Italy v Romania. Friday the 13th, the 13th match of the 13th European Championships. Good thing Italians aren't superstitious, or are they? Apparently 17 is their 13, but in any case... You can expect more of the same from Romania who will sit back and try to counter-attack with essentially a lone striker and Mutu giving him support. You have to question their tactics to an extent. They are playing for draws, but they must know that 3 points will not be good enough to advance. I guess they figure if they can be on 2 points and the Dutch win today, they might just have some good fortune in this group of death after all.
Italy will feel like they need to win this game, and will be chasing it from the beginning. Hopefully Donadoni will go with the youth over experience, but I wouldn't bet on it. Still I am not convinced the Italians are dead until I see them getting on a bus and crossing the alps leaving the tournament. Sitting back won't work forever for Romania, I hope there is an early goal to open up the match, but I wont bet on it. Luca Toni still cannot find the net. Another goalless draw.
The other match SHOULD be a classic. We know what the Dutch are capable of now that they have announced themselves so authoritatively, taking the reigns of this group. But France could snatch them right back tonight, if only Domenech wants to. Hopefully Henry and Viera will both be fit, and push the French to attack tonight. They should also feel like they need to win this game. Sitting on two points and facing Italy in the last match is not where they want to be. I just wonder if there won't be a letdown for the Dutch, who came out flying so high. 3 points will not take them to the next round, and I look for the French to wake up this match and get their result. 1-0 les bleus.
3 comments:
I did not see the game,i only heard my neighbours yelling from the top of their lungs when Mutu scored, but i`m reading Il Corriera de la Serra-the Italian press- and the Italians are saying they could have won if they were luckier!sure, sure..bla, bla...!It doesn`t even makes sense to say that, games are mostly about luck and tactics (for those who have the tactics). However I must agree with one thing, it happened more than once that the other team would score (just like today), Mutu &co. just fuck around and enjoy themselves, they don`t kick the ball or try to preserve the score in their advantage.
BUT i really hope Italians stay behind this year...it`s only fair!
Luca Toni, tsk tsk. You can tell a lot from a player's body language, and from judging Toni's, he doesn't look like a player with any confidence. His permanent look of awe on his face, and repetitive glare up to the heavens when he seems to ask, "how did i just squander another one?" is becoming comical.
Incidently, his teammate Lucas Podolski, who can't get into the Bayern Munich squad behind him, is the polar opposite. He slaps on that white shirt of Germany and hes a different player. Makes you wonder, how much of it is mental, and what playing for your country can do to a player.
...please where can I buy a unicorn?
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