EURO 2016 France - R16 - Italy Vs Spain

It will be a very tight game. I'm thinking more like the first Italy-Spain of Euro 2012 when it ended 1-1 and Prandelli played the 3-5-2 with De Rossi. Spain was better then than today, but they didn't really have a hold of the match until Torres came on.

Iniesta and Morata are my main worry. The possession is sterile without those 2. That said, I think the team will be able to shut them out. Italy has the players to hurt Spain, I expect Candreva and Pelle to have a good game with the few chances that we'll generate. 1-0 Italy is what I have on my bracket game with some friends.

Spain, as usual, will be anally fixated with 80% possession the majority of the game, they'll get one in in the beginning. Italy will look toothless in the attack for most of the game but will nick one from a corner at minute 88, probably Bonucci. Game will go to penalties, hard to say who's gonna come out on top.

Cruijf wrote:Mole you can't actually think Italy is winning this. Spain aren't that great but they will still win as always.

Eder has got this.

Cruijf wrote:Mole you can't actually think Italy is winning this. Spain aren't that great but they will still win as always.

As always? You must be a youngster. Italy was winning World Cups when Spain was not even a contender.

I went into this tournament very apprehensive of Spain. I disagree with all the critics that we don't have the talent, but this team is essentially new plus they are trying to play somewhat differently with a more direct, at times, approach.

They are inconsistent, at times looking very dominant, but they struggle in two areas, finishing, i.e getting goals, and lack of concentration by both CBs (and there are not viable alternatives for the two of them).

However, they are still at least on paper one of the better teams here, so if they can play their game, get goals and have the two CBs concentrated for 90 minutes, they are capable of winning this. However the road past Italy, Germany and France is a very difficult challenge.

In a way it is what we wanted to overcome all these small countries with the boring matches. This side of the bracket is what we would have expected in the old format for Euro.

I am confident in the Italian game, but I am worried about Germany and France.

It all depends on who scores first... that will really decide the game imo.  I don't think there's a massive favorite.  I would put Spain ahead just because they actually have creative players.  Italy are a bit of a joke up front.  They really rely on their defense immensely.

i'll go with Spain . It's a K.O game nd you need to score . Italy are not very good in that regard.

breva wrote:

Cruijf wrote:Mole you can't actually think Italy is winning this. Spain aren't that great but they will still win as always.

As always?  You must be a youngster.  Italy was winning World Cups when Spain was not even a contender.

What Italy did in 1982 is relevant how exactly?

In this generation of Spanish players they have beaten Italy every single time and will beat them again. 1 week Sig bet

Cruijf wrote:

breva wrote:

Cruijf wrote:Mole you can't actually think Italy is winning this. Spain aren't that great but they will still win as always.

As always?  You must be a youngster.  Italy was winning World Cups when Spain was not even a contender.

What Italy did in 1982 is relevant how exactly?

In this generation of Spanish players they have beaten Italy every single time and will beat them again. 1 week Sig bet

Well, in competitions since 2008 they've met 3 times
Spain won in 08 in the round of 16 on penalties
Tied in the group stage of 2012
Spain win the final of 2012

Before 2008, I believe Spain hadn't beaten Italy in a competition for a rather long time (can't remember exact number)

So, yeah, saying Spain always wins is not correct but recent history is in their favour

And I think you're forgetting 2006 (slightly more recent than 1982)

1 week avatar: less than 6 shots in target for the first 90 minutes for both teams combined

Luca wrote:

Cruijf wrote:

breva wrote:


As always?  You must be a youngster.  Italy was winning World Cups when Spain was not even a contender.

What Italy did in 1982 is relevant how exactly?

In this generation of Spanish players they have beaten Italy every single time and will beat them again. 1 week Sig bet

Well, in competitions since 2008 they've met 3 times
Spain won in 08 in the round of 16 on penalties
Tied in the group stage of 2012
Spain win the final of 2012

Before 2008, I believe Spain hadn't beaten Italy in a competition for a rather long time (can't remember exact number)

So, yeah, saying Spain always wins is not correct but recent history is in their favour

And I think you're forgetting 2006 (slightly more recent than 1982)

There was also the confed cup where Spain won on penalties. The 2012 final was an anomaly, I'm not expecting that. But it seems every time this Spain plays this Italy it is a boring 0-0 draw that goes to penalties where Spain wins. I know penalties are theoretically random but Spain seem to have perfected the art of beating PTB teams on penalties. Since 2008 it's happened 3 or 4 times in a major tournament where they are held 0-0 and win on penalties.

So yeah, I think it's fair to say in this generation Spain "always" wins because they have, Italy hasn't won once. And of all the Italy sides that have played this Spain I think we can all agree this is the worst.

It will be a close game but I see Spain edging just as they have in every meeting since 2008.

I can respect that thought

My mind says the same thing, Spain will edge it. My heart says this Italian side will get it done this time.

I'm excited for this game

I know that Spain loss is still fresh in our memories but Italy on the other hand has the ability to lose to a trash team like the Irish. Spain should win this 2-0 or something, esp is Spain scores first. Italy has 0 talent on the attack side. I have Spain going very far in the tournament.

Cruijf wrote:

breva wrote:

Cruijf wrote:Mole you can't actually think Italy is winning this. Spain aren't that great but they will still win as always.

As always?  You must be a youngster.  Italy was winning World Cups when Spain was not even a contender.

What Italy did in 1982 is relevant how exactly?

In this generation of Spanish players they have beaten Italy every single time and will beat them again. 1 week Sig bet

1982? How about 2006. LOL

As far as the recent record:

22 Jun 2008 Italy v Spain W 0-0 UEFA European Championship
10 Aug 2011 Italy v Spain L 2-1 International friendly
10 Jun 2012 Spain v Italy D 1-1 UEFA European Championship
01 Jul 2012 Spain v Italy W 4-0 UEFA European Championship
27 Jun 2013 Spain v Italy W 0-0 FIFA Confederations Cup
05 Mar 2014 Spain v Italy W 1-0 International friendly
24 Mar 2016 Italy v Spain D 1-1 International friendly

God damn u Spain

Candreva is out injured

Hard for me to see Italy grind a win

ES wrote:Candreva is out injured

Hard for me to see Italy grind a win

That feeling when Candreva is the difference maker in your team

This is the worst Italian National Team in history, but it is still Italy. Spain is still Spain. It could go either way.

Spain unchanged from the Croatia game:

De Gea; Junafran, Ramos, Pique, Alba; Busquets, Fabregas, Iniesta; Silva, Nolito; Morata

Italy:

Buffon; Barzagli, Bonnuci, Chiellini; Florenzi, Parolo, De Rossi, Giaccherini, De Sciglio; Eder, Pelle

God i just love the Italian national anthem

Turkish ref presiding over this

Expect a dodgy pen to Italy

The game is already GOAT in 5 minutes. Tense and exciting with quality in both teams.

Felt like i heard some sounds of a bomb blast

Or was it lightning or something lol?

Italy making a nice start

DE GEA!!!! What a save

Spain completely stumped by Italy's attacking nature