Off Topic International Break Thread

Brilliant goal.

These Italian’s are a different breed this year. Hard to look past them winning the tournament, as much as I’d love it to come home.

 

They’re beatable

It’s coming home

 

With every Italian goal, more people get behind our appointing Nuno Holy Ghost

 

Spoke too soon there, lol.

Not a penalty though for me.

 

And getting even better..

 

What a goal by Insigne

 

Disagree mate. Stupid, unnecessary push - and great as it keeps the game interesting.

 

Very, very soft. I don't have a lot of sympathy for the Italians after some of Veratti's antics, though.

 

Not a penalty for me, you see players leavered off the ball like that all the time. Good for the game though.

I was thinking Italy being slightly light up top might be their undoing against the better sides but when they finish like that they look a formidable side.

 

It’s barely a push though, there are shoves like that all the time in football that go unpunished and rightly so.

Refs have generally been brilliant in the tournament so far but that’s a poor call for me.

 

I'm definitely on the outside tonight...I agreed with the Oliver sending off decision (despite feeling dirty in doing so)

 

It’s a good matchup. Italy slightly better defensively, Belgium have a better forward line and AMs. Both their midfields are world class though.

 

Who was the two then?

 

He was including Busquets, who hit the post.

 

If you say so

 

There’s tactically running down the clock, then there’s just blatant cheating. **** Italy.

 

Great game of footy, that was a final worthy game.

Martinez has royally ****ed it with these Belgians though. The talent they’ve had in their ranks over the best part of a decade, especially the last 5 or so years, and to not win anything is poor. Don’t think they’ll have another chance for a while now. Toby, Jan and Vermaelen are pretty much done now at international level, as are Witsel and Mertens I’d say, de Bruyne and Hazard ain’t getting younger either.

As for these Italians, very impressive. Quality all over the team and in depth too. Hard to look beyond them at the moment in my opinion.

 

I’d like to dream that if England get to the final, the numerous pacy options up front could hurt the ageing Italian defence or the unsettled Spanish defence. As either will control possession, the chance to counter with pace should be taken by selecting two quick wide players.

 

Belgians were let down by Lukaku today. Had a couple of decent charges that he snatched at. Has the game but should score even more than he does.

 

Belgium suffer from the continuing problem of an unbalanced team with no proper full backs and an ageing defence which results in square pegs in round holes and tactics designed to ensure that defence is not exposed high up the pitch.