2008-06-22 - Spain v Italy

June 22, 2008

Euro 2008 2008-06-22 - Spain v Italy Sports Betting Preview by Gooner
Spain vs Italy UEFA Euro 2008 - Quarter-Final Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna Sunday 22nd June 2008 - KO 19:45 The final quarter-final at UEFA EURO 2008 brings together two former winners in Spain and Italy, both of them bidding to add to their one and only success on the European stage. For Spain it is an opportunity to make the last four for the first time since 1984 while Italy are bidding for their second semi-final in three EURO tournaments. SPAIN Spanish fans would have been disappointed to see the final results from Group C meant that they had to face the Italians, as for all the Spanish bravado and boasting about their team, the Azzurri are the one European side that Spain worry about at competitive games. (see h2h below). Spain are in good form, that is clear, as they are on a runk of nine straight international wins and seven competitive match wins. Victory will see them break their record for longest winning streak which stands at nine - and last time that streak was ended by .. Italy. WEIRD FACT : Spain have been knocked out of major tournaments on three occasions on 22nd June, all three occasions after a penalty shoot-out. Spain went out against Belgium at the 1986 World Cup, England at Euro 96 and South Korea at the 2002 World Cup. ITALY Italy have not been very impressive at all during group play, heavily beaten by the Dutch 0-3, and then only claiming a 1-1 draw with Romania thanks to a penalty save by Gigi Buffon which gave the Azzurri a lifeline. It was a better performance against France winning 2-0, albeit a very disappoint France, but once again Luca Toni looked less than lethal, and it was a pair of goals from a free-kick and the penalty spot that won the game. The loss of midfielders Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo will affect Italy’s shape here, although it must be said that neither player has been living up to his reputation so far. A GOOD OMEN? : The last two reigning world champions from Europe went on to the final of the next European Championship. After winning the World Cup in 1990 Germany finished runners-up in 1992 and 1998 World Cup Champions France also won Euro 2000. HEAD TO HEAD Spain and Italy have played each other on 27 previous occasions. Spain have won eight, Italy nine and there have been 10 draws. In competitive matches, Spain have been less successful winning just one out of nine. Italy have won five times and there have been three draws. Spain though have not lost to Italy in their last four encounters since a 2-1 defeat in the 1994 World Cup quarter-finals, managing two wins and two draws in 4 friendly encounters. The most recent fixture came in Elche in March 2008, when Villa’s goal with 12 minutes remaining secured a 1-0 win for Spain. TEAM NEWS Spain coach Luis Aragones still says that he has not decided on his line-up yet but he is likely to stick to his first-choice side after having fielded his reserves in the 2-1 win over Greece. Aragones gave a strong indication to what his preferred starting line-up is when Spain trained on Friday - playing the XI in the first two games against the rest of the squad on Friday. Italy midfielders Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo are both suspended for this match after picking up two bookings. Alberto Aquilani and Massimo Ambrosini will probably come in while Daniele De Rossi and Simone Perrotta may also start. THE VERDICT The form line suggest Spain should win this match, while history, omens and that wobbly Spanish record suggest that Italy could provide some sort of upset. Italy do have the belief about them to win this game, but considering what I’ve seen on the pitch so far, I feel that the 2.60 price on Spain to win is a price not to be turned down. The Pick : Spain 2-1 Italy PERCENTAGE ESTIMATE : Spain 42% - Draw 30% - Italy 28% FIXED ODDS BETTING : I’ll go with SPAIN to finally get over their Italian hoodoo in competitive games. This is their best chance of doing it.

Euro 2008

2008-06-22 - Spain v Italy

Sports Betting Preview by Gooner

Spain vs Italy
UEFA Euro 2008 - Quarter-Final
Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna
Sunday 22nd June 2008 - KO 19:45
The final quarter-final at UEFA EURO 2008 brings together two former winners in Spain and Italy, both of them bidding to add to their one and only success on the European stage.

For Spain it is an opportunity to make the last four for the first time since 1984 while Italy are bidding for their second semi-final in three EURO tournaments.

SPAIN

Spanish fans would have been disappointed to see the final results from Group C meant that they had to face the Italians, as for all the Spanish bravado and boasting about their team, the Azzurri are the one European side that Spain worry about at competitive games. (see h2h below).

Spain are in good form, that is clear, as they are on a runk of nine straight international wins and seven competitive match wins.

Victory will see them break their record for longest winning streak which stands at nine - and last time that streak was ended by .. Italy.

WEIRD FACT :
Spain have been knocked out of major tournaments on three occasions on 22nd June, all three occasions after a penalty shoot-out. Spain went out against Belgium at the 1986 World Cup, England at Euro 96 and South Korea at the 2002 World Cup.

ITALY

Italy have not been very impressive at all during group play, heavily beaten by the Dutch 0-3, and then only claiming a 1-1 draw with Romania thanks to a penalty save by Gigi Buffon which gave the Azzurri a lifeline.

