Football
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In short, Italy must win to go through. They've drawn against Spain & Croatia, both 1-1. Perhaps interestingly in both, they went ahead first. They're looking at changing tactics for several reasons:
1. Balotelli hasn't scored and is nursing an injury so is a doubt.
2. Italy fans / media want Di Natale to start (who scored against Spain and came off the bench in both matches).
3. They need to win and are up against a side they know aren't going to do anything other than invite them on to goal.
I think Ireland have really terrible in their first two matches. Trapattoni has basically blamed the players and said they weren't man enough to have the balls and play the way they had been playing for years under his leadership... that they got stage fright. I'd agree with that... against Spain they may as well have asked the Spanish for autographs before the match. There was nothing for Irish fans to be proud off on the pitch and the players deserve heavy criticism not for the result, but for their lack of fighting spirit which Ireland are famed for.
They go in to this match against Italy knowing they're out and Italy have to win. Managed by an Italian who led Italy to the world cup in 2002 and euro 2004, Trapattoni will know the players and their mentality. I'm expecting a very tight game tomorrow for several reasons:
1. Irish players have zero pressure on them and will want to enjoy it and put on a good show having let everyone down in the first two matches (it could well be be Given, Duff, Keane & Dunne's last performance)
2. Italy must win and are expected to hockey Ireland so there's huge pressure on them.
3. The Irish management team (Trap & Tardelli) know the Italian players & management team well so tactically have an advantage.
4. Ireland have drawn twice (home and away) against Italy in 2010 wc qualifiers and beat Italy 2-0 in a friendly last year - against a decent Italian 11, (7 of which are in the current Italian squad).
I was going to stay away from this one but have decided to lay Italy because i believe their price is too short. The reason it has shortened so much is because Ireland got hammered by Spain. Hardly fair as i don't think many sides would have given Spain a game with the form they were in that night.
Before that match, Italy were 1.8 to win against Ireland. After, the price collapsed to 1.30. I accept Ireland looked to be a bunch of drunk fans happy to get a run around on a pitch against superstars, but i still think there's value here and Ireland were a little unlucky over the last two games. Against Croatia Ireland played poorly but if you study all 3 goals conceded, you'll see they were pretty unlucky. Given was blindsighted for one, the 2nd went in off his head and Ireland should have been awarded a free kick in the build up to another.
0-0, 1-0, 0-1 or 1-1 is how i think this will finish. Lay of Italy is smart bet to trade, hopefully at HT. Against Croatia, Ireland went in 1-2 at the break and against Spain it was just 0-1. They've started poorly in both (given away a goal in opening 3 mins) so i think it's a case of third time lucky tomorrow for Ireland.
1. Balotelli hasn't scored and is nursing an injury so is a doubt.
2. Italy fans / media want Di Natale to start (who scored against Spain and came off the bench in both matches).
3. They need to win and are up against a side they know aren't going to do anything other than invite them on to goal.
I think Ireland have really terrible in their first two matches. Trapattoni has basically blamed the players and said they weren't man enough to have the balls and play the way they had been playing for years under his leadership... that they got stage fright. I'd agree with that... against Spain they may as well have asked the Spanish for autographs before the match. There was nothing for Irish fans to be proud off on the pitch and the players deserve heavy criticism not for the result, but for their lack of fighting spirit which Ireland are famed for.
They go in to this match against Italy knowing they're out and Italy have to win. Managed by an Italian who led Italy to the world cup in 2002 and euro 2004, Trapattoni will know the players and their mentality. I'm expecting a very tight game tomorrow for several reasons:
1. Irish players have zero pressure on them and will want to enjoy it and put on a good show having let everyone down in the first two matches (it could well be be Given, Duff, Keane & Dunne's last performance)
2. Italy must win and are expected to hockey Ireland so there's huge pressure on them.
3. The Irish management team (Trap & Tardelli) know the Italian players & management team well so tactically have an advantage.
4. Ireland have drawn twice (home and away) against Italy in 2010 wc qualifiers and beat Italy 2-0 in a friendly last year - against a decent Italian 11, (7 of which are in the current Italian squad).
I was going to stay away from this one but have decided to lay Italy because i believe their price is too short. The reason it has shortened so much is because Ireland got hammered by Spain. Hardly fair as i don't think many sides would have given Spain a game with the form they were in that night.
