Olymipcs (9 Viewers)

[Martin]

Kick ass performance from Argentina, such a shame the senior team never can match the levels of the junior teams. Still haven't conceded a goal btw. :strong:

As for Gentile's squad, well..

 

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[Stu]

I'm not sure if Italy were just that poor or if Argentina are that good. I know that the South Americans have a great squad with top players in all areas, but it was far too easy for them. I know for a fact that Claudio Gentile's boys didn't play to their potential, but take nothing away from an excellent Argentine showing.

 

[Holdon]

++ [ originally posted by Stuart ] ++
I'm not sure if Italy were just that poor or if Argentina are that good.

A bit of both, they're better than us and we really aren't that good. The result didn't come as a shock to me, we needed 115 mins to score against Mali FFS. :down:

 

[Stu]

++ [ originally posted by Arif ] ++
FT Italy 0 - 3 Argentina

Italy played terrible. They didn't have any single serious chance. Best italian player was Bonera who was great. Ferrari was good too. All other players failed to show their best. Especially Gilardino from who was Italy's only chance today, played completely shite.

As for Argentina, every player played great. Especially that Rosales guy, along with Tevez, Kily, Coloccini, D'Alessandro and Mascherano were great.



@Stuart : Yes, Mariano Gonzalez is at the olympics.

Yup, Italy sucked. The defenders tried but Rosales, D'Alessandro, Kily and Tevez were too good for them. I like what Mascherano did in his deep midfield role. He'd definitely be an upgrade to Tacchinardi.

 

[Stu]

++ [ originally posted by Holdon ] ++


A bit of both, they're better than us and we really aren't that good. The result didn't come as a shock to me, we needed 115 mins to score against Mali FFS. :down:

I wasn't shocked by the result either, just the way that Italy played. It was certainly going to take alot to beat that Argentina side, but we weren't near as good as we have shown we can be in the past. We're talking about the U21 European Champions here.

PS. Pirlo really disappointed me.

 

[The Pado]

Mr. Moggi, did you happen to watch Argentina today????

 

[Holdon]

++ [ originally posted by Stuart ] ++


I wasn't shocked by the result either, just the way that Italy played.

You can't of seen our games previous games then, we were not as good as we were during the U-21 Championship. Whatever the reasons, we really struggled, apart from 45 mins against Japan and maybe the 2nd half against Ghana.

 

[Zlatan]

Yep. Argentina played the way football was ment to be played. Very offensive, great passing, a lot of running, individual brilliance, etc.

The Italians couldnt even press the Argentinians, because there as always a player to pass to, they just couldnt lose the ball.

They played 3-4-3, with Heinze, Ayala and Coloccini in defense, Kily on the left, Rosales on the right, D'Alessandro and Mascherano in central midfield, Delgado as a left forward, Tevez centre and Gonzalez right. The thing that makes it work is that everyone excanges positions. You have Kily and Delgado excanging positions on the left, Tevez coming down for the ball and Delgado moving into his position, D'Alessandro moving up while mascherano watches his back, Coloccini moving up down the right leaving Heinze and Ayala in defence... The key to their play is movement, movement, movement.

 

[The Arif]

Athens Olympics, Semi-final - 24/8/04
Italy 0-3 Argentina
Tevez 16 (A), L Gonzalez 69 (A), M Gonzalez 84 (A)

Italy’s dreams of Olympic Gold are over after a 3-0 defeat to Argentina in the semi-finals. Claudio Gentile’s boys battled well but their opponents deserved the victory after another impressive Athens display.

Argentina went into the game as clear favourites for victory given their run in the tournament to date. They had won all four of their matches with the aid of 13 goals for and none against. The Azzurrini knew they would have to give their very best to compete with such a star studded side.

Italy started brightly as a quick Pirlo free-kick saw Daniele Bonera fire in a dangerous low cross after just three minutes but nobody could get a touch to it. Gilardino, often isolated in attack, then tried his luck from outside of the area yet his right-footed drive was controlled by Lux.

It was the South Americans who took control of the first half though thanks to their technical skill and Italy’s rather cautious 4-5-1 formation. Heinze almost scored on eight minutes when he glanced a header towards goal before they took the lead in the 16th minute.

Matteo Ferrari failed to effectively clear a cross and his soft header fell to danger man Carlos Tevez. The Boca star thumped his volley past a helpless Ivan Pelizzoli in the Azzurrini net. Tevez later found the back of the net again in the first period but it was ruled out for offside.

Italy were only proving a danger at set-pieces. Bovo saw his headed effort just finish wide of the post and a Pirlo curler also ended up in the stands. Argentina could have easily extended their lead but the tricky D’Alessandro saw all three of his efforts dealt with by Pelizzoli.

Gentile made two substitutions at the break by bringing on Marco Donadel and Simone Del Nero. The latter made an instant impact as Italy pressed for the equaliser. They perhaps should have got one on 53 minutes when Delgado brought down Bonera in the box but no penalty was given.

