Euro 2012

[strummer77]

Diving is a bookable offence... Seems you don't know shit

[The Nal]

Spain team - Casillas, Arbeloa, Ramos, Pique, Alba, Alonso, Busquets, Silva, Xavi, Iniesta, Torres.

They're going for it.

Ireland - Cox is in. Expect some penetrating balls and so on.

Edited June 14, 2012 by The Nal

[kaosmark2]

Great game between Italy and Croatia. Croatia 2nd half were absolutely stunning. I can see there being 3 teams finishing on 5 points in this group (sorry Irish!), and I wouldn't be surprised if Italy went out on that. Tense stuff.

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

Not that straightforward. A lot of refs would see contact as meaning it wasn't a dive.

[pink_triangle]

If Spain get a heavy win today, Italy are in big trouble. Pity as pirlo is my favourite midfielder to watch of all time.

[kaosmark2]

If Spain get a heavy win today, Italy are in big trouble. Pity as pirlo is my favourite midfielder to watch of all time.

[pink_triangle]

The thing is the Spanish players aren't silly. If they are in a position where a draw puts them through and Italy out, there is less incentive to score.

[Ed209]

This could be a very long 90 minutes for the Irish

[pink_triangle]

I like Ireland but not enough to risk Spain or Italy going out in the group. Hope they put in a spirited performance though.

[The Nal]

This could be a very long 90 minutes for the Irish

[Ed209]

Spain could have been 3 up in the first 10 minutes. Irish have done well/been lucky to keep it to just the single goal

[strummer77]

You don't even need contact for it not to be a dive. Laws of the game state any attempt is also a foul.

Edited June 14, 2012 by strummer77

[kaosmark2]

I like Ireland but not enough to risk Spain or Italy going out in the group. Hope they put in a spirited performance though.

[pink_triangle]

Pretty football is entertaining but doesn't win trophies. Spain need to convert a couple in the second half. I know they did it in the last world cup but you don't want to go to the last group game knowing a draw will likely knock you out

[pink_triangle]

For all their amazing skill on the ball, there are no players who work as hard to get the ball once they have lost it than the Spanish. The combination of most talented players and hardest working players isnt a bad starting point!

[thetime]

So if england finish runners up they will probably pay spain!

[lharris92]

spain really in the zone now, still think they need to up their game a bit for the quarters, if they get through

Edited June 14, 2012 by lharris92

[pink_triangle]

So if england finish runners up they will probably pay spain!

Edited June 14, 2012 by pink_triangle

[Ed209]

Definitely important to win that group if we have any hope of getting to the semis. Croatia or Italy will be difficult games, but if Shrek is up and running we could have a go at them.

Spain in that form will beat us 9 times out of 10 though

Edited June 14, 2012 by Ed209

[kaosmark2]

For all their amazing skill on the ball, there are no players who work as hard to get the ball once they have lost it than the Spanish. The combination of most talented players and hardest working players isnt a bad starting point!

[Ed209]

Thats some incentive to win the next 2 games! Then again if your going to play spain maybe its better to play them in the qf than sf when players are a little fresher.

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

Think that really showed the importance of playing strikers for Spain. Really don't understand how/why the Irish defence played that way. Defence was arguably the strongest part of the team during qualifying, and it appears they just lost all composure. I think two of the goals lead to major questions over the composure of the defence, and arguably Given's place in the team and the others were signs of Spain's quality. At times, Ireland appeared to cope well, but then switched off again.

All in all, it could have been worse. The two themes which have been evident throughout the tournament continued. Teams creating good chances and failing to take them, and poor refereeing. With regards to the former, obviously Spain won't be too upset, as they didn't concede any, but in another game, they could be made to pay. Ireland settled into the game after the first quarter of the first, and for about half of the second, and arguably made some decent chances.

With regards to the latter, I really wonder where Uefa are finding these officials. I'm pretty confident he'll be getting a bollocking from his coach, but the fact he took out a key player in a goal scoring opportunity is unaceptable, and can be the difference between staying in and getting knocked out of a tournament. I know I sound like a broken record, but it's something that's happened all too often in this tournament, and it's shocking. Do that even at conference level in this country, and chances are you'll be back at the Dog And Duck the next Sunday.

[LondonTom]

We could do with it......

[kaosmark2]

I am not to worried for England playing spain,

[strummer77]

Carroll and Welbeck up front tomorrow then. Glad to see England are changing tactics for this game, credit where credit is due to Roy.

Edited June 15, 2012 by strummer77