Looking Ahead to Tuesday

No kidding! What a snore. Now that England is gone, all I can see is another easy road to the final for that cheating Brazil… Every WC, same thing. I’d like to see them be inthe group of death and play some difficult teams on their way to the final for a change.

I dont like France, but I’m rooting for them today….

England have no clue how to take a penalty. That was pathetic.

I agree on the Pirlo comment. He doesn’t like himself the past 2 games. Camo was amazing and Zambrotta I thought should have been the man of the match. If Italy play as well as they did yesterday, we should take Germany. This game reminds me of Euro 2000 when Italy took out the Netherlands at home. Italy will meet Brazil in the final, and take the cup home!

Now that Ukraine is out, I can cheer for Italy

Send Germany home! Ugh, but wait they are already at home, well, send them somewhere

Just because of the arrogant Blogs And comments in this forum. I hope Germany kicks their ass out(Italy), to go back to Italia ,where they can be their RACIST SELVES, has anyone noticed Italy never has any black players in their teams,WHY?Let’s be good sportsman and give credit where credit is due.Learn how to lose gracefully

Look who is talking US (Go back to baseball my friend. That’s your sport)

Argentina-out
England-out
Brazil-out
Italia-on fire
Bring the cup home. Forza Italia.

Jay, Pirlo play 62 matches from September 2005 ! About 2 matches for week. I think he is very strong, is not easy.

Ferrari… Schumi first and Massa second. Great Great Always an italian emotion in the world!

Hey Anna, you should hook up with “*”. You both have a lot in common.

Anna, I´m an Amerıcan myself, but that comment ıs just outrageous. Italy doesn´t have black players on the team because there are not many black Italıans – more have come very recently. Your comment ıs a dısgrace to all Amerıcans and (I assure you, Italıans and the the rest of the world) not a typıcal Amerıcan attıtude. We are, for the most part, very ashamed of the racısm that has been a part of our hıstory, from slavery to segregatıon to Rodney Kıng to the ongoıng Mexıcan border ıssues. Racısm ın sports ıs a dıffuse problem – not just Spaın´s.

Italy beats Germany.
France beats Portugal.

If the Azzuri who defeated Ukraine show up for the final, this is Italy’s cup.

Caesar, I agree its not easy…especially after playing a whole Serie A campaign, which is more physical than most. I’m just suggesting maybe the heat or something is starting to get to Pirlo. Who knows. Italy needs him though, big time, so I’m hoping he gets involved early on Tuesday.

Germany is NOT going to give Italy the room that Ukraine gave them, so I expect a tight match and few goals and hopfully some genius from the creative mids.

Also, was this France team hiding under a rock somewhere? Two weeks ago they could hardly beat Togo, now they’ve whipped Brazil. It’s crazy.

To Anna:
What are you talking about? why don’t you just shut a fckup? Do you actually know how many black players are playing the serie A that are not from abroad? Shame on you Big time.

So are we looking for Italy vs France in finals?

Anna you are right. Italy dont have black players in the national team, just in clubs. But… Italy do not have good black players with Italian passport, i think this is the problem, no because we are racist. Is better than u go to check if Italy have good black players with italian passport before write.
Camoranesi is half Italian / half Argentinos, he is good and he play in the national team. So, we must take black players without quality for say… “HEY, we have black players!” I dont know… We do not killed peoples immigrant without documents from Africa, like USA with Mexican, or Australia. Italy go to save immigrant peoples (black,fuxia,red,green,yellow..)in the mediterranean sea without fired on them. So… take information before write.

I think it’s racist to bring up race in sports. WHy do they need to have coloured (note I do not say black) players in their team?
May Italy whoop German ass. They must. To avenge the loss of stylish football cos Germans sure don’t play with style. They just eat sausage and drink beer.
Seriously. Italy must win. There will be no justice in the world if Germany reaches the final.

Saturday evening

Sunday morning, afternoon and evening

Monday morning, afternoon and evening

Tuesday morning and afternoon

… much time for Italy to dream of shooting a goal against THE GERMAN BEAST and become a World Cup Winner this time.

But …

Tuesday evening

… you will see THE GERMAN BEAST in reality and prepare to die in front of 85.200 German fans in Dortmund. But only two hours later Totti will cry as Terry did today … and all Tifosi will know: Life goes on in Italy, as it did 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002

(former World Cups no longer count “officially” due to new FIFA regulations)

You people who are talking about multi-culturalism sound like racists. What does it matter if a country is multi-cultural or not?? Would you say Nigeria is bad because there aren’t enough white people? You’re idiots.

Warlord88
Portugal probably win against France, but all is possible…
Germany play probably without Friz (something about), because he give a punch to an argentina player after the match! Fifa say today morning “We take very strong and very fast decisions about this fact.” There is a clear VIDEO… so NO Excuse for him. This is good for our midfield, and germany play for Klose, Italy play for all 11 players. Is like Ukraine than play for Sheva, but with more quality. I think is really possible win against germany, specially this year. France Portugal i dont know… Portugal try to cheat many time, France less, France have more experience Portugal less. Boh..
For me, the grand final is against Germany. The match with POR or FRA is easy than GER…this is my feeling.

P.S. I do think Pirlo looks tired. DeRossi’s suspension probably means he’s had to play a little more that they wanted him to.

Italy is the country, where a football player can show the “Roman Salute” in a football stadium, is cherished by the President and football officials, and can do it again without being punished. Wrong?

You know, my country Germany is responsible for the worst thing ever happened in history, World War I and II and the Holocaust. The citizens of present Germany are aware of this. I assure you: If a player with a Nazi-tattoo would show the “Roman Salute” in a German stadium we would have an official decision in approx 15 minutes that this man would NEVER play a match again.

… not even ping-pong with his family

Barbar,
Context is everything.

Italy is gonna take home the cup go ITALY!!!!!!

Guys and gals,

We have a shot at this but our midfield has to push that ball forward and we need completion and quality finish to the plays.

Hopefully germany will be overconfident or perhaps get too rough and draw a red card but France and Portugal well I realy hope France wins.

Zidane had an awesome match today and I feel an Italy/France final would be awesome.

Forza Azzuri

Rich
Pirlo was a few tired in the last match with ukr… but i remember you, than he play about 62 matches from september 2005, so he can be tired or not, anyway his work is already perfect until now. All italian respect for Pirlo and his great work until now. De Rossi can be play this match, and Pirlo can take a few relax. There is again Gilardino, Inzaghi, (Del Piero uhmmm).
Toni is good.
Totti is good.
Camoranesi is good.
Iaquinta is good.
Zambrotta is good.
Gattuso is good.
Many players are very good, so i think the only problems, will be play without take red cards. For the match, i’m positive.

The statistics are not stupid.
Brazil win vs France was always rare, and in fact, France win another time.
Germany – Italy: 4 matches.
Italy win 2 times and drew 2 times.
Germany never win against Italy.
I think our game is incompatible with German tactics, like brazil with france.

Without statistic… i see than ITaly make goals with various players, and germany many times make assist to klose or podolski.
If Frings, than make many assist go out, germany suck in the midfield, and our defence can block very well german actions without good midfield. We are complete, defence,midfield and attack, with the best goalkeeper in the box.. so i’m very positive.

Barbar,

In terms of “worst things in history”, Germany has some pretty stiff competition from the likes of Mao, Stalin or Pol Pot.

Barbar
many peoples make comunist salute.
So ?! They can? Why?

If Di Canio, is not comunist but is fascist, this is a Di Canio problem, not Italy or Italian problem. For the roman salute of Di Canio, he take 2 days out and 20k euros of pay.
Why when peoples make the comunist salute is ok?
This is a problem too many complex than soccer, this is politic. Lazio is famous for their fascist supporters, but until they do not make injury to anybody, what do u want?! Go to jail because roman salute? OMG… So whats happen with hooligans? Electric chair? LOL

Yes, is it Warlord88

Lang and Mark, I agree with you. i think she has read Australian blogs in which they tell we are racists. This is a VERY BIG LIE!!! We have immigrates becoming italian citizens and after they will can play for “their new country”, instead in our A clubs are playing many many black players. You must know Italy hasn’t native black people but we’re open mentally and we are integrating ourselves with the other cultures. Romans already taught us to cohabit with the other people respecting them…and, a little secret: my girlfriend and I are a mixed couple. Try to be not so superficial in judging a country if you do not know it. Scuse my bad bad English. Peace.

@Rav

Living in Berlin, i saw a lot of World cup visitors eating tons of bratwurst and drinkin massive ammounts of german beer (especially the english fans) and you know why, cause its the fu**ing best beer and best bratwurst in the whole wide world, and we’re damn proud of it. btw, i’m just eating some sauerkraut while wearing nothing but my brand new lederhosen.

whoever made that “italy has no black players” comment is a idiot. Italy aren’t a black nation. Go ask ghana, saudi arabia, togo, etc why they dont have any white players. It is because they aren’t a white country.

Ceasar,

I know what you mean about the red cards, that worries me too. I’m so glad Toni got going. He had a bit of a scoring slump this season for Fiorentina but then came on strong again at the end. I think Italy still can play better though. It seems like the defense is for the most part great and bit by bit the midfield and forwards are becoming more creative and dangerous. I’m so looking forward to Tuesday. Germany’s a great team but we had some success against them before the tournament. That doesn’t mean much but at least we know what to expect. It should be a great game.

DEUTSCHLAND!!!!! Italy’s been walking in the park so far – USA, Czech Rep, Ghana, Aussies, Ukraine (OKAY, more of a jog in the park). But they’re finally going up against a powerhouse on Tuesday, and their buttocks will be handed to them along with their boarding passes. Germany-France in the finals, Deutschland uber alles! Okay, for now it’s back to celebrating France’s gorgeous victory!

Do you think they’ll play the same formation as against Ukraine?

Walking in the park?? Italy had arguably the toughest group. I think it’ll be a great game on Tuesday though.

@ BARBAR and Anti-Italy user.

See this video:

http://playlist.yahoo.com/makeplaylist.dll?id=1011708&segment=70702&s=1805535150&ru=y&b=fjp5n791at7lk4316da9a

Germany bad in midfield or not, Italy is not the side to have the majority of possesion, when we get the ball we play it well, and when we are on the defense, we defend very well, limiting the oponents ability to create chances.
Are you sure De Rossi can play this match? he recieved a 4 match ban, so I think he is banned for this match too.

I think Italy can convincingly beat Germany but I am afraid of the referee, as they have been tending to give an advantage to teams who are losing even if its by just 1 goal, also Germany is the host nation, wich is incentive for the ref to be on Germanys side.

@Arthur,
Hehe (grin).. ok cheap joke.
My parents drive German cars too. They’re good.
But football. A bit boring. I wouldn’t buy that.

De Rossi is out for the semi-finals but can play in the consolation match or the finals. If Italy’s coach plays him, I’ll forever hate Italian football. He deserved to be sent home, period.

After watching France totally own Brazil today, I have to say I think they are the favorites now. I’m not sure it matters who wins the Germany-Italy match, but that’s just a gut reaction.

Rich Walther, sometimes I don’t like our midfield so much, at the moment is not so strong like the defence and the attacking. I think Lippi should use two real “wings” in certain occasions, for example with Socceroos…

Rich
i dont know about formation, i’m not a coach..
I can say what is better for me than is:
4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1

Germany use always 4-4-2, but without Frings if he go out this is not very very good.

I think Lippi dont make crazy formation like 3-5-2 or 4-3-3. Maybe 4-3-2-1, but i really think than in this case, the best way is the same formation of Germany.
Player vs player, because our players quality is best, so is better.

Germany sponsor is Adidas, Adidas is German. This is important.
Italy sponsor is Puma.

Other sponsor:

PUMA: Italy (3 WC), Suisse (venue with Austria for European Cup 2008), Ghana.

NIKE: Brazil (5 WC), Nederland, Portugal, Mexico, Australia.

ADIDAS: Germany (3 WC), France (), Argentina (), Spain.

UMBRO: England (1966), Sweden.

LOTTO: Ukraine.

MARATHON: Ecuador.

Well, i work for the Adidas Italy, and i can say than this year Adidas buy Reebok brand. Now Adidas is the biggest brand of the world for sport wear.
Everytime a team continue the tournament, they keep MILLIONS of US dollars, because everybody buy their gadgets or dress. Peoples say “Nooo impossible than sponsor corrupt FIFA..”… I think than hundreds of millions of US dollars more, can change the result very easy. Adidas, a german brand, in a german tournament, with again 2 teams in the tournament, included the national team, SURE make something.
For now,
Germany-Adidas vs Italy-Puma
Portugal-Nike vs France-Adidas

I know what you mean about the midfield. Pirlo is like the only purely offensive midfielder that we have right now. Camoranesi can do it all too. I liked when they put Del Piero back there for a bit. I think Gattuso and Perotta have done a great job winning balls but they’re not quite as creative offensively.

A monitor for understand what can happen, will be the FIFA decision about exclusion of Frings, because a player than give a punch to another player, is very very very bad and usually ALL the management of ALL tournaments, ask please… go to home.
I wait the FIFA decision about this, because there is a video very clear than Frings make a punch to an argentina player without reason, so there is not excuse or bla bla bla…
If FIFA do not kick out Frings, i hope than FIFA change name and direction, specially Blatter, because corruption will be too many big at this levels. About two years ago, in Italy there was a story like this. A player give a punch to another player and this player stay in coma for months and months. After coma he have motion problems. The player than give the punch, was kick out for about 1 year if i remember… Soccer is not kick boxing.

Perotta and Gattuso are great at winning balls but they’re not quite as creative on the offense. They did put Del Piero back there a little in the last game though and I think that worked pretty well. One thing I’ve noticed about Italy though is they play all over the place. That’s not a criticism, it’s just that they’re all really versatile. I see Zambrotta scoring from the rt. side, then stopping a shot on the goal line, and then setting up Toni from the left side in the crease. I’m not a Juventus fan at all but I’m going to find it hard to cheer against some of these guys next season.. (I guess if there in Seri A)

Oh… Adidas is official sponsor of the FIFA, for the balls, and referees and friends dress.

My money is on Italy to beat the Germans, 2-1 final score.
They won on penalties against Argies. Big deal. Germany skill not good enough for us.

Italy v. France Final match.
Score – who knows.

Brazil is finally out! Finally, a final without brazil lol

Il brasile a la sua CASinhA… Joga male

Ora tocca a Italia battere la germania e arrivare in finale
Forza Ragazzi!

Mondiali, rissa in Germania-Argentina: espulso Cufrè, prova tv inchioda Frings.

