Euro 2008: Italy 1-1 Romania (Match Report and Video)

After the two teams first games were on the complete opposite on the spectrum, both teams were eager to impress. Italy especially wanted to win this game, as anything other than three points would slash their chances of qualifying dramatically.

The game kicked off, and it was extremely intense, Italy looking like they could score any minute for the whole first half, having chance after chance and finding Romania’s weakness which the French couldn’t find: the air. Romania failed on multiple occasions to clear Italy’s crosses, resulting in Luca Toni and his attacking companions missing a couple of good chances. Italy also had other good opportunities including hitting the post and having a header disallowed for offside, although it was a bad decision, and it looked like Friday the 13th was going to be unlucky for Italy.

That isn’t to say Romania didn’t have any chances though, hitting the post, having a one on one and hitting a scorching free kick from a long distance, although their poor attacking record means it was no surprise they didn’t score in the first half.

Out for the second half, and in similar fashion to the first half, the game is end to end football, it is clear fairly soon after the kick off that Romania want to win this game just as much as Italy.

Then, on the fifty fifth minute, a poor header from Zambrotta back to Buffon meant that former Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu could run on and take full advantage of the Italian mistake, slotting the ball above a helpless Buffon and in to the roof of the net.

And, before we could even watch the replay of the goal, Italy were pressing and got a corner at the other end, and after a superb cross and a nifty header toward goal, Christian Panucci poked the ball passed the line.

Italy kept pressing, desperate to get a second, although just before the eighty minute mark, a tug in the Italian penalty area resulted in a rather harsh Romanian penalty. After countless Italian protests, Romanian goal scorer Mutu stepped up to take the penalty, knowing a win would knock Italy out the competition. He drove it hard to Buffon’s left, but Buffon re-adjusted his jump and knocked it onto his leg with his right hand, and the ball went out for a corner.

Overall a good game with plenty of action, and Italy were extremely unfortunate not to get the win, but now there is a lot of pressure on both sides, especially Italy, to get through to the next round.

Final Score:
Italy 1 – 1 Romania

Watch both GOALS:

Add comment June 14th, 2008

Eto’o 40 Million Euros move from Barcelona to Inter Milan

Barcelona is a troubled club now, so I expect we will be hearing many many news about many players moving from and to it. It is believed that a big number of players will most probably transfer from Barcelona this summer, after hearing that Ronaldinho and Zambrotta are moving to AC Milan and also that Thierry Henry will go back to the English Premier League, maybe going back to Arsenal, now it is the turn for some Eto’o rumors.

Ofcourse now we know that the AC Milan bid for Ronaldinho has failed, but when the news surfaced at first the thing seemed as a done deal.

Few hours after the big Barca failure in front of Real Madrid 4-1 we heard some news that Eto’o might transfer to Tottenham, then the news that maybe he will be exchanged with Adebayor, so he will go to Arsenal and Adebayor goes to Barcelona. I really really doubt that happening, but this latest news of him going to Inter Milan seems more believable.

The reports say that Inter Milan is preparing a 40 million Euros bid to capture him this summer, Inter Milan now is also trying to get Hleb, I guess that is a done deal, but Moratti now is also trying to get Ronaldinho. Moratti always likes to get big players, but will he be able to lure them to Inter Milan, he just failed getting Gerard after his 25 Million pounds bid was turned down by Liverpool.

Well, if Eto’o does come to Inter Milan that means Ibrahimovic will leave, so is it really worth it, can Ibra and Eto’o play side by side?? Well, actually yes why not, I can totally see them playing side by side, but it is too good to be true, Inter needs to be extra ready for the champions league next season, Ibrahimovic besides Eto’o makes a great attack. I know that some people will start shouting that maybe their style of play wont make them click upfront. Actually what does really matter now for Inter Milan is WHO IS THEIR MANAGER?? SHOULDNT THE MANAGER BE THE PERSON ASKING FOR PLAYERS? IS MANCINI IN OR OUT ?!!?!?!

2 comments May 11th, 2008

Euro 2008 Qualifiers: Scotland Vs. Italy (Preview)

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:

Add comment November 17th, 2007