well done conte!
hazard and courtois good games though
hazard and courtois good games though
Group E: Belgium vs Italy - KO 8pm, BBC1/HD
11 of 17
Originally Posted by FMKK:
“But, but, but he plays for Liverpool.”
“But, but, but he plays for Liverpool.”
That has got nothing to do with my opinion of him, I just have not seen much from him which to me suggests that he is someone that you can rely upon at this stage of his career to score your team a goal when you are desperate for one.
Very good performance from Italy. They were really well organised by the manager and the experienced defenders. Classic Italian football. Belgium had lots of pressure at the end but didn't convert it into clear-cut chances. They were unlucky at times, but still wasteful of their opportunities.
Originally Posted by celesti:
“A 2-0 hammering for both hype and FIFA rankings there.”
“A 2-0 hammering for both hype and FIFA rankings there.”
No sympathy for Belgium, a completely overrated and overhyped team
Ireland could get a result against them in the next match.....Ireland create a good few chances and Belgium offer up a lot of them
Originally Posted by FMKK:
“But, but, but he plays for Liverpool.”
“But, but, but he plays for Liverpool.”
I'd like to think people can put club bias aside in terms of international football. I'm a Liverpool fan, but I'm certainly not prepared to state that I think Henderson and Clyne should be starting for England, or that Benteke would be a better option than Lukaku.
Too many Belgians played below their normal standard De Bruyne, Lukaku, Origi were all dire by their own, not any other standard.
Enjoyed the game very much and thought Belgium gave it a good go in the second half but were carrying too many below par performers.
Italy squeezed everything they could out of their players and deserved the win.
Enjoyed the game very much and thought Belgium gave it a good go in the second half but were carrying too many below par performers.
Italy squeezed everything they could out of their players and deserved the win.
Originally Posted by celesti:
“A 2-0 hammering for both hype and FIFA rankings there.”
“A 2-0 hammering for both hype and FIFA rankings there.”
Don't worry, they'll get to the top of the rankings when they do Kuwait 4-0 in a friendly come September....
We've seen 20 teams so far in Euro 2016 and the Italians are the first to put in a complete, all-round performance.
I imagine a few bookmakers are reducing their tournament odds right about now.
I imagine a few bookmakers are reducing their tournament odds right about now.
Italy were brilliant. Performance of the tournament for me so far. Restricted Belgium to half chances and finished their own clinically. If we're being harsh can criticise the professional fouls but these have always been a part of the Italian game.
Belgium rudderless and without any focal point of attack.
That stat about Italy is unbelievable - unbeaten in all European and World Cup qualifying matches since 2006. Over 50 games! Dark horses - never rule them out.
Belgium rudderless and without any focal point of attack.
That stat about Italy is unbelievable - unbeaten in all European and World Cup qualifying matches since 2006. Over 50 games! Dark horses - never rule them out.
Originally Posted by Xela M:
“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.”
“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.”
I take it your hope just got that bit stronger.
Originally Posted by Dandem:
“I'd like to think people can put club bias aside in terms of international football. I'm also a Liverpool fan, but I'm certainly not prepared to state that I think Henderson and Clyne should be starting for England, or that Benteke would be a better option than Lukaku.”
“I'd like to think people can put club bias aside in terms of international football. I'm also a Liverpool fan, but I'm certainly not prepared to state that I think Henderson and Clyne should be starting for England, or that Benteke would be a better option than Lukaku.”
Yes, people should just comment on a players ability regardless of their international and club side.
For example Hazard should have played in Fellaini's role tonight I think.
Originally Posted by FMKK:
“Don't worry, they'll get to the top of the rankings when they do Kuwait 4-0 in a friendly come September....”
“Don't worry, they'll get to the top of the rankings when they do Kuwait 4-0 in a friendly come September....”
Huh, friendly matches don't carry many points in the ranking system.
It is in competitive matches where you get the most points.
Originally Posted by batdude_uk1:
“Are you still sure after yet another Origi miss?”
“Are you still sure after yet another Origi miss?”
Troll harder.
I didn't say he'd absolutely change the game, did I? Just that I know Origi's qualities, a lot more than you do, and know that he's not the worst option. I wasn't expecting the 21-year-old striker to come on with not a lot of time and win the game for them, converting every chance he gets.
He's a very promising player. Give him the ball and there's a good chance he'll do something with it, and could give you a goal. If he started the game I'd have been confident of him scoring. You've criticised him before, then he went on an amazing run for Liverpool before getting injured, going as far as to keep a fit Daniel Sturridge out of the side.
He's not going to convert every single chance. How many teams have such a player on the bench? If you have such a player, what's he doing on the bench?
Originally Posted by Jason C:
“We've seen 20 teams so far in Euro 2016 and the Italians are the first to put in a complete, all-round performance.
I imagine a few bookmakers are reducing their tournament odds right about now.”
“We've seen 20 teams so far in Euro 2016 and the Italians are the first to put in a complete, all-round performance.