Cufrè, difensore dell’Argentina e della Roma, è stato espulso dopo che i rigori di Germania-Argentina erano già terminati. La partita si era conclusa con una rissa in campo. L’espulsione di Cufrè da parte della terna arbitrale la comunica la Fifa che esaminerà tutte le immagini tv per individuare i responsabili del parapiglia nel corso del quale il più coinvolto è stato Bierhoff, team manager della Germania.
A tal proposito Frings potrebbe saltare la semifinale mondiale con l’Italia: le telecamere di SKY hanno infatti “pescato” il giocatore tedesco mentre sferrava un pugno all’attaccante argentino Cruz, nella rissa che è seguita alla partita. Il gesto casualmente è però sfuggito alla terna arbitrale.
L’ira di Sepp Blatter si abbatte sui protagonisti della rissa scoppiata dopo Germania-Argentina. “Sono furioso, se ne occuperà il nostro comitato disciplinare”, ha tuonato il presidente della Fifa. Il gran capo del calcio mondiale ha assicurato che i giocatori coinvolti saranno duramente sanzionati.

Questo è quanto.

Gli arbitri hanno espulso e sanzionato un giocatore dell’Argentina, mentre dicono di non avere visto il giocatore tedesco. Peccato che c’era una telecamera puntata proprio su di lui.
Blatter ha detto che prenderà provvedimenti?

Staremo a vedere, le prove sono lì da vedere sotto gli occhi di tutti.

Se qualche anima pia potrebbe tradurre il testo sulla storia di Frings sopra, gliene sarei grato.

Gee, I love you Italians.

Gracious. Melodious. Dramatic.
Melodramatic.

And – afterwards: Melancholic.

Just like the Argentinians.

Pirlo was super in the first two games and after relaxed himself, Gattuso is a little Lion and we always need his contrasts, Camoranesi is not so incredible (for me)…I agree with you about Zambrotta: He returned after an injury and now is incredible. Now I’m enthusiastic for the attacking because Toni Woke up!!!

can someon please show me some video footage of frings hitting anyone? cause the pictures of crufe and rodriguez going ballistic were all over the news today but didn’t see any german hitting anyone, so i think frings will play and kick tottis ass so bad he won’t sit for a month

I really like Gattuso too. The player who has impressed me the most though is Canavarro. My favourite team in Fiorentina so I’m usually cheering against these guys but Canavarra and Zambrotta are two of my favourite players now.

Matteo Ferrari.

Algerian born fullback (Mother Algerian, Father Italian) played for the Azzurri in 2002.

STOP RACISM

It’s going to be a classic game on Tuesday. Whoever wins this semi will win the World Cup.

Vecktor

Brazil didn’t show up today.
France played an unbeliavable match. So if they play again like this in the semis, they will beat Portugal.

Portugal is a team with a bunch of divers, especially FIGO. Did you see him today?

England just sucks on penalties and Rooney can’t control himself. That was their downfall. Also, SGE is a horrible coach who has zero motivational skills.

Tuesday will be a great match because Germany have the whole crowd behind them, and thus they are relentless even if being down.

Lippi should use the 4-3-1-2 formation with Totti in the hole behind the two strikers.

I agree with Roman Warrior – I think it will be a Italy-France final too. Italy has to avenge the Euro they lost against them

Wouldn’t it be too easy for Germany to make the final when they are hosting it too – is hosting always a guarantee to making the final or something???

France hosted in 1998 and won the Cup. Portugal hosted the Euro last time and make it to the final.

If that is the case when is the next World Cup in Italy? (actually I want the 2014 World Cup to be in CANADA – all the games would sell out!!)

Germany got lucky against Argentina and before that even though Germany won big, it was not against any major opponents.

Plus anything can happen. Did anybody really think France would beat Brazil today???

Italy is finally beginning to show what that they can do and championship teams usually pace themselves and get better each match. And they have a good enough team to go all the way if they play on all cylinders.

For the game on Tuesday, I think Italy will win 2-0 but there might be some controversy that the Germans will say is why the lost (like yellow/red cards).

but whatever the score, please NO PENALTY KICKS that is no way to decide a team game!

Italy and Germany will meet on tuesday. My initial impression is that Italy must play the 4 – 4 – 1 -1. This is a perfect strategy well executed against the Czechs and Ukraine. I feel that when they resort to the 4- 4 – 2 (diamond) with three forwards they have lacked immensively on making any impression in the midfield. Look at the Australia and USA games, arguably the toughest two games the Azzurri have had, they have lacked a presence in both games in the midfield. If they run the four midfielders with supports on the flanks from Zambrotta and Grosso, all should be fine. Pin Gattuso on Ballack with the defense guarding Klose and Podolski it should be fine and hopefully enough to keep the game close in any manner. Obviously the Germans will be thinking the same in reverse order, so to me it doesnt really matter, Italy must play better and more consistant. This is the finals imo, and they need to stay on it for 90 minutes. If there is a historical trademark of the Azzurri is in their Mental Lapses. They seem to fall asleep at points in the game which lead to opportunities (re: Ukraine) If lippi can avoid this through some method of Coaching they should be perfect for the game.

On Del Piero. Keep him on the bench. The Juventus legend is out of form. Everyone is talking about Totti and his lack of form, but Totti is showing steady progression, Del Piero has been lackluster at best and is making a habbit of diving. If need be, put on Inzaghi if a striker is needed. This is coming from a staunch Del Piero fan.

I would like to address the ‘Racist’ issues concerning many people that seem to be disgruntled with Italians for one reason or another. First off, Italy is NOT a former colonial power. You see loads of racial diversity on England, France and Holland because of the fact that these players are given easy citizenship due to the fact that they come from former colonies. The famed Zizou isnt even from France he is Algerian. Because Italy does not have this colonial past, they do not have much racial diversity, but I can assure you in the coming decade you will definantly begin seeing color on the Italian national team.

Also what I find interesting, is the bias towards the lone Argentine on the Italian national team. While many countries exhibit players from different nations then their own, ie – Podolski is polish, etc, the one who seems to be bombed for this is the Italian National team for having a single Argintine with Italian origin.

What I am finding is that those claiming the Italian team, or any team for that matter is a racist, are racists themselves. Accusing an entire nation of being racist is a very racist trait. Also Accusing an entire nation of cheating or being cheaters is also a racist trait. “Discrimination or prejudice based on race of culture” is what racism is classified as. If you all want to put a “STOP” to racism “STOP” exhibiting this quality.

For instance allow me to make an observation. The portugese team seemed to be commiting a fair amount of dives, which I believe enabled them to beat England. today. – see I did not state that portugese people are cheats, fakers, etc. I stated that the national ‘TEAM’ was exhibiting these tactics to gain an unfair advantage.

Onto the Serie A scandle. What you are seeing in Serie A at the moment will be uncovered in many top European leagues in the coming years, this I do not doubt whatsoever. Mark my words. It is quite obvious that the overall governing body (FIFA) is exhibiting such tactics as well, I fear that match fixing isnt only present in Italy, but has much farther reaches than people are willing to entertain at the moment.

Back to Germany v. Italy on tuesday, whatever the outcome, I hope its a fantastic match. I hope that there isnt an irate German announcer chanting GAERMANY GERMANY GERMANY over the intercom at the stadion like there was in Berlin, this is supposed to be “FAIR PLAY” and lets see that present in what looks otherwise to be a very open and interesting semifinal between two formidable opponants.

Yes maybe Pirlo is tired but we do need him.
It will be a tough match, maybe the german team lacks some quality but they did play a good football and they will take advantage of the enthusiasm of the crowd.
We can make it to the final and probably face the French team which was impressive tonight. I think it’s a Germany, Italy and France business, Portugal is a good team but I can’t see them winning the cup.
I agrre with Arthur on bratwurst and german beer, they are terrific. Cheers.

Totti is getting there. He needs to play. Start with him in behind toni. We dont need 3 strikers, 2 is enough.

What is the word on Ballack, he looked uncomfortable against Argentina, does anyone know if he is starting for the italian match?

I hope Klose and Podolsky don’t see much of the ball due to Cannavaro. Oh BTW, what’s the word on Nesta? Will he be playing? Also I really want to see Totti firing on all cylinders. I want to see one thunderous unstoppable free kick and one ultimate defence splitting pass which would put Ronaldinho to shame. If he gets 100%, ALL HELL WILL BREAK LOOSE.

italy_germany the first semi, and then then france portugal.
well france_portugal is gonna be a nice game bewteen two teams who play spectacular football with a lot of ball possession.
italy_germany is the worst semifinal we could ever have, two teams that only think about defence and how to win a game without entertaining the audience, it is really depressing to know it is a semifinal. look at germany argentina, the germans had only 35 per cent and they waited till the penalty kicks that depend only on luck. italy against a beginner team as australia couldn’t control the game and won it thanks to a wrong penalty.
i expect this game to end 0_0 and then with the penalty kicks who knows what happens.
by the way whoever wins in this boring game will lose to france in the final, you know why? because france plays real football, they are classy , look at them today they scored a goal and kept playing in the offense, while you can imagine if italy was the team that scored against brazil, they would’ve played the rest of game 10_0_0 which means ten in defence.
good luck italy, forza italia
(you’re less worse than germany so i’ll be rooting for you for the first time in my life).
it is a shame that this final is not between argentina and holland for example two wonderful teams that play to entertain people but that were unlucky this time.

I suck. My hair is greasy like the rest of Italians. WE STINK>

I am Italian and i think these racist comments are crazy(I wont go into detail, i’ll be here all day)
I think italy will win the germany game(not because im italian, and i want my team to win) i say this because italy is known historicly for its killer defence. Personally, i dont think that germnay’s attack is good enough to over-power italy’s defence.. they have some good players that could give some pressure but not enough. Another reason that i think italy will come out with the win is because it has an amazing attack, germany has a pretty good defence but italy can easily come out with a quick goal. Also, italy has Buffon, and i think that he is the best keeper in the world, he makes many amazing save and rarely lets in a goal. He is very very good and not many shots can be put in his net. My final reason that italy will win is that they are fast on the attack.. and germany is a slower team. They are just to slow, their speed on the attack is to slug-ish. They are a very patient team(which is a good thing) but they are a little too patient. Italy is very fast and they can out-run and out-pace the germans

For the France-Portugal game i think France will come out with the win. First of all because Portugal has never beaten France in any competition. Second of all because france is simply just a great team. Thirdly i think that France will win because portugal has just been too inconsistant with their play.

My prediction for the final match will be ITALY-FRANCE.. Italy will be your 2006 Fifa World Cup Winners! i say this because of all of my points above and most of all “its been 24 for years, Azzurri, We are due for the win!!! Forza Italia, possiamo batterli!

I am with you Terry! i think that you are absolutely right with all of those comments you made!! 100% right.. we think excactly alike!!!

ITALIA ITALIA ITALIA

Not to be offencive or anything but 2 things in soccer that bother me more than anything:

There are many comments posted on this forum about all the things wrong with the way that refs, ref the game, and how players act and dive, ect.
.. If you dont like the way that these things are effecting soccer GO WATCH BADMINTON

if you really love the sport, than you will ignore all of the negative things that are going on, on and off the pitch, so stop being babies and even without all of the destractions, it is still called The Beautiful Game!

y r u italians so cocky? what of u dont win then wat?

If we dont win so what? we will always be italian and we will always cheer for our county. And when we are this good, we can afford to be cocky!

i can understand u being proud of your country but what about every other country? dont u have any respect for them? every country ur team has played u have always had something bad to say…aren’t you ashamed of urselves?

Sherry, as if u have never been cocky in your whole life.. im not italian but i know for sure, italians are some of the least cockiest people i know!!!

ITALIANS ARE BASTARDS!

You guys take everything SO seriously, jerks.

I hope Italy loses as soon as they can!

You cocky bastards should be ashamed. But that goes without saying.

waiting still…

@jay

yea you are right abouy the mid field combo, I hope they go this way. We will need a strong midfield to contain Germany and stop them coming from flanks.

Does anybody know how long yellow cards are carried? Basically, I want to know if Gattuso and Zambro are still carrying. I know those guys are tough and they will not let a yellow affect how they play, but I am worried that if they see yellow again, they’ll miss the final if we get there.

viva l’italia

Azzurri vs France. Hmm this remind me back to WC 98′ where Italy lost to France. This is the time where Italy can revenge.

Forza Italia

Hi I am Luca Toni. I play for Fiorentina. I am writing this blog to my fans because we will be exiting the torunament shortly. WE have come to the end of the road. WE have overachieved. The one thing we can be proud of is we are not the hated team this time around. That honour would go to Portugal. I think they stole our game tape. ANyways. its time to take a bath(its Sunday, bath day) take care fans and try not to get too emotional when the germans take us out. BYe

To say that Italy had it easy is to disrespect not only its accomplishments but also the success of its opponents. Italy’s had it easy? They were stuck in a group with the #2 and #5 ranked teams in the world in the Czech Republic and the USA respectively, and Italy emerged from the group. Italy played Australia which were unlucky not to do better against Brazil and would have defeated Croatia had it not been for a goalkeeping error. The Ukraine not only was the only team in history to advance from a group after being beaten 4-0 but it also got passed 1 of the top teams in Switzerland who not only never conceeded a goal but finished ahead of France in their group, who, as you know, defeated Brazil. Italy may not have played any traditional powers in its knock-out games but they played powerful, talented teams nonetheless. In fact, Australia probably played better against Italy than Brazil did against either Ghana or France. Italy didn’t have it easy, Italy earned it’s way to the semifinals and anyone that says otherwise are either simply irrational haters, looking for an argument, or don’t know much about football.

observer;

listen to me i am luca toni, we dont have a chance, now let me bath

well, just wait and see. Forza Italia

Well d way Ballack looked @ extra time against d argentines seems he aint fit n if fit then hav 2 support d whole of german frm one leg n with nesta returning against d germans well podolski will not b gettin any space cannavaro can take klose in close marking . frings v gattusoo will b d best n pirlo with borowski well 4 d strking toni needs 2 play d inzaghi role in march when italy defeated germany 4 – 1 @ florence n inzaghi scored twice when milan defeated munich so guess this will b 2- 0 2 d italians .

may i say, that the last friendly match score between ITALY & GERMANY was
4-1 ITALY ?
Yep friendly , yet italian showed some promising position to the finals …

U never know what will happen …
soccer what can i say ..

uhmm..i won’t be surprised if lippi does use a 4-3-1-2. I think that’s the only way we can score against the germans (and risk conceding too, i kno). We may have to take that chance tho…

i think italy ill easily beat germany .. remember they did pump them 4-1 a couple months back .. any way thats as long as teh refs dont cheat .. that being said i think rinaldo is correct nad they need a 4-3-1-2 formation with toni and inzaghi up front with totti behind them then camo pirlo and gatuso in midfield .. strongest fromation italy can put on the park

l’italia vincerà di sicuro contro la germania. ieri sono stati tutti bravissimi e quest’anno possono portare a casa la coppa
in short: italy can win and they will
FORZA ITALIA!
FORZA AZZURRI!

