Italy

www.italy.com

World Ranking 3

Squad

Team Review

Italy always have a strong squad going into any major tournament and the same goes for euro 2008 They have a squad worthy of going all the way as they did 2 years ago winning the world cup. Their main threat would have to be their cultured midfielder Andrea Pirlo who is and absolute joy to watch when in full flow! With a player in your team that has the ability to play that killer pass and unlock defences like he does on a regular basis for Ac Milan there is no reason why Italy can’t repeat the feat of 2 years back and win another major trophy.

Star Man

Andrea Pirlo, is the creative force behind Italy’s team as he is responsible for every set piece and is the player who crafts nearly every attack with his pin point passing and unbelievable vision.

Any striker alive would love to have such a creative player supplying him so hopefully Italy’s strikers take full advantage of the brilliant service they are sure to receive.

Also check out who we think will be the 'players to watch' in the tournament

Tournament History

Quarter Final

	Q.Final	Time	Home		Away	Stadium
	4	19:45	Spain	0 - 0(aet)	Italy	Vienna Ernst Happel

Match Reports

Netherlands 3 - 0 Italy

(Van Nistelrooy 26, Sneijder 31, Van Bronckhorst 79)

This game was expected to be the best out of all the games that have taken place this tournament and it didn’t disappoint as within minutes the game was being played at a blistering pace with Holland looking the stronger more fluid team this eventually paid off in the 26th minute when thanks to a slightly dodgy offside decision Van Nistelrooy beat the offside trap to tap home a goal that should never have stood.

Holland never looked back after that as they upped the tempo once more causing the Aging Italian team to look shaky without their talisman Cannavaro holding the team together. The next goal was to be one of the best team goals I have seen at a European championship, it started with a Pirlo corner which was cleared off the line by Van Bronckhorst who then played it out to Sniejder who looked up to see van Bronckhorst making a 80 yard dash toward the opposing goal, Sneijder duly played a perfectly weighted ball into Van Bronckhorst who in turn played a brilliant cross field pass to Kuyt who headed it back across goal which was met by a sublime finish from Sniejder looped it over the outstretched Buffon into the top right hand corner. The goal completely knocked the stuffing out of Italy who after that new their chances of coming back were slim.

Italy did make a surge toward the end but with the Italians pouring forward it was inevitable that they were going to leave gaps at the back which the Dutch could take advantage of and in the 80th minute Van Bronckhorst did just that capitalising on the Italians lack defensive cover after a brilliant save from Van Der Sar he then played it out to Van Persie who played in Kuyt who’s first effort rebounded off a defender but he then had the ability to head it back across to Van Bronkhorst who slotted home the winner.
The game was a brilliant spectacle and a reminder to us all that not all international football is cagey and negative as proved by the marauding Dutch team who in actual fact made a mockery out of the reigning world champions.

Italy 1 - 1 Romania

(Panucci 56) (Mutu 55)

The game was, to be fair to both teams probably the worst game of the tournament as the Romanians set up to frustrate the French with a defensive 4-5-1 formation which didn’t help the flow of the game and what also didn’t help the French was their lack of confidence going into this tournament which was clear for all to see as their was little creative spark within the team which although was full of stars couldn’t break down the stubborn Romanian back line.

The best chance of the half fell to Anelka who headed over form six yards which is understandable as he has never been known for his heading ability. Both teams went in at half time needing to come out with different tactics and ideas if either team wanted to win the game. The second half wasn’t any better than the first with both teams again not creating much in terms of clear cut chances and carried on in that vein with the game ending nil nil as neither team wanted to go that extra length to win the game.

France 0 - 2 Italy

(Pirlo 25(pen), De Rossi 62)

Football is still, by and large, an honest game and last night, as Raymond Domenech began walking the international plank and Thierry Henry's terrible year plummeted to a new low, Italy came back from the brink of elimination to inflict the same thing on their opponents France.

The gods were looking down on Italy as in the first 10 minutes Frances most influential player Franck Ribery had to be taken off then 10 minutes after Barcelona defender Eric Abidal fouled Toni in the box and gave away a penalty but to make matters worse he was also deemed to have been the last man and was subsequently sent off leaving France with 10 men and their star player injured.

Andrea Pirlo lashed the penalty kick into the top corner with Coupet having no chance and if the French thought things couldn’t get any worse, they did as a Daniele De Rossi free-kick was deflected into his own net by Henry, coupled with Romania's defeat at the hands of Holland's second string, meant that the French were Knocked out in the group stages and consequently humiliated.

Quarter Final

Spain 0 - 0(aet) Italy

Spain win 4 - 2 on pens

With Spain playing the kind of football that makes fans mouths drool it was no surprise to see that the Italians opted for a more cautious approach to the game added to the fact that their best player Pirlo had to watch the game from the sidelines. Spain took the initiative early on by driving forward in numbers and attacking the shaky looking Italian defence.

The game then went on to become a bore encounter with the Italians defending as deep as possible inviting pressure but the Spanish never really took advantage as they too them selves didn’t have enough energy and were quite happy to play it between themselves at the back and in midfield.

Spain did have a few opportunities but the best were both penalties that should have been given but were both deemed to have been dives even on when looking at photo evidence both were certain penalties, Italy did have one chance which fell to Camoronesi but his shot was well saved by Casillas.

The game had 0-0 written all over it and that’s how it finished. Extra time didn’t serve up too much excitement except for a howler form Buffon who was saved by the post after letting a long range effort from Senna go through his legs.

Both teams looked happy enough to let penalties decide the game with neither team really going for it and playing it between themselves deep in each teams half and that’s what it came down to. The lottery that is penalties was won by Casillas with two great saves from De Rossi and Di Natale before Fabregas converted the decisive spot kick that sent the world champions crashing out of the tournament and back home with their tails between their legs.