Euro 2020: Semi-Charmed Life

[dirtynine]

Wembley from here on out.

Italy v. Spain
Tuesday 6 July • 3pm ET • ESPN

latest odds:
Italy: +155
Draw (tied after 90'): +220
Spain: +200


England v. Denmark
Wednesday 7 July • 3pm ET • ESPN

latest odds:
England: -137
Draw (tied after 90'): +270
Denmark: +450

 

[Kliq]

I'd kind of believe any score line in the Italy vs Spain game. Someone could win by five goals and it wouldn't shock me.

 

[67YAZ]

Love this.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

I'd kind of believe any score line in the Italy vs Spain game. Someone could win by five goals and it wouldn't shock me.

Agreed.

I think people are writing off Spain a bit too easily. They have had an easy path to get here and aren't the most talented Spain side by any means, but they aren't far off Italy and this match really could go either way.

 

[tmracht]

Love this.

That is a wonderful answer and typifies so much of why people would like to see England crash out not because of the players but because of the rest of it.

 

[Kliq]

Agreed.

I think people are writing off Spain a bit too easily. They have had an easy path to get here and aren't the most talented Spain side by any means, but they aren't far off Italy and this match really could go either way.

Yeah, both teams are very capable of playing brilliant, dominant soccer but are also capable of underwhelming and botching themselves. One team dominating and the other team melting down is a real possibility.

 

[dirtynine]

Love this.

His measured breath right after he hears the question is great.

 

[67YAZ]

Italy with just the 1 change at LB, as expected. I'll be keen to see how Emerson & Inisgne work together down the left, if they can quickly develop rapport and fluid interaction. Similarly, I wonder if Di Lorenzo will get a little more license to overlap and send Chiesa cutting in to provide a new wrinkle on the opposite wing to keep things spry. However they set up to attack, the the top 3 and midfield 3 will each have to work hard in the press to force Spain into turnovers.

Italy: Donnarumma, Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Chiellini, Emerson Palmieri, Barella, Jorginho, Verratti, Chiesa, Immobile, Insigne.
Subs: Sirigu, Locatelli, Belotti, Berardi, Pessina, Acerbi, Cristante, Bernardeschi, Bastoni, Florenzi, Toloi, Meret.

Spain: Simon, Azpilicueta, Garcia, Laporte, Jordi Alba, Koke, Busquets, Pedri, Ferran Torres, Oyarzabal, Olmo.
Subs: de Gea, Diego Llorente, Pau Torres, Marcos Llorente, Morata, Gerard, Thiago, Sanchez, Gaya, Rodri, Fabian, Traore.

 

[Zososoxfan]

No surprises from Italy's lineup but Spain is a doozy:

Unai
Alba-Laporte-Garcia-Azpi
Pedri-Busi-Koke
Olmo-Oyarzabal-F Torres

Sooooo, Lucho finally sits Morata...but doesn't start Moreno?? Instead he deploys Olmo and Oyarzabal. Personally I would've started Rodri or Thiago over Busi in this match as Spain is at risk of getting run over in the MF. Koke makes them strong but Busi's value in MF is being press resistant, and Pedri doesn't offer much in defense. Maybe the forwards tuck in more to have numbers in MF (this would explain Olmo) but this is strange.

 

[Ale Xander]

Italian players really into the anthem more than any group of athletes I’ve ever seen

 

[coremiller]

The ball-driving car is back! That thing is awesome.

 

[67YAZ]

That is a surprising set of changes. Assuming Oyarzabal drops deep and plays more like a false 9, then you're relying on Olmo& Torres cutting, Alba and Azpi overlapping, and Pedri and Oya making late runs. That's pretty sophisticated stuff. I don't know that I would break out that set up for the first time in a semi-final, especially since Chiellini and Bonucci aren't likely to to get confused or make a lot of mistakes here. It will put pressure on Jorginho , who's lack of pace is his biggest weakness.

 

[Ale Xander]

Should have shot earlier no?

 

[coremiller]

Why are Italy wearing black shorts? They have a classic all-blue uniform, why screw it up?

Also not sure why Spain have to wear white. Why can't they wear red?

 

[Philip Jeff Frye]

Should have shot earlier no?

What difference would it have made? I hate the late offside flag that seems so commonplace now.

 

[67YAZ]

Oh, he was well off. Why are the refs letting play run so long on clear cut offside calls?

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

This full field press by Spain seems unwise. Italy can punish this pretty easily I would think if they can break through the initial wave. It's kind of like a full court press.

 

[Nick Kaufman]

Why are Italy wearing black shorts? They have a classic all-blue uniform, why screw it up?

The classic uniform is blue white.

They look like Inter now.

As for Spain, I suspect it's UEFA regulations.

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

Oh, he was well off. Why are the refs letting play run so long on clear cut offside calls?

I guess the idea is you can always pull a goal back but you can never put one on the board.