Argentina had:

CRESPO *shudder*
TEVES *pray*
RIQUELME *oh god!*
MESSI *fear*
SAVIOLA *cry*

how many opportunities they had against Germany? eh?

now next question: what does Italy have?

luca toni *…*

to sum up, the Argentinas had world class strikers who were not able to score on the goal against THE UGLY MEAN BRUTAL GERMAN BEAST.

dear tifosi – read my earlier blogs and learn: when it comes to facts you are lost. but Italy is catholic and you prefer to believe. okay, on Tuesday evening when you meet THE UGLY MEAN BRUTAL GERMAN BEAST in person, reality will get you…

PS shame on you anna you disgust me. its not italy’s fault they dont have many black people (or good black players) so shut it

Dear brothers and sisters, in the Pasch of his Only-begotten Son, God fully revealed himself, his victorious power over the forces of evil, the power of Trinitarian Love. May the Virgin Mary, who was closely associated with the Passion, death and Resurrection of the Son and at the foot of the cross became the Mother of all believers, help us to understand this mystery of Fifa officials that changes hearts and makes us experience fully the drama of The world cup, so that we in turn may be able to communicate it to the men and women of the third millennium.

A lot of people have been asking me who I will be praying for in this match with Italy and Germany and I have to say I will be praying for the Azzurri!
May God bless you all.

@BARBAR

Look at fifa stats, both sides had 5 shots on goal, Germany had 10 shots and argentina had 12 shots.
So who couldnt score against who? for a 120′ game that isnt a lot of shots at all.
Italy might not have a bench full of strikers but we have a team full of goal scorers, even our subs can score goals, our defense can score goals in play and even our substitute defense can score goals.

@ forza azzurri

first, please don’t make the mistake and take my contributions seriously. you must be new here, all experienced contributors to this blog know to handle my stuff. so any fact-proving in reverse is the wrong approach. I just made my facts up.

try again to give a well-done comment to my post. try again to fight your tremendous fear that you feel when thinking about Tuesday, when the Italian whiners in blue will meet THE BRUTAL MEAN UGLY GERMAN BEAST in front of 85.200 German visitors at Dortmund stadium.

Dortmund is the workers region of Germany with the most fanatic supporters in Germany, so don’t count on the referee, he will shit in his trousers immediately when seeing the cheering supportes of THE UGLY MEAN BRUTAL GERMAN BEAST and he surely will have a shorting meeting with Sepp Blatter the same day who will explain him how important it is to have the home team in the final, if FIFA will enter the Asia market in cooperation with Adidas and Puma.

Forget it – the context of the match is cheating and corruption the Italian way and on the field it will be THE MEAN UGLY GERMAN BEAST.

forza azzurrii, you shudder? Don’t worry, it’s normal for an supporter of Italian diving and whining cry-babies in blue. Wednesday will be hard for you, but Thursday your pain will go away slowly, very slowly…

HUAHUAHUAHUAHUAHUAHUAHUAHUAHUAHUA

qFORZA_AZZURRI111

Italy probably hadnt made any shot vs. great Argentina.
Maybe the italy couch should send you and caesär out to win that cup. hahaha

Hey mates, if the German players are stupid and flat like BARBAR we’ve already won!!! Back to your German blog and “Non scassarci il cazzo”!!!

Scusate ma quando ce vò, ce vò!!! Meglio non considerare più i cretini come sto qua.

I am sorry that you can’t play a 20-0-1 against Germany, crying Italians! But only 11 players are allowed – these are rules that are NOT made by Juventus and MILAN and are not controlled by Italian judges

HUAHUAHUAHUA

you have already won? Scout-Kid, let me bring some reality, maybe the italy-team (good boys)is going to win. But YOU (poor boy)are going to win a free lunch. The only you can beat is the neighbors cat. hahahahaha
keep being proud of being italy, thats everything you can be proud of ,hahahaha

raga, dite che soffriremo in centro campo? speriamo di fare un bel gioco.

if Italy gets the cup im going to get a free pizza at my favourite restaurant, not that bad!

I agree with you Pruritus, I’m proud to be Italian… If I were German I’d feel myself the shame of the world!!! Shut up and write about soccer if you know something about it.

I predict Italy-Portugal in the final.

Portugal will take France to penalty kicks again and win due to Riccardo.

Forza Azzurri!!!!! Lets demolish those germans!!

Haha you dont know what you`re talking about, me too. Whole Germany is an ashamed country forever. You dont know nothing bout that, right kid? All these: ..we can easily beat the germans blablabla we get france at the finals blabla. Be a litttle more humble. Thats better for you, jusz in that case you have to be deep frustrated after the game. Italy can win vs. every team of the remaining and every team can still beat Italy, dont forget that. Im proud to be one of the best med. students in germany thats enough for me.

Hey barbar, mate take a look at the cry-babies in blue getting dominated by the MEAN UGLY GERMAN BEAST.
Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZdw-9nNUpw

quite a wise post pruritus, Italy can win vs every remaining team and lost to any of them. As Germany. Let’s wait and see, it will be a great game.

waiting

where to watch italy win in denver on the 4th?

All,
Please talk tactics, player characteristics, … or anything football related.
Insults on a board are so pathetic. Sensible people just scroll past them and try to imagine the sad wretch that typed them. In fact, those messages really say a lot more about the prejudices of the authors than anything else; it’s pitiful.
Show more class and just continue to ignore them.
Chunder

azurri,
it is naive to brag about the victory over Ukraine. 3:0 -what’s that?
With Toni, Pirlo, Zambrotta Germany would have won 9:0 !

Hey Barbar, make up your mind. Are you the “THE BRUTAL MEAN UGLY GERMAN BEAST” or the “THE UGLY MEAN BRUTAL GERMAN BEAST”. Either way it’s gonna be an ugly and brutal day for Germany. The “beast” shall be dismantled. Forza Italia.

ME LIKE GERMAN FOOTBALL. ME THINK GERMANY WILL WIN CUP. ME HUNGRY — WILL EAT BRATWURST AND SCHNITZEL NOW!

Greetinx from Berlin

Italy are gonna win so suck my d*** to all you german mfs.

With Toni, Pirlo and Zambrotta we won 4:1 against YOU!

asshole

Italy, should be starting with a 4 – 4- 1 – 1. They cannot afford to play the 3 strikers together anymore. If you havent noticed all of their difficulties have come from the 4-3-3(re: australia and USA) when they play 4 – 4 – 1-1 They have far more depth in the midfield and are able to press up more because they have many avenues to take the ball up. Against Germany a defensive team who has the chance to serious over power italy in the midfield, the Italians cannot afford to lose the midfield, and that will happen with a lackluster Pirlo. But with Pirlo, Gattuso, Perrotta, Cam/barone, they can evenly battle Germany, setting Gattuso after Ballack. The German flanks do not concern me against zambrotta and grosso. Where Italy can fall short is on the crosses into their box, they seem to fall asleep at the wheel from time to time, they cannot afford to against Germany.

If they score first, I recommend they continue to try and score, they cannot afford to sit on a 1 goal lead, for Ze Germans are Hungry, we need to be Hungrier on tuesday.

Also, people relax on the recounting of the 4 – 1 drubbing. First off the game was in Italy, secondly both teams were not exactly as they are now.

This game is promising to be a close encounter and should be great to watch, I am sure it will not be as physical as people think, and one thing is certain, there will be no fights that break out!

does anyone know who the ref will be on Tues?

England was pathetic, but Portugal weren’t much better either. By current standards, we’ll see France in the finals- where they’ll take on- hmm, that’s hard to say. I’ll DEFINITELY be rooting for Italy, but you never know- Klose is such a total goal machine. I’d like to see how he matches up to Buffon, though. In midfield, Gattusso will be meeting Ballack, and Gattusso is emerging as one of Italy’s most potent driving forces. Up front, Luca Toni has finally broken the jinx- can he score again??
I’ll be hoping!
Italy, see you in the finals!!!!!!!

England were shit and I’m glad their out. They believe their own hype. Enough of the losers…FORZA ITALIA

Dear Catherine he will be in the pay of Blatter & co so the Azzurri will need to be extar careful & work doubly hard.

Just remember this.We outplayed the Krauts for 70 minutes & then threw the game away.

We denied them posession & kept pressing them back.Maxi took care of Lahm & the 2 Poles didnt get a kick.

Frings the ****** will not be banned sadly because of course FIFA dont want to hurt the home team so this cheat will mark Totti.

Zambrotta should do as much attacking as he can to take Lahm back into his own half.

And sit Gattuso on Ballack & Borowski.That way the Krauts cant get any service to the Poles upfront as Mascherano did.

I just hope Lippi doesnt repeat Pekermans mistakes that gifted the game.Dont sit back & invite them onto you .

I’m sure Toni will score & Gilardino wil at last get his elusive goal.

1970 & 1982 all over again please preferably 1982.

Charlie , I am in denver too but I will watch the game from home while cooking some Lasagna from scratch made the old fashioned way.

the game takes place in dortmund. 14 matches on this ground, 14 wins for germany.ciao italia. bonsoir france

ITALIA ITALIA ITALIA ITALIA ITALIA
… hmmm.. lets think about world cup 2002 where italy was playing korea.. lets think about the refs there..

they called Vieri(italian) Offside at least 10 times.. most of the times he wasnt even close to being off, these calls depriving the italy team of many goals! and where was that world cup hosted? KOREA and japan. so what does this show? how bias some refs are.

if the same happens this year, and italy loses against germany because of reffing. then all german supporters who know it was an unfair win should not be posting on blogs and forums – ITALY SUCKS, GERMANY WON FAIR AND THE REASON THEY WON IS BECAUSE THEY ARE BETTER THAN ITALY!!!

Unfair Is Unfair and dont take your win too seriously..

and whoever thinks that italy are the crying, whiney, diving babies in blue, italy is are the best playing and best looking team in the world (not greasy and discusting)thats your definiton.

Honestly, I like how Toni sprung into a goal scoring form. Reminds me of Paolo Rossi- who was involved in a scandal- couldnt score in beginning- then scored 6 goals in three games. This year- there is a scandal in italy- TOni doesnt score until now- the signs are there

About Frings- was his punch what caused that huge fight at the end of the game??

Also- if Germany play like they did agaqinst Argentina and Italy like they did against Ukraine- ITALY WILL WIN

Lastly to BARBAR who said this earlier in the blog:

… you will see THE GERMAN BEAST in reality and prepare to die in front of 85.200 German fans in Dortmund. But only two hours later Totti will cry as Terry did today … and all Tifosi will know: Life goes on in Italy, as it did 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002

(former World Cups no longer count “officially” due to new FIFA regulations)

YOU ARE THE BIGGEST WANNABE. All the cups count. They played the same game in 1930 that they do in 2002. The only difference is that now- the cup is more organized.

u italians make me sick…

italy-germany..hmmm
great game
great game
should be fair
hope is fair
do not disrespect italians
do not disrespect germans
all steriotypes gone
all bruting fans gone
no politics
no racism

all that is left is the German team, The Italian Team, the pitch, and the ball

as it was in the begining
as it should be in the end
keep the beautiful game beautiful

pao, mate, nice video, nice goal

at least I know what all the hype about YouTube is about… thanx

oh yes, let’s tactics, guys, as someone proposed

Hey Tifosi, what do you mean, what would be the best tactics for Italy against THE BEAST UGLY GERMAN BRUTAL MEAN?
Do you prefer a 4-4-1-1 or a 8-1-1 or a *shudder* 4-3-1-2?! I’m so excited, because I ask me all night long: WILL ITALY PLAY DEFENSIVE?! Nobody knows? It’s so exciting, I can only say it again. C’mon, let’s discuss it! I wonder what will be the result after we had trough until Tuesday noon

HUAHUAHUAHUAHUAHUAHUA

The issue is: will they play soccer or not? If Italy squad play as they are able to do, Germans have no chance: 3-1.

If we will begin to dance instead playing soccer then it will be a lottery.

I am very disappointed by Anna’comment. As a matter of fact we are not racist and I feel outraged by someone who labels my nation as racist.

Perhaps Anna does not know that in Italy the percentage of native blacks is very small.

In addition we give shelter also even to those passing our boundaries without documents.

Italy means hospitaly, grace, sense of humor and practical application of a particular philosophy of the life.

We have thousand years of history along with we have developed the skill to manage with all kinds of strangers.

It worths your while to pay us a visit- I am pretty sure that you will be changing your mind.

Hello Tifosi, would you please take a look at the following quote from the England Blog? I didn’t make any facts up and for sure I am not “Pete”, because he can speak English as I do not, as you recognized

quote

Pete | July 2nd, 2006 at 2:33 pm

But yes only Germany of the 4 teams in the semi final so far has not cheated.

Italy – Did you not see the best example of this in the USA vs Italy game? It was dubbed as one of the most disgusting displays ever seen in a world cup group match. But they have also dived, faked injuries, etc in several of the matches so far.

(…)

Fact is, the Germans are the only team there who have not done any of this. So I do hope fair play is the main winner in the end in this tournament and Germany lift the world cup.

Good luck Germany.” / quote

Okay, will not come back to that topic of cheating again (even if I can’t swear…)

How many dives will Italy try in the game on Tuesday? And will the ref fall for it? It worked against Australia

ive never read more ignorent shit in my life

yes Barbar i saw a lot british, american, southamerican comments about the IT team. They keep thinking they are the best divers, cheaters, played really weak at this WC, lame defenders and so on.
Italy has now the opportunity to prove theyre wrong.
The germans are respecting any opponent. I think there are very good midfield player and dangerous scorer in the IT squad.
But if they are going to play too defensive or playing like these sucking argies they probably have to go home.

German vs. France in the final. The two best teams, playing the best football.

Sorry to say it, but beating the Ukraine is not a terribly grand victory. Germany beating Argentina and France beating Spain and Brazil are grand victories.

Italy hasn’t been tested and they’ve still squeaked into the semifinals. I can’t see them getting past Germany at all. I don’t like either team, but Germany has played far better football than Italy. France will have a tougher job with Portugal now that Deco will be back from suspension.

Italy is goin through a 23 match unbeaten run…they got THE best defence in the world cup. They have quality midfilders Totti,Gattoso, Pirlo….

Germans r playin on their home ground and m sure the refrs r gonna play a huge part in the game. The way The Germans were dominated by the Argentinians it seems pretty ominous for them.
Italy has to be more positive in their approach. Hopin for a 4-3-1-2 formation

Germany is a stain upon football.

You Krauts dont know the meaning of the beautiful game. Hence nobody outside of your borders & your ex pat comuunities appreciates your style if thats what it is of football.

Sticking 10 men behind the ball & diving like Herr Diver told them to do.Great stylish football to be admired the world over.

You are some of the biggest cheats in the game.Toni Schumacher for one is the biggest .

Italy always beat you when it matters & Tuesday will be no different.

Thats of course until FIFA & the officials step in.

aurelius…i am afraid you are sadly mistaken it is italy that is a stain upon football italy is known for cheating, diving and falling and making it look like you injured yourself for a penalty shot…there is no doubt in anyones mind that italy will loose on tuesday …learn to accept it

Aurelius you are in a boring repeat- mode. I guess you copy&paste your “comments” endless.
Maybe i dont know the meaning of the beautiful game. I also dont know the meaning of your mindless drivel. Do you want me to fall asleep? Dont think you can bring me down to your level with this “Kraut”-Shit. Im not going to call any Italian a Spaghetti-Eater.

