Were Italy found out at last ?

[RedRedRobinSTFC]

Folowing Italy's 4-2 defeat at the hands of Spain on penalties in the last Euro 2008 Quarter Final last night, have the Italians finally been found out ? They seemed to play a very negative game at times when there are quality players who can actually play. As Alan Shearer put it - "It was almost as though they (Italy) were playing for penalties". Not the first time it's happened and this time it cost them.

[Mabudi]

Hi all.
Italy played as they know although decisive players were missing, it was not a great match but exciting until the end. In my humble opinion the victory deserved Spain although it was for the luck of the penalties.

Kind Regards

[Beastly]

yea there Footy last night wasnt As good As it usually is Therefour Spain Took advanged

[Crobinho]

that stuff Italy was playing last night was everything but football
camping is what we call this style of play in CoD, they really camped infront their box only concidered not to get one in
for Spain it was tough to play with 10 Italians behind the ball
but one thing is for sure, Italy played the most boaring football on the tournament along with Greece who also played crapp
i hope for a good game between the Russian magicians and the Spain wonderkind's Torres and Villa

[Mabudi]

Hi all.
Well said, Crobinho.
Kind Regards

[Beefy]

The Italians play a cautious game and always have done, they'd have been even more negative last night had they gone a goal ahead. The Italian style of play seems to help them progress in tournaments though, a lot more than the flair countries like Spain and Holland.

[RedRedRobinSTFC]

But if you become too predictable teams start to suss you out in the end. I think Italy need a new approach. They have the quality to play good football but last night they just didn't use it. A real pity considering they're the World Champions ...

[briggcov]

Italy had the potenial to beat Spain but instead relied on a ten man defence and the hope of getting a free kick around the eighteen yard box, a tactic which has served them well for numerious years. Fortunatley it failed on Sunday and gives hope to attacking play; whilst I admire the Italians for their ability to hold position and defence with supreme skill it does make for a boring game.....Hopefully but I doubt it they'll change tactics from now on........Spain are still my selection......................

[RedRedRobinSTFC]

All well and good to shut up shop if you're a goal to the good but you leave yourself wide open if it goes to pens.