Official Euro 2008 thread

[fah-q]

Gattuso is one of those players that works for the team and allows others to do their jobs better. He breaks up play and protects Pirlo, which is why they are often picked together.

I hope Ambrosini doesn't play, De Rossi and Aquilani are much better players

[Joe King]

Yep. Not sure who'll come in - Ambrosini (who's **** IMO) and....I dunno - Aquilani?

Could do but I thought Donadoni might do this:

Camoronesi- De Rossi- Ambrosini- Perrotta

However today's comments from Donadoni could sway it for Aquilani

Alberto Aquilani is pushing for a start in Italy's Euro 2008 quarter-final against Spain, according to coach Roberto Donadoni. The 23-year-old, a late substitute in the last match against France, has just six caps but has come into contention with World Cup-winners Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso suspended. Donadoni had been expected to bring in Massimo Ambrosini and Mauro Camoranesi for the pair.

"Aquilani is improving. He has always been considered a good player. He has all the skills to play in this match," Donadoni said, adding that his line-up for the Vienna game was not yet decided.

"We still have another training session tomorrow morning so we will see after that."

Donadoni said he had been thinking of omitting the under-par Gattuso and Pirlo in any case but it was unclear if he was being serious. Italy lost 1-0 to Spain in a friendly in March but have never been defeated by their rivals in a major tournament outside the Olympics. "They are a good team and it is no coincidence they are in the quarter-finals. In terms of the national team they have not achieved good results but perhaps this is a spur to the players," Donadoni said.

The world champions, traditionally slow starters, lost their first group game 3-0 to Netherlands before drawing 1-1 with Romania and beating 10-man France 2-0.

"Our results have been steadily improving but I would not evaluate Italy's performances simply on results," he said. "Maybe Spain are less physical compared to France but their players are faster so in that sense they can cause more difficulties for the defence."

Donadoni's position is unclear if the Azzurri lose. He recently signed a two-year deal but an escape clause allows the coach or the Italian football federation to terminate the agreement if Euro 2008 ends badly. No one has spelt out what constitutes failure at the tournament but Italian media have consistently said 2006 World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi is poised to take over again.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/21062008/58/euro-2008-aquilani-ready-donadoni.html

[fah-q]

I wish Lippi would come back to be honest, Donadoni does my head in.

[Shaggy]

Anyone remember this from March? Meaningless in the context of tomorrow's game, but still...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7AbdU0y7Q

The two starting line-ups were very similar to what we can expect tomorrow.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/international-friendlies/2007-2008/spain-italy-230106.html

[badpiggy]

Gattuso is one of those players that works for the team and allows others to do their jobs better. He breaks up play and protects Pirlo, which is why they are often picked together.

I hope Ambrosini doesn't play, De Rossi and Aquilani are much better players

i think any decent team should get over the loss of gattuso. he's nothing special at all imo. de rossi seems class (grosso seems good too. in theory the idea of a bad italian defender is a contradiction in terms so grosso seems like the complete package as he attacks well too). have geard aquilani is very talented (graham hunter said this on irish radio)

[fah-q]

I really rate Aquliani

[-V-]

I predicted the Dutch would choke eventually but i really didnt expect them to choke against the russians. I expected the Spanish to take them out in the semis

Either way Spain to beat Germany in the final. I predicted that in the beginning and i stand by it

[rage]

i don't really think the dutch chocked amigo, just that the russians were excellent. looking forward to the spain game tonight. best tournament i've seen since i was a little kid and first seeing zico and falcoa play in 82.

really think that in tournaments like this suffering an early knock back and still getting through builds confidence and self belief. so when the going gets difficult you're used to it and can pull through. better place to be than waltzing through the group games like the dutch and croats did.

hope this doesn't come to bite the spanish.

[Shaggy]

i don't really think the dutch chocked amigo, just that the russians were excellent. looking forward to the spain game tonight. best tournament i've seen since i was a little kid and first seeing zico and falcoa play in 82.

really think that in tournaments like this suffering an early knock back and still getting through builds confidence and self belief. so when the going gets difficult you're used to it and can pull through. better place to be than waltzing through the group games like the dutch and croats did.

hope this doesn't come to bite the spanish.

Agreed, but I think (hope) Spain came through their early test - against Sweden. They were faced with 10 men behind the ball, didn't have things all their own way but still came through.

Spain are the only unbeaten team left in this tournament now. VIVA ESPANA!

[Reece]

Really hope Spain win tonight (and Torres gets a hatrick) to give my bet any chance of coming to fruition!

[Shaggy]

Really hope Spain win tonight (and Torres gets a hatrick) to give my bet any chance of coming to fruition!

Same here mate. Pumped up already!

I don't know if I've mentioned it........but I'm on Spain/Villa at 40/1. The latter looks nailed-on. COME ON SPAIN!

What you backed?

[Reece]

Spain/Torres at 16/1 I think.

Wish I'd gone for Villa

[Shaggy]

I backed Spain/Torres too. I figured if Spain were gonna win it then either of those two would have a very strong likelihood of winning the Golden Boot. Huge discrepancy in price at 16s and 40s.

Torres isn't out of it though - he could quite feasibly notch a brace tonight and another in the semis.

[Reece]

Yep - fingers crossed!

[Reece]

Wait, would both of your bets win if they finished joint top scorers?