C3: France 0 - 2 Italy - 17/06/08

[sinoy1]

now its a midfield of Gattuso De Rossi Pirlo with Perrotta as AM.....Cassano and Toni up top Gazzetta have it as.I certainly dont care anymore.What happens happens.

[Trim]

Arrivederci or Adieu?

"Arrivederci, Azzurri" or "Adieu, les Bleus": 709 days after the 2006 World Cup final Italy and France clash again - this time under circumstances both teams would have liked to avoid.

At least one of them will be eliminated from the EURO 2008 on Tuesday (20:45), and a Romanian win against Holland would condemn both teams to an early exit.

Ribéry expects a battle

"I expect a heated game, it will be a battle", French star Franck Ribery said and demanded: "We have to be ready for this game and go to the limit. This is our last chance!"

The same goes for Italy, who face a historic shame - current World Cup winners have never been eliminated in the group stages of a European Championship so far.

Coaches under fire

"The france game is like a final for us. We have to go out there and deliver the match of our lives", goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon - whose penalty save against Mutu kept Italy in the tournament - claimed.

An early exit from the EURO 2008 could seal the fate of both coaches, Roberto Donadoni (Italy) and Raymond Domenech (France).

Vieira back?

Domenech banks on a possible return of Patrick Vieira, who had missed the first two matches with thigh problems. "If he's fit he's irreplaceable", the French coach declared.

Donadoni could turn to Antonio Cassano, while Ribery warns of Bayern team-mate Luca Toni: "He is a player who is always in the right place and could score against us."

Line-ups as expected:

France: 23 Coupet - 21 Diarra (19 Sagnol), 5 Gallas, 3 Abidal (15 Thuram), 13 Evra - 6 Makelele, 4 Vieira (20 Toulalan) - 10 Govou, 22 Ribery - 9 Benzema, 12 Henry

Italy: 1 Buffon - 19 Zambrotta, 4 Chiellini, 2 Panucci, 3 Grosso - 8 Gattuso (13 Ambrosini), 21 Pirlo, 10 De Rossi - 11 Di Natale, 18 Cassano - 9 Toni

Referee: Lubos Michel (Slovakia)

Bundesliga - Die offizielle Webseite

[Trim]

The preview above comes in the morning, and I've just read in CNN news bar "France without Vieira for Italy showdown".

However, I see an improvement in the line-up of the French squad. Thuram's place is finally questionable (I think he's been poor) - Abidal could replace him; Malouda is finally left in bench after dissapointing performances; Ribéry finally plays in the left (his prefered position) while Govou plays on the right (again, a good decision, as he was quite good against Netherlands); Benzema back again in the starting line-up, alongside Henry; and the last, Diarra could start in right back instead of Sagnol.

[D-Kin]

There will be no penalty shootout, UEFA have confirmed that its only use is for deciding qualification between second and third placed teams.
channel4.com - Football Italia

[Forza_Roma]

All the best to the Azzurri...if they can overcome this massive deficit, it will give them inspiration heading further in the tournament.

Italy have not had any luck what-so-ever this tournament...something has to go their way and i'm praying that today is finally that day.

[Beninato]

CASSANO AND PIRLO WILL PLAY - Donadoni.

And Van Basten is my hero, look at this quote he made

"We are taking the game very seriously and will play the best available team against Romania,"

Thats both from goal.com

[Forza_Roma]

Dropping Pirlo would be foolish...maybe Cassano can inspire this team...Don has to try anything at this point.

Those are just words from Van Basten...the players will not kill themselves out there by any means. That's why i prayed for a draw with Holland and France...Holland would of been forced to field the strongest 11 and fight for the win against Romania or a draw would of been good enough.

Italy just need to do their part and hope for the best. It's out of their hands now.

[Vargas_4]

Originally Posted by Beninato

CASSANO AND PIRLO WILL PLAY - Donadoni.

And Van Basten is my hero, look at this quote he made

"We are taking the game very seriously and will play the best available team against Romania,"

Thats both from goal.com

You don't think that the Romanians might be taking it seriously too?

Romania has the potencial to obtain a good result here.

[Beninato]

Originally Posted by Vargas_4

You don't think that the Romanians might be taking it seriously too?

Romania has the potencial to obtain a good result here.

Romania blows. Besides, what is potencial anyways?

[Forza_Roma]

Originally Posted by Vargas_4

You don't think that the Romanians might be taking it seriously too?

Romania has the potencial to obtain a good result here.

You have to understand that Holland have absolutely nothing to play for...so when a coach comes out and states that he will play his best team available...it's obviously good news.

It's a given Romania have everything to play for.

[Oliver_Kahn]

France:

.................Coupet
Clerc....Gallas...Abidal....Evra
.......Toulalan.....Makelele
Gouvou.......................Ribery
..........Benzema...Henry

Italy:

..........................Buffon
Zambrotta....Panucci...Chiellini....Grosso
..........Gattuso.....Pirlo.....De Rossi
...............Perrotta....Cassano
.........................TONI

[Jager]

I just would get rid of Panucci and dress Gamberini, other than that, no problems from me.

[sinoy1]

Big problem is Perrotta.Why cant he play Aquilani who would thrive in that position....alas he finally got a solid midfield though.Took the fool 2 years to realize it though.

Cassano will drop back more but playing Perrotta means that Toni will be left alone up field while Cassano comes back to collect the ball.Really disheartening.

[dukeofdavinci]

hmmm the point of no return.....at least no ambro for the moment but still there is don who likes to fuck up....

[Jager]

I just don't think Don is forward thinker to be honest. Aquilani has figured very little in any of his games. We'll see what happens.