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Group E: Belgium vs Italy - KO 8pm, BBC1/HD |
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#1 |
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Kingdom of Arnor
Posts: 78,227
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Group E: Belgium vs Italy - KO 8pm, BBC1/HD
The game will also be on talkSPORT, BBC Radio 5 Live and on the BBC Sport website and App.
Italy have claimed 13 wins in their previous 21 encounters against Belgium. The last 5 matches between the sides has produced 18 goals. The Azzurri have drawn 15 games in European Championship history, more than any other country. This includes 8 goalless draws. |
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#2 |
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Join Date: Apr 2005
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Two very good teams, I can see this one being a very close affair, so I think it will end up as a draw, 1-1 most likely.
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#3 |
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Join Date: Jan 2011
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Ugh... my expectations for Italy are the lowest they have ever been. All half-decent Italian players are either injured or too old, so I don't expect much from this game. But... hope dies last.
Belgium are a very good team. De Bryune is a star, but their many defensive injuries are Italy's hope. |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Jul 2015
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Buffon, Chiellini, Bazagli and Bonucci should be pretty solid at the back but other than that it's not inspiring stuff. How Eder got called up I'll never know.
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#5 |
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Join Date: Aug 2008
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italy rarely have 2 bad tournaments on the spin... i expect them to get out the group and then it all depends on who they get...
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#6 |
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Quote:
italy rarely have 2 bad tournaments on the spin... i expect them to get out the group and then it all depends on who they get...
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#7 |
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Join Date: Feb 2003
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Quote:
Two very good teams, I can see this one being a very close affair, so I think it will end up as a draw, 1-1 most likely.
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#8 |
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Join Date: Dec 2012
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Belgium look the better side on paper I think. Italy are obviously always a wily tournament team but tend to alternate between good and bad tournaments. Pirlo has been the heartbeat of the side for over a decade and he's now gone. It'll be strange to see them without him.
If Belgium's players show up, I think they'll win 2-0. |
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#9 |
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Join Date: Jun 2006
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Mark Clattenburg will be the referee for this one.
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#10 |
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Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Dublin
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Quote:
Belgium look the better side on paper I think. Italy are obviously always a wily tournament team but tend to alternate between good and bad tournaments. Pirlo has been the heartbeat of the side for over a decade and he's now gone. It'll be strange to see them without him.
If Belgium's players show up, I think they'll win 2-0. |
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#11 |
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 30,890
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Hazard will want to impress his new boss tonight.
Looking forward to this one. |
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#12 |
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Join Date: Apr 2005
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Fellaini to get the winner!
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#13 |
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Join Date: Dec 2012
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Quote:
Belgium have a lot to prove at this tournament though. They have a fantastic squad "on paper" but they haven't really shown much for the last couple of years (dropping four points to the Welsh for example in the qualifiers). It wouldn't even surprise me if they had a fairly disappointing Euros.
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#14 |
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Join Date: Apr 2005
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I suppose Red Devil fans should stick together!
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#15 |
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Join Date: May 2015
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Quote:
Buffon, Chiellini, Bazagli and Bonucci should be pretty solid at the back but other than that it's not inspiring stuff. How Eder got called up I'll never know.
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#16 |
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Well Éder was called up at the expense of Mario Ballotelli so presumably Conte thinks he's good enough for this level. They have an experienced, proven striker who has been left out so Éder has got to provide something which the others don't.
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#17 |
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Quote:
Well Éder was called up at the expense of Mario Ballotelli so presumably Conte thinks he's good enough for this level. They have an experienced, proven striker who has been left out so Éder has got to provide something which the others don't.
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#18 |
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Quote:
How was Balotelli even in the reckoning for the squad??
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#19 |
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How was Balotelli even in the reckoning for the squad??
Oh, and he's also a total lad
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#20 |
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Quote:
He wasn't.
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Probably the best penalty taker on the planet and is a proven international goalscorer. He's had a couple of terrible seasons at club level but he's always been great at international level.
Oh, and he's also a total lad ![]() The last time he was any where close to being good was four years ago,that is an awful long time ago now. Lord only knows where he will be playing his club football next season, as I doubt that Klopp will want to keep him around. |
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#21 |
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Join Date: Feb 2007
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Italy are indeed poor as a team these days. Seriously, where has their attacking talent, especially upfront gone?
Saying that, I can see this being a high-scoring game with either both teams drawing 3-3 or Belgium steamrolling Italy. This Belgium team needs to click at some point, and a few things have shifted within the team and squad: new defensive pairing (Denayer & Vermaelen), new starting striker possibly (Batshuayi) and a new star man in DeBruyne. |
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#22 |
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Join Date: Apr 2005
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I want to see blonde Fellaini!
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#23 |
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 15,843
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Belgium need to do something this year if they want to be regarded as the fine team their selection of players suggests they should be.
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#24 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
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Two teams that cannot be trusted doing battle. Should be interesting.
Belgium have been unconvincing for an awfully long time, though. And having seen them play in a few friendlies recently and make hard work of it against the likes of Finland despite absolutely dominating the possession, I can't have them at all. Either 0-0 or 1-0 Italy I think. |
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#25 |
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Join Date: Aug 2008
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like the other game in the group i'm gonna go for a 1-1...
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