Official General FIFA Thread

[Smiling Assassin27]

Originally Posted by Dutch

How in God's name do you not put that final free kick long range into the box? The ref gives you a gift and you piss it away with a short pass up the side at the end of the 4 min stoppage time? Stupid, stupid, stupid. Italy deserved the win, period. Just don't see how they win against Spain. We'll see. Looking forward to Sunday and hope for a good/entertaining game.

In a lot of ways, it'll be like looking in the mirror for Spain, especially if they start Torres up front. But in the end, Spain's bench depth and midfield are superior to Italy's, so they get the 1-0 win. But with Spain's back line, it will get dicey. Oh, and Buffon is sick, so watching it go 1-0 italy or pk's is not all that impossible.

[brncs_fan]

Italy played a fantastic match and deserved the win. Hope they follow that performance up with a win against Spain.

[canadianbroncosfan]

For me a Spain v. Italy final is the equivalent of the Chargers v. Lions Super Bowl.

[s0phr0syne]

Originally Posted by canadianbroncosfan

For me a Spain v. Italy final is the equivalent of the Chargers v. Lions Super Bowl.

[gyldenlove]

Originally Posted by canadianbroncosfan

For me a Spain v. Italy final is the equivalent of the Chargers v. Lions Super Bowl.

I would call it a 49ers (Spain - all defense, no offense) v. Steelers (Italy - good balance, always pretty successful but you always have the feeling they are about to fall apart and secretly everybody hates them).

[Smiling Assassin27]

Ravens-Giants

[Binkythefrog]

Originally Posted by gyldenlove

I would call it a 49ers (Spain - all defense, no offense) v. Steelers (Italy - good balance, always pretty successful but you always have the feeling they are about to fall apart and secretly everybody hates them).

I wouldn't call Spain a "defensive" team. Since they are so good in their midfield, their ball possession is top notch. Most teams you see them play end up packing tons of defenders in the box and hoping to counterattack and since teams are now aware of their style, their games can get pretty boring as Spain just pass it around while their opponents just sit back and defend. Spain also doesn't have a true striker as they have played Fabergas up front, who is more an attacking midfielder type since Fernando Torres is getting old and slow.

During Euro 2012 qualifying they scored 26 goals in 8 games (most of any team who played 8 games) only behind Germany (34), the Netherlands (37), and Sweden (31), who all played 10 games. Greece, which won its qualifying group only scored 14 goals in 10 matches and Italy only scored 20. 51 teams participated in qualifying.

[gyldenlove]

Originally Posted by Binkythefrog

I wouldn't call Spain a "defensive" team. Since they are so good in their midfield, their ball possession is top notch. Most teams you see them play end up packing tons of defenders in the box and hoping to counterattack and since teams are now aware of their style, their games can get pretty boring as Spain just pass it around while their opponents just sit back and defend. Spain also doesn't have a true striker as they have played Fabergas up front, who is more an attacking midfielder type since Fernando Torres is getting old and slow.

During Euro 2012 qualifying they scored 26 goals in 8 games (most of any team who played 8 games) only behind Germany (34), the Netherlands (37), and Sweden (31), who all played 10 games. Greece, which won its qualifying group only scored 14 goals in 10 matches and Italy only scored 20. 51 teams participated in qualifying.

Spain is good at scoring against bad teams, but their offense is definitely lacking. Of the 26 goals they scored in qualification, 10 came against Lichtenstein (a country with fewer citizens than Boulder and roughly the same number of soccer players as CU) they have won only 6 of the 88 games they have played in official competitions ever and are the 3rd lowest ranked team in Europe, I don't think there is a single professional player on the roster.

In the Uefa tournament they repeated by scoring 4 goals against the worst team in the tournament (Ireland) and scoring a combined 4 goals against Croatia, Italy, Portugal and France - that is a lower per game scoring than teams such as Denmark, Germany, Russia, Sweden and the same as Greece, England, Portugal. Italy has scored 6 goals in 5 games but were gifted 2 by Ireland so their scoring is also 4 goals in 4 games against decent teams.

The 49ers used to have the most explosive offense in the league, but what they did have doesn't matter. In this tournament Spain has played boring and defensive and have scored a pitiful amount of goals against good teams - if it wasn't because they set records defensively they would not be in the final.

[Binkythefrog]

Originally Posted by gyldenlove

Spain is good at scoring against bad teams, but their offense is definitely lacking. Of the 26 goals they scored in qualification, 10 came against Lichtenstein (a country with fewer citizens than Boulder and roughly the same number of soccer players as CU) they have won only 6 of the 88 games they have played in official competitions ever and are the 3rd lowest ranked team in Europe, I don't think there is a single professional player on the roster.

In the Uefa tournament they repeated by scoring 4 goals against the worst team in the tournament (Ireland) and scoring a combined 4 goals against Croatia, Italy, Portugal and France - that is a lower per game scoring than teams such as Denmark, Germany, Russia, Sweden and the same as Greece, England, Portugal. Italy has scored 6 goals in 5 games but were gifted 2 by Ireland so their scoring is also 4 goals in 4 games against decent teams.

The 49ers used to have the most explosive offense in the league, but what they did have doesn't matter. In this tournament Spain has played boring and defensive and have scored a pitiful amount of goals against good teams - if it wasn't because they set records defensively they would not be in the final.

Didn't know that they put up 10 against Litchtenstein, that's a good point. I still think though that their possession really saps their goal scoring numbers since the natural response is to sit back and defend as teams know Spain are easily capable of brilliant moments if their defense lapses. I agree that Spain doesn't score much, but that might be a result of their own skill in the midfield and lack of a true striker.