VIVA ITALIA

To the Canadian poster using the moniker “luca toni”. In English, the word “bath” is not a verb. The verb form of that noun is “bathe”. Using language correctly may lend a semblance of credibility to your otherwise mindless remarks.

Tifosi, let’s not worry about those who claim that we don’t deserve to be here. Their teams will be watching the game through television sets in their respective countries. And how many of those teams remaining in the tournament could have lost arguably the greatest center-back in the world and prevailed nonetheless?

“Germany play probably without Friz (something about), because he give a punch to an argentina player after the match! Fifa say today morning “We take very strong and very fast decisions about this fact.” There is a clear VIDEO… so NO Excuse for him. This is good for our midfield,”

———————————–
Something to add here. Its really funny that you measure with 2 different settings here. On the one hand there is a video from italian media that was brought up by the italian media where there seems to be a punch from Frings against Cruz. Cruz himself said that he didnt notice a punch from anyone. Still this will be brought up to the FIFA. I really think he should be punished if he really did something like that, but if even Cruz said he didnt notice a punch why even bring that up? It looks like a sad joke.

On the other hand you got the scandal in italy. This was put on hold now on the day where there should be an announcement on who will face consequences etc. Italy won, suddenly the whole investigation seems to be on hold. Yes, Persotto was a reason too as far as I heard but its not really clear to me why they should stop investigating even if this was a tragic thing to happen?

So you think its okay for italy to point the finger at Frings for an action which even his “victim” did not seem to notice at all so he should be punished and taken out for the game vs italy. But on the other hand you play with alot of players that would have to face exclusion from international football or even jail because the investigations were put on hold until the worldcup is over?

I DONT want to point the finger at you, I want a fair game. And this should not be decided before of after the game itself. It should be decided on the pitch…

just my 2 cents

Sorry to any english fans I offend but they deserved to go out for there displays thoughout the world cup,awful!! glad lampard made a mockery of his fifa/uefa awards, he is mediocre at best!! Back to business, ITALIA in the semi, all our dreams coming good, anyone else think lippi must now play yo our strengths and give it a go and play totti-toni-Inzaghi/Gilardino in a 4-3-1-2 or 4-3-2-1?????? Forza azzurri!!!!

olsen
Are u italian?

Well, so go to check here:

http://news.google.com/news?hs=Lw7&hl=it&client=opera&rls=en&q=frings%20cruz&btnG=Cerca&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wn

FIFA and GERMANY cheat the tournament, and CHEAT the rules of football. They saw 1 hour ago…
“Frings give a punch to Cruz, it’s true, but We (FIFA) do not use the tv evidence.”

Ahahahahah… GERMANY and FIFA Adidas included, are ALL the best cheaters in the world. Why tv evidence no?! Why not? LOL… this is the perfect evidence than FIFA and WCT is Corrupt. Congratulations, i hope Italy win anyway… LOL !

Gattuso remember than 2 years ago, tv evidence kick off TOTTI…. NO COMMENT! FIFA and GERMANY SHAME!!!

Gattuso su Frings: “La prova tv vale solo per Totti…”
02 07 2006
Rino Gattuso commenta la decisione della Fifa di graziare il tedesco Frings. “Sulla prova tv non voglio parlare: certo, due anni fa con un filmato presentato da una tv danese incastrarono Totti. Poi dicono che noi vogliamo fare i furbi, ma lasciamo stare, noi dobbiamo guardare a casa nostra e non ci possiamo permettere polemiche”.

lang,
italy does NOT deserve to be here they made it on cheating, diving and penalty shots. if anything i would love to see both italy and germany go home germany has only gotten so far because the refs are in their favour…so germany can eat their shnitzels and italy can eat their pasta…both italians and germans are to cocky for their own good…YOU BOTH NEED TO LEARN A LESSON!!!

Fifa just announced they have re-opened the case regarding FRINGS punch at CRUZ!!!! he must be banned to show FIFA mean what they say or will it be a case of let gemany get away with anything as they are the home nation??? Decision tomorrow!!!! Well done germany for staging a great WC, I enjoyed my time over there bt now its us v you and only italia matters.

“Germans r playin on their home ground and m sure the refrs r gonna play a huge part in the game. The way The Germans were dominated by the Argentinians it seems pretty ominous for them.”

Im sorry but you might have seen a different game. Where did argentina dominate germany? In shoving the ball around in their own side of the field or around the middle arc zones which are called “safe zones” for a reason? Argentina had good ball movement there and they had more of the ball in half one but they also only had one chance to score in the first half. Second half after the goal they leaned back and played for the clock and germany took the chance to put one of their chances in. Argentina also only had a few chances in that half. I call that an even match and no dominance tbh…

Take a look at the official report of that match
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/w/match/57/mr.html

Argentina had more time spent with the ball because thats is there way of playing, but again, they did not create that many opportunities with the clear advantage of time with the ball… Shots on goal, cautions, fouls etc are all pretty even, offsides too. With that in mind you might want to take a look at the match again and take notice of how much time argentina used to just shove the ball around near the middle arc. I guess you will be astonished on how much it was

I dont want to say argentina played bad or worse, they just didnt play better. Thats why it went into overtime and penalties, then they had bad luck. Thats it, tourney over for them and now its italy vs germany. For those that are disgruntled and just want to flame and blame here. Why dont you just keep quiet, you cant change the fact that italy and germany meet up for a great game on july 4th!

VIVA ITALIA!!

Funny!
These voices are talking to me anytime. They say Fifa and germany is corrupt and i deserve to get the cup formyself oooohhh ..but wait…what do you want…noo i dont want to wear this strait jacket..let me aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh

olsen Germany played prevalent with defence… only the last 10 minutes they go to attack. I see the match. Is like Italy when they play more in defence. This game is intelligent but not good. Good was Italy vs Ukraine. Anyway, Germany tactic with 80 mins of defence, was ok because argentina is dangerous if u do not have a great defence. Just the game appear boring and without emotions. Sure Germany have a good attack also, but for Italy-Germany, i think both team play with good defence, i think 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 for both. A news for you.
Was not italian TV than record Frings punch, but SKY international. (UK,ITA,and other nations) Bye

Germany v Argentina was an even game, neither team looked great and argies play to much nice football but lacked any cutting edge or ideas, germany just sat back and let them play and like any good team snuffed out the danger and scored a goal…both teams looked tired and pens seperated them. Italy must look at this and stay tight as germany may well tire and the partisan crowd wont distract italian players in the slighest!! Got to remenber this germany team are very ordinary and man for man italy are better and if they get into the germans and stifle there game italy will sneak a very very tense match!!!! Im nervous already.

Ah ok, good thing, the news I read about the situation stated that the pictures were taken to the FIFA by italian media. Are there any moving pictures of the incident uploaded on the net or just copyrighted by SKY? I dont mean the brawl itself but the part where you can actually see frings hitting someone.

Cruz himself said he didnt notice a hit, Frings said he didnt do anything and because they stood in a brawl of ppl with hands and knees flying he just used his hand to protect himself. Well, as long as I dont see any moving pictures I cannot comment other than what those two involved said.

On a sidenote : Even Gattuso said that he would not want to have Frings excluded and he doesnt believe in the media proof after the Totti incident some years ago. I add this guy to my list of noblemen tbh.

Riccardo you are right… Man for man Italy is better. Just, do not forget FIFA, GERMANY, ADIDAS and referees. With Frings decision they say already how they want good rules in this tournament. I’m happy than Italy team do not say one word about Frings and FIFA decision, because Italy have not cry babies like many others.
Anyway, this decision show many things !!! SHAME!

The beginning of the movie “The Gladiator”, it will be the same identical end Germans will do, next Tuesday… Pathetic

Marco in Canada,

I also like the way the Azzurri played with the 4-4-1-1. Hopefully Lippi hears us.

We need to score early (it will quiet the fans) and then not sit on the lead, which we have done too often in the past.

Although not brilliant, the German team is solid and have the home team advantage. We have a creative advantage from my perspective.

The German team can be beat but it will not be an easy game, for either team actually.

Forza Azzuri

I don’t care about Frings. I watched the video and yes Cruz was punched but it’s not clear whether it was Frings or not. Frings is a good player but our win depends on ourselves. And i don’t care about the refs, the whole world will be watching, the ref probably will be slightly on the german side, that’s how the things go, if we were playing in italy the ref would be slightly on our side, the crowd pushes the ref to some decisions sometimes. That’s no scandal, it’s just human.
It’ll be tough but still i am optimistic.

pao:

if we were playing in italy the ref would be slightly on our side, the crowd pushes the ref to some decisions sometimes. That’s no scandal, it’s just human.

A realistic attitude, man. May the best win on Tuesday.

Now worries, Arthur, Frings is going nowhere. He will be playing, awesome as always, this coming Tuesday against Italia.

Again, Aurelius, would you like some cheese with your whine?

Natasha | July 1st, 2006 at 10:28 pm

Listen 2 everyone out there who says ITALY sucks
STOP BEING JEALOUS OF ITALIANS. JUST COZ UR TEAM DOSNT WIN DOSENT MEAN U HAVE 2 BASH THE ITALIANS. AZZURRI IS PLAYING GREAT AND UR ALL JUST JEALOUS COZ U CANT HAVE PLAYERS LIE OURS. IF U WATCH THE MATCHES AND U KNOW WAT SOCCER IS REALLY ABOUT U JERKS WOULDNT BE TALKIN LIKE THAT.
SO STOP HATING ON US COZ U ALL KNOW U WANNA BE JUST LIKE US.
UR JUST BEING SORE LOSERS AND IN A WAY I CAN UNDERSTAND U.
WE DO HAVE THE HOTTEST AND BEST DEFENCE MEN EVER SO JUST APPRECIATE OUR GAMES U BITCHES!!!
Ciao

Posted from Canada

————————————————–

a perfect example of who is to cocky for their own good…to whoever this natasha person is: you made a number of mistakes

1-it “cuz” not “coz”

2- its “like ours” not “lie ours”

3-we use the term “football” not “soccer”

4- u do NOT have the hottest and best deffence men ever….they’re ugly they’re sweaty and they probaly smell like shit

5-no one can appreciate ur games because u do nothing but cheat, dive, and make it look like u injure urselves to get a penalty shot…which is how u win ur games off of penalty shots

6-the only jerk here is u

7-ITALY DOES SUCK!!!

Hans, you are a gentleman. Of course I want Italy to win but
if they don’t I’ll be pulling
for Deutschland. By far the most disastrous result would be
france winning this tournament.
The very thought of it makes me
absolutely nauseous.

the four main favourites were brazil, argentina, italy and angland…and now…there is only us…the azzurri…FORZA ITALIA you’re surely win…

No name no, you suck.

Duce Di Predappio no, you suck.

Pruritus, don’t worry!!! Our teams always respect each other. My win the best!

Duce Di Predappio…i have a name you know… its sara

Viva Italia !
The land without crime, mafia, bribery, diving and petta cheating will surely make it to the final. I know for sure because the great godfather Giuseppe Cosanostra has told me so.

Dismissing the insults (despite the fact they have been offensive not to mention uttely unfair…i have to admit that by the time i finished reading it all i was overwhelmed by amusement and simply shook it off with a good laugh…cheats? divers? LOL…), I’ll just go along with the more sensible posters and say may the best team win. Germany has proven its worth once again in this world cup, presenting a strong team which is certainly deserving of everyones respect. Italy too, have shown a semi-impenetrable defence and an effective counter attack strategy. It’ll be a good game, which won’t be decided by the past (but there’s no harm in me wishing for history to repeat itself ), but only by what these two teams can produce on the field on tuesday.

E comunque….

FORZA AZZURRI!

Pirlo hasn’t been as effective, because they have him playing in the back in a more defensive posture- which I don’t understand. After the second game, Pirlo rarely joined the rush, instead feeding players to move forward.

Camo did have a good game, but he was disaster prior to that- let’s hope he does the job because he is sure to start after the last game.

We need to play with two strikers, and Totti in support.

Look all you little kids. Just stop with the racist comments or go home. Yes, the Italians are all smelly mafiosi. Yes, the Germans are all racist Nazis. Just take the pointless name-calling elsewhere.

The best team will win on Tuesday. They will be hated by the other side, and more name-calling will ensue, but hopefully the rest of the blog readers won’t feel the need to join in or respond in kind.

Just grow up.

Really sara, and why do you now
choose to reveal it?

Germans Fear Italians

It’s an all-European final four and Germany’s Oliver Bierhoff and Rudi Voller admit they’re worried at the prospect of facing Italy.

“If they play the way they can, the Azzurri really are frightening,” confessed former Milan, Udinese and Ascoli star Bierhoff. He is now the assistant manager to German boss Jurgen Klinsmann and advised how to take on the Italians.

“The only way to beat them is to really attack them from the start,” he told newspaper ‘Frankfurter Allgemeine’ ahead of Tuesday’s semi-final in Dortmund.

Another ex-Serie A star, both as a player and Coach, is former Roma tactician Rudi Voller. He was called in by ‘Bild’ to explain the Italian way.

“Gianluigi Buffon is insurmountable. Luca Toni is not just the man who scored 31 goals for Fiorentina this season, but is also a powerful physical figure upfront. As for Francesco Totti, watch out for his sheer class. This player has recovered from a serious injury and is quickly recapturing his form,” noted Voller.

Even the German captain Michael Ballack, who had been linked with Inter before choosing a record-breaking contract with Chelsea, conceded his concern. “I am worried about the way Italy play and how to break them down,” he told ‘Bild’.

“And now we find Toni-goal in the semi-final,” warned ‘Bild’ in their editorial. “These are the opponents who have always made us quake! We really wanted to avoid the Azzurri, as we’ve never won against them in a World Cup. They have Toni and Totti backed by a wall.”

VIVA!!!

Jay, being the hot headed Italian that I am, I must respond in kind to insults.
I find it impossible to ignore
insults to my heritage, it’s a
genetic thing. Let me just say
that I pray to God that Italy
wins the cup. But if God in
his infinite wisdom wills it
that Italy should not win, please let it be anyone but the
french.

Duce Di Predappio: I agree with you. Let’s stop the Nazi-cosa nostra-slurs.

May the best team win. If it’s not Germany, may it not be France.

Duce Di Predappio, i figure u want to know who ur tlking to.

I appreciate everyone who makes posts about football. I really enjoy reading everybods opinions. On the other hand, I am disgusted by the racists comments. Of course I want Italy to win, but if Germany does, then may be the best win the trophy. I just wish for a fair game decided by the players not the refs. Forza Azzurri and let’s keep it about Football plz, after all it is our passion

Will all the litte Italian ladies on the web please make a solemn promise not to bitch and cry and blame everyone and everything when the Germans send their sorry greasy holes homeward. We the world are sick of you cheating bithches crying foul, when you are the biggest crooks in the business.

This is off topic but I saw Superman returns and found it horrible. It got rave reviews. It’s really not worth seeing. I was really disappointed.

ps
Forza Italia. Ciao.

i saw it too. i seriously thought watching an icecube melt would be more entertaining.

