[LaPalma]

So, I just decided to open this topic concerning the qualification for the EURO 2008 in Swiss/Austria...

[misha]

(IMG:http://www.soccerblog.com/Italy-%20France%20Euro.jpg)

[LaPalma]

(IMG:http://www.soccerblog.com/Italy-%20France%20Euro.jpg)

Well...as seen on the picture, Pippo seems to be Italys only hope this time (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)
And about Frances revenge, I'v seen Thierry Henry on Eurosport and he said even if France would win they won't have their revenge because they're still not World champions...
Oh BTW I still don't know which team I should support, I'm still so pissed because of that night in Dortmund a few weeks ago...

[KillerMax]

Well...as seen on the picture, Pippo seems to be Italys only hope this time (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)
And about Frances revenge, I'v seen Thierry Henry on Eurosport and he said even if France would win they won't have their revenge because they're still not World champions...
Oh BTW I still don't know which team I should support, I'm still so pissed because of that night in Dortmund a few weeks ago...

How can you not support Pippo??? (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

[LaPalma]

How can you not support Pippo??? (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

Belive me...those few times a year I defeinetely can...(after all I WILL hate Grosso until he ends his career...but Pippo...I just can't hate this guy (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) )

[dudernahata]

Belive me...those few times a year I defeinetely can...(after all I WILL hate Grosso until he ends his career...but Pippo...I just can't hate this guy  (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) )

haha i understand why u would hate gross, but for us italians...we love the guy! man, that goal against germany was really just perfect...and he got the penalty against the aussies...and then that awesome penalty in the final. but he plays for inter, so he is ok...hahaha (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[misha]

Roberto Donadoni's Italy career is in trouble after France took a 3-1 World Cup revenge, leaving their Euro 2008 hopes in dire straits.

Roberto Donadoni was already under pressure after the 1-1 draw with Lithuania and made changes to that line-up, introducing Franco Semioli, Gianluca Zambrotta and Alberto Gilardino for the 4-4-1-1 system that Italy employed in their World Cup win. Massimo Oddo, Daniele De Rossi and Pippo Inzaghi made way.

France were still smarting from that Final defeat on penalties and, although Zinedine Zidane has retired and Marco Materazzi was suspended, this was all set to be a tense encounter.

Before kick-off there was a minute's silence to mark the death of Inter President and legendary Azzurri captain Giacinto Facchetti. The Italian team also wore black armbands.

Les Bleus were still livid after that Berlin loss and it showed, as they came sprinting out of the blocks and within the opening 90 seconds Sidney Govou had volleyed a William Gallas cross low into the far corner past Gigi Buffon. As against Lithuania, the defending left something to be desired, although replays showed that the Arsenal defender was clearly offside when he got the ball.

The Azzurri, playing in white, fought back with Zambrotta's shot flashing over the bar, but Franck Ribery's cross just missed Inter's Patrick Vieira in the centre. Andrea Barzagli was at full stretch to toe-poke Thierry Henry's cut-back out of harm's way inside the penalty area, but France were pouring forward in droves.

On 17 minutes Buffon had his palms stung by a Florent Malouda rocket only for Henry to latch on to the loose ball and sidefoot it in from a tight angle with the aid of a Fabio Cannavaro deflection.

However, Italy pulled a goal back moments later. As in the World Cup Final, they were superior on set-pieces and Gilardino was allowed a free header on Andrea Pirlo's free kick to glance it past Gregory Coupet.

Cannavaro was muscled off a header with only Coupet to beat, but Buffon was at full stretch to tip Willy Sagnol's strike round the base of the near post.

Italy couldn't have gone closer to 2-2 on 27 minutes. Grosso hooked down a long pass and skipped past Sagnol, Semioli slid on to his cross and Coupet somehow managed to prod the ball off the line before it could go over completely. There were also penalty appeals, as Eric Abidal tussled with Semioli as he tried to get back on to the loose ball.

Cannavaro was booked for a challenge on Ribery and the Italian defence struggled to clear its lines, particularly with some weak Barzagli clearances, although the Palermo defender did well to block a Malouda shot. Donadoni also called Cassano several times to ensure he came back to help the midfield.

Henry was yellow carded for holding back Semioli as he sprinted down the right flank, while Simone Perrotta was foolishly booked for kicking the ball after the whistle had blown, so he'll be suspended against the Ukraine.

Cassano barely made an impact in the first half, but just before the break he shimmied clear of two markers and threaded through for Gilardino, who was just offside.

Cannavaro intelligently cut off Govou to prevent him running on to Henry's pass, while Barzagli cleared a looping Ribery free kick. From the resulting corner, Vieri nodded over the bar.

The Azzurri were still struggling to create chances, so Donadoni replaced Semioli with David Di Michele of Palermo, switching to a trident attack. However, this left Italy even more over-run in midfield and within seconds France scored their third goal. Sagnol's assist was glanced into the far corner off Govou's head for his second of the game, but there were few celebrations as he clashed heads with Cannavaro. The captain came off worse and was stretchered off in a dazed condition, but he was able to continue after treatment. Several minutes later he still seemed dizzy and out of sorts.

Di Michele set Gilardino running and Coupet ran out to clear, but although the goalkeeper did not touch the ball and did catch him accidentally with his legs, the Milan striker was booked for simulation.

Ribery was completely clear on the left flank and the ball eventually reached Govou, who missed his hat-trick by a matter of inches with an angled drive. Henry threaded though for Ribery and Buffon timed his move perfectly to pluck the ball off his foot. Gattuso acting as last man managed to head back to his goalkeeper despite being out-sprinted by Ribery on the counter-attack, while the Marseille man again drilled off target from an Henry assist.

Inzaghi, who scored against Lithuania, replaced a totally anonymous Cassano for the final 20 minutes and Sylvain Wiltord came on for Govou. Cannavaro recovered from his earlier injury with a powerful header on Pirlo's free kick, forcing Coupet into a great save.

Gilardino's long-range strike dipped well wide and De Rossi was the final substitution after Gila picked up a knock in a clash with Vieira. Di Michele's ambitious lob didn't catch out Coupet in stoppages and Grosso was booked.

Now October's ties in Rome against the Ukraine and away to Georgia become decisive if Donadoni is to have any hope of reaching Euro 2008.


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France: Coupet; Sagnol, Thuram, Gallas, Abidal; Ribery (Saha 88), Vieira, Makelele, Malouda; Govou (Wiltord 75), Henry
Italy: Buffon; Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Barzagli, Grosso; Semioli (Di Michele 54), Gattuso, Pirlo, Perrotta; Cassano (Inzaghi 73), Gilardino (De Rossi 87)
Ref: Fandel (Ger)


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