ponsaelius

Orange card it feels like to me. Harsh I reckon.

Very harsh that FFS.

Lovely little flick from Pessina. The all Turin front 3 doesn't look anywhere near as fluid as the first choice but Chiesa devastating on his own.

Brilliant. Fuck that smug keeper.

Feels like the 2005 play off final again. Players pretty much out on their feet.

Fucking hell Hartlepool Torquay's Brazilian goalie gets a 95th minute equaliser.

8 changes for Italy.

Armstrong got player of the year ahead of Toney. While I get the reservations, particularly based on his physical stature, I think it's unfair to write him off before he's has a chance in the PL.

Pathetic. Never a pen.

On further reading apparently he and Svanberg have had Covid and arrived late. That makes more sense.

Kulusevski has been hit and miss for Juve this season but I can't believe he's not starting for this Sweden team. Surely there is no need for Marcus Berg in 2021. Play Kulusevski with Isak and they'll immediately be more interesting to watch.

https://amp.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/19/brio-of-berardi-and-locatelli-at-the-heart-of-revitalised-young-italy?__twitter_impression=true Good article here elaborating on some of what I was saying above.

Perhaps. But this team would really benefit from Maguire taking the ball up the pitch out of defence.

The midfield is a big problem, tbh. Rice and Phillips is so limited and conservative. Mount had moments but wasn't doing his job of being the link between the lines. So often just wandering around. Needs changing up but not sure there's a clear solution.

I know everybody seems determined that Grealish is the answer but I'm not convinced. Especially if he's going to come and play like he's at Villa, holding the ball endlessly, and winning free kicks. Our problem is lack of a passing rhythm and tempo and that got even worse after the two subs.

I wonder if Southgate just thought Tripper playing under Simeone all season was a good defensive bet against Croatia?

Got some great midfield quality Ukraine.

The mad thing is Immobile, Insigne and Verratti all came through playing in the same Pescara side in 2011-12, then starred in the same Italy U-21 side that lost to Spain in 2013. Berardi was also scoring 16 and 15 league goals a season between 2013 and 2015 as 19/20 year old. Yet it has taken until they're 31, 30, 28 and 26 respectively to become key starting players going into a major tournament. Admittedly with Verratti there is mitigating circumstances with injuries. But this is a big failing with Italian football in not transitioning to younger players and sticking with them, both at club level and international level. You have to be pretty much a generational talent like Donnarumma to see the pitch at a young age. It's still happening now. While I understand Mancini wanting to rely on Bonucci and Chiellini's experience - Alessandro Bastoni was the best Italian defender in the league last year by a mile but hasn't seen the pitch for a minute yet. Even when they went to a back 3 last night 30 year old Brazilian Toloi was preferred instead.

I think anybody who has watched Serie A over the last 4-5 years wouldn't be so surprised. This shift has been happening for a long time - and I made the point recently. The decline in overall quality in the league, fewer benefactor owners, and the reduction of financial stakes at play - has actually in my opinion improved the style of football being played across the board. New managers are tending to be much more progressive and free-spirited. It's reflected that Serie A has more goals per games than any other major league last season - higher even than the Bundesliga. This current national side is benefitting from it in terms of both formation and style of play: Insigne and Jorginho are basically playing their exact roles they played in Sarri's Napoli. A side that got 92 points playing fantastic possession football. De Zerbi was obviously inspired a lot by Sarri's Napoli - and Sassuolo have played much to the same template. This has benefited with Locatelli and Berardi fitting into the same system. Atalanta under Gasperini play a different style of football, are more transitional and rely on the wing-backs. But are still very cavalier in style. Spinazzola came through their academy and made his name playing in that team - and although nominally playing in a back four the system allows him to get forward almost at will. Lazio under Inzaghi have generally played entertaining, technical counter attacking football. Immobile has massively thrived as a player in this system and it (along with a lot of penalties) helped him to the Golden Shoe. While he will always miss chances, and is a level down form being a top class player, his movement and energy is a massive asset. Mancini needs full credit for picking the best players available, building the side around the player's strengths and in a system they're used to playing in. Lest not forget that when Italy didn't qualify for the World Cup - Ventura had the likes of Jorginho and Insigne (starring for Napoli at that time) but was choosing to not play them.

Balkan aggro hits different

Interesting to see Italy go to a back 3 later on in the game. Because they really, really didn't need to. Trialing it for later in the tournament I guess.

Verratti isn't getting back in the team

Gol di Sassuolo!

Looking forward to this one. Think Switzerland will be a more formidable challenge than Turkey were.