Best defence wins.
Stones doesn't fill me with confidence in a back four, so I hope it's 3 at the back and wing backs.
Stones doesn't fill me with confidence in a back four, so I hope it's 3 at the back and wing backs.
Final: Italy vs England
- Thread starter ivaldo
- Start date
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
So it's okay to dive to win a game? Cheating is okay yeah?
You'll be the first to complain about Immobile staying on the ground when they stay on the ground but when Sterling ( who tonight is a disgrace around the world of football ) then it's okay?
I don't think it's that surprising. Unlike previous years (like the last WC) England have a really good squad, comfortably one of the best in the tournament. I mean even looking at your attack alone, hardly any other teams have such depth in that area that players of Rashford and Sancho's ilk would barely feature while someone Grealish starts from the bench as well. Italy certainly don't.
Plus the final is taking place in England, which probably helps.
Ordinarily I would agree, however he's been pretty faultless this tournament hasn't he?
To me Walker has been the dodgy one, until tonight at least. I think he's a worry in the back 3.
Talent only goes so far and Chiesa would piss out of all of our attackers bar Bruno ( Which is a attacking midfielder in fairness)
Well done, lads. It will be a cracking Sunday night in a gloriously packed Wembley.
I think your players really need to be isolated from all the enthusiasm and the pressure this game is going to put on their minds.
Good luck, then. It will be a fine margins final, with matchups open to both teams.
I think your players really need to be isolated from all the enthusiasm and the pressure this game is going to put on their minds.
Good luck, then. It will be a fine margins final, with matchups open to both teams.
Where did I say it was ok? I can't pretend to be fussed, but I never said it was ok. Did I? Creating an argument and I'm not sure why. I called it a dive instantly. Still think we were the better team and deserved to win.
The high and mighty reactions are almost as hilarious as Stelings dive. Like what the feck, did they expect us to bow down and happily concede that it was fair game Sterling dived just because they were better
Of course people are bitter, a lost semi to a dive. Anything else would be shocking
I bet many posters were the first to complain when watching Barca etc shithouse
Play 5-3-2.
Yeah.
I think Southgate has done exceptionally well to get England to where we are, but tactically he'll have no plan b for the game which is suicide. It nearly cost us tonight, let alone against the best team in the tournament.
I'm glad we are there, it's historical for us. If we win somehow it will be amazing. But make no mistake, the Italians are definitely the favourites and the team of the tourny.
Mount has been a bit poor, I feel. Not that creative, but probably in the team for his work-rate as well.
Team for the final would be;
Pickford
Trippier Walker Stones Maguire Shaw
Phillips Rice
Sancho Kane Sterling
Although I feel Saka will probably play instead of Sancho.
Team for the final would be;
Pickford
Trippier Walker Stones Maguire Shaw
Phillips Rice
Sancho Kane Sterling
Although I feel Saka will probably play instead of Sancho.
You and I both know that is such bait, but I'll throw this out there...
Italy are a great team, with a manager moulding them into a sum greater than their parts. They are an efficient and well drilled team with a couple of star players, but it's not like this Italy team is up there with their best ever on natural ability. It's nowhere close.
On natural ability, I'd argure England are far better - look at those attacking options, seriously - but England are being held back by a negative, cautious manager and the spectre of those decades of setbacks.
The most interesting aspect of the final I think will be that Italy aren't the defensive team they usually are, so it will probably be England that are defending even though their attack is better. Italy still have very good CBs and this will be problematic for England.
He has been fairly solid, just something about Stones that makes me uncomfortable at times, easily dragged out of position at the most random times.
Don't mind Walker's last ditch role in the back 3. Absolutely despise him as a right back, polar opposite to Luke Shaw and delivers nothing.
Sorry don't mean you said for a fact it wasn't a dive, but it was a dive and for a team and country who played throughout a tournament who their best player nearly died, that doesn't sit right with me with what they have been through
Yes, he's poor going forward at full back now. Don't know what's happened to his attacking, considering he was known for it at some point. Maybe he just wasn't that great compared to the upcoming full-backs now.
Youve been on the other fence many times in the past, Sol Campbell disallowed goals in 2004, Lampard's in 2010 lets just say football is trying to make it even, hahaha...
This is a final between two teams who literally s*cas at this tournament !
Mount will be key against Italy. Only one with enough intensity and tactical nous to nullify Jorginho. If Southgate even thinks of putting Philips on him then it is game over IMO. I would seriously consider playing Henderson because a Rice/Philips midfield is too static against a dynamic Italy midfield.
I would play Saka over Sancho. This might be the game for Foden to start but Saka seems to balance the team better.
I would play Saka over Sancho. This might be the game for Foden to start but Saka seems to balance the team better.
Yeah that's fair. What tonight did show is England can quickly get some decent one touch moves going even when generally dominated in games as was state of play in first half hour. Sterling chance even before the goal were two examples so given Italy missing their main LB they could do that again.
Does feel though like Italy will work out a plan to get likes of Sterling and Saka if he plays running into blind alleys all night. Feels more like a game where England should be getting wide midfields to come infield and open the space for the full backs to run into.
