Immortal Babun wrote:He is the best attacking midfielder in the world by far. Also, don't ever mention Xavi in the same breathe with Pirlo.

kiranr wrote:

Immortal Babun wrote:He is the best attacking midfielder in the world by far. Also, don't ever mention Xavi in the same breathe with Pirlo.

Why not? Xavi is a goat and as good, if not better, as Pirlo. So he didn't play that well this match, does it take away all that he has done before this for the past 4 years? No.

VivaStPauli wrote:I watched the match, and it was a great match, but Iniesta wasn't that awesome. He had a good match, I don't get your amazement, though. ^^

Immortal Babun wrote:
Pirlo was everything Xavi wasn't. I'll tell you in details because I like you ( maths thread, there's a new question).

- Xavi operated in the middle and AM area only while Pirlo was comfrotable all over the pitch. He made his assist from AM position.

- Pirlo passed more forward passes than sideways. His passing accuracy and range were incredible for an offensive minded player. Notice, I mean offensive minded, not racking up % on side way passing. Finding those lines isn't easy at all. I thought I was watching Zidane without his physicality or technique.


- Xavi didn't offer anything defensively. Biscuit was overloaded with defensive work. Xabi helped them out so he was invisible until Italy got tired. At that point, Xabi played better than Xavi!

- Xavi's corners or set pieces were useless. It was like inviting to foul in front of the box because Spain wouldn't be able to convert anything anyway. Watch what Pirlo did.

- Compare their ages and the players Xavi had at his disposal compared to Pirlo to make the game an even fight. Motta, Marchisio etc. vs. Iniesta, Silva, Xabi, Busquets and co.

I watched football for very long. No way, Xavi is as good as Pirlo. He may have been the best pure regista at some point in his career but Pirlo always was the better player.

The most technical out of this world player today was Iniesta. No one came close to him on the field.

The game was epic, I'm going to save the footage. Buffon, Casillas etc. there were many great, memorable moments.

Immortal Babun wrote:

kiranr wrote:

Immortal Babun wrote:He is the best attacking midfielder in the world by far. Also, don't ever mention Xavi in the same breathe with Pirlo.

Why not? Xavi is a goat and as good, if not better, as Pirlo. So he didn't play that well this match, does it take away all that he has done before this for the past 4 years? No.

Pirlo was everything Xavi wasn't. I'll tell you in details because I like you ( maths thread, there's a new question).

- Xavi operated in the middle and AM area only while Pirlo was comfrotable all over the pitch. He made his assist from AM position.

- Pirlo passed more forward passes than sideways. His passing accuracy and range were incredible for an offensive minded player. Notice, I mean offensive minded, not racking up % on side way passing. Finding those lines isn't easy at all. I thought I was watching Zidane without his physicality or technique.

- Xavi didn't offer anything defensively. Biscuit was overloaded with defensive work. Xabi helped them out so he was invisible until Italy got tired. At that point, Xabi played better than Xavi!

- Xavi's corners or set pieces were useless. It was like inviting to foul in front of the box because Spain wouldn't be able to convert anything anyway. Watch what Pirlo did.

- Compare their ages and the players Xavi had at his disposal compared to Pirlo to make the game an even fight. Motta, Marchisio etc. vs. Iniesta, Silva, Xabi, Busquets and co.

I watched football for very long. No way, Xavi is as good as Pirlo. He may have been the best pure regista at some point in his career but Pirlo always was the better player.

The most technical out of this world player today was Iniesta. No one came close to him on the field.

The game was epic, I'm going to save the footage. Buffon, Casillas etc. there were many great, memorable moments.

alexjanosik wrote:

Immortal Babun wrote:

kiranr wrote:

Immortal Babun wrote:He is the best attacking midfielder in the world by far. Also, don't ever mention Xavi in the same breathe with Pirlo.

Why not? Xavi is a goat and as good, if not better, as Pirlo. So he didn't play that well this match, does it take away all that he has done before this for the past 4 years? No.

Pirlo was everything Xavi wasn't. I'll tell you in details because I like you ( maths thread, there's a new question).

- Xavi operated in the middle and AM area only while Pirlo was comfrotable all over the pitch. He made his assist from AM position.

- Pirlo passed more forward passes than sideways. His passing accuracy and range were incredible for an offensive minded player. Notice, I mean offensive minded, not racking up % on side way passing. Finding those lines isn't easy at all. I thought I was watching Zidane without his physicality or technique.