I think the final will probably be a fairly boring game once again, but I'm hoping for a bit more drama.

[Atwater His Ass]

I want to see Torres and Balotelli tearing it up in a 5-4 gun slinging shoot out. Don't care who wins.

[canadianbroncosfan]

Originally Posted by s0phr0syne

Sorry, I meant that I hate both teams immensely. Not comparing them to the actual teams as far as style.

[gyldenlove]

Originally Posted by Binkythefrog

Didn't know that they put up 10 against Litchtenstein, that's a good point. I still think though that their possession really saps their goal scoring numbers since the natural response is to sit back and defend as teams know Spain are easily capable of brilliant moments if their defense lapses. I agree that Spain doesn't score much, but that might be a result of their own skill in the midfield and lack of a true striker.

I think the final will probably be a fairly boring game once again, but I'm hoping for a bit more drama.

Spain with David Villa up front used to score quite a lot of goals, but now that they play 4-6-0 it is all about possession and defense. They win by not surrendering goals, they are setting records left and right for how few goals they give up, which is obviously partly on Cassilas and the defense but mostly on the team concept and not taking risks.

You would expect their play style to be punished on counter attacks but they never get caught with fewer than 3 people back.

[jerseyboiler120]

Looks like another 0-0 game thru 7 hours of play, and then 5 guys trying to fool the goaltender. The only game it'ly has played in about 10 years that wasn't a complete snoozer was their first half against Germany the other day. Otherwise grass growing has more action.

[s0phr0syne]

Agh!

Feels like I've been waiting forever for this game, can't wait....

[paperstacks1980]

ive got a c-note on ITALIA!!!

[Beantown Bronco]

Originally Posted by paperstacks1980

ive got a c-note on ITALIA!!!

Too bad. Had you told me you were going to do that earlier, I would've offered to take $50 from your wallet, kick you in the nuts and call it even.

You would've saved $50.

[Dutch]

Once again, into the breach. Much more open and quicker paced start to the match.

Is there anybody out there? (channeling Pink Floyd)

[Dutch]

Wow! That was a thing of beauty. What a sweet goal. 1-0 Spain. Should open things up even more.

Fantastic ball for the second goal.....pass on a dime with perfect pace. Wonderful goal....brilliant. 2-0 Spain. Italy in big trouble now....

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by paperstacks1980

ive got a c-note on ITALIA!!!

Not looking good, Bro'.

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by Smiling Assassin27

In a lot of ways, it'll be like looking in the mirror for Spain, especially if they start Torres up front. But in the end, Spain's bench depth and midfield are superior to Italy's, so they get the 1-0 win. But with Spain's back line, it will get dicey. Oh, and Buffon is sick, so watching it go 1-0 italy or pk's is not all that impossible.

Er, no.

Half time.....


Now Italy down to 10 men with no subs left and 30 min to play....ouch. Only a matter of time until a clinching 3rd goal at this point.....

and there it is for Torres....

Well 500+ min without conceeding a goal in this tourney. Amazing, and a testament to the quality of defense and goal tending for the Spanish. Now the conversation turns to Brazil in 2014. No European team has ever won a World Cup in South America. Frankly, I don't think it will happen this time either. Brazil and Argentina are a bit young and down at the moment, but Uraguay (winners of the first ever World Cup) and the rest of the South American squads are looking really good. Right now, South America is by far the most competitive division in WC qualifying in the world. I don't think Spain gets another. If they do, you have to put them up there with Pele's Brazillian team as the best ever.

Nice assist by Torres for #4....

By the way, congrats on another successful lap around the sun!

[Beantown Bronco]

Balotelli.....what a little b*tch. Sore loser.

Maybe he'll medal for the Italian diving team in a few weeks.

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by Beantown Bronco

Balotelli.....what a little b*tch. Sore loser.

Maybe he'll medal for the Italian diving team in a few weeks.

Yeah, pretty classless. He had two quality chances and failed miserably on both. It is pretty funny that it seems easier to root against Italy, regardless if that means rooting for Spain. Maybe something about the Romans, eh?


By the way, nice to see you here. Thought I was an autonomous collective (ie. group of one) there for a bit! I'm used to talking to myself, but taking it to the internet is a bit weird.

[Beantown Bronco]

Originally Posted by Dutch

I don't think Spain gets another. If they do, you have to put them up there with Pele's Brazillian team as the best ever.

Nice assist by Torres for #4....

Looks like a lot of the "pundits" are already putting Spain up there as the best ever, if you listen to some of the post game shows. I wasn't really alive for any of the Brazilian run, so I'm not one to judge, but I do know this: they're easily on the best run I've ever seen.

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by Beantown Bronco

Looks like a lot of the "pundits" are already putting Spain up there as the best ever, if you listen to some of the post game shows. I wasn't really alive for any of the Brazilian run, so I'm not one to judge, but I do know this: they're easily on the best run I've ever seen.

They are definately in the conversation. Again, it comes down to not being able to compare across eras. The 1970+ Brazillian team was amazing. Followed by the Dutch "Total Futbal" teams. Throw in the Argentinian teams of the late 70's/early 80's, then the West German squads of the late 80's. Tough call. I will say this. If...and I mean a BIG IF, Spain wins the WC in 2014 in Brazil. They will have to be put at the front of the line. No European team has EVER won a WC in South America. They do that, it will cement them as the greatest ever.

[DontBeMessin]

Originally Posted by Stagger Lee

You do realize that UEFA is putting this tournament on right? I left the first few posts of yours alone, but now you're calling us out for being right.

It's the UEFA Euro 2012 cup. Goddamn raider fans.

OOPS... Made a mistake... The Thread is called the FIFA when it's UEFA... And thus should have been named as such...