Phew Tony nearly got the nation into bother there but your timely intervention got us out of a spot of bother. I honestly dont know what came over me. On a “Superman” theme by the by I have a lovely joke: whats the opposite of Christopher Reeves?

woa, johnny, r u well?? y r u so against “ladies” for huh? wat did the “ladies” ever do to u? and how do know that i’m italian?? i might be french or german..u dont know…watch wat u say

Christopher Walken! Boom Boom!!

Sara by Italian ladies I meant men coz the’re a bit girly at times if you catch my drift. god that chris reeve gag was a bit bad I totally forgot the poor guy was dead. He was a good man and a very underrated actor

thats not funny

This is Italia 2006 in Germany. Get ready for the best game one more time!!! We are the best and everyone can clearly see.
Forza Azzurriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

player vs player italia is the better team. Its Klose being canceled out by cannavaro and a 1/2 of nesta canceling podolski. Ballack too soft for Gatusso. Lahm one of the better German players will be up against Zambrotta/ Camo no contest there. ZAmbrotta 2 good. Luca Toni will give the lest popular german center backs a run for there money and totti will run a riot on frings. sabastian swienstiger will have a good game(good player) but if the ref is fair unlike last world cup. ( south korea game was a mokry to the beautiful game) Italia sould win 2- 0 with an impregnable defense that as not conceeded from the opposition so far in the tournament. The last 4 or five cups Italy was cheated once(golden goal) and gone out on penalties to the eventual winners that speaks volumes of how good they are but some what unlucky. Portugal will be in the finals too. 1 word Scolari, the only rival to the honor of being the best choach at the moment. Jose(Chelsea) is. Lead Brazil to the title last time and portugal to the euro 04 final and was unlucky. Forza Italia

no seriously that was wrong im sorry

this is even more off topic but are there any single italians here?

I’m Dutch will that do?

yo, ireland

wat r u sayin sorry for?

Does anyone know how many players on both teams are carrying yellow cards into the match? This I feel will play a large part in the tempo and possibly the outcome of the match.

dutch…ya thats fine

Now johnny, stop playing with your little thingy. you know better than to do that when grown ups are around.

so johnny how old r you?

listen mum im 26 i can do what i want. I didn’t know you were in America at the moment- no wait thats just some gimp living some kinda paedo fantasy. Angela are you anything like nelly furtado?

Mangia, bevi e divertiti
I can see Totti scoring a #1 gol. Toni will have the time of his life. Gattuso will overpower anyone coming his way. Zambrotta will gollottaaaa:-)
ITA ITA ITALIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
We are Made in Italy

Hi Angela, italian guy here for you.

Germany vs Italy 0-2

I know its rude to ask a lady her age but how old are you Ang?

THIS IS IMPORTANT:

i have chosen to start rooting for italy!!

its about time eh?

r u really 26 johnny?
does it matter if i’m anything like nelly furtado?

antonio B, how o?ld r u

GO ITALLY!!!
I seriously hope they win this WC!! As for Germany!! i hope they get their asses kicked!! And how bout getting refs that arent complete idiots and who are actually fair n treat the rest of the teams the same way the treat the German team!!

Well in the end it is delightfull to see that we are still in this thing and are still around to incassare all these insults, the more the merrier right?

Just this week my wife told me the Brazil fans were driving around with thier flags in the streets of La Piccola Italia in Montreal after they won thier Quarter Final match and giving the Italians the middle finger.

Well I am so happy that they are out that at this point I am not so concerned that we must win at all costs.

Let the best team win and let us hope we do not see a festivale of yellow and red cards.

Forza Azzuri !

Aye im 26 Angie gota start growing up but its hard because i kinda like takin it easy. I actually know antonio b. He’s 53

NEWS FLASH: Sara’s rooting for Italy. Much joy on the streets of Rome.

GO ITALY
GERMANY SUCKS ASS

I think Italy n Portugal will be at the final.. n i’ll be happy if any of them win!! as long as germany n france lose.. i’ll be happy!!

i’m 22

53 eh? thats a little old

i actually know sara….with how big canada is

Y is everyone so happy that Brazil lost!! Brazil rocks!!! I just think that u guys are jealous of how good they actually are!

mhmm…becoming a dating blog. bye bye soccer

!!!ITALY ITALY ITALY!!!

The referees are not fair.. they are completely on germany’s side n are making it extremely obvious!

johhny u r seriously annoying

dear anna, as italians, we do not need any black players.reasons be, their not italians so why should they play in our national team? Last time I checked italian people are classified as caucasian not black. this is not to say that i’m or we are racist but the liberal left wants us to be politically correct and so to make you people happy we should buy a black player and put him in there so you can feast your eyes on them. And by the way , did you see any blacks on the german side?i didnt think so. But after all this i dont think you are a stupid liberal bitch, i think you like black people not for their finesse on the soccer pitch but for their goal post betwen their legs.

Scout(if thats you’re real name) get with the programme. Angie who are you supporting in this wonderful world cup? and what do you do? are you at college?

Sergio sorry to cut in but the germans have two black players on their team assomoah and oncondor. ah the old mythical goal post..you gotta love it..but not if you’re a guy obviously

Johhny you are really annoying!!!!

Pessotto is good. Italy mood is 101%. I think we win 2-0, and after the match the players will show a flag, with this words:
“PESSOTTO, this match is for you.”

Sara why u need single italians? Are u sure italians need you with all the beautiful girls we have?

Pessoto is good, but he’s no Superman!

Hey Angela I am 31

not 53 as stated by a joker

have you discovered the fountain of youth or something Antonio?

dear marco, italy was a colonial power, to name a few libia, somalia, eritrea, and all of the horn of africa, problem was we colonized a bunch of starvin people , so how can they produce soccer players for us to use in our own national team?

Shame the discussion here isn’t really all that mature, but still, some of the funniest (in a sad kind of way) comments I’ve read all day.

I want Germany to win this match, and believe that they can manage it providing they attack and keep on the pressure. Otherwise, I think Italy have a good chance if they score at any point thanks to their defence. If this goes to extra time or penalties however, I think Germany may take it home. This is just from my own opinion though – either team could take this one, and really there’s no 100% way to tell before the final whistle goes. Let’s hope it’s a great game.

i’m supporting italy…thats y i’m here and i’m in university

Caesar Julius, i am the one thats looking angela not sara.

Well Angela what part of Canada are you from ? West coast?(me)or East coast? or somewhere in between?

Angela, who is the cutest italian player?
Totti?
Toni?
Gilardino?
…..

Angela post a link with some your photos… We want see if you are really beautiful…

Good luck for you! And good luck for us, I hope a little bit more for us

by the way: bad style rolf…

Georg

N please barbar..if u think the germans are really so good..y they lost the war?

antonio where are u from?

Caesar Julius- u post a link, i’m not posting anything.

I am from Burnaby

province?…

around BC right?

yes in bc
Vancouver

where are you?

Portugal may be the underdog among three former champions. Yet, his coach Scolari is the only world champion with Brazil in 2002. After being second best in the Euro 2004, Portugal has a string of 17 victories in the World Cup 2006. It says something. Champions are thus born
Forza Portugal!

Anna – you are clueless and real disgrace to Americans. If you have no clue shut up and dont talk. Italy is not America, there is no affirmative action, and no one is obliged to have “colored” people on the team if they dont play well. Perhaps you want to complain there are no females on the team also?

Other than that I agree with you about arrogance of Italians. I would like to see their ass kicked, just because they have been so lucky so far with the opponents, and had no real competition and their game sucks. What gives you confidence to think you play better footbal then Germans?

footbal-fan
Until now… i dont know if Italy play better or not, sure the history say than Italy win 2 times and draw 2 times against Germany in European or World Cup Tournaments.
Germany win some friendly matches, anyway Italy win more of friendly.
The last friendly match with official players the result was Italy-Germany:: 4 – 1
The italian players have mood ok, without nervous like germans after argentina match. They have more and more supporters in the stadium, but this is not a problem for Italians players, because they play all years in Uefa or Champions League so, they are not rookie. Man by man I and many many others think than Italy is better than Germany, but Brazil lose against France, so all is possible.
Sure, if i must bet money, i bet for Italy.

posted by Antonio – - “”"italy-germany..hmmm
great game
great game
should be fair
hope is fair
do not disrespect italians
do not disrespect germans
all steriotypes gone
all bruting fans gone
no politics
no racism

all that is left is the German team, The Italian Team, the pitch, and the ball

as it was in the begining
as it should be in the end
keep the beautiful game beautiful “”"

what does everybody think about this quote – personally, it was one of the most inteligent things i heard all day

The BOOKMAKERS:

Germany: Favourite
France: Second favourite
Italy: Third favourite

http://www.oddschecker.com/betting/mode/o/card/worldcup2006-worldcup/odds/2482328x/sid/935703/mbid/18136177

Bet for Italy and become rich!

Angela.. you will fall in love with me if u see my photos.

So does anyone know how many yellow cards germany is carrying into the game? And how many for Italy?

What’s game? All tournaments from beginning or 2006 only?

“OK, Italian team, you have a simple decision:

Do you loose the game and go home, acting sad, your fans crying, the newspapers reeling, etc.?

OR

Do you win over Germany on German soil, and the German fans in the stadium kill all the Italian fans, they invade the stadium, kill you, all Italian businesses around Germany are vandalized, Italians are beaten up, there are no news on Italian newspapers because all the reporters are recovering in the hospital, etc.?

What do you think it’s gonna be?”

Oh, my goodness I was talking in my sleep… I was having a bad dream…

Didn’t Germany win the World Cup in Italy?

italy has 3 i think ..gatuso, zambrotta and maybe camo .. but im not to sure .. matrix is back but de rossi will only be back for the final .. and nest is out for the semi but should be back for the final .. i think germany have like 0 yellows (a bit suspicious ai?? haha) but Frings should get suspended for the match as he punched some argentinian after the game

Italy 2006 Discipline Statistics:

GATTUSO Gennaro:
2 yellow cards
4 matches
8 fouls make (falli fatti)
15 fouls against (falli subiti)
21 tackles make (tackle fatti)
10 tackles against (tackle subiti)

ZAMBROTTA Gianluca:
2 yellow cards
4 matches
10 fouls make (falli fatti)
5 fouls against (falli subiti)
9 tackles make (tackle fatti)
9 tackles against (tackle subiti)

CAMORANESI Mauro:
1 yellow card
3 matches
4 fouls make (falli fatti)
6 fouls against (falli subiti)
4 tackles make (tackle fatti)
12 tackles against (tackle subiti)

DE ROSSI Daniele:
1 yellow card
1 red card
2 matches
2 fouls make (falli fatti)
1 fouls against (falli subiti)
1 tackles make (fatti)
3 tackles against (subiti)

GROSSO Fabio:
1 yellow card
4 matches
5 fouls make (falli fatti)
3 fouls against (subiti)
6 tackles make (fatti)
5 tackles against (subiti)

IAQUINTA Vincenzo:
1 yellow card
3 matches
3 fouls make
1 fouls against
0 tackles make
6 tackles against

TOTTI Francesco:
1 yellow card
5 matches
2 fouls make
10 FOULS against
2 tackles make
12 TACKLES against

BARONE Simone:
0 yellow cards
2 matches
3 fouls make
2 fouls against
1 tackles make
1 tackles against

BARZAGLI Andrea:
0 yellow card
2 matches
1 fouls make
4 FOULS against
6 tackles make
2 tackles against

BUFFON Gianluigi (Goalkeeper):
0 yellow card
5 matches
0 fouls make
2 FOULS against
0 tackles make
0 tackles against

CANNAVARO Fabio:
0 yellow card
5 matches
7 fouls make
8 fouls against
18 TACKLES make
0 tackles against

DEL PIERO Alessandro:
0 yellow card
3 matches
4 fouls make
5 fouls against
1 tackles make
6 tackles against

GILARDINO Alberto:
0 yellow cards
4 matches
3 fouls make
9 FOULS against
1 tackles make
10 tackles against

MATERAZZI Marco:
0 yellow card
1 red card
2 matches
1 fouls make
2 fouls against
7 tackles make
0 tackles against

PERROTTA Simone:
0 yellow card
5 matches
3 fouls make
2 fouls against
8 tackles make
17 tackles against

PIRLO Andrea:
0 yellow card
5 matches
4 fouls make
9 FOULS against
14 tackles make
13 tackles against

TONI Luca (see fouls against):
0 yellow card
4 matches
6 fouls make
22 FOULS against
2 tackles make
15 TACKLES against

ZACCARDO Cristian:
0 yellow card
3 matches
0 fouls make
2 fouls against
5 tackles make
1 tackles against

TOTAL ITALY:
5 matches
2 red cards
9 yellow cards
70 fouls make
109 fouls against
108 tackles make
123 tackles against

——————–
——————–
——————–
——————–
——————–
********************

GERMANY 2006 Discipline Statistic:

ODONKOR David:
2 yellow cards
3 matches
2 fouls make
3 fouls against
5 tackles make
10 tackles against

BALLACK Michael:
1 yellow card
4 matches
6 fouls make
13 fouls against
8 tackles make
11 tackles against

BOROWSKI Tim:
1 yellow card
5 matches
4 fouls make
3 fouls against
8 tackles make
9 tackles against

FRIEDRICH Arne:
1 yellow card
5 matches
10 fouls make
9 fouls against
21 tackles make
14 tackles against

FRINGS Torsten:
1 yellow card
5 matches
9 fouls make
8 fouls against
21 tackles make
8 tackles against

PODOLSKI Lucas:
1 yellow card
5 matches
11 fouls make
11 fouls against
7 tackles make
17 tackles against

KLOSE Miroslav:
0 yellow card
5 matches
13 FOULS make
14 fouls against
11 tackles make
16 tackles against

LAHM Philipp:
0 yellow card
5 matches
3 fouls make
6 fouls against
18 tackles make
11 tackles against

LEHMANN Jens (goalkeeper):
0 yellow card
5 matches
0 fouls make
1 fouls against
0 tackles make
0 tackles against

MERTESACKER Per:
0 yellow card
5 matches
4 fouls make
5 fouls against
11 tackles make
1 tackles against

NEUVILLE Oliver:
0 yellow card
5 matches
2 fouls make
3 fouls against
2 tackles make
5 tackles against

SCHNEIDER Bernd:
0 yellow card
5 matches
11 FOULS make
5 fouls against
15 tackles make
13 tackles against

SCHWEINSTEIGER Bastian:
0 yellow card
5 matches
6 fouls make
11 FOULS against
19 tackles make
16 tackles against

TOTAL GERMANY:
5 matches
8 yellow cards
0 red cards
89 fouls make
100 fouls against
162 tackles make
134 tackles against

——————–
——————–
——————–

COMPARISON:

Yellow cards:
GER 8 – ITA 9

Red cards:
GER 0 – ITA 2

Fouls make:
GER 89 – ITA 70

Fouls against:
GER 100 – ITA 109

Tackles make:
GER 162 – ITA 108

Tackles against:
GER 134 – ITA 123

————-
————-

NICE COMPARISON:
Difference from Fouls make and against:
GER make89, against 100. Diff: -11
ITA make70, against 109. Diff: -39

Anyway, with a Diff. of +28 fouls, germany have 1 yellow card less than Italy, and 2 red cards less.
Germany is sure more aggressive than Italy about Discipline.

