happened to the great Luca Toni who banged in 30+ goals for Bayern yet cannot even manage a single goal in the Euro 2008? He is a major disappointment just when a goal is badly needed. Never really performed against the big national teams. Basically a flop. Italy is lucky to be even in the last 8. 3
Substitutions
Camoranesi - Ever since he came on, he offered the much needed creativity and even tried to shoot with his left leg, only to be denied by Casillas. He is still inconsistent. 6.5
Di Natale - Started out bright, managed a header, but faded into the game. His weak penalty shot is saved by Casillas. To be honest, you cannot fire such a weak shot in front of a world class keeper during a penalty shoot out. This nightmare will definitely haunt Di Natale. 4.5
Del Piero - Given too less time to be influential. Is supposed to be a penalty taker, but nobody knows why Di Natale is selected ahead of him. N.A
Donadoni - Strange tactics, strange player selections, and strange coaching. Italy certainly doesn't deserve Donadoni as their coach. The players seem to have lost its grit and chemistry. I wonder what Donadoni must be thinking when he fielded Aquilani, who isn't experienced to battle against the tireless Spainards in such an important game, and Perrotta, whose physical attributes suit more of a DM rather than a playmaker. Had it not been Buffon and Chiellini, Italy will be out of this tournament. The only reason why I give him 2 is because of his look of frustruation when the cameras get close to him, which curiously amazes me. And he is smarter than Domenech despite being tactically clueless.2
Buffon - Didn't had much to do and deal with the attacks comfortably, but a professional player like him shouldn't have spilled Senna's shot, otherwise he will look like a fool. His perception on saving penalties from players are still mind-baffling despite being one of the best goalkeepers in the world. 6.5
Zambrotta - Nothing special in the 1st half, but looked lively in the 2nd, defending and attacking, even made a cross which Toni failed to convert. 6.5
Panucci - Is always positioned at the right place at the right time, but old age seems to get to him as he is outmuscled by Torres. 6.5
Chiellini - The only bright spot in the Italy team. His pace, positioning and sliding tackles are always a great sight to watch, making both Torres and Villa look like amateurs who gets more time moaning rather than having the ball on his feet. He is definitely confident and is growing to be a matured player who makes marking world class strikers seems so easy for him. Had it not been him, Italy will definitely lose this game. Italy has generated another young defender who will be great for ages to come. 8
Grosso - Not much of an influence compared to the game against France. Silva proved to be a tricky costumer. He did give assurance for his teammates for being the 1st penalty taker to blast his shot into the goal. 6
De Rossi - Started well, but becoming more of a defender than his usual offensive self. Took his penalty well, but was denied by a world class save by Casillas. 6
Aquilani - Because of Donadoni's tactics, he played poorly, letting the Spanish midfield do their usual work. Should have been taken off earlier. 5
Ambrosini - Senna has proven to be a better defensive midfielder than he is. Lucky not to concede a penalty. 5
Perrotta - Perrotta is always a physical player with lots of stamina and not a technical player. What can Perrotta do in a playmaker position when he doesn't offer anything? This just proves that Donadoni is stupid, anybody will put Perrotta as a DM in the expense of Gattuso's suspension. 5
Cassano - Always wanted to offer something interesting for the team, but too bad none of it comes out. Should have played behind the strikers. Rightfully substituted. 5.5
Toni - What happened to the great Luca Toni who banged in 30+ goals for Bayern yet cannot even manage a single goal in the Euro 2008? He is a major disappointment just when a goal is badly needed. Never really performed against the big national teams. Basically a flop. Italy is lucky to be even in the last 8. 3
Substitutions
Camoranesi - Ever since he came on, he offered the much needed creativity and even tried to shoot with his left leg, only to be denied by Casillas. He is still inconsistent. 6.5
Di Natale - Started out bright, managed a header, but faded into the game. His weak penalty shot is saved by Casillas. To be honest, you cannot fire such a weak shot in front of a world class keeper during a penalty shoot out. This nightmare will definitely haunt Di Natale. 4.5
Del Piero - Given too less time to be influential. Is supposed to be a penalty taker, but nobody knows why Di Natale is selected ahead of him. N.A
Donadoni - Strange tactics, strange player selections, and strange coaching. Italy certainly doesn't deserve Donadoni as their coach. The players seem to have lost its grit and chemistry. I wonder what Donadoni must be thinking when he fielded Aquilani, who isn't experienced to battle against the tireless Spainards in such an important game, and Perrotta, whose physical attributes suit more of a DM rather than a playmaker. Had it not been Buffon and Chiellini, Italy will be out of this tournament. The only reason why I give him 2 is because of his look of frustruation when the cameras get close to him, which curiously amazes me. And he is smarter than Domenech despite being tactically clueless.2
By the way, Grosso is an overrated douchebag. The way he cheated today was utterly pathetic and I don't know how the referee didn't see the shirt tugs, arms wrapped around players, all the cheap crap that defenders get away with.