On 59 minutes Pinzi had a great opportunity to trouble the ‘keeper but his header flew way over the bar from a favourable position. Pirlo then worried Argentina with a splendid free-kick but it ended up on the roof of the net.

Italy were committing more and more men forward and it cost them on 69 minutes. The ball landed to Tevez who took advantage of the two on two situation by playing in Luis Gonzalez. The player powered the ball into the top corner to make it 2-0.

Bovo almost reduced the deficit but Argentina finished the game off with a third. They split open the Azzurrini defence with three passes as Tevez’s cross was tapped in by Mariano Gonzalez – a second half substitute.

Italy will now do battle for the bronze medal on Friday when they will face either Iraq or Paraguay.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Italy: Pelizzoli, Moretti, Bovo, Ferrari, Bonera, Pinzi (Gasbarroni 72), De Rossi (Donadel 46), Palombo, Sculli (Del Nero 46), Pirlo, Gilardino.

Argentina: Lux, Ayala, Coloccini (Medina 69) , Heinze, Kily Gonzalez (Mariano Gonzalez 81), Mascherano, Luis Gonzalez, D`Alessandro, Rosales, Tevez, Delgado (Rodriguez 54).

Ref: Archiundia (Mex)

 

[Darin]

well i expected italy 2 lose but not 3-0 !!

so its italy-iraq 4 bronze on friday

 

[The Arif]

Iraq lost 1-3 against Paraguay in the second SF, so in the final will be Argentina and Paraguay, while Italy and Iraq will play for the third place.

 

[Jun-hide]

I am not surprised by the result given how poorly the Italians played and they were lucky to quality IMO, and had it not been clinical Gilardino finishing in the Preliminary rounds, they would have been knocked out.
The worrying thing for the Italians should be IMO, the lack of midfield strenght throught the squad from Azzurini to NT. Palombo, Donadel, IMO arent going to cut it at the top international level with their lack of technical ability, awareness and passing, and time and time against Azzuri's is going to be punished in this area. Mascherano was a rock in the midfield throughout the tournament, and I like his versatility comfortable both as CM and right hand sided player. Luis Gonzalez, as Stuart mentions, seem to be solid all-rounder, with some pace. And the main difference was that Argentina had players who can create when they have the possession. Everything seems so natural for them, fast-tempo one touch football, and yet having awareness to find team-mates. It helps when you have Tevez, D'Alessandro, Cesare Delgado, Saviola, et al. in the final third.
In the end, better use of possession, greater technical ability, clever movement up-front, and clinical finishing, Argentina IMO is superior than Azzurini in every single department. Europeans should be worried in the next WC IMO, given the standard of Latin Americans (Paraguy is a very good team with outstanding forward in Cardozo) and improvements in Asia and Africa. Europeans bar France, and Portugal, IMO, doesnt seem to be comfortable with ball and has to get better.

 

[Zlatan]

Like I said, movement, movement, movement

 

[Freddy]

I can predict It will be Argentina having the Gold Medal this time

 

[Freddy]

Iraq did some good effort but they lost due to Defensive Mistakes

But they deserve Respect

 

[genesio]

how old is that ugly but hell of a great player teves, he looks like dracula but reminds me of maradona .

o well italy lost very hard but argentina was just better.

it was like men againts boys.


but in 2006 it will be a diferent italy, i hope italy will show the world that they have the best soccercountry in this world.


i just know if totti,delpiero,gilardino,nesta,buffon,cassano,gattuso,and co and maybe new faces that have to be discover before 2006 worldcup,just play with CUORE play in form then they are buy far the best team in the world , than we kick teves argentina's ass for sure.

forza italia's star in 2006 as the best soccer country in this world.

and juve show the way in sweden tomorrow ciaoooo

 

[xNeo]

I'm glad we didn't get Gila; he has failed to impress me. He didn't play well in any of the games, and with those passes he was receiving should have scored like 7 goals (through out the tournament).

 

[Sid]

Del Nero played well, he should started instead of Sculli


Pirlo disappoint me......that stupid so-called-captain showed no determination at all:groan:

 

[_Emerson]

++ [ originally posted by xNeo ] ++
I'm glad we didn't get Gila; he has failed to impress me. He didn't play well in any of the games, and with those passes he was receiving should have scored like 7 goals (through out the tournament).

You people are so damn redicoulus!!!, you base your opinion on the few matches in the olympic!, dont you think it has something to do with the defensive and boring Italian mentality that makes Gilardino pretty alone up there. Try to get some perspective and dont judge a player from only those matches. He scored 23 goals last season.
Gilardino is incredible, his first touch is out of this world, he is a star!, sooner or later people like you will see it too.

 

[Freddy]

++ [ originally posted by genesio ] ++
how old is that ugly but hell of a great player teves, he looks like dracula but reminds me of maradona .

I guess he's 20 years old