Difference from tackles make and against:
GER make162, against134. Diff: +28
ITA make108, against123. Diff: -15

Germany have a Diff. of +43 tackles from Italy.
Germany is sure more aggressive than Italy about DISCIPLINE.

SEE YOU………!!!

FORZA ITALIA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please…
thanx to me for Discipline stats!
30 mins of work!

Ops, i forget….

DISCIPLINE COMPARISON about TV EVIDENCE:

ITA:
Totti: Red card for the famous Totti’s spit in the 2004.
Espulsione per il famoso sputo di Totti nel 2004.

GER:
Frings: Nothing penalty for a punch to Cruz.
Nessuna penalità nemmeno dopo un video che lo ritrae chiaramente mentre colpisce con un pugno l’argentino Cruz.

We dont have a chance,

caesar , you should had been paid for that analytical effort!! wow!

Caesar – grazie mille, ti rispetto. I think that the keys tomorrow are as follows. Grosso will need to be able to handle Odonkor and Neuville when they are substituted in the 2nd half. They both have pace that is worrying, particularly without Nestas cover.

Also, Perrotta and Gattuso need to play more centrally (as they did against Ukraıne) in order to assıst Pirlo with Ballack. As long as Materazzi plays the way he did against Australia (before the red, of course) and Czech Republic, I think that Klose and Podolski should be taken care of. My hopes are high, but it is never easy to beat the hosts.

Now that we all had a chance to calm down and see things more clearly I just want to ask this question.

How many times did the Azzuri fans change their underpants during the 95 minutes tussle with the nobodies from Australia?

The world could have easily seen the Socceroos reaching the semi finals with a fraction of the luck that Italy had in getting past them

Come on, be honest, you (and La Repubblica) dont really care about equity in that thing about Frings.
The germans/argies only have a the real reason to examine these thing.I guess you wanna get an advantage for tomorrow. Whatever Fifa is going to decide we all have to accept it. There was a brawl Frings also got two hits and i guess if some of you guys have a brawl its the same shit.

This afternoon the decision of FIFA about Frings.
The news say than the FIFA want see others video and images from the tv, and Markus Siegler (FIFA) from Berlin, say than Frings have an ACTIVE rule against the Argentina players.
After the press conference of Gattuso, than remember why Totti was kick off with a tv evidence for a non dangerous spit, and Frings for a punch no.
This afternoon the FIFA say the result of penalty for Frings.

And without Frings… (i’m superman german! mood), i hope germany say bye bye to a VERY dangerous player:

FRINGS Torsten:
1 yellow card
5 matches
9 fouls make
8 fouls against
21 tackles make
8 tackles against

Frings saw:
We want a revenge! Specially with Italy than give to us, 4-1 previous march 2006…

Frings say:
I’m innocent! Punch? No no.. argentinos attack me, I have only defended myself! LOOOOoooOOOL !

we are screwed, the gremans have us right where they want us. Bring on Portugal in the 3rd place game.

Question for all Italian fans.

HOw does it feel that for once all of the criticism usually directed towards your team has been focused on teh Portuguese. It must be nice not to be referred to as teh cheaters for once. ALthough you are teh 2nd worst.

pruritus if u like this player is ok.. I think than Totti decision was right, because u cant to spit over another player, come on, where is the respect? Anyway is not dangerous.
About Frings i think than is right if FIFA kick off him no for one match, but for 1 year.
The next time he can use the brain before use the fists.
OHHHHHHHHHH are you crazy?! Is not possible than with a planet advertising like this, and clear TV evidence FIFA say… no no he is innocent! How many peoples follow WCT? 1 billion? 2? This time, referees take decisions in the ass with their silence thanx to the TV. And if FIFA say nothing about Frings, i think the president of FIFA must give the resignation this time.

For me like italian, i enjoy more if Frings play and Italy win!

@ Question
who say this? YOU?
Ahahahahah
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
Give me a link with professional stats about, and later i answer to u…

AHAHAHAHAHAHAH

Latest FIFA communication about Frings

http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/060702/1/8ipe.html

It’s going to be out 4 out of 4, Italy never lost to Germany in a world cup tournament.

The players are getting better and better, it’s Italy all the way!

Forza Azzurri

Italy 1 – Germany 0

Don’t ya agree ? Forza Italia

Why all the back biting against Italy. The Azzurri deserve to be there and have a better than 50/50 chance of beating Germany. To coin an English phrase; “noi non c’andiamo a casa”!.

The referee for the match ITALY-Germany:

Benito Archundia
41y old
Mexican
1 big error in this tournament in the match France-SouthKorea

The same referee of the match Italy-Czech Rep.

Another south american. We hope he will be not like Dr.Jekill and Mr.Hide, like Byron Moreno…….!

do you feel THE UGLY BRUTAL MEAN GERMAN BEAST’s breathing in your neck…?

Hey Italians.

Make sure you guys Beat the GERMANS this Tuesday.

You guys are much more entertaining to watch with all the hotties in every corner.

SAME Germans lyes:

Today the BILD;
http://www.bild.t-online.de/BTO/sport/wm2006/startseite/startbuehne.html

IMAGE:
http://www.bild.t-online.de/BTO/Startseite/buehnenteaser/2006/07/03/1-3-home-frings.gif

————–
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1)
Valentini, cheaf press office of Italian Management FIGC, say than Italy do not ask nothing about Frings.

2)
This morning, the FIFA president Blatter, will say in a press conference, than ITALY DO NOT ASK NOTHING about Frings.

http://germania2006.datasport.it/leggi.aspx?id=3847852

Germans media say too many bullshit!!!

The funny is that FIFA reopened the Frings report, because others tv ask the video to SKY, so the problem become international.
Two of this tv, are germans, others Argentinas, others internationals. ZDF is one of the germans. LOOOOoooooOOOOL !

Latest news
http://sport.orf.at/fussball/?href=http%3A%2F%2Fsport.orf.at%2Ffussball%2Fticker%2F223016.html

J Cruz says there that Frings have not beat him.

äähh Frings has not beat

I’m very confident we will thump the germans. Rememeber the 4-1? We need to remember that we need this world cup more than any other nation at the moment with all thats going on back home. I know the 4-1 was a friendly but we must go in with the confidence that we can achieve a win on the back of that result. Time now for Pippo Inzaghi?

Both teams have some history on their side. Germany has never lost in Westfallenstadion (spelling?) and Italy has never lost to Germany in a WC. Italy beated 4-1 Germany in a friendly in Florence some months ago.

However, none of these things really count on the pitch. Each game is a different story….
Hopefully, it will be Germany’s first defeat at Dormund

how many goals with Italy score on Tuesday?

a) zero
b) none
c) zilch
d) notta

Pruritus your news is not new…
Cruz saw this 2 days ago… and he saw than he do not remember who give a punch to him. Sorry if u read Germans media… but is a meltin pot of bullshit.
LOOOOOOOOOOooooooooOOOOOOOL

Sunny
Pippo is good but i think than he dont play from beginning… I think than Toni give 150% of himself for make goals, and at the end if Italy result is good, maybe Lippi can change Toni with Pippo..
From beginning i think Totti and Toni. 4-4-1-1

Sunny, i forget…
If Frings play, 4-4-1-1 is ok.
If Frings is out, there will be Neuville i think, and with him maybe is possible a 4-3-2-1 for support better the attack. Neuville is not aggressive like Frings.

FRINGS Torsten:
1 yellow card
5 matches
9 fouls make
8 fouls against
21 tackles make
8 tackles against

NEUVILLE Oliver:
0 yellow card
5 matches
2 fouls make
3 fouls against
2 tackles make
5 tackles against

Or maybe i wrong… who play for Frings is him go out?

BOROWSKI Tim? I think him play for Frings.

Or

The old SCHNEIDER Bernd?
HITZLSPERGER Thomas?
SCHWEINSTEIGER Bastian?
KEHL Sebastian?

any statistics or stories or even made-up-facts about the busdrivers activity now and in history, that coulp help ITALY?

Caesar-wannabe?

Caesar, i found that at an austrian
website. And he didnt say he could not remember who gave him a punch. He said NOBODY punched or hitted him.
You can also can read it in your „La Gazzetta dello Sport“.

Ladies and gentleman….

Who will be the German grandfather goalkeeper?

LEHMANN Jens
Born: 10/ 11 / 1969

or

KAHN Oliver
Born: 15 / 6 / 1969

???????????????????????????

The exchange for Frings is Borowski maybe Kehl. I guess Frings is going to play tomorrow.

Dont underestimate the older players. Look at Zidane

WHo is the dirtiest team in football

a) Italy
or
b) Portugal

3rd place match up all the way.

Sure, Dino Zoff was 40 y old in the 1982 when Italy win the WC.

Anyway Buffon is the best goalkeeper in the world and he was born in 1978. I prefere a goalkeeper born in 1978 than with 28 y old is the best goalkeeper in the world, than others goalkeepers over 37 y old..
Specially for the speed of the nerves..
Do u prefer over 37?

Kahn and Lehmann are a few old… whats do u think? Are ok like Buffon?

Actually I thought Lehmann was not this good as a goalkeeper but he proved me and most people wrong as he is doing an excellent job.

I cant say that much about Lehmann.
He is a very strange guy, maybe a bit too humble but it seems he`s got iron-nerves. Maybe we will see who is the better when it comes to Penalty shots. A goalie hasnt to be young. OK, 45 is old but 37 is still right.
Now, im off to play some real football togehter with my mates. Leaving the comercial wct for yourself. Caesar, you should do the same, its better than making these statistics. Before some of your italian brothers starts thinking youve got the heart of a german, Peace!

hey did kloser play when italy bet them in the friendly

The FIFA world cup Trophy is designed and created by an Italian sculptur.

He say…
“I want the World Cup to come home!”

http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/060627/1/8bw8.html

http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/it/w/photos/index.html?aid=322942&d=1

Definitely Kehl would be the one to replace Frings in the present starting formation. Kehl is as good as Frings, as he showed in the German league. Before the World Cup started, some leading commentators like Paul Breitner even preferred Kehl over Frings as key-defensive player in German midfield. Kehl is new in the team, disadvantage. He is fresh, advantage.

Hope that Frings can play. From the view of a true sportsmen, he just played so fantastic, especially when taking Riquelme totally out of the game in the Argentina match, that he really deserves to play the final against France.

Well, I admit that we Germans are happy that Nesta can’t play. So Italy has play with no defense as we did in March in the friendly against Italy (2:2). So I can’t complain if Italy likes Frings to be kept out by FIFA officials. But it wouldn’t be fair. Frustrated Argentines started to fight and Frings reacted in a reasonable way (have nothing else seen yet). We are Germans, not Canadians. By the way, that’s a reason why we were finalists in 1954, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1982, 1986, 1990 and 2002 and why we will beat Italy, and why Canada nearly has not sports history.

What do you mean with “dirtiest” ?

poo:

Firenze, stadio A. Franchi
1 Marzo 2006 – Amichevole Italia-Germania

Italia-Germania 4-1
Reti: 4′ Gilardino, 6′ Toni, 38′ De Rossi, 12′ st Del Piero, 37′ st Huth
Italia (4-3-3): Buffon; Zaccardo, Cannavaro, Nesta (35′ st Materazzi), Grosso; Camoranesi (44′ st Pasqual), Pirlo (29′ st Barone), De Rossi; Gilardino (19′ st Perrotta), Toni, Del Piero (35′ st Iaquinta). All. Lippi

Germania (4-4-2): Lehmann; Fredrich, Mertesacker (1′ st Metzelder), Huth, Lahm; Deisler, Frings (22′ st Borowski), Ballack, Schneider (22′ st Schweinsteiger); Podolski (1′ st Asamoah), Klose. All. Klinsmann

Arbitro: Iturralde Gonzalez (Spa)
Ammoniti: Frings, Del Piero

Latest news: In an open letter Roma’s Major Prodi offers to European Chancellor Merkel a loss in tomorrow’s classic game Gemany vs Italy, if the German government supports Italy’s government in its request to stay in the “German Economic Region”, known as EU, after 2008.

http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,424755,00.html

Why did FIFA not hand out red cards for some the Italian players with their nice fair play, cheated goals by diving etc? There is a number of video footage from the Italy-USA and the Italy-Australia game showing fair Italian players?!?!. The referee was standing close to the action after the penalty shootout and also Cruz says that he was not struck by Frings. If Italy is such a good team, they can win also fair and proudly with Frings in the German team. Or is Italy so weak that they need the removal of Frings!! hahaha

Pao io me ne vado in piscina… Lascio a te il posto…
Dalle 6 di stamattina tra le mie cose e questo sito, avrò scritto km di parole… ahahahah
Se vai indietro un pochino trovi le statistiche sulle azioni disciplinari di ita e ger… interessante anche perchè nessuno ne aveva mai parlato ancora.
Controlla qui ogni tanto, così vedi cosa caz dice la fifa su frings.
http://news.google.com/news?hl=it&client=opera&rls=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&tab=wn&q=frings&btnG=Cerca+nelle+notizie

Ciao ciao

Bye pruritus, have a nice day.

Barbar

Prodi is a clown in Italy… do not listen him…

He is a big expert of wurstel and mortadella http://images.google.com/images?hl=it&client=opera&rls=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=mortadella&sa=N&tab=ni
so probably he want to have an economy with germany for sell wurstel and co…

LooooooooOOOOOooooooooL

I agree with the 4-4-1-1 but I don’t know something in my heart says that Pippo should be selected at some point in the game. No one can move the way he does and he is penalty box specialist and thats what we lack sometimes when we push forward…No one to tap in.

i hope Italy will be defeated by Germany.
They were just lucky to be gone this far.

Bring Roberto Baggio and Maldini back from retirement!

Listen you new zealand mf, we won 3-0 against Ukraine, 2-0 against Ghana, 2-0 against Czechs, 1-0 against the Aussie mfs. So suck my **** to us being lucky you son of a *****

hahahaha I just love it when an italian guy go crazy. It shows how immature you people really are.

Well done.:P

I bet you wouldn’t love it if this italian guy goes crazy in front of you. Go to the New Zealand blog…Oh I guess you haven’t got one because your national team is sh**

And are you intelligent?
From NewZealand to italian blog for say what? Words without sense like peoples with many mentality problems.

Dont wait, go here soon!
http://www.ashburn.co.nz/

Caesar Julius, he’s just jealous that we are italian and good looking and that we have a team that can get to a world cup. He’s a bastardo.

Anyway they have a good website than sure can help him..
Sunny are you m or f?

thanks Ale Nesta

People from Australia and New Zeland please go to play Rugby and stay far from this blog. We have won 3 WORLD CUP and what about your teams? At Rugby you are good but at soccer you don’t have a good tradition, so if your team has been kicked off by ITALY don’t complain and cry. You are really childish and annoying!!
ITALIA ITALIA ITALIA ITALIA ITALIA ITALIA ITALIA!

