We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
This could either be a rip-roarer - after all, both sides do need a win at a minimum in order to qualify for the quarter-finals - or it could be the kind of cagey, boring affair between two big European sides that brings the game into disrepute. Join me to find which one it'll be.
posted by gatorbob @ 1:36 PM
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
51 Comments:
Here are the sides for the epic battle today:
France: Coupet, Clerc, Gallas, Abidal, Evra, Govou, Toulalan, Makelele, Ribery, Benzema, Henry
Subs: Mandanda, Frey, Boumsong, Vieira, Malouda, Anelka, Nasri, Thuram, Squillaci, Gomis, Sagnol, Diarra
Italy: Buffon, Zambrotta, Panucci, Chiellini, Grosso, Pirlo, De Rossi, Gattuso, Toni, Perrotta, Cassano
Subs: Amelia, De Sanctis, Gamberini, Barzagli, Del Piero, Di Natale, Borriello, Ambrosini, Quagliarella, Camoranesi, Aquilani, Materazzi
Referee: Lubos Michel (Slovakia)
Fascinating choices from both managers. Domenech seems to be choosing to go down with the ship, only making three changes - Benzema back in, the impressive Sagnol out for no apparent reason and Evra replacing the creaky Thuram. But the shape of the side is fairly unchanged.
Roberto Donadoni has gone with a slightly more attacking set-up with Antonio Cassano finally in from the start alongside Toni and Perrotta wide right. Still, there's plenty of bite in the midfield with Gattuso back in the side.
The conditions are appalling in this match, with lashing rain coming down on the two sides. How will that affect the play?
The French have come out with plenty of purpose so far, Ribery with several long range efforts so far.
Route 1 football leaves Toni free at the top of the box with only Coupet to beat but he shot wide. Big chance there. Big chance.
I'm flipping back and forth between ESPN and the Deuce at this point. This one's started brighter with both teams still in the hunt and some real chances for both sides.
Ribery seems to be in trouble today. He's signaled to the bench that he won't be able to continue. Domenech's looking pensive on the sideline.
The new Arsenal boy Sami al Nasri has come on for Ribery.
The only Italian goalscorer in Euro 2008 to date, Christian Panucci gets a sharp header on target but Coupet saves well right on his line.
De Rossi has come off after taking a blow to the nose. He's patched up and is back on with a bloody shirt on.
Benzema is still playing far too deep for my liking here. He's really dropped into the area that Ribery usually mines. Is that where he plays at Lyon? I don't think so.
Hey Bob, I am home and the Italians have a pen and the French have more ground to cover!!
One Nil
PENALTY! Italy have picked up a penalty just as I switched back from the other match. I missed it but someone's been sent off. French down to ten men.
And Pirlo dispatches the penalty with ease.
Italy 1-0!
Sami Al Nasri, who came on for Ribery ten minutes ago, has been withdrawn so that Jean Alain Boumsong can come on for some central defensive cover. So it was obviously one of the center backs who got the red.
The Italians are trying to kill off the match here. Toni has come close twice right after the goal.
They've just shown the penalty call again. It looked fairly decent. Abidal caught Toni from behind. I still don't understand the need to send a player off as well as awarding a penalty. That just seems too harsh a punishment. Now the game has completely turned as a result.
It has been Italy but TH almost gets in
Benzema has a chance at a free kick...
A really disappointing effort there, low and straight into the bottom of the wall. For a young player with a big reputation, Benzema really has been poor.
Hey Dave! Sorry, I hadn't noticed you there because I was flipping back and forth between both matches. Good to have you on board.
What did you think of the penalty and red card?
Rubbish cross from Benzema.
Great free kick, off the post.
Was it saved?
Great run from De Rossi picks up a dangerous free kick.
Pirlo to take....
No it's Grosso and he rockets it off the post. Brilliant free kick there.
Pirlo is out of the next match
Pirlo picks up a crucial second yellow card and he'll be out for the quarter final match now.
saved
The Italians are still incensed that Pirlo picked up that yellow when they think the ball should have been played out when an Italian player was down.
Half-time: Italy 1-0.
This one still has plenty of drama left but the French are down to ten men and need two goals in order to get through to the next round. Tough order for them.
Group C as it stands:
Holland - 7 pts
Italy - 4 pts
Romania - 2 pts
France - 1 pt
Looks like all Romania until that Robben chance
The Romanians had some possession but they didn't really threaten the Dutch as far as I could see. Mutu's been really disappointing. I'd be surprised to see them go through now.
Second half starting up....
No changes for either side. Like Andy I'm pleasantly surprised that Donadoni hasn't put on a holding midfielder. They obviously want to kill this match off.
Spain vs. Italy on Sunday afternoon? That's as tasty as a roast beef dinner!
There was a big roar from the crowd there. Andy noticed it too and expected that it was a Dutch score, but no, it's still 0-0 over there on ESPN2.
Great news for the Italians - Huntelaar has popped a goal in for the Dutch. They're in the driver's seat now.
The Italians are in the next round if it stays the same.
The Dutch are leading
What would a French goal mean now? That would put all three sides on two points, right? I'm not sure how the coefficient works there.
Gattuso, as usual, is begging for a second yellow card, which would even up the sides.
Two nil to the Wops.
Wicked deflection
GOAL! Italy 2-0! That's settled it. A long free kick deflected off TH-14's foot into the back of the net. What on earth was Henry playing at. As the kick was taken he was turned toward his side at the end of the wall.
Now Cameronese is coming on to provide some cover.
Chelskilad will be a happy boy!
Anelka has come on - not sure who came off though. Govou? Benzema?
Yes Chelski lad will be glad but the way his year has been, they'll finish second
Sorry to hear that. How's he feeling?
Benzema produces a great save from Buffon. That was going in - lovely bending strike there. It's the best thing we've seen from him.
TH-14 completes a dismal game with a yellow card, sliding into Perrotta.
So his Euro 2008 campaign has been played two, scored one, deflected one into his own net, and a yellow card. Not so good for the former best player in the world. A shadow of his former self.
Full-time: 2-0 Italy
The Italians are through but they shouldn't take much confidence from this. In three matches, they've got a goal from a fullback, one penalty and one mightily deflected free kick. That's got them out of the group but I don't fancy them against the Spanish, especially without Materazzi, Gattuso and Pirlo in the side.
Meanwhile, it's the end of a dismal Euro 2008 campaign for the French and surely Domenech will be sacked tomorrow. They've scored one in three matches and have lost two and drawn one. The class of 98 is clearly past it and I expect a completely new side to turn out for the 2010 campaign that will start in the fall.
Cheerio, Dave. I'll talk with you tomorrow, eh?
It's over.
The Italians are through
Off to teach
I will be around tomorrow
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