[han2503]

Italy should win, comfortably.

Reverse psychology at its best (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

England imo had the more solid showings. While Italy were shaky in all of the games.

Still I expect a lot better from both teams.

All I know is that on Sunday the bars in Malta are going to be crazy, what with the population being split in half between Italy and England supporters

[Milan Are Brilli...]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Ok, it's reverse psychology... yes, that's exactly what it is.

[kurtsimonw]

By luck I meant the details that decided England's last two games. Walcott's and Rooney's goals

By that logic the France and 1st Sweden goal were 'lucky'.

I'm with Ash. We've not played well at all aside from the last 20 or so against Sweden when we really had to go for it. Italy are the better team and aren't 1 dimensional like the 3 teams we've played so far. I also agree that a QF appearance is a good tournement for us - depsite what the moaners will say.

Germany resting Muller, Gomez and Podolski. Just a tad disrespectful.

[drucurl]

My $0.02 is that England is a really nice team this year. Would have really preferred Lamps to be there and my only real hate figures are Gerrard, Rooster and Terry so I wish them the best. I'm actually enjoying being a neutral for a change (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

[kurtsimonw]

That goal is some of the worst defending I've ever seen. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[kurtsimonw]

Germany win here will allow me to enjoy England I think. If we win, great. If we lose, at least Germany can't knock us out.

[kurtsimonw]

SAMARAS!

[kurtsimonw]

Ah well. Game over.

My own personal positive being that Lahm yet again costs Germany a goal.

[KillerMax]

England imo had the more solid showings. While Italy were shaky in all of the games.

Thanks for saying in two sentences, what I've been trying to explain in two long posts.

[han2503]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Ok, it's reverse psychology... yes, that's exactly what it is.

Come on! Don't expect me to believe it's anything other than that. England's performances have been encouraging to say the least.

Italy struggled through their group, which might have been tougher than England's, but still, you have to commend what England have done in this tournament as opposed to previous ones.

That being said the arrognace is already starting to show, so like I said, that could be their own worst enemy.

Personally, I'm quietly confident about Italy because they usually struggle in the groups but do a lot better in the KOs, and I'm hoping that England will already be too distracted by the semis against Germany.

Still based on what we saw so far, England are the favourite of the two. We'll see what happens, obviously Italy present a different threat than France, Ukraine and Sweden, but they have serious problems at the back

Thanks for saying in two sentences, what I've been trying to explain in two long posts.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Another point about that one is that Prandelli absolutely needs to start Balo. All the focus will be on him. Cassano will surprise big time here me thinks.

[kurtsimonw]

Come on! Don't expect me to believe it's anything other than that. England's performances have been encouraging to say the least.

Based on what?

France: Had 1 shot pretty much and scored. Defended well, but created nothing all game and defended for 89 minutes.

Sweden: Solid first half, great last 20 minutes. First 25 minutes of the 2nd half was a disaster, we didn't touch the ball and conceeded 2 bad goals.

Ukraine: We had 3 chances all game, Ukraine completely dominated the first half.

I'd say we've been solid defensively for the most part, but I'd hardly say we've been encouraging and I usually try to find positives in the team, I just don't see it.

Part of me just thinks you're saying this so that when Italy win you can bring out "Even though England were the better team and favourites they choke as always, blah, blah.."

[X-Offender]

My own personal positive being that Lahm yet again costs Germany a goal.

It was Boateng's fault on both goals.

[kurtsimonw]

It was Boateng's fault on both goals.

The first one? That was Lahm. He was way out of position, let his guy in to put an an easy cross for a tap in.

[kurtsimonw]

26 games in, no 0-0s so far. What's the betting England-Italy is the 1st? Good tournement so far, if not spectacular.

[Milan Are Brilli...]

Come on! Don't expect me to believe it's anything other than that. England's performances have been encouraging to say the least.

That being said the arrognace is already starting to show, so like I said, that could be their own worst enemy.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) If we are being realistic it's 'reverse psychology'. If anyone says we could win it's 'arrogance'...

Come on! Don't expect me to believe it's anything other than that. England's performances have been encouraging to say the least.

Italy struggled through their group, which might have been tougher than England's, but still, you have to commend what England have done in this tournament as opposed to previous ones.

That being said the arrognace is already starting to show, so like I said, that could be their own worst enemy.

Personally, I'm quietly confident about Italy because they usually struggle in the groups but do a lot better in the KOs, and I'm hoping that England will already be too distracted by the semis against Germany.

Still based on what we saw so far, England are the favourite of the two. We'll see what happens, obviously Italy present a different threat than France, Ukraine and Sweden, but they have serious problems at the back

How did you work that one out? I'm presuming you didn't watch the England games and just looked at how many points we got and based your assumption on that. Italy did well against Spain (the current WC & Euro champions and arguably the best international side going) and were unlucky really not to win, Croatia are stern opposition as proven in recent Euro's, and they brushed aside Ireland after a fairly slow start.

On the other hand we played a rather out of sorts France side, who again haven't impressed this year. We got fortunate against Sweden with a deflection, to bring us back into it. Sure we did well to come back after being 2-1 down, but this is with all due respect Sweden, not a team like the Italians. Then we struggled big-time against a Ukranian side that lacked the star-man whom caused so much damage to the Swedes in the first game and one that this dysfunctional France side made look particularly ordinary.

Therefore, from what 'we' have seen, England are favourites? Riiigggghhhtt. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

Part of me just thinks you're saying this so that when Italy win you can bring out "Even though England were the better team and favourites they choke as always, blah, blah.."

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) +1