@ Italy Sucks

“hahahaha I just love it when an italian guy go crazy. It shows how immature you people really are.”

Your comment above proves, quite conclusively, your subterranean level of maturity.

I hope you play well

It’s a little sad to see people ragging on a successful Italian team like this.

No one seems to mention that the ref in the Ukraine game seemed happy to let the Ukrainians trample on the Italian forwards.

Diving? What a load of crock. I’ve seen Italians diving, but everyone else is doing it too. Or is Italy held to higher standards? Is it?

I said it before the tourney and I’ll say it now; the Italian team’s taking the cup this year.

Solid solid solid.

I think the only reason people rag on them like this is (apart from being racist) that they don’t understand what the team is doing; letting the opposition come all the way up to the penalty box, and only that far, then taking back the ball and playing fast and hard direct passes at the goal.

Jesus people, how difficult is that to perceive? You’ve seen them doing it for five games now and they’re in the semi-final. That isn’t defense, that’s masterful tactics work.

Australians, sorry you guys crashed out. You had a decent team. But all this talk about outplaying the Italians just shows me you still don’t get how this game works.

I’m a m caesar, FORZA ITALIA MFS!!!

TOTO SCHILACCHI!!! ROBERTO BAGGIO!!! CHRISTIAN VIERI!!! TOTTI!!! AND NOW LUCA TONI!!! GILLADINO!!! INZAGHI!!! WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE TOP. FORZA AZZURRI!

Stop the chatter; it’s Prediction Time.

Italy 2 – Germany 0
Toni
Totti

(Del Piero to carry the water bottles to the starting 11 at half time)

I think there will be some fireworks on tuesday evening against Germany guys, there was a insulting article wrote in a german newspaper which has angered some of the Italian players as well as myself,

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/5141074.stm

I for one will certainly be glad to see the back of the mullet growing, sausage loving, David Hassleoff worshipers!!

FORZA AZZURRI!!!

Julius Caesar what bulls### are you talking even comparing the wrongs of Totti and Frings. You refer to Totti’s spit as “non dangerous” when in reality it was was sneaky, sleazy and pathetic. The Danish guy he spat at did nothing wrong, only play a good game. And if i’m not mistaken Totti actually denied spitting only for TV evidence to show him as a liar and a fool.

With Frings we have a fight (not started by the Germans). Frings gets hit, he hits back. Its not an ideal situation- but in life if a man takes a punch for no reason, then most men would give one back. On the other hand I can think of very few men who would walk up to another man and spit in his face when the referees back is turned, like that “gentleman” Totti.

Frankly Energy fly down,
i saw than decision for Totti spit was ok.

Whats bullshit U say!
Frings take a punch? No it’s wrong, but maybe u like many others follow bullshit of german media.
Cruz dont give nothing punch to Frings before. Go to check the photos or videos and post me when Cruz give a punch to Frings. I can wait here until christmas because u dont find any videos of Cruz punch to Frings.
Frings give a punch to Cruz.
Anyway, u saw… somebody give a punch to Frings… so Frings is right if he give a punch to another man?
Oh my god… so another argentinos players is right if give another punch to a german players and later? No no, this is not AN EXCUSE dear… U report only EXCUSE. Defence is not give punch to others. This is not called defence to my home.

Second your intelligent vision…
“We have a fight”…
Ok
So penalty are valid for BOTH.
Referees give penalty to two Argentina players.
So, FIFA or referee must give penalty to Germans.

Darling, this is not Las Vegas Grand Palace and Boxe tournament!

BUT HEY,

Italian Management and players DONT SAY NOTHING ABOUT FRINGS, just me and others in the forums.

AND WATCH GERMANS MEDIA, TV, PLAYERS, EVERYBODY… all germans peoples cry and become crazy about Frings!

Listen the true:

The Germans have FEAR FEAR FEAR of Italy, specially because they do not say the true about Frings. Klinsmann 2 hours ago saw:

Frings, i need many him because i need to stop Totti. I put Frings on Totti. They have a big fear of Italy, if an entire nation cry for Frings, for 1 player !!!

LoooooooooOOOOOOOoooooooooL

You are like a sheep..

BEEEEHHH BEEEEHHHH BEEEEHHHH

And we are the wolf than eat your crying team with 2 – 0 final result!

Caesar, Caesar what you failed to understand was that i was not saying that Fring’s actions were good, but football is a man’s game and fights do happen. It’s not a good thing obviously and im sure Frings wishes he kept his cool. But to compare frings and totti, even indirectly, is foolish. If Totti was english or Irish he would never be allowed to forget such cowardly actions.

Again… so u have the strong head…
What’s indirectly? Well i repeat..

1)Frings do not receive punch from Cruz
2)Frings do not receive punch from anybody
3)Frings give a punch in the face without reason to Cruz

4)In Italy 2 or 3 years ago the commission kick off for more than 1 year a player than give a punch in the face to another player.

5)After the punch, the player than receive this goes to make a shower and he goes to coma for months and months. Now he cant play to football thanx to an idiot punch.

I think you conclusions are crazy.
Stop. Basta. Finish.

If is ok for you, come here and spit on my t-shirt. And later i give a punch to your face, so you are happy and i’m happy.
If is true than a spit on the t-shirt is more than a punch in the face…peoples are total crazy.

But i think than u are the only fan than say this…

Frings is too many aggressive, in the words (we want revenge bla bla bla),
in the sport discipline (see fouls and tackles),
with violent facts (punch to the face of another player).

I hope than him play, and he take a good red card after one the our light fouls.

I think than like two argentina players take red cards, germany players must take red cards.
Yes? No? is not important..
I and thousand of peoples think than is right give penalty to both team players.
Sure this can happen and bla bla bla… just is right receive the same penalty because both teams are guilty. This is called fairplay and sport, but all entire germany probably dont know this word. Bye, watch Italy on the Grand Final

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

FRINGS OUT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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SEEEEEEEEEE YOOOOOUUUUUUUUUU

GERMANS AGGRESSIVE AND DANGEROUS!!!

THE HISTORY and CULTURE OF AGGRESSIVE GERMANS IS FINISH.

NEXT TIME YOU THINK TWO TIMES BEFORE UP THE FISTS!!!!

OOOOUUUUUUUTTTTTTTT !!!!

FRINGS GOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOME !!!!!

German Ntv television give the news, followed by Reuters Italy.

Soon the news on the official Fifa website.

FORRRRRRRRRRZA ITALIAAAAAAA!!!

Frings saw again…
Nooooo, Fifa make an error!
I’m innocent, i thought just to defence myself!

Suuuuuureee Mr.Frings, SKY record your nice arm and fist over the face of Cruz very well.

Germany delegation say:
This is not correct. (no correct?!?!) We call Cruz because him saw than he dont receive punch from Frings….

But, if tv show well the punch and the head of Cruz than come behind after the punch… i think is strange!
Or, the punch make the brain of Cruz total KO,
or, how many euro Germany offer to Cruz for say the fake, and not the truth of the video?

Mistery.

Is not a mistery than Klinsmann dont have Frings for stop Totti.

HEY Guys, sure now one time more, peoples say CHEAT and THIEVES to Italians ! LOOOOOOOOOOL

Great sportsmanship, Italy!

I realls do hope, you’ll choke on your laughter!

Anyway, Germany will beat up the Italian. They may be the best actors in the world cup, but not the best team at all. Lucky wins by diving and mean fools. Some are happy that Frings is out, but to win like this is only a sign of weakness and a loss of face in all over Asia. Poor Italy, if it acts like that.

Sorry,Julius Caesar,
Both, Adidas and Puma are enterprises from Germany. Do you know, “Schumi” – Michael Schuhmacher is a german guy, too? And please your folks, is that all you mean to know about Germany – a land full of sausage eating and beer drinking people? Look at the great classical musicians (Beethoven), inventors (Gottlieb Daimler, Carl Benz), scientists (Freud, Einstein and on and on…

You know I am not too happy that Frings is out. Now he may deserve it but I wanted to see a game where both sides with full power. Still i think the Germans are tough…but I think we will win this time. Forza Italia!

To you bambini (ahem, anyway to those of you who have at least a little bit of education):

We have heard all this pre-game bragging about beating Germany before … on the Agentinian blogs.

Can you imagine how silent it is there now?

No you go on just a little bit more. We can wait.

It is the FRENCH that are worrying us. Not your cacophonic orchestrations

Schumi… thanx to schumi, but Ferrari was great before schumi born, and schumi become great thanx to the Ferrari and thanx to Flavio Briatore and thanx to italian peoples team of Ferrari.
If u go to check in the beginning of the 3d, u can see if i saw than germans eat sausage (i dont know this word!) or drink beer. Go to check and see how many peoples come here in the Italian blog for write italy suck, italy pasta, mafia, pizza etc…
Please… Frings decision is normal, or the FIFA president can say goodbye to the president chair this time.
Sorry for the euphoria, but without Frings your midfield and defence is not like before. I laugh just for whats Klinsmann saw 1 hour before FIFA decision.
“Well, we do not have nothing penalty. Frings, u must block Totti”…. This is VERY FUNNY, VERY FUNNY..

Rolf, as we can see you are the kinder!!! If you read all your comments above maybe you understand…and if we are children you are at the same level or worse…

Actually Germany with its hybrid players has been very lucky. Sincerely we should be worried if you had players like Rudi Völler, Andreas Brehme etc.

Caesar you SIMPLETON i’m not trying to defend the actions of Frings, rather i’m pointing out that it was something that occured in the heat of the moment, unlike Totti’s actions which were PRE-MEDITATED. Therefore don’t take Frings down to the level of that scumbag Totti. I’m sorry to labour this point my friends, but SLOW LEARNERS like Caesar need alot of help.
And another thing simple Caesar, I don’t think it’s wise to insult Germans given that your country during World War Two produced tanks with two forward gears AND 14 FOR REVERSE! CHICKENS!!!

All those who criticize Italy so harshly apparently know nothing about football… they see Brazil play a stale game and they still insist on calling it “samba”, they see Italy get to the semis by scoring 9 goals (only 2 less than the amazing Germany!) and still call it “catenaccio”… nice rigurgitating of old cliches’!

If you knew anything about WC you should know that it is important to peak around the semifinals, when it really matters and that is exactly what Italy and France are doing. Germany, however, had to peak from game one to quiet the criticism that was surrounding the team and with Klinsmann risking his job. Scoring 4 goals in the opening game against Costarica means absolutely nothing today folks, it was just a moral-boosting factor back then, just like it meant nothing for Argentina to win 6-0 against Serbia and then struggle against Mexico and Germany and end up eliminated. Germany played very poorly against Argentina and they should not be too cocky. Going through by penalties after such a poor showing is nothing to brag about. But I guess the Germans know that since they need to rely on the “home advantage” factor and the shameful press lynching of Italians to feel they have a chance. By the way, if Frings punched, he must go out; those are the FIFA rules and, sorry, they do apply to the host country too.

Finally, regarding diving, cheating and hairstyles, and all that, I would point out Ballak’s numerous “enhancements” of light fouls against him with lame theatrics, Ronaldo’s numerous dives against France or Shevchenko’s shameful dive against Tunisia (penalty and qualification thank you!). Don’t throw stones if you live in the glass-house… stop bitching and look in your own backyard, fools.

Besides, you call it a dive against Australia when you see the slo-motion, frame-by-frame replay… well, life does not happen in slow motion my friends, it happens pretty damn quickly when you are running towards the goalmouth. There was definite contact so it was a definite penalty in my opinion. When Italy was robbed of three valid goals against Korea (including a golden goal!)the Italy-haters still had nasty things to say about the Azzurri. Well, today we know how strong Korea really is. If Italy was awarded a shaky penalty against the Suckeroos I say get over it and stop whining. Apparently you didn’t see the 7 clear shots at goal Italy had in the first half and the totally bogus red card given to Materazzi. So the right teams are in the right places today, Italy in the semifinals and the Aussies back down-under.

Finally, you guys could use a decent hair-style… mullets have been out since the seventies. Do everyone a favor, call Totti’s stylist!

Hi Frankly, Totti’s action was bad but in those moments there was a lot of tension with the Danish and Sweden teams because they clearly fixed their match (Denmark 2:2 Sweden) to kick out Italy from EURO 2004.
Frankly, I’ve max respect for you and your incredible Ireland (and music) but you criticize superficialally comments from italians only and don’t understand there’s a reason: Der Spiegel (German Newspaper) used racist words against Italians. What kind of civilization is that? …they’re hosting us for the WC and they spit on us. Maybe you don’t remeber but was very different in ITALIA ‘90: there was hospitality and friendship with all the Teams and people. (scuse my elementary english.)

Hey, “Frankly Stapleton”… or should I say, “Frankly Simpleton”….?

Why bother inserting war and politics into this discussion?
After all, we may have had 14 gears for reverse, but didn’t the Germans lose the war? Drop the topic… it’s OLD… about 61 years-old.

Let’s watch the game tomorrow. Set your bitterness and hatred aside for 90 minutes.

antonio, nova scotia

Wow, such a load of crap in such a small thread — on both sides. (please be aware that the following remarks contain a liitle ammount of irony)

I really enjoy the wwII references, because germany and italy were allies back. they’re also refreshing and original, cause as a german i never heard anything like
this before, where are you guys getting all this ideas from????

I have no problem with the sausage and beer references (as funny as the wwII crap), we love them cause its the best sausage and the best beer in the world, tourists enjoy them, too,you know, were fucking proud of ou beer and our sausages. italians have pasta and red wine, frenchs have baguette and red wine, americans have hamburgers and coke, birits have….ok forget that……btw, italian sausage is great too,its usually smaller and smells a little strange, but still very nice.
Germany has the best bread in the world, too, shouldn’t there also be some nice bread-sterotypes.

Oh, before i forget, no one in germany worships david hasselhof. he had one #1 hit here in 89, the song was called “looking for freedom” and it was the year the wall came down, so it was just bad timing. personally, i loved “knight rider”, but i was 11 yrs old, i didn’t know better.

i like italia and the italian people, even if italian tourists behave like german and english tourists, and thats no compliment. so i have to say

Caesar Julius, your a disgrace to your country, your comments are lame as a 50 year old Vespa, as poor as the south of your country and you stink like napoli in summer

Those of you saying Cruz didn’t punch Frings are correct. He slapped him. I’ve seen the replay several times. Frings should have known better than to retaliate, of course, since the retaliation is usually what gets caught. However, it’s a lie to say that Frings just punched Cruz without cause. FYI.

Im really starting to be pissed off about all this situation. German media are getting more and more provocative towards the italian people and the national team.

They started one week ago insulting all the italians, using words that cannot be repeated and really offensive. After that, instead of going after Frings and insulting him for his stupidness, they point to the italian side again, offending the italian team and media. And what did the italian media ? Just took some images from the FIFA broadcasting system, and they pointed out the Fring’s “caress”. So what ? All the “dirt” was already covered up before by FIFA and German Football Association, hoping that the images wouldn’t come up. Because this is what happened, and if you dont believe it, you are really naive.

