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People who think going to ground when being fouled is somehow cheating.

Italy still go out if Croatia score, yeah?

Was that Cesc or Xavi with the lob? Amazing goal.

See, this is the reason for tika-taka. Spain can not actual defend competently in the traditional way.

This head to head is such rubbish. I will keep saying it until someone of relevance hears me. They use it in the AFCON and our qualifying as well. Is there a real concrete reason that Croatia isn't going through? Their draws were less impressive than than Italy and Spain's? Draw is draw.

The 2008 side was pretty class, an attacking side that absolutely dominated everyone. Then Del Bosque comes in and Spain grind their way (with some luck) to shitty 1-0 wins in the World Cup. They were fortunate to even get past the group stage, they should have conceded more goals in the knockout stages (and would have been f***ed because of it), but fortune favoured Del Bosque and now we have Spain a goal away from getting knocked out again. Don't want to hear any nonsense about luck, frankly. The closest thing they've had to luck is beating Italy on penalties in 2008. If you believe conceding two goals in a seven game tournament where you had to face the likes of Portugal, a rampant Germany, and Holland, then I don't know what to say for you. It might be luck over the course of one game, but after this you just have to credit them. This group is also much more difficult than the ones they defeated in 2008 and 2010.

Spain are the most dominant national side in recent memory. Regardless of any discussion about aesthetics or even effectiveness, they are not going to change even a little bit until they stop winning every single thing available to them.

Head to head is a rubbish way of deciding things, in both leagues and groups. One measure takes all the matches into account, while the other does not. If we are measuring which team has performed at a higher level over the course of the tournament or league, (which is the point, imo) goal difference is the way.

This is the third tournament in a row that France have been horrible to watch. People complain of Spain, but this is actual purposeless passing. All of the players on the pitch are creative and exciting for their clubs. Something isn't working with either chemistry or at the levels above the players.

Ninety-nine percent of this forum spent the weeks before this tournament orally pleasuring them.

The Ben Arfa bias on this place is absurd at times. He has similar flaws to almost all the players you criticise on the French team.

Balo's physical age is 27 and his mental age is somewhere between 4 and 5. If he cannot mature until at least adolescence, he will not ever become the player that he is capable of.

Aye. I understand the arguments about Spain playing "beautiful football" and all that but it's boring as f*** for the majority. What exactly do you want them to do? Play with a purpose, have a shot, be less boring. They are winning. If the other team wants the ball it should take it. Why give it to them for free with silly, wasteful shots and hollywood pass.

Is it that bad? There are so many mini-movies on here. I'll remove it, if people are experiencing performance issues. Ireland are surprisingly bad at sitting back and defending in numbers. They are constantly carved apart.

Be another 7 or 8 teams padding it out at the next one It is a limited side who were fairly competitive in their last match and are now going to be eviscerated by the World and European champions. It is something that will happen at every tournament. I do actually agree with the 24 team format being poor, but this is not indicative of that.

Ireland has an unbelievably boring group of players. I don't mind rubbish teams, but there is nothing interesting about them. Zo's face in that, man. It is the same face he made on Tuesday when the camera found him.

I saw parts of the first half, and Italy were dominant. Stunned they've managed not to win. The reports are saying they conceded possession and sat back in the second half, though. Something that is suicidal in a match where you have firm control.

You think that was a great match? I found most of it quite tedious, tbh.

Aye, they've got a surprisingly good chance of making it if they can get the job done. Just like Nigeria in the last World Cup. They have most likely been given a reprieve. Of course there is a reason they find themselves in this position and will probably bottle it, as we did.

All his chances were fairly difficult. The problem is that they have six primarily defensive players on the pitch, and the Germans are still cutting them open like a razor through skin.

I'm quite sure they usually produce the anthem with real instruments. I suppose Mauritania could be the only country advanced enough to have a digital anthem, but this seems unlikely. I cannot imagine any man asking that question to another. It is something worthy of a vicious slap in most countries.

I like any anthem that is not just the same European orchestral tracks everyone uses. Nigeria's for example, is essentially stock music. Nothing unique.

It is from a song by T.O.K. from the early '00s. I've never used the term in real life, so I thought this was an ideal opportunity. I apologise if it is disliked. Anyway, my point is that Cassano's response is not bad at all. My issue is with the person who thinks it is prudent to "expose" the privacy of another man's sexual life and then have the audacity to criticise Cassano's response as if this is the issue at hand.

The Russian anthem makes all the others seem s**** in comparison. Italy and Mauritania are better. The last thing chichi footballers need is for people to be exposing the fact they exist. If they are comfortable showing everyone their true selves, than let this happen. If not, then let this happen. A country like Italy should be at a point where it is not an issue.

Derek Rae is the best commentator you will ever see. Listening to him is an edifying experience.