It was a better performance against France winning 2-0, albeit a very disappoint France, but once again Luca Toni looked less than lethal, and it was a pair of goals from a free-kick and the penalty spot that won the game.

The loss of midfielders Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo will affect Italy’s shape here, although it must be said that neither player has been living up to his reputation so far.

A GOOD OMEN? :
The last two reigning world champions from Europe went on to the final of the next European Championship.

After winning the World Cup in 1990 Germany finished runners-up in 1992 and 1998 World Cup Champions France also won Euro 2000.

HEAD TO HEAD

Spain and Italy have played each other on 27 previous occasions. Spain have won eight, Italy nine and there have been 10 draws.

In competitive matches, Spain have been less successful winning just one out of nine. Italy have won five times and there have been three draws.

Spain though have not lost to Italy in their last four encounters since a 2-1 defeat in the 1994 World Cup quarter-finals, managing two wins and two draws in 4 friendly encounters.

The most recent fixture came in Elche in March 2008, when Villa’s goal with 12 minutes remaining secured a 1-0 win for Spain.

TEAM NEWS

Spain coach Luis Aragones still says that he has not decided on his line-up yet but he is likely to stick to his first-choice side after having fielded his reserves in the 2-1 win over Greece.

Aragones gave a strong indication to what his preferred starting line-up is when Spain trained on Friday - playing the XI in the first two games against the rest of the squad on Friday.

Italy midfielders Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo are both suspended for this match after picking up two bookings.

Alberto Aquilani and Massimo Ambrosini will probably come in while Daniele De Rossi and Simone Perrotta may also start.

THE VERDICT

The form line suggest Spain should win this match, while history, omens and that wobbly Spanish record suggest that Italy could provide some sort of upset.

Italy do have the belief about them to win this game, but considering what I’ve seen on the pitch so far, I feel that the 2.60 price on Spain to win is a price not to be turned down.

The Pick :

Spain 2-1 Italy

PERCENTAGE ESTIMATE :

Spain 42% - Draw 30% - Italy 28%

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I’ll go with SPAIN to finally get over their Italian hoodoo in competitive games. This is their best chance of doing it.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Written by admin · Filed Under Preview and Prediction

France 0-2 Italy & Netherlands 2-0 Romania

June 18, 2008

Rossi Celebration

Italy clinched a quarter-final meeting with Spain as they sent France crashing out of Euro 2008 with a deserved win.

France had a nightmare evening, losing key man Franck Ribery to a serious injury after only seven minutes.

Eric Abidal was then sent off after 25 minutes for fouling Luca Toni to give away a penalty, scored by Andrea Pirlo.

Thierry Henry then deflected in Daniele De Rossi’s 30-yard free-kick after 62 minutes, with Italy going through after the Netherlands beat Romania.

Raymond Domenech’s side carried all the appearance of a spent force and their display will now surely herald a changing of the guard for a group of players that has enjoyed so much success.

Italy, in contrast, celebrated their recovery from an opening defeat against the Dutch to move into the last eight - although they will lose influential midfield pair Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso through suspension.

Coach Roberto Donadoni was under huge pressure before the game, but the world champions delivered when it mattered and can now go forward with renewed optimism.

Italy dominated what was a calamitous first 45 minutes for France - and it was only the wayward finishing of Luca Toni that kept the scoreline respectable.

Toni set the tone for his display after only three minutes when he collected a long ball but pulled his shot hopelessly wide.

France needed all their big guns firing, and they suffered a desperate blow after seven minutes when key man Ribery collapsed as he challenged Gianluca Zambrotta and was stretchered off in agony.

Samir Nasri, a transfer target for Arsenal, came on as substitute but his evening was also short-lived as Italy continued to create opportunities at will.

Claude Makelele had smuggled Christian Panucci’s header off the line before Italy deservedly went ahead after 25 minutes following another dreadful moment for France.

Abidal hauled down Toni as he raced in on goal, leaving referee Lubos Michel with no alternative other than to produce the red card.

Pirlo hammered home the spot-kick - and the unfortunate figure of Nasri was then hauled off as former Newcastle flop Jean-Alain Boumsong was introduced in a defensive re-shuffle.

An astonishing passage of play followed, with Italy carving out a succession of chances that were all wasted by Toni.

Toni was off target when well placed three times in the space of just two minutes, as France threatened to collapse under the weight of Italian pressure.

France finally had a half-chance after 33 minutes, but Henry pulled his finish across goal from Jeremy Toulalan’s pass.

Italy ended the half in the ascendancy, with France keeper Gregory Coupet superbly turning Fabio Grosso’s free-kick on to an upright.

France finally gathered their forces after the break, with Henry twice forcing Gianluigi Buffon into saves, albeit comfortable ones.

Hopes of a French revival were snuffed out after 62 minutes when De Rossi’s 30-yard free-kick was deflected past Coupet by the outstretched foot of Henry.

Buffon had hardly been extended, but he produced a brilliant diving save from Karim Benzema’s curling long-range shot.

