The International Football Thread

[petre.ispirescu 4,928]

Only watched Italy's 1st half vs Scotland and I thought they looked good. They held a very high line and were constantly pressing high up the pitch. Lots of intensity in the first half and Conte did not sit on the bench for a second, constantly screaming on the touchline. 

I thought it was a really offensive side because when they were attacking Chiellini, Bonucci and Barzagli were way over the half line and the wide midfielders were basically playing as wingers, while two of the central midfielders (Florenzi & Ghiaccherini) were allowed to push forward, they were constantly right on the edge of the box.

Basically this is pretty much they way Italy looked everytime they were attacking in the 1st half:

 

The only one missing here is Bonucci who is a bit behind De Rossi, who played as a regista last night, the Pirlo role. Other than that Italy is in Scotland's half with all the players. This is one aspect in particular I liked about their game - the fact that they held a very high line and have attacked in numbers. Haven't watched the 2nd half, but the game was on replay this morning, it was already the 85th or 86th minute and the Romanian commentators were saying that Insigne could have been in goal and nothing would have changed. So I imagine Italy had no problems and everything went like in the 1st half when Buffon barely saw the ball.

[Ledg 640]

^ Thanks for the report. Couldn't watch the game last night.

Any idea if Italy will have one last friendly before the tournament?

[KevinAshburner 1,270]

10 minutes ago, Ledgi said:

^ Thanks for the report. Couldn't watch the game last night.

Any idea if Italy will have one last friendly before the tournament?

yes Italy plays against Finland on Monday 6 June 2016 at 7:45 pm - England Time

 

follow the live match score of the game here.

http://www.flashscore.com/match/GfPjp6Vl/#match-summary

http://www.sofascore.com/finland-italy/hUbsmUb

 

 

 

[petre.ispirescu 4,928]

39 minutes ago, Ledgi said:

^ Thanks for the report. Couldn't watch the game last night.

Any idea if Italy will have one last friendly before the tournament?

Yes next Monday in Verona, against Finland (21:45).

[Blue_Fox_ 2,086]

Actually Conte was pretty calm last night 
Around the 20' the Italian commentator from the touchline said he got quite upset because Scotland kept breaking the flow of the game, and indeed the rhythm of the game was always pretty low in the first half. We started strong, few chances already not too long after kick off, then Scotland organised themselves defensively and we struggled finding chances for about 15 minutes or so (Thanks also to Bonucci failing to finding Candreva who was free on the right) After that we started playing the ball wider and there were several opportunities we failed to convert. (And we failed to find a proper rhythm)
Second half was a bit faster, the goal was quite good and after that there were several changes.
Also De Rossi was playing with a problem to his tendon.
 

[KevinAshburner 1,270]

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY

http://www.sofascore.com/south-korea-spain/YTbsKUb

Spain -vs- South Korea 

HALF TIME SCORE : SPAIN 3 - 0 SOUTH KOREA

FULL TIME SCORE : SPAIN 6 - 1 SOUTH KOREA

 

SPAIN GOALSCORERS
30' - David Silva

32' - Cesc Fabregas  [Assist: Alvaro Morata]

38' - Nolito  [Assist: Cesar Azpilicueta]

50' - Alvaro Morata  [Assist: Thiago Alcantara]

54' - Nolito  [Assist: Hector Bellerin]

89' - Alvaro Morata

SPAIN GOALKEEPER CHANGE at 74 MINUTES.

 

SOUTH KOREA GOALS

83'

 

Edited June 1, 2016 by KevinAshburner

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,920]

Belgium look really poor on defense...

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,920]

Lukaku!!

[kmk108 1,186]

20 hours ago, Sir Mikel OBE said:

Belgium look really poor on defense...

This "golden generation" will not win anything. I haven't seen anything on the pitch that has made me think that they will.

[Blue_Fox_ 2,086]

20 minutes ago, kmk108 said:

This "golden generation" will not win anything. I haven't seen anything on the pitch that has made me think that they will.

This. Talented team but overrated. You need more than individuals to win anything at international level.

[Fulham Broadway 16,898]

Bruno Alves must be a big kung fu film fan with that tackle

[lucio 5,418]

Ban alvez from the tournament. Not far off a critical injury or worse

[Iggy Doonican 4,186]

Fair play to Kane for getting up straight away after nearly being decapitated and then you have that prick Pepe. I'm torn between which was worse Alves foul or Pepe's play acting.

[Captain Ahmed 528]

Djibouti 0-3 Tunisia

 

[DYC. 7,542]

Anyone watching the Germany game? Is that a fan in Hungary's goal? I've never seen anything like this. A Benitez-shaped GK.

[kmk108 1,186]

18 minutes ago, DYC. said:

Anyone watching the Germany game? Is that a fan in Hungary's goal? I've never seen anything like this. A Benitez-shaped GK.

Just tuned in after the last goal. How is Rüdiger doing?

[DYC. 7,542]

3 minutes ago, kmk108 said:

Just tuned in after the last goal. How is Rüdiger doing?

Hasn't had much to do. Hungary aren't offering much going forward. I find his use of the ball unimpressive.

Boring game. I'm going to tune out.

[kmk108 1,186]

14 minutes ago, DYC. said:

Hasn't had much to do. Hungary aren't offering much going forward. I find his use of the ball unimpressive.

Boring game. I'm going to tune out.

I tuned out 5 minutes after tuning in. Both teams just want to get to France.