Before kick off, the general opinion seemed that Italy were going to walk this game, with the Netherlands missing key players due to injury, such as Mario Melchiot, Ryan Babel and Arjen Robben, with Robin Van Persie just passing a very late fitness test.
In the first couple of minutes, both teams seemed very eager to make a good start, especially after France’s shock draw against Romania. After around five minutes Holland started to dominate the game, putting Italy’s’ defense under immense pressure, and it was obvious Italy were missing their usual captain, Fabio Cannovaro.
After twenty minutes, Italy conceded a corner. As the ball flew in, Buffon reached out and punched the ball, landing at Sneijder’s feet. He then whacked the ball and Ruud Van Nistelrooy converted it into the bottom corner. Van Nistelrooy was quite far offside, and Italian players were understandably appalled, Luca Toni getting booked for his arguments.
Italy soon found their feet though, forcing the Dutch back into their own half where they conceded a silly corner. The ball came across and Van Bronckhorst blocked off the line, before running the whole length of the field before making a perfect cross, straight to Dirk Kuyt who headed back into the six yard box for Wesley Sneijder to volley past Buffon.
Just minutes later, Dirk Kuyt played a perfect through ball to Van Nistelrooy, who took it round the Italian goalie but appeared to be caught. Van Nistelrooy stayed up (just about) and crosses the ball back into the middle to no avail, but if he had gone down it would have undoubtedly been a penalty. The Netherlands go into the changing rooms well on top, and Italy didn’t look like coming back from two goals down.
The second half wasn’t any less exciting. Italy started well, but once again Holland started to take control, passing the ball around and playing some extremely good football. There was almost nothing to choose between the two teams, until Pirlo took a curling free kick from the edge of the area which Edwin Van Der Sar superbly saved, before throwing it up the field, for new substitute Robin Van Persie to thread the ball through to Dirk Kuyt who shot from the edge of the box with Buffon making a fantastic save. The Liverpool striker then crossed the ball back in and Van Bronckhorst had an easy header to make it three nil.
After that there really was no way back for Italy, although they had a couple of opportunities that would have gone their way on another day, they failed to score.
It was definitely the most entertaining match of Euro 2008 so far, with fluent football from both sides and some amazing team goals, but it is the Netherlands that came out on top, and, judging by this performance, they certainly have the ability to win the competition.
This is the day every soccer fan is waiting for, the day when teams in the “Group of Death” compete. Group C had all the world excited, it includes Romania, France, Holland and the world champions Italy. It is truly the “Group of Death”, and the highlighted match today is Holland vs Italy, ofcourse Italy are declared the favorites by all analysts, but I think they were remembering Italy 2006 when they came up with that assumption.
Italy 2006 is different than Italy 2008, manager, players, tactics, its not the same Italy. What adds more pressure on Italy is that Cannavaro is injured and wont play, he is ofcourse the rock they need in the backline, also Panucci might not play.
What adds pressure on Italy also is the goal they have set before the start of the competition, they want to go for the double, like France who won World Cup 1996 and Euro 2000. And they deserve to dream, but I really doubt they will be able to achieve this.
But on the other hand things are not going so well in the Holland camp too, Robben picked up a groin problem Saturday, he will be replaced most probably by the young PSV player Ibrahim Afellay. Lets not forget that also Seedorf wont be playing after he was pulled out of the squad for personal problems. Ryan Babel also got injured and been replaced by Khalid Boulahrouz. Van Persie is not fully fit and also might miss the match, but most probably will be featuring next matches.
The players I will be watching are the Holland’s Goalkeeper Van Der Sar, he is an extraordinary Goalkeeper and he always surprises me. He will need to step up and be ready as his defense is having problems. In Italy I will be watching Luca Toni, he did score 39 goals for his club Bayern Munich this season and everytime I underestimate him he scores, Italy will need him to be in form to be able to bypass Holland tonight.
So both sides have problems, but it sure looks like it will be a win for Italy, it will be a huge shock if Holland win, but I think it will be a great achievement by them if they were able to get a draw. If things go as usual Italy should be able to pull a 2-1 win, but because this match has both sides weak in defense line, I expect something like 4-2.
REAL MADRID ARE THE CHAMPIONS WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
What can I say, there is no words in the world that can describe my feelings, the match was a big thriller.
