The two 2006 World Cup finalists were fighting for Euro 2008 survival in this game, after both teams had lost to the Netherlands and drawn against Romania this game was anyone’s to win. Neither team went in favorite, so this game really was very open.
France started extremely badly, their midfield star Ribery getting a nasty injury which caused the French to make an early substitution. Not a good sign.
To make matters worse, Italy were playing tremendous attacking football, and Luca Toni was looking very threatening. There were several good opportunities for Italy, but it was only on the twenty fifth minute when Luca Toni was brought down from behind by Eric Abidal, and Italy had a penalty. Too add insult to injury for France, Abidal was also sent off. Pirlo kept his cool to convert for the Italians: an excellent penalty in to the top corner.
The Italians looked increasingly likely to score, and were appalled when the referee failed to stop play for an injured Italian player, and Pirlo received a yellow card for fouling to let the injured player receive treatment, and then the referee stopped the game for an injured French player!
In the second half the Italians still looked more likely to win, piling pressure on the French defense who started to look very tired, especially considering they were one man down. It was no real surprise when on the sixty second minute, a thirty yard free kick resulted in a cruel deflection off Thierry Henry which went passed his own goal keeper to make the French two goals down.
The Italians maybe should have got another goal or two, with Luca Toni looking very strong, but France held on to keep the score line low.
Overall a good game from Italy’s point of view, and they are through to the quarter finals, but the French will be upset at going out of the competition this early.
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:
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.