Before that match, Italy were 1.8 to win against Ireland. After, the price collapsed to 1.30. I accept Ireland looked to be a bunch of drunk fans happy to get a run around on a pitch against superstars, but i still think there's value here and Ireland were a little unlucky over the last two games. Against Croatia Ireland played poorly but if you study all 3 goals conceded, you'll see they were pretty unlucky. Given was blindsighted for one, the 2nd went in off his head and Ireland should have been awarded a free kick in the build up to another.
0-0, 1-0, 0-1 or 1-1 is how i think this will finish. Lay of Italy is smart bet to trade, hopefully at HT. Against Croatia, Ireland went in 1-2 at the break and against Spain it was just 0-1. They've started poorly in both (given away a goal in opening 3 mins) so i think it's a case of third time lucky tomorrow for Ireland.
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Trap has picked the same Irish team that got hammered by Croatia.
Why expect a different result when you do the same thing? |
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If trap kick italy out, then he never can go to italy again.
You know what happend to a korea player who played in italy and kicked out italy in the wc! |
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italy will win comfortably no doubts whatsoever
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OP is right on one thing
Italy price is awful But Ireland have been dreadful Given not fit, RKeane believing his own hype, might as well be RKelly hiding in his closet Duff too old, earning his 100th cap or something.. Dont want anything getting in the way of that now, do we? Not something important like an international tournament Fly me, Traps only gone and named his starting line up already so Signore Prandelli gets a good 24 hours to work out just exactly where he can eke out those 5 goals he needs to qualify Did they really expect to get anything but a right chasing from spain? With that team? I've heard of blind optimism but that was taking the proverbial The only option was 451 with Walters up front Mclean on one wing, probably Stephen Hunt on the other with orders to chase the knock downs from the long balls up to the front man Its called damage limitation Ingerlund have had their moments at major tourneys but blow me this Irish bunch take the cracker They really are a right bunch of crackers |
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good opening post
really don't get the assunption Italy are going to win by 3 or 4, when do they ever score goals? Italy are the most overated team in this They have score 3 goals in a game 3 times in the last 25 matches, vs Northern Ireland twice and Estonia, only beat The Faroes 1-0 ffs |
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He is right, I do not seeing italy smashing them and at 1.30 odds and the way italy have been i would not jump on that only teams that deserve them odds against a team would be spain/germany. Am suprised at the odds of spain against croatia thought would be much lower than it is. Ireland are out so bookies presume italy will turn them over but proberly will put in a much better performance with the no pressure on them now. Good luck on the bets anyway chaps
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ireland 4-0 here
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Italy price moving back now... was 1.33, now 1.39. I'll take all the credit for that
 On a serious note though, the price did only move down from 1.8 after the Spanish game...People say that Ireland should have expected nothing but a hammering against Spain so why then is the Italy price moving? Clearly it's as a result of the Spain match which most people would agree is not a measuring stick of Ireland's quality (or lack thereof). Backing Spain is one thing, but backing Italy in the hope they can do a Spain is asking for trouble. If you are backing Italy, i'd suggest waiting until HT or at least waiting to see how the first 5-10 minutes pan out... Ireland revert to a 4-4-2 so Italy won't dominate like everyone expects. |
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Good opening post but I think the logic and conclusion is wrong.
Trappattoni is Italian, Ireland are now out, so I'm sure he will prefer Italy to qualify...he won't bother about pride and puuting on a show for the Irish fans; infact he'll probably quit after EURO12 and go back to Italy. Conclusion ITALY to win easily |
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my school team could beat ireland. and we used to think a 4-0 defeat was a good result.
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I agree smemon87 Ireland are under pressure to improve...question is will they
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Italy match fixing again, price has gone from 1.31 to 1.45!
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This is a really interesting scenario. The Irish certainly do have a weight of pressure on them to improve and give something approaching a decent performance however Italy also have to win, and win well. If the Irish allow Italy to attack, and they've certainly set themselves up as a very defence side, then I can see Italy getting 2 or 3 goals. In and around the edge of the box they have several very competent finishers. As for Ireland I really struggle to see where they're goals are going to come from. The Italians have a resolute back line who managed to keep (an admittedly off form) Spain team reasonably quiet in the first game. For these reasons I can't see anything other than an Italian win. I don't think it'll be another 4-0 but 2-0 or 2-1 seems reasonable.