Italian media, so far, did not write an article, nothing of nothing, towards the german people or the players. Even about this thing of Frings, they just reported what happened, without even being harsh or nasty. German press made pass Frings like the most important player of the team, while in Italy we do not even know who the hell is this guy.

One of the most thing that Im really proud of is that not the players not the press is showing off about Italy. Never like this time we are keeping a very low profile, but with huge will of winning this world cup.

I can understand that in this blog we counterattack to each other, but from official sources of informations, there was never an offence to germans.

Frankly Stapleton:

1. Most Italians will not defend Totti’s action nor the expulsion

2. Both Totti and Frings acted badly and deserved what they got

3. Totti’s spit was disrespectful; Frings’ was dangerous. Nonetheless, both were wrong and Frings is not to be more tolerated because his was a more “masculine” response.

4. How do you know that the Danish guy Totti spat at did nothing wrong? You seem to give Frings the benefit of the doubt that his was retaliation to some provocation (as do I) but I find it highly unlikely that Totti, or anyone, would spit at someone unprovoked either.

So let’s call it like it is .. both were disrespectful and showed poor sportsmanship … and got their just desserts

Who cares about what the press writes, all part of the media-midgame, mostly the tabloids, they’re just trying to sell their stuff. i remember some nice headlines from british newspapers:

“lets blitz fritz”
“this is your wurst nightmare”
“we’re declaring football war on germany”

they also like to call us “the huns”

and they called schweinsteiger “Mister Toilet Brush” cause of his haircut, which is funny considering david beckhams pervious haircuts

so stop bitching about it, its part of the game

The fools yapping about racism are delusional. Remember, the German media went nuts because Klinsmann married an American and put a black guy on Germany’s team?????? Try being a white male dating a Japanese girl in the USA. The whites said nothing. It was her father and our black freinds who gave us flak! You should also know that during WW2 the Japanese killed 17 million Chinese and 70% of Korea’s pop. The Germans were not the only barbarians! I hope Italy wins the Cup. But, if Germany wins. I will root for Portugal or France. You have to love Zidane.

they did’nt went nuts because he married an american, they went nuts because he won’t move back from California to germany, after becoming head coach.

when asamoah was “called to arms”, the mainstream media was cool about it, they even supported it, cause it worked well in france and holland. i remember a guy from outh-africa who was given the german citizenship, just that he could play for us…..he started to suck and he never played for germany.

and add a german let me add: no more wwii references, not because i can’t handle them, i heard them all, believe me, just beacause its so mindless and stupid and boring.

We know what happened, we learned our lesson the, hard way, were handled our past pretty well,so far, problem is, the rest of the world (especially the anglo-saxian regions,as it seems) doesn’t.

so if someone here uses the phrase “deutschland über alles” or the “h”-word or any weird nazi-references, you can be sure that he or she is not a german.

if you have to use stereotypes, if it includes bratwurst, schnitzel and/or beer, its ok

Italy have the best players.

Germany has hardly two classy players.

Italy has been playing exciting football

Germany has not been playing exciting football.

And Planet Earth is a disk.

Hey, Irish! The fighting Irish are a joke! You are the only people in history to have 80% of your folks abandon your own country to YOUR ENGLISH CONQUERORS!!!!! Then hypocritically emigrate almost exclusively to English speaking countries using their educational system to better your lives. Try reading Irishman-Donald Dudley QUOTE-”WITHOUT THE ROMANS WESTERN CIVILIZATION WOULD NOT EXIST!!!” During the potato famine {it killed more people in E. Europe}Rome took in thousands of starving Irish. Your nasty remarks prove our grandfathers from CINCINNATUS to our own day right. NEVER TRUST A CELT!!! You craven apes are in Ireland because Caeser’s legions KICKED YOUR ASSES OFF THE EUROPEAN CONTINENT!!!!!! Most of your blonds and all of your redheads come from the VIKINGS! AS German scholar Theodor Mommsen joked. WHAT IS THE TINIEST PAMPHLET EVER WRITTEN? Irish contributions to anything! The overated Patrick was ROMAN! He was no Saint Benedict! Ireland failed again to qualify for the W.Cup. You do not have a leg to stand on. Lastly, You know why Jesus was not born in EIRE? He could’nt find 3 wise men and a virgin!!!!!!!!!!

hmmm, still kilkenny is much better than anything brewed in the us. ireland has tullamore dew – usa has jim beam…what my point is? ther is none, i just wanted ro make som weird references, but i asked myself whats the us-american contribution to the heritage of the western civilization, some classic movies, maybe some music….thats it.

For Arthur. I was not using any anti-german stereotypes. I purposely mentioned the atrocities of others to take the heat off of the young Germans who are always being dumped on. That is why I let the Italian hating mic have it! At 40, I was not born, and my family came to the USA to get away from Mussolini. Italians should be praised rather than mocked. Specifically because, they refused to fight for a fascist NUT! I lived in Germany as a child. My family has only good memories of that beautiful country. I am just fed up with the ITALOPHOBIC MORONS! The Germans I know were upset over black players and were mad about Klinnsmann. Granted, they are elderly folks. What was he supposed to do, leave his wife and kids back in the USA? German exchange students are still crying over Beckinbauer being tripped outside the penalty box by Cera in the 70 semifinal. Yet, they refused to admit that SCHUMACHER was a callous SOB for what he did to Battiston in the 82 semifinal????? But, political correctness does not seem to apply to Italians? If the USA or Italy won 3 cups in a row. People would still be throwing stones at us. Is that fair????

so how is this related to irish or the worldcup. 1970? its the game of the century, a hell of a match and both sides deserved to win, thats what most people i know remember. of course theire are racists in germany who don’t want black players in a german team, but its a small minority. nobody cared about klinsmanns wife at all, it’s all about where he choosed to live, after he became head coach.

Helge makes an honest point. Claus and Rolf are twits!

Arthur, what did your previous statement about beer have to do with this cup? All non soccer things aside the best 4 teams have made it this far. Any of them can win. You did not answer the? What was Jurgen to do? If the USA has not contributed anything in your view, why are you here? Millions legally and illegally try to come here every year. We must have something to offer? Most of the exchange students I taught over the years wanted to stay here. Especially, those from the Middle east and Asia. Have you heard of Microsoft and Intel? Those companies did not start in Europe. Is Bill Gates a European? If you agree to keep it on soccer, so will I.

Scout,
Just two things: Euro 2004 Denmark and Sweden did NOT conspire to cheat Italy out of the tournament. A draw would send Italy out of the Tournament and it was 2.1 to Denmark in the 90th minute. Sweden equalized with a brilliant goal that the keeper had absolutely no chance of saving. And anyway why would Denmark have let Sweden equalize when it would mean that Sweden would then win the group and the Danes would have to face a much harder tie against the Czechs in the quarter final? (they went on to lose 0.3)

And secondly when I think of Italia 90 I think of Italy getting the easiest possible group draw (they actually came close to finishing second- allivieted by the fact that the referee disallowed a perfectly good Czech goal with Italy only 1.0 up). The second round saw them scheduled to play one of the third-placed teams as luck would have it- Uruguay. In the Quarters they played Ireland- as luck would have it a certain Portugese referee was chosen for the match with whom Ireland had severe difficulties with in the past (interesting choice of referee).I doubt I will ever see such a one sided display again in my life. He even insisted on the Irish players having their shirts tucked in at all times- not a big thing at all but this certainly didn’t apply to Baresi&co. Famously Italy saw Naples in the semi and did not progress, and subsequently blamed Maradonna for just about everything.

What annoys me so much is that Italian fans bleat more than a pack of sheep- Korea 2002 et al, when some of the stuff that happened in their own tournament beggers belief.

“Arthur, what did your previous statement about beer have to do with this cup”

well i just wanted to make some point- and senseless remarks (many people here seem to enjoy that), in this case why the irish aure superior to the us of a. JUST KIDDING, no one is superior to anybody.

“If the USA has not contributed anything in your view, why are you here?”

well, if by saying “here” u mean the us…..im not there im here^^.

“We must have something to offer”

jup, money,jobs and whats left of the amercian dream aka hope

“Have you heard of Microsoft and Intel?”

yup, creating many new jobs…in india. c’mon thats your answer to “whats the us countribution to the western civilisation? Pentium CPUs and Windows? thats really sad.

hey stapleton what are you blabbing about Italy- Ireland in 1990? I just remember it was a fair game and I remember i partied with some irish fans after the game. Quite nice people i must admit.
About all the nonsense i read in this thread (from both sides and even from third side) it’s not worth any comment.

Pao what im saying is when you bitch like hoes about the Koreans (and very soon the Germans)having an unfair advantage just remember that you Italians are in a league of your own when it comes to sneaky stuff. I’m just glad to be able to educate you.

Steven, I must say you’ve been a little uncharitable with Ireland-I guess great 19th and 20th century and ancient literature is’nt your thing. I guess traitional music and folklore and the fastest and most skillful game on the face of the earth, hurling, are passe for such a sophisticate as yourself.

What I do find amusing however is how you delve two thousand years into the ancient Roman world in order to demonstrate you (misplaced) feelings of superiority. One would almost think you were distantly related to Caesar, Catullus and the gang!

Appearance and reality are two very different things, and my money is on you and your family’s origins being a little less grandious than that of the Caesars. I suppose in your next post you’ll be telling us that Da Vinci was buddies whith your great grandfather!
They say as well that we Irish have the gift of the gab.
Now Stefano I hope we can go forward from this, and that you will show a bit more humility for that of which you are completely ignorant of.

You came from humble origins- don’t deny them by attaching yourself to something you had nothing to do with.

hey stapleton mate, i know you came here to provoke i am not going that low. I just have beautiful memories of my trips to ireland and its amazing people. So, you can push with your nonsense on whatever you want. Peace, bro.

Pao, i’m being hard but fair if I annoyed you i’m sorry. I presume you didn’t see Steven’s aforementioned post.

no stap, actually i am wondering why the hell i keep logging in this blog. I have been reading such an amount of crap and nationalistic stuff, and clichè from all over the world towards the rest of the world that’s quite descouraging. It’s just i love football, but i see a few football chat lately.

I think it’d be funny if the twp princes would play for england!

Hey Angela too bad you are on the other coast. But would you wanna chat sometime?

morons, all of you racist idiots, go ahead, start ww3 over a missed penalty kick. see where it gets you all.

only this time dont look to the new superpowers like india and china to pay for your idiocy. they have favorites, but no dogs in your fight.

enjoy the games. only 4/5 are left and stop bickering. the best teams are through.

forca/forza/allez/blitz whoever is strong enough to win it.

Hi guys,
we`ll see a big classical game tonight. Uhh, there will be heated atmosphere. The germans lost not any of 14 international matches at the Dortmund-Stadion and they havent won any big match vs. italy.
Tonight i hope they can win.
(im afraid that it is going to penality shots). I wish i had a ticket.
I got only Tickets for Tunisia vs. Ukraine. arghhhhh.. bad luck.
Cheers

I hope both teams play really well tomorrow!
Go italia! Go germany!

hmmm. That guy sunny has to go somewhere. He is the only immature kid around.

Anna, from USA, you will be forgiven because, hey, we all know the state of America general level of culture….Italians do not have Black players simply because we didn’t go colonizing the Africans country like the rest of Europe…So, not racism but history behind it….

Betty you don’t have a clue what you are talking about. Italy did colonize extensively in Africa and was more brutal than the English and French combined. They used mustard gas and tanks against the Ethiopians who were on horseback for Christ sake! This, the Italian invasion of Abyssenia led ultimately to the end of the League of Nations as a credible body and this in turn made the path to WW2 all the more clear.
Betty if I were you I’d also look into the histories of Somalia and Libya.

I know this is a football post guys but when you come across wanton ignorance like Betty’s it has to be set right.

yap, moussolini sucked bad as a (military) leader,after ethopia his forces were so weakened, germans had to send rommel in….we’ll didn’t work that well either but he knew how to fight a battle

Go Italia!!!!!
I’m rooting for you guys

what happend to the johnny guy from ireland?

mmmmm, i dunno antonio…

good job Italy!!!
Congratulation
GOOOOOOOOO Italia

Hey Angel Johnny 5 in da house! How r u gettin on? Hope u saw the match today an absolute classico!

ok…that “hey angel” johnny guy is a retard wat happend to the other johnny guy?

Hey angela I am here again, for now

ITALIA WINS!!!!!!!!!!
FORZA ITALIA!!!!!!!!!
ITALIA WINS!!!!!!!!!!
FORZA ITALIA!!!!!!!!!
ITALIA WINS!!!!!!!!!!
FORZA ITALIA!!!!!!!!!
ITALIA WINS!!!!!!!!!!
FORZA ITALIA!!!!!!!!!
ITALIA WINS!!!!!!!!!!
FORZA ITALIA!!!!!!!!!
ITALIA WINS!!!!!!!!!!
FORZA ITALIA!!!!!!!!!
ITALIA WINS!!!!!!!!!!
FORZA ITALIA!!!!!!!!!
ITALIA WINS!!!!!!!!!!
FORZA ITALIA!!!!!!!!!
ITALIA WINS!!!!!!!!!!
FORZA ITALIA!!!!!!!!!
ITALIA WINS!!!!!!!!!!
FORZA ITALIA!!!!!!!!!
ITALIA WINS!!!!!!!!!!
FORZA ITALIA!!!!!!!!!
ITALIA WINS!!!!!!!!!!
FORZA ITALIA!!!!!!!!!
ITALIA WINS!!!!!!!!!!
FORZA ITALIA!!!!!!!!!
ITALIA WINS!!!!!!!!!!
FORZA ITALIA!!!!!!!!!

antonio, i can see ur happy

yes very happy
so Angela what are you doing?
Are you celebrating?

yes…well i was celebrating i was at a bar and the place went crazy…and now that the party is over i’m at home leaving comments

thanks for answering sara…we were at the bar together

Italy I love!
Italy will win the cup!!!

AN ITALIAN MASTERPIECE!!!
FORZA ITALIA!!!

so Angela do you wanna chat on msn or yahoo?

which is better for you?

Signore e Signori…

I know, that you know, that we know, that everyone knows…that very soon…Italy is going to be the 2006 WORLD CUP CHAMPIOOOOON (*)(*)(*)(*)
I am trying to take aspiring to try to control the (H)fever, but it doesn,t wanna go down…The doctor told me I got Azzurri fever and the only thing capable of refreshing it…it’s the ({)world cup(}) itself.
(8)FORZA ITALIA (L) FORZA AZZURRI(8)

Well my team is out ENGLAND portugal surprisingly took them out but didnt deserve to win in penalty kicks because any victory that you take in penalty kicks is a crappy win. I hate italy and France is gonna kick their arrogant ass on sunday!

go FRANCE

Hey Angela either one is good just add me to yours my id is ynot_09 you can try and reach me there.

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