Day 4 - Group E: Italy v. Belgium
posted by The Blue Devil @ 2:08 PM
Lakenheath Old Boys
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!
Monday, June 13, 2016
Lakenheath Old Boys
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!
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Previous Posts
- Day 4: Group D: Spain v. Czech Republic
- Day 3 - Group C: Germany v. Ukraine
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- Day 3 - Group D: Croatia v. Turkey
- Day 2 - Group B: England v. Russia!
- Day 2 - Group B: Wales v. Slovakia
- Day 2 - Group A: Switzerland v. Albania
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85 Comments:
Belgium come into this match ranked #1 in Europe by FIFA. But we all know that Italy are no mugs. This should a fascinating encounter. If it's another boring low-scoring affair, I'm really going to be depressed.
The teams lining up in the tunnel:
Italy - Buffon, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, Candreva, Parolo, De Rossi, Giaccherini, Darmian, Pelle, Eder.
Belgium - Courtois, Ciman, Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Vertonghen, Witsel, Nainggolan, Fellaini, De Bruyne, Hazard, Lukaku.
Very interesting from Wilmots there - plenty of steel in midfield, with Witsel and Fellaini but then the dynamism of Hazard, DeBruyne and Lukaku up front.
Hair Bear sporting his new blond 'fro - don't know about it.
It's Mark Clattenberg on the whistle and Adrian Healey chewing his vowels on the mic.
Italy get us underway.
Lukaku is sprung for the first time down the right and he pulls an inviting ball back - out for a corner.
The usual cagey start from the Italians.
Eder gets the ball down and shoots - blocked out.
Clattenberg is giving Eder a bollocking now. Should have gotten the yellow card.
Mangolani on the end a number of knock-downs there. Tipped around by Buffon.
Ominously, Italy went through the playoffs unbeaten, despite being unfancied. Belgium are going to have to be at their best to break them down.
The break is on for Belgium but De Bruyne can't find The Chunk.
The game has settled into a very enjoyable pace. Not so fast as to be manic, not so slow as to be stilted. Possession changing hands regularly, the ball zipping from one end to the other. No chances yet, but it’s all very promising.
Nice ball through from Mangolani but Chunk didn't anticipate it. That's why I'd like to see two up front for Belgium. I don't see that Fellaini is really adding that much.
Italy basically have a back five when not in possession, and a front four when they do, with the two full-backs forming part of both groups. They’re going to be knackered by the evening’s end.
And like that we're through a quarter of the match without score.
Oh - Ciman intercepted really well and pushed it wide to the Ginger Winger, who played a horrible ball in. The distribution has to get better.
I've been quite impressed by Ciman so far. He's romping up the wing with aplomb and delivering some decent balls over.
Nice cut and thrust to this match now.
Pelle tries a shot from distance.
GOAL! GIacherrini beat the offside trap superbly and slid home.
1-0 Italy!
Now, then. What will that do to this match? Belgium have got to go out and play now. In this Group of Death, a loss could be deadly. Belgium would be bottom of the group tonight if this result stood.
Italy have a historic habit of locking down 1-0 results.
Hazard immediately pops up on the right wing for the first time. He’s done very little on the left, so it’s not much of a surprise.
Oh - Pelle with a free header there should have put Italy 2-0 up. Belgium's defense are all over the place.
May I just interrupt to comment that that Belgian defensive effort was so Spursy? No, suit yourself then.
Terrible touch from Lukaku - he's been rubbish so far.
I was thinking the same myself - terrible missed header by Toby. However, you have to admire that 40 yard ball from the center back Bonucci right on Giaccharini's toe.
That clanking siege machine with the bad rinse is having a 'mare too.
Witsel with a long range effort well wide of the mark.
De Bruyne jinked inside and tried a left footed effort - block out. Better pressure from Belgium though.
Oh - better there. Hair Bear with a lovely ball through to De Bruyne but his shot was brilliantly blocked by Bonucci.