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given has looked poor bar one good save, should have been 1-1 v croatia had he been on his game
as with west indies cricket, an ex captain having a right go at them may produce a better performance, given said he may well retire after tonite so again they might be up for it to give him a send off he deserves could get tasty !!! |
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i cant see italy having any problems here, they are a very decent side who should beat ireland comfortably.
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A good few wanting to lay the Italians by the looks of it...
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Ireland did a lot of chasing against Spain (not enough) so can't be fresh. I expect Italy to coast it.
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No such team(or country) as ireland !!
It's the republic of ireland. Italy 3-0.  |
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Italy won't be satisfied with a 1-0 this time. Versus Croatia they were happy to sit back once they took the lead. But now they need goals, so Ireland will be defensive the whole game and won't have a chance to score apart from the odd set piece.
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backing italy @1.8 hope for tight opening 30 mins or so
also laying 4.5 decent @6.4 dont think italy will concede more than 1 and dont think they are capable of scoring as many as spain did agaisnt them |
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ireland to score a goal at 2 to 1 yes please
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Ireland probably won't play their 'first' team will give others a run out....will Given play?
All points to an Italy win for me |
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Playin the same team as 1st game aint they
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I think the bet is lay over 4.5 at 6.2.
I think Italy will win but I can't see five goals and the trade gives you time to get off if things start going all goal crazy. I think 2-0 is a big runner in the game. |
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the worst Irish team i have ever seen at a major tournament, lacking heart and guts. whilst the intention may be to keep it tight the desire is not there, if Italy are to have any hope of being true contenders in this competition they would have to score at least 3 tonight
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Why? Croatia beat them by two, and there's no disgrace in losing 4-0 to Spain. I seem to remember Italy drawing their way to one of their recent titles. I think that last comment is poppycock. If Italy win 1-0 or 2-0 and go through, are you saying they have no chance of winning the tournament?
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Trap says he will stick with the team that got them there... So that includes the following:
-11 players who are absolutely knackered from watching Spain knock 860 passes (a record) around them -An unfit Shay Given -A defence making mistakes for fun -An unfit and out of form Richard Dunne -The terrible Stephen Ward -A completely dejected squad (some of who are reportedly trying to rebel against trap) -Oh and Glenn Whelan "marking" Sir Andrea Pirlo..... Good luck everyone....!!! |
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it is the lack of effort, not the scores that they have been beaten, no tracking back when losing the ball, pub team defending, i think most of them spent the second half against spain working out who they could swop shirts with at full time.
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Is it going to be rotten tomatoes reception back home in Italy like they used to do for early exits
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Anyone word on the Italian team tonight ?
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HeinzGuderian
No such team(or country) as ireland !! It's the republic of ireland. Italy 3-0. The Constitution of Ireland provides that "the name of the State is Éire, or, in the English language, Ireland." Under Irish statute law, the term Republic of Ireland (or Poblacht na hÉireann in Irish) is "the description of the State" but is not its official name. This official description was provided for in the Republic of Ireland Act 1948, which transferred the remaining duties of monarch to an elected president. However, the name of the State in English remained Ireland. A change to the name of the state would require a constitutional amendment. In the UK however, the Ireland Act 1949 provided that Republic of Ireland may be used as a name for the Irish state (although it did not make use of that term mandatory). hth |
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Di natale starts
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Who gives a ****.
Ireland are the worst team there and will get pumped. Anyone watch the Spain game. Shocking display |
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What goes around comes around
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I fear a drubbing. Changes needed but not made (Long; Walters; Westwood). Italy must be looking forward to an nice practice match.
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Italia Italia !
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That's exactly the kind of attitude which has come as a direct result of the Spain match. There won't be a repeat of it. Previous to Croatia / Spain, Ireland were 14 games unbeaten with lots of clean sheets in amongst them. Granted, Italy are a step above most of the opposition (by name & rep more than anything) but history & circumstances don't favour Italy imo and looking through their results over the past 12 months, they don't fill me with the same confidence you have...