Toni rounded off his night in typical fashion, crashing an opportunity against the outside of a post, but Italy’s fans had been celebrating their triumph long before the final whistle.

____________________________________________________________________________________
France: Coupet, Clerc, Gallas, Abidal, Evra, Govou (Anelka 66), Toulalan, Makelele, Ribery (Nasri 10), Benzema, Henry, Nasri (Boumsong 26).
Subs Not Used: Mandanda, Frey, Vieira, Malouda, Thuram, Squillaci, Gomis, Sagnol, Diarra.

Sent Off: Abidal (24).

Booked: Evra, Govou, Boumsong, Henry.

Italy: Buffon, Zambrotta, Panucci, Chiellini, Grosso, Pirlo (Ambrosini 55), De Rossi, Gattuso (Aquilani 82), Toni, Perrotta (Camoranesi 64), Cassano.
Subs Not Used: Amelia, De Sanctis, Gamberini, Barzagli, Del Piero, Di Natale, Borriello, Quagliarella, Materazzi.

Booked: Chiellini, Pirlo, Gattuso.

Goals: Pirlo 25 pen, De Rossi 62.

Att: 25,000

Ref: Lubos Michel (Slovakia).

Popularity: 1% [?]

Written by admin · Filed Under Euro 2008

Italy Euro 2008 Squad

May 29, 2008

Italy coach Roberto Donadoni has named his 23-man squad and Fiorentina midfielder Riccardo Montolivo has been cut from Italy’s Euro 2008 squad.

Montolivo, who has one cap, had been expected to be the unlucky player having been a surprise pick in the initial squad. Udinese striker Fabio Quagliarella and AS Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani were the other likely contenders.

The world champions face Belgium in a friendly in Florence on Friday ahead of their Euro 2008 Group C matches against the Netherlands, Romania and France.

Italy Euro 2008 Squad

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Marco Amelia (Livorno), Morgan De Sanctis (Sevilla)

Defenders: Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Marco Materazzi (Inter Milan), Christian Panucci (AS Roma), Andrea Barzagli (Palermo), Gianluca Zambrotta (Barcelona), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Fabio Grosso (Lyon)

Midfielders: Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Massimo Ambrosini (AC Milan), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Simone Perrotta (AS Roma), Alberto Aquilani (AS Roma), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus)

Forwards: Luca Toni (Bayern Munich), Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Marco Borriello (Genoa), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese), Antonio Cassano (Sampdoria, on loan from Real Madrid)

Popularity: 2% [?]

Written by admin · Filed Under Euro 2008, International

Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini joins AC Milan

May 6, 2008

Sensational transfer news are out and it is reported and confirmed that Arsenal’s French midfielder Mathieu Flamini will join AC Milan on a four-year deal next season after passing a medical in Italy.

It is believed that the 24-year-old Frenchman, who signed for Arsenal from French club Olympique Marseille in 2004, will move on a free transfer with his current contract at the Premier League club soon expiring.

A team said Flamini, who underwent a medical on Monday, would join on July 1 with the deal running out on June 30, 2012. It is believed that Flamini is extremely happy and excited about the move.

It is also believed that the hard-working midfielder, who played as a emergency left back in Arsenal’s run to the Champions League final in 2006, was also courted by Italian giants Juventus.

Flamini emerged as a key player for Arsenal this season with consistently impressive performances as an energetic, defensive foil for Cesc Fabregas in central midfield.

However, the 24-year-old stalled on signing a new contract and missed Arsene Wenger’s final deadline of May 1 to secure a new deal.

Flamini immediately faces a challenge breaking into a Milan midfielder packed with ball-winners such as Gennaro Gattuso, Emerson and Massimo Ambrosini.

Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani denied Flamini has been recruited to replace Italy international Gattuso, who said last week he was considering his future and would like to play in England.

BIO

Full name: Mathieu Flamini
Date of birth: 7 March 1984
Place of birth: Marseille, France
Height: 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position: Defensive Midfielder
Current club: Arsenal

Previous Clubs

2001-2003: Marseille B
2003-2004: Marseille
2004-2008: Arsenal
2008- A.C. Milan

Popularity: 1% [?]

Written by admin · Filed Under Italian Serie A, Premier League

AC Milan complete the signing of Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini

April 28, 2008

Sensational transfer news are out and it is reported that Italian giants AC Milan have clinched the signing of Arsenal’s French midfielder Mathieu Flamini.

Local newspaper reported that it had appeared that Juventus were the favourites to sign Flamini but they are believed to have been out-bid by Milan who are willing to pay him four million euros a year - a million more than was an offer from their rivals - which includes a significant signing-on fee spread over a five-year contract.

It is strongly believed that AC Milan have ear-marked Flamini as the eventual replacement for Gennaro Gattuso, which is ironic considering the fact that the midfielder was nicknamed after the Italian by his Arsenal team-mates.

Flamini has so far played a total of 102 matches for the English side and scored 7 goals for Arsenal along the way.

BIO