All he needed to do was take another dive and he would have had a hattrick.
All he needed to do was take another dive and he would have had a hattrick.
I can't believe my eyes someone is praising that tactic and that kind of football mentality. This match alone took 10 years of my life 
Like I said before, you know you have a problem where your number 10 is De Rossi and your attacking midfielder is Perrotta.
But that's all Italy has at the moment. Nothing impressive whatsoever. People don't want Amauri for retarded reasons, yet he would have scored in this tournament. Everybody else up top for the Azzurri minus Alex is overrated crap and tosh. The defense apart from Chiellini is utter horse piss, so tell me, what exactly is so great about these players on this side that made people think Italy would challenge for these Euros while knowing Donadoni is the manager?
PS - And it's not all Donadoni's fault. Many players choked.
The only thing that is pure luck is Italy. Don't be biased here, dude. Italy sucked in this tournament and were the weaker of the two sides on the day. Spain outplayed them, had more scoring opportunities, and played BETTER FOOTBALL. Moreover, their midfield absolutely rapes the Azzurri in terms of class.
Again, take the glasses off, sir. Spain beat you deservedly.
Again, take the glasses off, sir. Spain beat you deservedly.
Italy closed the game down because they had nothing to offer like the Spaniards at the other end of the pitch.
So saying that Italy played a great game defensively only covers for the fact that they had no other choice, since they were so pathetic in attack. Maybe these kind of tactics are great for Greece in '04, but you would think Italy would be better than resorting to that and hoping PKs would bail them out.
So saying that Italy played a great game defensively only covers for the fact that they had no other choice, since they were so pathetic in attack. Maybe these kind of tactics are great for Greece in '04, but you would think Italy would be better than resorting to that and hoping PKs would bail them out.
Holy shit!
Where the hell did I say Italy deserved to go through?I'll appreciate it if you show me that post.Thank you,sir.
I'm not that biased to overlook how bad Italy was at the Euros.I know that,but thank you nonetheless for reminding me.
Did Spain play the better football?Yes,they did.Again,where did I say otherwise?I just said that Spain wasn't superior because they weren't able to score.Superior to me means scoring the required goal more than the other team.Superior to you probably means playing better.
Where the hell did I say Italy deserved to go through?I'll appreciate it if you show me that post.Thank you,sir.
I'm not that biased to overlook how bad Italy was at the Euros.I know that,but thank you nonetheless for reminding me.
Did Spain play the better football?Yes,they did.Again,where did I say otherwise?I just said that Spain wasn't superior because they weren't able to score.Superior to me means scoring the required goal more than the other team.Superior to you probably means playing better.
I've read a lot in here...but most of you aren't really talking football but mixing unnecessary stuff together.
Here is why I think Italy is out, from football tactic point of view.
The main reason Italy are out is simply because of Donadoni and no two can argue on that.
People were criticizing Di Natale for the Holland game then Del Piero for the Romania game and a bit of Cassano in the France game. But If we look at it and we analyze it you'll simply figure out that the SYSTEM that the Azzurri played in this competition is useless.
