Cyprus-Forum.com

[Oceanside50]

AZZURRII!!!

[Paphitis]

Italy has a near perfect defense; the best in this year’s tournament, and given that England did not prove to be much going forward against shitty Denmark, my prediction for the final is...

England 0 – 2 Italy

Btw, this is a technical prediction, not a premonition!

'
Ita;lians are good at parking the bus in front of goal.

Err, no Paphitis… Italy is a much respected national side and I’m pretty sure the bookmakers will have them as favorites for the final.

A near perfect defense isn't parking the bus... we're talking exceptional stoppers.

Oh come on! They do park the bus. It's a very defencive team. Italy have always built teams around their defence.

Of course Italy are a great side. I know that.

But England can hurt them. Otherwise lunch next week with the usual so and so's is going to be extruciating...

[Get Real!]

Oh come on! They do park the bus. It's a very defencive team. Italy have always built teams around their defence.

“Parking the bus” means an 11-man defense… something that Cyprus would have to do if they were playing against any of the top European teams, due the huge discrepancy in quality.

But Italy parking the bus? I don’t think so mate, they’ve got exceptional strikers and midfielders that’ll be busy often at the other end.

The only thing going for England is that it’s a home game (Wembley I think) but if it were on neutral ground I’d give them very small chances of success.

Like I said... Italy this year and right now, are superb but in football nothing lasts forever.

[Kikapu]

England 3 Italy 1

did you see the England Ukraine game Kikapu ? Hard to watch that and say England can not score based on talent imo.

For me sport and particularly football is the only time blind nationalism divorced from all reality is acceptable. I could never contemplate not sup[porting England 100% and 'analysis' is irrelevant to me. Kind feels a lot of the time that is opposite to most people. In sport they are all cold analysis and double guessing England in everything else they are blind nationalist where by definition England / UK is always best at everything just because its England or UK.

I saw some of the England-Ukraine game as I was vacationing in Mallorca.

I wasn’t suggesting England can’t score goals per se, especially against weaker teams as GR pointed it out, but rather, they do not have player calibers of B. Charlton, Salah, Bale, Cruyff, Ronaldo, Suarez, Messi, Maradona and Pelé to name a few.

I got annoyed seeing the orgasmic celebration by the English players after Kane scored the penalty (second attempt), a penalty which was unwarranted based on a dive by Sterling and failure by the referee and the VAR which was intended to stop such shenanigans.

For me there is no Nationalism when it comes to sports, but rather I enjoy watching a game based on talent and skills and that best team wins, although sometimes the best team does not win which is acceptable to me, but what is not acceptable is a win by any team based on fraud and negligence by the officials, hence the introduction of the VAR.

Bottom line, it was more important to have a Italy-England final than Italy-Denmark if it can be helped. The help came with the fraudulent penalty.

[miltiades]

It's England all the way. 1-0

[Londonrake]

If you look closely at the videos, Sterling didn’t take a dive. He was clearly fouled by a second Danish defender. The penalty was valid. Earlier Kane was brought down even more flagrantly in the box but that was overlooked. C’est la vie.

I’ll obviously be supporting England but, at this level, regard predictions as akin to crystal ball stuff. Too many variables.

Win or lose, an important final for England at Wembley after all this time is a commendable achievement and one I’ll enjoy watching.

[Kikapu]

If you look closely at the videos, Sterling didn’t take a dive. He was clearly fouled by a second Danish defender. The penalty was valid. Earlier Kane was brought down even more flagrantly in the box but that was overlooked. C’est la vie.

I’ll obviously be supporting England but, at this level, regard predictions as akin to crystal ball stuff. Too many variables.

Win or lose, an important final for England at Wembley after all this time is a commendable achievement and one I’ll enjoy watching.

I agree that it was not a dive by Sterling in the stricktest sense, but rather, he fell over with his forward motion in the action of the game, but no way a penalty committed by the Italian players by any means. Outside the box, it would not even be given a free kick.

The other thing I was not happy with was the number of fans allowed into the stadium without masks. 60,000+ I believe, no doubt overwhelming England fans, all tightly closed together shouting. It was more like a Covidfest. Where was the responsibility of the government to limit the numbers or was it more important to give England team the edge with a home game fans advantage?

[Londonrake]

I agree about the behaviour of the fans. A disgrace.

Not so much regarding the mask issue but for some - searches for forum colloquial expression. Got it! - cunt, to shine a laser in the Danish goalkeeper's face during the penalty (although, he didn't actually seem to notice) and - again - the despicable practice of hissing and booing during the other team's national anthem. Both I understand resulting in charges and investigation by EUFA. I disown all that shite and the perpetrators. Scumbags.

[Paphitis]

Oh come on! They do park the bus. It's a very defencive team. Italy have always built teams around their defence.

“Parking the bus” means an 11-man defense… something that Cyprus would have to do if they were playing against any of the top European teams, due the huge discrepancy in quality.

But Italy parking the bus? I don’t think so mate, they’ve got exceptional strikers and midfielders that’ll be busy often at the other end.

The only thing going for England is that it’s a home game (Wembley I think) but if it were on neutral ground I’d give them very small chances of success.

Like I said... Italy this year and right now, are superb but in football nothing lasts forever.

No not an 11 man defence. They have their standard 4 - 4 - 2 formation with a sweeper and a marker set up. They are always very slow to build up Italy. They will absorb so much pressure on their back lines and wait for moment and then play a pressing game.

When I say parking the bus - i actually mean they are defence orientated. Italy has always been known for that.

They are definately not a cyprus.

I total;ly agree Italy arew fantastic. And I'm hoping they win actually. I like Italy. It's just my Italiano Parea need to be stired up a bit because that's what we do - stir each other up.

[Londonrake]

Islamic seminar student reaction to a Harry Kane goal. Football - the great leveler.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEjJaZzRBAY

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