All that quality, and they needed an own goal and fake penalty to pass Denmark.
Italy are favorites.
Some massive underplaying of the Italian defence here. Kane is hardly rapid and they'll work hard to close the channels from Sterling and Saka, much better than Denmark did at any rate. I also wonder if Italy might change shape to give them an extra body in defence.
I fancy Italy to either win 1-0 in normal time or win on penalties.
I fancy Italy to either win 1-0 in normal time or win on penalties.
the country that refuses to pay any money into the eu versus england, it will be interesting.
Looking forward to Sunday should be a good final.
The midfield battle may decide who wins this but I have a feeling England will come out on top.
The midfield battle may decide who wins this but I have a feeling England will come out on top.
Yep Italy will try to get Sterling and Saka if he starts running into blind alleys or mass defences all night. That said England were being dominated in first half and out of little created two very good moves that opened up Denmark, one the Sterling chance and then the goal so with Italy missing their main LB it does show England can score even if they're well below 50% in possesion which will likely be the case on Sunday.
Feels like Italy down the years have been as hard to take out in major tournaments for England as Germany although haven't played as much but would be interesting to see the record.
It's been a long and difficult pandemic. One thing I've missed more than anything is all the trips abroad I used to take.
I'm not ashamed to admit that I love travelling. But even so, after a couple of weeks away, there's nothing I like more than coming home. So does football.
I'm not ashamed to admit that I love travelling. But even so, after a couple of weeks away, there's nothing I like more than coming home. So does football.
If Italy score first they'll do a much better job of keeping England at bay than Denmark. Should be a good final.
I hope Italy scores in the first minute and out-dives Sterling for 89minutes
I think Chiesa is clearly Italy's dangerman...but the midfield battle worries me more.
If we can get Rice and Phillips a bit more proactive in there, it will help.
Relying on solidity from what I presume will be a back 3 of Walker, Stones and Maguire whilst drawing on the experience of Sterling and Kane to make something out of nothing.
Tough game, but I fancy England to find a way to beat anyone and similarly I'm sure the Italian's are capable of capitalising on any bad performances from us.
If we can get Rice and Phillips a bit more proactive in there, it will help.
Relying on solidity from what I presume will be a back 3 of Walker, Stones and Maguire whilst drawing on the experience of Sterling and Kane to make something out of nothing.
Tough game, but I fancy England to find a way to beat anyone and similarly I'm sure the Italian's are capable of capitalising on any bad performances from us.
Oh no that will make for a dull match.
Pickford's the real weak link though and I think he'll cave under the pressure. He showed some cracks tonight but no absolute howler. I've a feeling it'll happen in the final.
Should be a good final between two big nations. With all due respect to Denmark here and Croatia in 2018 wc, italy Denmark would have been one sided just as in 2018 wc final.
Not sure who to pick as squad wise England are better but experience will matter and that's where Italy may edge it. Eitherway it should be a good one.
Not sure who to pick as squad wise England are better but experience will matter and that's where Italy may edge it. Eitherway it should be a good one.
Actually used to be worse, pretty sure in 2012 Italy played Germany on the Thursday and then had the final on the Sunday and reallty 72 hours rest isn't enough time to recover so at least now Wednesday evening-Sunday is pretty decent compared to what you get in club football.
Good Euros dosen't have 3rd/4th play off either compared to world cup as that's so pointless.
here here
Genuinely could not care less how we win after a lifetime of dissapointments. Aafter seeing the reactions, I genuinely hope we sh*thouse it home and have the lads singing “it’s coming home” on the halfway line after we’ve done it
You have the best defense of the tournament. One goal conceded and not even in open play !
No no no I'm not English.
And that defence hasn't been properly tested. Even so Pickford is poor.
Yeah, I think I’d prefer that after seeing this salty reaction. Would be a sweeter manner than the easy second round & quarter-final wins. Especially as it’s against the side that’s probably done the worst diving at this tournament.
And it was from a free-kick off a non-foul. Haven’t conceded a fair goal at this tournament.
No Pirlo this time though or Mark Lawrenson confidently telling everyone that not a single Italian player would get in the England side (Pirlo, Buffon, De Rossi etc
)If it's a fair game ( and I mean refs not giving disgraceful decisions for every dive England player give) then Italy will win. Italy will dominate the midfield and will only lose the ball in attacking areas, instead of counting-attacks areas which every England fan will be made to believe that they will catch Italy on the counter.
It depends on the refs but Italy will love this, they will have seen it all before and love every moment of England fans taunting them, it's in their DNA to grind out a win
It depends on the refs but Italy will love this, they will have seen it all before and love every moment of England fans taunting them, it's in their DNA to grind out a win
What if the ref doesn’t give soft free-kicks like the one which resulted in the only game against England this cup? Or if they don’t fall for the Italians diving or if they don’t miss a handball like Chielini’s yesterday?
I seen more diving from the English tonight to get some areas of getting their set-piece in position then what any Italian team has done.