| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend 07:30 - Jul 8 with 2528 views | Lord_Lucan |
last night he thinks we may be too strong for them.
He suggests that they can only score from midfield and defence and that their only hope is that their keeper is superb.
We both agree on one thing that I am not sure has been mentioned much. England's massive strength is that the players on the bench are equally as good as whoever starts the game.
Arise Sir Gareth. |  |
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| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 07:37 - Jul 8 with 2089 views | floridaboy |
Will need a strong referee Sunday as the Italians will be doing all they can to con the officials.
Shame as they have played some really good football! |  | | |
| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 07:40 - Jul 8 with 2074 views | m14_blue |
Yep, we have real game changers on the bench.
Imagine spending 70 minutes chasing after Sterling or Saka and then looking up to see Grealish/Foden/Sancho/Rashford coming on.
Southgate has used them well too. Every game I’m screaming at him to make changes sooner but he’s got it right so far.
50/50 on Sunday but something special is happening. | | | |
| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 07:41 - Jul 8 with 2064 views | chicoazul |
| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 07:37 - Jul 8 by floridaboy |
Will need a strong referee Sunday as the Italians will be doing all they can to con the officials.
Shame as they have played some really good football! |
England fans need to be quiet about conning the ref for a bit.
I think Italy will be too good for us in midfield and defence but that the stars will align and we will somehow win anyway. |  |
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| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 07:46 - Jul 8 with 2031 views | hoppy |
Also, apart from a couple of moments last night, and a couple of poor kicks from Pickford for the first time, we have looked so strong at the back this tournament. That is a big positive going into Sunday too. |  |
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| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 07:51 - Jul 8 with 2004 views | stopmoaning |
| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 07:41 - Jul 8 by chicoazul |
England fans need to be quiet about conning the ref for a bit.
I think Italy will be too good for us in midfield and defence but that the stars will align and we will somehow win anyway. |
The Italian defence is wily, but so old! England’s pace will frighten them. The Italian attack has a lot of pace too. |  | | |
| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 07:54 - Jul 8 with 1982 views | RegencyBlue |
Italy looked suspect at the back a few times against Spain.
It’s all about taking our chances when they come. Spain didn’t and paid the price! |  | | |
| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 07:57 - Jul 8 with 1962 views | wkj |
Italy are good, but we're going into games without fear.
That is the key to Sunday. |  |
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| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 08:06 - Jul 8 with 1922 views | Churchman |
It could be a very good game. I think Italy have been strong in all their games. I think they’ll miss that wonderful fullback Spinazzola - their attack was less without him. Good defence with a great goalie, good quick forwards and they have great resolve.
England have proven to have a strong back line apart from Pickford, but we have some X factor players. Stirling, Saka, Foden, Sancho, Grealish - there is a lot of options who are all good and offer something slightly different. Kane is improving and England have got stronger throughout the tournament.
Who will win? Italy have a smashing team and at this moment are slightly stronger. They’ve got that brilliant national anthem too. However, we are at home and I’ve a sneaky feeling we are going to do it. |  | | |
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| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 08:33 - Jul 8 with 1810 views | jayessess |
Think England's back 6 looked very uncomfortable with Denmark's press and if I were Mancini I'd definitely be encouraged by that. Secret for England is suffocating Jorginho and Verratti, like Spain did. |  |
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| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 09:02 - Jul 8 with 1699 views | BlueandTruesince82 |
I'm not convinced, it's a canny Italian team and they look calm and measured in their play. They are wiley lot and whilst I hope I am wrong they are favourites in my book. The hope kills me and I can't let it get a run on me |  |
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| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 09:15 - Jul 8 with 1647 views | Ftnfwest |
They're a good side but without Spinnazola not at the heights they could be. Second best v Spain but as usual always find a way, will be very difficult tbh but i think last nights result was an incredible release for England in that there was more pressure on that than i actually think there will be on the final. |  | | |
| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 09:24 - Jul 8 with 1616 views | hoppy |
| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 09:15 - Jul 8 by Ftnfwest |
They're a good side but without Spinnazola not at the heights they could be. Second best v Spain but as usual always find a way, will be very difficult tbh but i think last nights result was an incredible release for England in that there was more pressure on that than i actually think there will be on the final. |
Bit like Ipswich’s run of play off semi final defeats, then the one where we got to Wembley felt a lot more relaxed having overcome that pressure and mind games that we always fail at the semi stage. | |
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| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 09:27 - Jul 8 with 1599 views | wkj |
| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 09:24 - Jul 8 by hoppy |
Bit like Ipswich’s run of play off semi final defeats, then the one where we got to Wembley felt a lot more relaxed having overcome that pressure and mind games that we always fail at the semi stage. |
I tell you what, the first half-hour or so felt anything but relaxed.