A dramatic match thanks to the penalty which was granted to Osasuna on the 80th minute where we saw Patxi Puñal score in the middle of the goal. Just in the last 5 minutes of the match Robben and Higuain gives Real Madrid the title and crushes the dreams of Villareal and Barcelona.
YESSSSSSSSS!!!!!
REAL MADRID WINS THE SPANISH LEAGUE
El Real Madrid “Merengue” …. Campeón de Liga 31 2007/2008
Watch the Goals and more after the jump….
We are the champions baby, we are the CHAMPIONS…..
On the 36th minute of the first half, Baptista gives the ultimate gift for Real Madrid manager, administration, players and fans. An amazing pass from Ruud Van Nistelrooy met with right-footed shot by Baptista to go through from the edge of the area to shock Victor Valdes, Frank Rijkaard, and the Barcelona fans.
What Barca fans say, and the Video Highlights after the jump…..
Real madrid played well, they effectively prevented Barca from attacking, Iker Casillas made couple of fantastic saves, but the defense line also should be congratulated on a very good display.
Barca just seemed so tired even before the match started, Ronaldinho and Eto’o just were not in it 100%, Ronaldinho tried and tried but still didnt seem in form. The only Barca player that I can say that was good was Iniesta.
Every Barca fan I have spoken to since yesterday keeps saying the same thing “Barca lost because Messi was injured”, if that is your way of thinking, and that is how you see it. Great, keep kidding yourself like that, maybe you will be able to sleep in the night
I can easily tell you that this is the match most people will be watching, even they are not Italy or Scotland fans. This fixture just has all the excitement a football fan would love. This is the most important match is Scotland’s history of playing the game, thats not only my opinion, it the media around the world. and It’s true.
Scotland has the opportunity today not only to qualify to Euro 2008, but to disqualify Italy. Can you imagine this. It will always be recorded in history that Scotland disqualified Italy. Italy is praying now that history does not repeat itself, back when Italy won the World Cup in 1982, Italy didn’t just disqualify from the Euro 1984, they did not even win any matches for around 18 months since their win in the world cup in Spain.
Analysis & Prediction & Video’s after the Jump.
One more thing that might give even more hope for the Scots, Italy never won a match in Scotland!!, and Scotland has a nice record of upsetting big teams. But on the other hand Italy’s record against Scotland is their side, and the last match which they won 2-0 just last March in this competition.
Of-course no body expect Italy to be pushovers but they will be facing some difficulties today for sure. The only injuries in Italy are the defender Matterazi who picked a thigh injury back in august and Massimo Oddo who got injured while training. Scotland does not have any reported injuries.
Here is how this will work, Scotland will qualify if they win Italy, obviously, and if they got a draw they still have hope, if France lose to Ukraine and/or Italy loses against Faroe Island. Italy qualifies if they win Scotland, and if this draw with the Scots they either win or draw against Faroe Islands, or they lose to Scotland, and Win against Faroe Islands and France loses to Ukraine.
If Italy lose to Scotland, and France win or draw Ukraine, or Italy draw with Scotland and they lose to Faroe Island (highly unexpected), they will not qualify.
Scotland is expected to play 4-5-1 (just being careful), the squad consists of: Craig Gordon, David Marshall, Allan McGregor, Graham Alexander, Gary Caldwell, Christian Dailly, Alan Hutton, Jay McEveley, Stephen McManus, Gary Naysmith, David Weir, Scott Brown, Barry Ferguson, Darren Fletcher, Paul Hartley, Lee McCulloch, Stephen Pearson, Barry Robson, Gary Teale, Craig Beattie, Kris Boyd, James McFadden, Shaun Maloney, Kenny Miller, Garry O’Connor.
Italy on the other hand might mix their formation between 4-1-4-1 to 4-3-3 when they attack, their squad consists of: Amelia, Buffon, Curci, Barzagli, Bonera, Cannavaro, Chiellini, Grosso, Panucci, Zambrotta, Ambrosini, Camoranesi, De Rossi, Gattuso, Perrotta, Pirlo, Di Natale, Gilardino, Iaquinta, Lucarelli, Palladino, Quagliarella, Toni.
I expect the match to go like this, Scotland will score first, by the end of the first half Italy will equalize, and in the second half Italy will score another goal making the scoreline be 1-2 in Full Time. With the slight possibility of the Scots successfully defending to keep the score 1-1.