How on earth, just how on earth can someone play the same formation system over and over when it's obvious it's not the right one. The 4-3-3 Donadoni was using has to be the worst formation system I've seen since i've followed and played football.
-Camoranesi.....playing out of his normal position
-Del Piero.....playing out of his normal position
-Toni....playing up-front alone and only one ST behind him...and each time it's diff player.
-Perrotta playing behind Toni and one of Cassano/Del Piero/Di Natale
I seriously don't know and I mean it, I can't understand how someone who has played football on the highest level and is chosen to coach the Italian NT is afraid to play both Del Piero and Cassano together behind Toni, but insist on playing Perrotta who is anything but creative player who is anything but offensive player who is anything but a good player for that position???? If anyone can answer me that, it would be really nice.
What I've learned from Lippi over all these years, is that you don't apply/play your formation if it doesn't suit your best players.
Donadoni wanted to play the 4-3-3 formation no matter what...even if that required to play Ambrosini upfront he'll still go with it as long as it's 4-3-3.
People and I blamed Toni a lot and called him overrated for not scoring, we could be right, but we were a bit harsh on him considering that he was playing alone upfront. We've seen only 15min of Cassano and Del Piero playing together against Holland, and I must say those were the only 15min I enjoyed in this tournament.
I can understand If Donadoni isn't as smart as Lippi in football nor he'll ever be in 200years time but I can't understand the reason for not playing both of these players.
As for today's game...the Spaniards deserved this win....they were the better side... it felt really sad and it broke my heart to see players such as Del Piero, Pirlo and Buffon and the likes leaving in such a way.
As ZAF also said in his post, Donadoni has to be the worst coach to ever coach this side....even Trap the one that was called "defensive minded" from press and media had the balls to play Cassano Dp together. This proves what type of coaches Donadoni is.
Here is why I think Italy is out, from football tactic point of view.
The main reason Italy are out is simply because of Donadoni and no two can argue on that.
People were criticizing Di Natale for the Holland game then Del Piero for the Romania game and a bit of Cassano in the France game. But If we look at it and we analyze it you'll simply figure out that the SYSTEM that the Azzurri played in this competition is useless.
How on earth, just how on earth can someone play the same formation system over and over when it's obvious it's not the right one. The 4-3-3 Donadoni was using has to be the worst formation system I've seen since i've followed and played football.
-Camoranesi.....playing out of his normal position
-Del Piero.....playing out of his normal position
-Toni....playing up-front alone and only one ST behind him...and each time it's diff player.
-Perrotta playing behind Toni and one of Cassano/Del Piero/Di Natale
I seriously don't know and I mean it, I can't understand how someone who has played football on the highest level and is chosen to coach the Italian NT is afraid to play both Del Piero and Cassano together behind Toni, but insist on playing Perrotta who is anything but creative player who is anything but offensive player who is anything but a good player for that position???? If anyone can answer me that, it would be really nice.
What I've learned from Lippi over all these years, is that you don't apply/play your formation if it doesn't suit your best players.
Donadoni wanted to play the 4-3-3 formation no matter what...even if that required to play Ambrosini upfront he'll still go with it as long as it's 4-3-3.
People and I blamed Toni a lot and called him overrated for not scoring, we could be right, but we were a bit harsh on him considering that he was playing alone upfront. We've seen only 15min of Cassano and Del Piero playing together against Holland, and I must say those were the only 15min I enjoyed in this tournament.
I can understand If Donadoni isn't as smart as Lippi in football nor he'll ever be in 200years time but I can't understand the reason for not playing both of these players.
As for today's game...the Spaniards deserved this win....they were the better side... it felt really sad and it broke my heart to see players such as Del Piero, Pirlo and Buffon and the likes leaving in such a way.
As ZAF also said in his post, Donadoni has to be the worst coach to ever coach this side....even Trap the one that was called "defensive minded" from press and media had the balls to play Cassano Dp together. This proves what type of coaches Donadoni is.
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