Soccer/Football

[ptmcmahon]

Croatia had a lot of chances in second half. Of course Italy are just as lucky as they needed that Spanish goal to go through.

[suliso]

It would have been a robbery of the century had England won this match on penalties. Italy was wiping the floor with them all game long (Andrea Pirlo was particularly superb), but somehow the ball didn't want to go in...

[Ti-Amie]

ESPN comms think Germany has the semi vs Italy in the bag especially with the match going so long today. I'm still learning footy so I wonder what fans here think?

[morct]

ESPN comms think Germany has the semi vs Italy in the bag especially with the match going so long today. I'm still learning footy so I wonder what fans here think?

Germany are my pick to win the tournament.

[suliso]

ESPN comms think Germany has the semi vs Italy in the bag especially with the match going so long today. I'm still learning footy so I wonder what fans here think?

Germans are big favorites - Italy is not quite what it used to be when they won the World Cup (I think Pirlo and Buffon are the only remaining players from that squad). But it's a well organized squad and scoring against them is still very difficult. Germany and Spain are the most balanced teams and also playing the best football at the moment, but I wouldn't write off the other two just yet. Ronaldo is on top of his game and players like him can sometimes create goals from nothing.

[mmmm8]

What suliso said.

The England vs Italy game was just painful to watch. England was just awful, and then the whole inevitable penalty disaster.

[Edmond Dantès]

Pirlo :unworthy:



Was bad enough watching Chelsea win the Champions League by 'parking the bus'. Didn't need a rerun with England.

ESPN comms think Germany has the semi vs Italy in the bag especially with the match going so long today. I'm still learning footy so I wonder what fans here think?

Historically, Italy are the team that Germany would like to avoid - they have never been beaten by Germany in a World Cup or European Championship.

This Italian team aren't as good as others from the past, but it's possible that they are better than many initially thought (in their first game of the tournament they drew with Spain and, at times, made them look beatable....an unusual occurrence these days).

Germany look to have the better team and more strength in depth. They will be favorites. It's not a foregone conclusion though.

I'd say the same for the other match too.....although I would think that Spain will be even stronger favorites.

The quarterfinal matches didn't provide a lot of entertainment, so I hope we get at least one great semifinal.

[ptmcmahon]

Gotta go Germany-Spain here too. Although each round I`ve had all but one team right - 7 of 8 quarter-finalists and 3 of 4 semifinalists - with Italy being the team I missed both times.

[Edmond Dantès]

Why Always Mario?

Another masterclass from Pirlo in a much deserved victory. I would like them to go on and win it now.

[ptmcmahon]

Funny...every round I've had all my picks been right, except I didn't have Italy. A lot less impressive now that I'm 1 of 2 of course.