I imagine a few bookmakers are reducing their tournament odds right about now.”
They were great tonight but I'm not sure that they may not throw in a stinker of a game at some point too.
Originally Posted by TheMunch:
“Troll harder.
I didn't say he'd absolutely change the game, did I? Just that I know Origi's qualities, a lot more than you do, and know that he's not the worst option. I wasn't expecting the 21-year-old striker to come on with not a lot of time and win the game for them, converting every chance he gets.
He's a very promising player. Give him the ball and there's a good chance he'll do something with it, and could give you a goal. If he started the game I'd have been confident of him scoring. You've criticised him before, then he went on an amazing run for Liverpool before getting injured, going as far as to keep a fit Daniel Sturridge out of the side.
He's not going to convert every single chance. How many teams have such a player on the bench? If you have such a player, what's he doing on the bench?”
“Troll harder.
I didn't say he'd absolutely change the game, did I? Just that I know Origi's qualities, a lot more than you do, and know that he's not the worst option. I wasn't expecting the 21-year-old striker to come on with not a lot of time and win the game for them, converting every chance he gets.
He's a very promising player. Give him the ball and there's a good chance he'll do something with it, and could give you a goal. If he started the game I'd have been confident of him scoring. You've criticised him before, then he went on an amazing run for Liverpool before getting injured, going as far as to keep a fit Daniel Sturridge out of the side.
He's not going to convert every single chance. How many teams have such a player on the bench? If you have such a player, what's he doing on the bench?”
He did fine when he came on. At least he moved and actually tried to get involved. Lukaku was dreadful again.
Originally Posted by TheMunch:
“Troll harder.
I didn't say he'd absolutely change the game, did I? Just that I know Origi's qualities, a lot more than you do, and know that he's not the worst option. I wasn't expecting the 21-year-old striker to come on with not a lot of time and win the game for them, converting every chance he gets.
He's a very promising player. Give him the ball and there's a good chance he'll do something with it, and could give you a goal. If he started the game I'd have been confident of him scoring. You've criticised him before, then he went on an amazing run for Liverpool before getting injured, going as far as to keep a fit Daniel Sturridge out of the side.
He's not going to convert every single chance. How many teams have such a player on the bench? If you have such a player, what's he doing on the bench?”
“Troll harder.
I didn't say he'd absolutely change the game, did I? Just that I know Origi's qualities, a lot more than you do, and know that he's not the worst option. I wasn't expecting the 21-year-old striker to come on with not a lot of time and win the game for them, converting every chance he gets.
He's a very promising player. Give him the ball and there's a good chance he'll do something with it, and could give you a goal. If he started the game I'd have been confident of him scoring. You've criticised him before, then he went on an amazing run for Liverpool before getting injured, going as far as to keep a fit Daniel Sturridge out of the side.
He's not going to convert every single chance. How many teams have such a player on the bench? If you have such a player, what's he doing on the bench?”
I am not a troll, what a pathetic thing to say.
No team obviously have a player which will convert every single chance, but you need a player that you as a coach or manager can have faith in that they will at least test the opposition keeper, we have one in England in Vardy, and if or when fit Sturridge.
I take your experience over seeing Origi play, but I am only giving out my personal opinion, to me him and Benteke are not the best of options to select from (and neither is Lukaku).
Hence why Belgium might struggle in this tournament.
This tournament has been all about the team performances so far. I'm hoping Ronaldo brings a bit of individual magic tomorrow.
Originally Posted by FMKK:
“They were great tonight but I'm not sure that they may not throw in a stinker of a game at some point too.”
“They were great tonight but I'm not sure that they may not throw in a stinker of a game at some point too.”
Perhaps, but we've been speaking about hallmarks of Italian play - and one is to get through matches where they're not at their best and still do enough to find a winner.
Originally Posted by misawa97:
“He did fine when he came on. At least he moved and actually tried to get involved. Lukaku was dreadful again.”
“He did fine when he came on. At least he moved and actually tried to get involved. Lukaku was dreadful again.”
Yeah I thought he did alright when he came on. That's why I said if he started I'd have fancied him to score, based on this. In fact he didn't even need to start, if he came on a bit earlier he could've got something.
Originally Posted by FMKK:
“They were great tonight but I'm not sure that they may not throw in a stinker of a game at some point too.”
“They were great tonight but I'm not sure that they may not throw in a stinker of a game at some point too.”
It was a performance to command the respect they should be due. Whether I would back Italy to beat France or Germany is quite another matter; at the moment, no, I wouldn't, but I am sure I would enjoy the contest..
remember when somebody asked who do you think has been the best team so far? i picked france, sorry i meant italy, what an all round team performance, just wow
Originally Posted by batdude_uk1:
“I am not a troll, what a pathetic thing to say. ”
“I am not a troll, what a pathetic thing to say. ”
I didn't call you a troll. I said "troll harder", because that's how I read that comment. What else am I meant to read from that comment other than you trying to bait or mock?
11 of 17
