Far too often big teams are being excused and the smaller team discredited. Same again here.

Costa Rica were just BETTER than Italy. No more. No less.

Chile were BETTER than Spain. No more. No less.

Costa Rica's tactics were fantastic today - gave Pirlo no time, closed down Balotelli all the time - they just choked the life out of Italy.

But now that both Uruguay need a win or nothing else, I can't see how will cope with it. You could see how the heat literally zapped their energy by the 20th minute mark, they were at a walking pace, while Costa Rica were obviously much more comfortable playing in it. The passing errors the Italians were making is just something you don't usually see from them. And same goes with Uruguay, they'll be much more adapt to it than Italy are.

Even Pirlo and DDR were struggling on the ball

The schedule has been hellish on Italy with all the games being played in such weather conditions and personally I think they'll lose against Uruguay unless Pandelli comes up with something to counter the obvious effect the heat was having on them

Playing that formation forced Marchisio to nealy pass out by the time he had to come off, he just looked absolute drained and he's one of the few in that team that actually has a great engine.

If the heat is what caused them to play like crap, then they don't deserve to pass.

I think it's obvious that the S. Americans have the advantage on the European teams, no European team against a South American team will be able to press the ball and run so much in a game as the south Americans have been doing, especially in the grounds that are so hot.

Today they were playing in 27 degrees Celsius at one in the afternoon. I mean that must have been hell out there, not only is it hot and humid but it's in the afternoon sun as well

They play with such little width. Abate didn't offer anything going forward. Too many times Candreva/Cerci had 3 people on them and he offered no support. Nothing like what Darmian did v us.

No obviously it was the system that caused them to play like crap. By doing that, Prandelli forfeited that first half, and by doing so they had to fight back from a goal down when they were already dead tired (and this was very obvious)

If Italy want to do anything of note in this tournament, they need to get their tactics perfectly, because they won't have the energy to keep pushing on after a certain point in the game. Against England they immediately dropped off after Balo scored and showed nothing more of note.

But today they had to push on when it was obvious they had nothing left in the tank

Still I think certain individual performances made things worse than they should have been. Chiellini was absolutely awful, he put himself and his team under pressure on various occasions. Candreva and Motta were just awful, aaful, awful. They have no business being on that pitch.

What an absolutely painful game. We looked completely clueless and unmotivated.

Between all the offsides & the long balls... It seriously horrendous viewing!

Now we have to go up against the likes of Cavani & Suarez with that poor excuse of an Italian defence.

Lord help us!!!


...forgot to mention: "Congrats to Costa Rica!" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

This post has been edited by TriniKing_CE: Jun 20 2014, 07:22 PM

Abate was holding back because of the counter, had he not done that they would have been clean through about 4 times down that right hand side.

Ad they couldn't really do what they did against England because there wasn't any space to do that unlike against England where Candreva and Darmian were basically running into open space with Baines completely left alone out there.

There were just too many tactical flaws in the system today. Pirlo spent the first half chasing the ball next to Balo. I just couldn't believe what I was seeing when he was doing that in the 1st half

But really, any long suffering Italian supporter sort of knew in the backs of their minds that Italy would endeavour to screw up the game which on paper is the easiest. They always do this.

I don't know what will happen against Uruguay, I'm not confident they'll even manage a draw now

Maldini played in 45 degrees, US heat, in the 1994 final. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif) All these players combined times ten don't match up to him if they can't run in these leisurely temperatures. Besides, what's the point of preparations then, did they not know what kind of environment they'll be playing in. And against which teams.

And I guess heat is also the excuse for selecting Balotelli ahead of Immobile, when both or the former should have started. This sucker might be good on tweets, but he does not track back, creates nothing with his lazy attitude, and wrecks whatever game plan Itlay probably had. I'd be surprised if he comes earlier than the 2nd half next match.

Which has been very much ruined. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Would have preferred it not to come down to either Italy or Uruguay.

tbh as much as I take your point, I side with X overall here. Italy is hardly a cold country, with pretty damn hot summers, so these guys know what it's like playing in high temperatures. While you have given a certain valid 'excuse', it doesn't cover the basic tactical failings of Italy and other big teams.

Also, Brazil and Argentina have so far been pretty poor and they're South American.

Yupp... agreed.

I was not entirely optimistic, nor am I surprised at the result (our overall play was awful though)

I'm also not confident of obtaining even a draw against Uruguay. Maybe we can step it up though? *fingers crossed*

Suarez & Cavani are no joke! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

This post has been edited by TriniKing_CE: Jun 20 2014, 07:34 PM

Exactamundo.

Balotelli, sporadic quality aside V England, is a waste of a jersey and a choker. I truly cannot wait till we sell him.

My whole point was still Italy being ordinary, though even I didn't predict them to lose to Costa Rica. Definitely watching Italy - Uruguay on Tuesday though, could be a classic.

Are you comparing a final to a 2nd group stage game against a team which they probably underestimated a bit (even though they said they wouldn't I didn't and won't believe that for a second)

That Italy team also lost to Ireland in that tournament so...

As for Balo, he wasn't the issue, and Immobile wouldn't have changed much, the midfield behind him was the issue here. I really cannot understand what Prandelli was really trying to accomplish there. When have you ever seen Pirlo so high up the pitch, same goes with Motta (who I admit, is terrible anywhere you choose to play him)