- Xavi didn't offer anything defensively. Biscuit was overloaded with defensive work. Xabi helped them out so he was invisible until Italy got tired. At that point, Xabi played better than Xavi!

- Xavi's corners or set pieces were useless. It was like inviting to foul in front of the box because Spain wouldn't be able to convert anything anyway. Watch what Pirlo did.

- Compare their ages and the players Xavi had at his disposal compared to Pirlo to make the game an even fight. Motta, Marchisio etc. vs. Iniesta, Silva, Xabi, Busquets and co.

I watched football for very long. No way, Xavi is as good as Pirlo. He may have been the best pure regista at some point in his career but Pirlo always was the better player.

The most technical out of this world player today was Iniesta. No one came close to him on the field.

The game was epic, I'm going to save the footage. Buffon, Casillas etc. there were many great, memorable moments.

And yet here I thought Pirlo was chasing Xavi's shadow all game long.
Pilro had one assist.Did nothing else the entire game.Xavi controlled the game and set up many chances.
Not his fault that others cant finish and Alonso is so clueless that he makes even Busquets look lost.
Bench the flop Alonso and Spain win the Euro.

Cotes wrote:

alexjanosik wrote:

Immortal Babun wrote:

kiranr wrote:

Immortal Babun wrote:He is the best attacking midfielder in the world by far. Also, don't ever mention Xavi in the same breathe with Pirlo.

Why not? Xavi is a goat and as good, if not better, as Pirlo. So he didn't play that well this match, does it take away all that he has done before this for the past 4 years? No.

Pirlo was everything Xavi wasn't. I'll tell you in details because I like you ( maths thread, there's a new question).

- Xavi operated in the middle and AM area only while Pirlo was comfrotable all over the pitch. He made his assist from AM position.

- Pirlo passed more forward passes than sideways. His passing accuracy and range were incredible for an offensive minded player. Notice, I mean offensive minded, not racking up % on side way passing. Finding those lines isn't easy at all. I thought I was watching Zidane without his physicality or technique.

- Xavi didn't offer anything defensively. Biscuit was overloaded with defensive work. Xabi helped them out so he was invisible until Italy got tired. At that point, Xabi played better than Xavi!

- Xavi's corners or set pieces were useless. It was like inviting to foul in front of the box because Spain wouldn't be able to convert anything anyway. Watch what Pirlo did.

- Compare their ages and the players Xavi had at his disposal compared to Pirlo to make the game an even fight. Motta, Marchisio etc. vs. Iniesta, Silva, Xabi, Busquets and co.

I watched football for very long. No way, Xavi is as good as Pirlo. He may have been the best pure regista at some point in his career but Pirlo always was the better player.

The most technical out of this world player today was Iniesta. No one came close to him on the field.

The game was epic, I'm going to save the footage. Buffon, Casillas etc. there were many great, memorable moments.

And yet here I thought Pirlo was chasing Xavi's shadow all game long.
Pilro had one assist.Did nothing else the entire game.Xavi controlled the game and set up many chances.
Not his fault that others cant finish and Alonso is so clueless that he makes even Busquets look lost.
Bench the flop Alonso and Spain win the Euro.

what match did you watch???
Pirlo controlled the game...

The man was as comfortable on the ball as if he were playing vs Cesena (team came last in Serie A)...

The man never looked under pressure & his ability to take the team & put on his back when no one else had the solution is why he's the best...
Easily running pass Busquest to give a beautiful assist...

Pirlo chasing Xavi?????
man are you mad?
The man won the World Cup when he was 26, Xavi at 30...
Champions League at 23, Xavi at 26...

BarcaKizz wrote:Tbf Alex, the game didn't prove Xavi was greatly superior, or prove Pirlo was greatly superior, both can play better. I agree the claim made by the OP was ridiculous though.

The stats being used to defend both are because of the way the two teams played. (eg. Xavi more passes because Spain play possession. Pirlo better defensively because Italy defended with greater numbers and Xavi was pressing the forwards, not defending.)

I thought both had good games. I was concentrating on watching two greats of our game, not thinking about trying to knock one down like everyone on here seems to want to do.

Jonathan28 wrote:Stili can't believe people think Pirlo was better then Xavi. I know people try to talk down Barca on this forum but that statement was just a joke.