Clattenberg has brought The Chunk and Chellini together for a chat like a couple of 1st graders. Not sure what that's all about.
Oh - Ciman found Hair Bear well but Chunk could only try an unconvincing flick over the shoulder.
The Italians are reverting to form, inviting Belgium on to them.
Oh - Pelle was nearly on the end of that cross. Great stuff.
One minute of stoppage time.
Half-time: The end of a breathless first half; by far the best match of the tournament so far, just as we'd hoped.
Goal seems to have awaken the Belge a bit
You watching this on the box? You're at least 60 seconds ahead again.
Belgian kicks us off fighting for their Euro 2016 lives.
Yeah - I'm watching on the box - ESPN. How are you watching?
Lukaku has been completely nullified by this Italian defense so far. They're turning on a clinic.
Nice flick on by The Chunk but De Bruyne allowed it to bounce off him like a statue.
What the hell is Wilmots doing - he's got a bench loaded for bear. It's time to make a move.
Oh - lovely break through Hazard and Lukaku but he put it over the bar.
Hazard with a decent shot but Buffon was behind it all the way.
This one could swing either way now - it's absorbing.
A bit more rhythm now to the Belgian attack now - the Italians are dropping very deep.
De Sciglio coming on for Darmian. Like for like - must've seen something he didn't like.
ESPN360 on the webs. It got all busy here so I only got back to see Courtois do well to keep out that shot just now.
Another lovely ball from Bonucci there to Eder. Wow!
I'll have to use that tomorrow when I'm at work.
this Belgian effort is why I predicted that their coach would walk the plank. They have some of the best individual players around, but this is often what you get when they're playing as a nation.
Mertens comes on to replace Mangolani.
Off goes that cockatoo and on comes Mertens. Good sub.
It looks as if Hazard has pushed up beside Lukaku now, with Mertens slipping in his former role
Chieillini picks up his requisite yellow card for a cynical tug back on Hazard.
Belgium piling the pressure on again now.
Lovely weaving run by Mertens there but he was stopped by Bonucci.
Pelle was receiving treatment for his shoulder a moment ago.
Now Hazard is down after an aerial clash.
De Rossi's complaining about something now.
Looks as if Origi might be coming on. Let's hope he doesn't pull Lukaku off.
Mertens really is a live wire but Lukaku wasn't able to control his pass.
Belgian fans booing Wilmots as Lukaku is taken off. Origi on. Why not have two strikers on? I do not get modern managers.
Wilmots for the chop.
Nice move from Candreva setting up a cross to Giaccharini who wins a corner with a deflected shot.
He will be if they crash out at the group stage. A shocking decision.
Eder picks up a yellow card for another cynical tug on Martens.
Ciro Immobile on for Eder now.
And the final change for Belgium - Atletico's Carrasco on
Not sure how De Bruyne is still on the pitch - he's been rotten.
The cards starting to rack up for Italy now - Bonucci is the latest.
Daniele De Rossi troops off - Thiago Motta on for him.
Oh - Origi should have buried that header. Great ball in there - you would've fancied Lukaku to bury that one.
A little under ten minutes for Belgium to dig this one out.
Thiago Motta into the book now - I think that's five yellows for Italy now. Might be a factor in their third match.
Oh - Immobilie broke forward and pulled a terrific save out of Courtois.
Should have been a penalty called against Chellini.
Massive scramble there - how did that one stay out?
Three minutes of stoppage time to come.
Vertonghen picks up an unnecessary yellow card there.
Italy just playing it about asking Belgium to come and get it.
GOAL! Pelle has picked off the Belgians right at the death.
Great team effort there as Belgium pushed for an equalizer.
Final whistle: Well - the wily Italians have done what they always tend to do - crush the dreams of more exciting and talented teams.
It was the ultimate professional performance from the Azzurri.
2-0!
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