Here are the goals Italy score on Scotland last March:
He tried to be subtle but failed, Inter Milan’s Ibrahimovic showed his ambitions to join Real Madrid one day, but kept saying he is happy in Inter Milan, and that he wont leave because of the crowd violence in italy and so on, he even semi-attacked fabio cannavaro for leaving italy to play in spain. What do you exactly want ?!
First you say you wish you play for Real Madrid and that they are the best “They’re one of the biggest clubs in the world and everyone in the world wants to play for them.“, and then you drool over joining them “Nobody knows the future. I have a long contract with Inter Milan, but in football, you never know what’s around the corner.“, then you go back to say “I have no fear when playing in Italy because there is a lot of protection. All the players have long and important contracts and are not responsible for what is happening. Unlike (Fabio) Cannavaro, I think I’m lucky to play in Italy where I’m very happy at the moment“.
This is just a rescue call for Real Madrid telling them to please come and take me from this place. I think that Ibrahimovic shouldve never said what he said, and just focus on his football, its not as if he is exceeding expectations this season. And even if he was he just shouldn’t talk to the media in this way.
Real Madrid will be playing their 4th match in the Champions League Group C, nicely standing top of the table with 7 points, while Olympiakos is playing at home and is 2nd place with 4 points.
As we can recollect, Robinho played a very important role in the last match which ended 4-2 for Real Madrid, the match was sensational really made us all be on edge. Real Madrid players showed their real spirit in that match and showed how much they want to win this season.
One weird observation is that Real Madrid lost a match before meeting Olympiakos, in the first match they lost 2-1 to Espanyol and now they just got a 2-0 loss against Sevilla. But i still expect Real Madrid to focus in this match and just put whatever past wins and losses aside.
Wingers Arjen Robben and Gonzalo Higuaín and the backup goal keeper Jerzy Dudek are still injured but the central defender Pepe and midfielder Wesley Sneijder are back and going to be traveling with their team mates but not sure if any of them would be able to play full 90 minutes.
Olympiakos will be missing injured defender Paraskevas Antzas and Vassilis Torossidis who was sent off in the previous match. Michal Zewlakow is back from injury and might feature in the match, although i seriously doubt he could play a full match.
My eyes will be locked on 3 main players today, ofcourse Robinho especially after his great show against Olympiakos although he wasn’t able to do much against Sevilla in the Spanish league but still its going to be different here. Another Real Madrid player to watch would be Wesley Sneijder that is if he played any part in the game. From Olympiakos the amazing midfielder Predrag Djordjevic who is 35 years old and plays as if he is 25 amazing speed and dribbling.
Real Madrid expected formation (4-1-3-2): Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Metzelder, Cannavaro, Marcelo, Heinze, Diarra, Sneijder, Guti, Robinho – Raúl, van Nistelrooy
Before kick off, the general opinion seemed that Italy were going to walk this game, with the Netherlands missing key players due to injury, such as Mario Melchiot, Ryan Babel and Arjen Robben, with Robin Van Persie just passing a very late fitness test.
This is the day every soccer fan is waiting for, the day when teams in the “Group of Death” compete. Group C had all the world excited, it includes Romania, France, Holland and the world champions Italy. It is truly the “Group of Death”, and the highlighted match today is Holland vs Italy, ofcourse Italy are declared the favorites by all analysts, but I think they were remembering Italy 2006 when they came up with that assumption.
The players I will be watching are the Holland’s Goalkeeper Van Der Sar, he is an extraordinary Goalkeeper and he always surprises me. He will need to step up and be ready as his defense is having problems. In Italy I will be watching Luca Toni, he did score 39 goals for his club Bayern Munich this season and everytime I underestimate him he scores, Italy will need him to be in form to be able to bypass Holland tonight.
On the 36th minute of the first half, Baptista gives the ultimate gift for Real Madrid manager, administration, players and fans. An amazing pass from Ruud Van Nistelrooy met with right-footed shot by Baptista to go through from the edge of the area to shock Victor Valdes, Frank Rijkaard, and the Barcelona fans.
He tried to be subtle but failed, Inter Milan’s Ibrahimovic showed his ambitions to join Real Madrid one day, but kept saying he is happy in Inter Milan, and that he wont leave because of the crowd violence in italy and so on, he even semi-attacked fabio cannavaro for leaving italy to play in spain. What do you exactly want ?!
Real Madrid will be playing their 4th match in the Champions League Group C, nicely standing top of the table with 7 points, while Olympiakos is playing at home and is 2nd place with 4 points.