The second half was a pure party though. | |
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| My concern is that Kane’s holding up play was a key difference last night… on 09:34 - Jul 8 with 1575 views | unstableblue |
… and those two Italian defenders will love that battle with him… and he could be nullified |  |
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| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 09:35 - Jul 8 with 1570 views | jayessess |
| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 09:15 - Jul 8 by Ftnfwest |
They're a good side but without Spinnazola not at the heights they could be. Second best v Spain but as usual always find a way, will be very difficult tbh but i think last nights result was an incredible release for England in that there was more pressure on that than i actually think there will be on the final. |
They've retreated into themselves during the knockouts and against Spain they were basically playing low-block counter-attack. Don't think that'll worry England as much as the early tournament, manically pressing, attacking-in-numbers Italian team would have. | |
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| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 09:35 - Jul 8 with 1563 views | unstableblue |
| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 07:40 - Jul 8 by m14_blue |
Yep, we have real game changers on the bench.
Imagine spending 70 minutes chasing after Sterling or Saka and then looking up to see Grealish/Foden/Sancho/Rashford coming on.
Southgate has used them well too. Every game I’m screaming at him to make changes sooner but he’s got it right so far.
50/50 on Sunday but something special is happening. |
Thought Foden looked very sharper when he came on last night | |
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| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 09:40 - Jul 8 with 1533 views | ArnoldMoorhen |
I said yesterday that I would be more confident of beating Italy than Denmark. The main reason is that Italy looked very good for 60 or 70 minutes against Spain but then looked absolutely knackered. They were very lucky to hold on. In contrast England didn't look spent at the end of Extra Time yesterday, and had Sancho in reserve. The Italian defence is solid, but not the paciest, especially in the middle, and I think they could be exposed by Kane and Sterling switching positions, which they do quite a lot, and by Raheem running at them.
There'll be a penalty, just got to hope Kane doesn't take it. | | | |
| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 09:45 - Jul 8 with 1516 views | hoppy |
| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 09:40 - Jul 8 by ArnoldMoorhen |
I said yesterday that I would be more confident of beating Italy than Denmark. The main reason is that Italy looked very good for 60 or 70 minutes against Spain but then looked absolutely knackered. They were very lucky to hold on. In contrast England didn't look spent at the end of Extra Time yesterday, and had Sancho in reserve. The Italian defence is solid, but not the paciest, especially in the middle, and I think they could be exposed by Kane and Sterling switching positions, which they do quite a lot, and by Raheem running at them.
There'll be a penalty, just got to hope Kane doesn't take it. |
That long run from Sterling towards the end in extra time, still at the same high tempo pace as if it had been in the first 10 minutes would worry Italy | |
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| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 09:51 - Jul 8 with 1485 views | JammyDodgerrr |
The benefit we have is we are absolutely in form whereas Italy have been petering to the final compared to their group games. They breezed the group, squeaked past Austria, squeaked past Belgium and then probably deserved to lose to Spain. Think we will have too much for them, especially with the injuries they've suffered. |  |
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| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 09:52 - Jul 8 with 1476 views | clive_baker |
| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 09:35 - Jul 8 by unstableblue |
Thought Foden looked very sharper when he came on last night |
He is so good. I know it's not new news, but he really is SO good. |  |
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| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 10:07 - Jul 8 with 1426 views | Guthrum |
From watching the Italy - Spain game on Tuesday, there was lots of individual brilliance, but neither defence (including that aspect of the midfield) was really solid in the same way as last night. I can see England finding the openings we need to make our tactics work. |  |
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| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 10:09 - Jul 8 with 1415 views | Swansea_Blue |
| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 09:45 - Jul 8 by hoppy |
That long run from Sterling towards the end in extra time, still at the same high tempo pace as if it had been in the first 10 minutes would worry Italy |
Certainly would. Italy looked dead on their feet in their semi final. I don't think there will be much in it, but I'm hoping we'll have the better staying power. Flip side of that is they'll have had an extra day's recovery.
I can't call it though - this will be the biggest test for us yet, probably by far. |  |
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| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 10:12 - Jul 8 with 1398 views | textbackup |
| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 07:37 - Jul 8 by floridaboy |
Will need a strong referee Sunday as the Italians will be doing all they can to con the officials.
Shame as they have played some really good football! |
i really like the german ref, hope he gets it. |  |
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| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 10:25 - Jul 8 with 1338 views | Ftnfwest |
| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 09:24 - Jul 8 by hoppy |
Bit like Ipswich’s run of play off semi final defeats, then the one where we got to Wembley felt a lot more relaxed having overcome that pressure and mind games that we always fail at the semi stage. |
I do think it's true this time that the semi final jinx was such a cross to bear that reaching the final at least gets that off our backs. A loss now would be very disappointing of course but to have lost last night, far far worse. | | | |
| I don't know much about the Italian team but speaking with my Italian friend on 10:32 - Jul 8 with 1297 views | clive_baker |
I really rate Italy. Coming into the tournament they were in good form, but I felt like they wouldn't have quite enough to overcome a France or Belgium, but they've proven themselves against top opposition. They're classically Italian, well organised, defensive warriors, hard to break down, quality in the middle and have the pace and flair in attacking areas too. Not dissimilar to this England team to be honest. As well as Rice and Phillips have played, my only fear is that Jorginho, Verratti, Barella is a step up in quality in the midfield.
We'll see more of the ball than we would have vs. Spain, question is can we do anything with it. I think it could go all the way to pens. | |
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