[roddydogs]

Do we want to win, then get Germany? come on Greece.

[Assa2]

Greece would appear to be an easier route to the final, although if they managed to beat Germany they'll hardly be a push-over. However a semi v Germany would be a far more exciting game.

[whedon247]

italy have hugely impressed me,think some fans are too confident we will win this

60/40 in italys favour imo

[celesti]

Originally Posted by stej86

I can confirm Gary Lineker, Alan Hansen and the BBC team will all be flying out to Kiev, Ukraine this weekend and coverage on Sunday will be completely live from Kiev

Coverage of both semi finals and the final was also be live onsite from Poland/Ukraine with Gary Lineker and guests.

Regards

Do you work for the BBC?

[Thomas007]

Germany will looking for revenge after the Chelsea v Bayern debacle.

[ACU]

It will be an easy win for Italy. England wont get passed the quarters. They simply arent that good a team.

[stej86]

Originally Posted by celesti

Do you work for the BBC?

I work freelance but yes i have contracted for the BBC many times and have a number of contacts.

Gary is now confirming what I reported on his twitter account

https://twitter.com/GaryLineker/stat...27000728715264

[Tribec]

Originally Posted by stej86

I work freelance but yes i have contracted for the BBC many times and have a number of contacts.

Gary is now confirming what I reported on his twitter account

https://twitter.com/GaryLineker/stat...27000728715264

This was always the case, it was well known that they would be going out after the group stages. Lineker had stated that on his twitter account before the championships had started.

[stej86]

Originally Posted by Tribec

This was always the case, it was well known that they would be going out after the group stages. Lineker had stated that on his twitter account before the championships had started.

Well your be glad to know bookings, hotels etc are now confirmed, lets hope England win

[BomoLad]

Casual free-lancers are always the first to get informed of long-standing hotel bookings.

[stej86]

Originally Posted by BomoLad

Casual free-lancers are always the first to get informed of long-standing hotel bookings.

Please give a positive contribution and dont be a WUM. Thank you

[celesti]

Don't listen to him ACU! Keep telling us England will lose and eventually you'll be right, you stopped clock of a poster, you.

[BomoLad]

Originally Posted by stej86

Please give a positive contribution and dont be a WUM. Thank you

I was being supportive.

The people I know at the BBC confirmed there will be a studio used when they travel

[stej86]

Originally Posted by BomoLad

I was being supportive.

The people I know at the BBC confirmed there will be a studio used when they travel

I think it will add to the BBC coverage with the presenters being at the stadiums, especially with England now having a realistic possibility of getting to the later stages of this tournament.

[celesti]

I'm not fussed about the studio situation really, I've tended to drift out of the jibber-jabber before/during/after the matches with this tournament.

I don't like when they go to a gang of them stood just off the pitch though, not sure why. I remember ITV running their entire punditry pitchside for a Champions League game, like they were turfed out of their digs.

[stej86]

Originally Posted by celesti

I'm not fussed about the studio situation really, I've tended to drift out of the jibber-jabber before/during/after the matches with this tournament.

I don't like when they go to a gang of them stood just off the pitch though, not sure why. I remember ITV running their entire punditry pitchside for a Champions League game, like they were turfed out of their digs.

Yeh ITV used to do this alot a few years back. You often would get Ally McCoist and Andy Townsend standing with what looked like a make shift table on the touch line. Didnt look very professional.

[NorthernNinny]

Originally Posted by Thomas007

Germany will looking for revenge after the Chelsea v Bayern debacle.

That was entirely down to poor finishing on their part. We 're looking for revenge after the game with the goal that never was(but was).

[Sick Bullet]

We can do it folks, am not big on Italy in recent years there so beatable

cmon lads

[bottleofbest]

Well if it goes to pens like last time we played them in the quarters we might just win, their track record is as bad as ours when it comes to shootouts!

[bottleofbest]

Originally Posted by Sick Bullet

We can do it folks, am not big on Italy in recent years there so beatable

cmon lads

Didn't we actually beat them last time we played them?
Granted, the likes of Balotelli are gonna be ones to watch out for!

[bottleofbest]

Originally Posted by Thomas007

Germany will looking for revenge after the Chelsea v Bayern debacle.

I doubt Germany would give a shit about Bayern Munich Vs Chelsea, why would they? Chelsea and Bayern ate both made up of international squads. Its like saying Ebgland would want to get revenge for Man U, most of the players don't play for Man U.

[celesti]

Most of Germany's first team are Bayern players, although I don't think it'll make a huge difference to their mindset.

[pmw_hewitt]

Interesting fact if you care; but believe it or not England and Italy have only ever played each other twice in major tournament history, with Italy winning both. The Italians won 1-0 (Marco Tardelli) in the group stages of Euro '80, and 2-1 (Roberto Baggio, Salvatore Schillaci; David Platt) in the third-place playoff of the 1990 World Cup.

The game on Sunday will also be the first time they face each other in a major tournament match outside of Italy. The game in 1980 was played at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin, and in 1990 at the Stadio San Nicola in Bari.

In total, England and Italy have played each other 22 times, with nine Italy wins, seven England wins, and six draws. The last time they played each other was a friendly in Leeds in 2002. An injury time Vincenzo Montella penalty added to Montella's earlier goal and cancelled out Robbie Fowler's opener as Italy won 2-1.

[skimminstones]

only one competitive win over italy in a world cup qualifier 1977, (or 78?)

Still, after beating sweden and the hosts of a tournament it seems this could be the year we get another monkey off our back.

Certainly im more pleased to be playing Italy as i dont think they have looked paritcularly strong. Even though i have got £5 on italy to win the tournament

[JMTD]

Chiellini out of the England game, pretty much the worst blow possible for Italy and the biggest possible boost for England. The defence is completely built around Chiellini and he's pretty much the main star alongside Pirlo. No coincidence that the game opened up more for Ireland when he went off injured.

Pretty gutted for the guy. That said, haven't been this pumped for an International game...in almost forever actually.