 

[67YAZ]

Going to be a long day if Spain decide holding the ball around the halfway line is ok for them. Italy lead the tournament in pressing in the attacking third, but are near the bottom in the middle third. The match could stall out there.

 

[67YAZ]

I guess the idea is you can always pull a goal back but you can never put one on the board.

Right, but when a guy is a yard or more off? Maybe I just have PTSD from VVD's blown out knee, but someone is going to get hurt in that situation.

 

[twoBshorty]

Can't belief UEFA gave Felix Brych more matches after that Round of 16 horror show.

 

[BaseballJones]

Spain is dominating this game so far. Italy has been on their heels from the jump.

 

[BaseballJones]

Wow Spain with 72% of the possession so far. They look much better than the Azzurri right now.

 

[Ale Xander]

Maybe shoot earlier?

 

[Catcher Block]

That was a horrid decision. Keeper's never, ever going to get there first.

 

[BaseballJones]

OMG no keeper in the net and Italy couldn't even get frigging shot off.

 

[Kremlin Watcher]

Spanish keepers not really distinguishing themselves in this tournament.

 

[67YAZ]

Both teams have spurned golden chances. Italy looking so uncomfortable playing out from the back. They need to get the ball wide.

 

[Catcher Block]

Donnarumma saving that is really impressive after it pinballed and the shot was pump-faked a bit on the deflection.

 

[BaseballJones]

It seems like Italy's plan is to just keep kicking the ball back to Spain and letting the Spanish keep attacking.

 

[Kremlin Watcher]

Whoosh. Game of missed opportunities so far.

 

[slamminsammya]

how many brazilians are there on these two teams? jorginho and emerson, does diego costa still play for spain? or thiago?

 

[Philip Jeff Frye]

It seems like Italy's plan is to just keep kicking the ball back to Spain and letting the Spanish keep attacking.

Its kind of you to suggest that Italy have a plan so far.

 

[67YAZ]

Man, Emerson looks rusty.

 

[pokey_reese]

Feels like Spain has dominated in general, but Italy has had a few great chances. Sloppy with the ball, though.

 

[BaseballJones]

Spain right now is like the baseball team that has a dozen hits but can't get the big one with runners in scoring position, while the other team is having trouble getting anyone on base, but it's still 0-0 after five innings.

 

[Ale Xander]

zzzzzzzzzzzz

 

[Kliq]

Systematically Spain might be the best side in the tournament, but they really don't have the talent to capitalize at critical moments.

 

[shawnrbu]

Champion calls the 1st Half cagey.

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

I posted after a few minutes that I thought the high press was way too dangerous for Spain and the whole half I was just waiting for the Italy break. You really would think that Italy should be able to beat it. But it has been shockingly effective. Good on Enrique so far. It would be hilarious if Spain came out sitting back in the second half given that Mancini will probably spend the entire second half coaching up how to deal with the high line.

 

[JCizzle]

I like that the ref doesn't seem to be buying any of the bullshit so far. Much more enjoyable viewing experience than some other games I've managed to catch.

 

[Merkle's Boner]

I thought Oyarzabal was very weak, almost as the moment was too big for him. I expect to see Morata back in soon.

 

[BaseballJones]

I posted after a few minutes that I thought the high press was way too dangerous for Spain and the whole half I was just waiting for the Italy break. You really would think that Italy should be able to beat it. But it has been shockingly effective. Good on Enrique so far. It would be hilarious if Spain came out sitting back in the second half given that Mancini will probably spend the entire second half coaching up how to deal with the high line.

The problem with the way Spain is playing (which has been REALLY effective so far) is that all it takes is ONE. One slip-up - and they actually had that slip-up but Italy stupidly held the ball too long and didn't put a ball on net - and it could be the game. So it's a risky way to play. But boy they've really been a tough nut to crack for Italy so far.

 

[BaseballJones]

Like what was that kick right there? He booted it out of bounds for no apparent reason. Good lord Italy.

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

The problem with the way Spain is playing (which has been REALLY effective so far) is that all it takes is ONE. One slip-up - and they actually had that slip-up but Italy stupidly held the ball too long and didn't put a ball on net - and it could be the game. So it's a risky way to play. But boy they've really been a tough nut to crack for Italy so far.

Right but all it takes is one giveaway by Italy. That has looked more likely so far but yeah in a sport where just one play can win it who knows?

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

Ref has figured out that if Italy breaks the press the plan is to take a professional foul.

 

[Ale Xander]

blue moon Buckets

 

[BaseballJones]

Right but all it takes is one giveaway by Italy. That has looked more likely so far but yeah in a sport where just one play can win it who knows?

Yeah for sure. I mean, Spain is outplaying Italy so it looks like the right tactic.

 

[Catcher Block]

Italy and Spain both guilty of not shooting quickly enough in this game.