Okay... Missed two days because of chores...
Officially unemployed... with a very hurt ego at the moment (mother complex) but will write all about it in another blog!!!
So... two more groups to analyze before tonight’s kick-off!!!
This group would be the second best after Group B if Italy could make a good game worth watching... Meh... after the 2000’s the Italian prestige has dropped considerably... But this year they seem to have turned the tables...
Vediamo che cosa puo fare la squadra Azzura!!! ^^
Group C -> Spain, Italy, Croatia and Ireland
Spain -> is the second team with most wins in the tournament having won the trophy twice in 1964 and 2008. Also she is the defending champion in this year’s Euro cup. Not much to show for in the past tournaments except a second place in 1984; but none the less a strong team with uniquely talented players. The Spanish football academy has produced some heavy names in the industry throughout the years, noticeably Estanislao Basora, Alfedo Di Stefano (saeta rubia), Emilio Butragueño, Andoni Zubizarreta, Abelardo, Miguel Ángel Nadal, Míchel Salgado, Agustín Aranzábal, Iván Helguera, Raúl, Gaizka Mendieta, Juan Carlos Valerón, Joan Capdevila, Carlos Marchena, Carles Puyol, Fernando Morientes, Raúl Bravo, Joaquín, Xavi etc. These past four years the Spanish team has excelled with a 35 undefeated match score from 2007 to 2009; also winning the FIFA world cup in 2010. Coach Clemente has done more than a good job harnessing all the individual talents he possesses. This year’s team flew right through the qualifying rounds undefeated with 8 wins, 0 draws and 0 losses. The gang of Iker Casillas with Raúl Albiol, Sergio Ramos, Álvaro Arbeloa, Andrés Iniesta, Xavi Hernández, Cesc Fàbregas, Xabi Alonso, David Silva and Fernando Torres are aiming to defend their champions position wining this year’s trophy too. On the UEFA European Football Championship listing Spain has 135 points with 85 wins, 25 draws and 25 losses.
Italy -> Finalmente e junto il momento da scrivere per I “Azzurri”. Four times world champions (second place in 1970 and 1994, third place in 1990 and a fourth place on 1978), this team has a HUGE history in the football industry. She has won the European cup once in 1968; also a second place in 2000 and two fourth places in 1980 and 1988. Although after the 2004 humiliation in Portugal the team has suffered from bad coaching and disputes within the team Italy is making a comeback this year with no losses in the qualifying rounds (8wins, 2 draws and 0 losses). Italy not only has produced some of this planets greatest players but is also known for her unique style of play, which is a match for the English strong style of play (catenaccio, although it is a tactical defensive play opposed to the strong offensive English play). Italy has one of the oldest teams in age average of the tournament, but that has only to do with the fact that highly experienced players have been called out for representing the team. Throughout Italy’s history in the football industry she has produced players with such high value and worth as no other team; only to list a few we have Raimundo "Mumo" Orsi, Angelo Schiavio, Giacomo Bulgarelli, Giovanni "Gianni" Rivera, Giacinto Facchetti, Luigi Riva, Roberto Boninsegna, Marco Tardelli, Antonio Cabrini, Paolo Rossi, Dino Zoff, Paolo Maldini, Carlo Ancelotti, Luigi De Agostini, Roberto Donadoni, Francesco Toldo, Alessandro Costacurta, Alessandro Nesta, Moreno Torricelli, Dino Baggio, Alessandro Del Piero, Roberto Di Matteo, Enrico Chiesa, Gianfranco Zola, Fabio Cannavaro, Filippo “Pipo” Inzaghi, Gianluca Pessotto, Luigi Di Biagio, Massimo Ambrosini, Gianluca Zambrotta, Francesco Totti, Mauro Camoranesi, Andrea Pirlo, Marco Materazzi etc. The current roster is has many talented young players and the veteran Gianluigi Buffon as the captain, promising to give us a good time watching – hopefully – such good Italian football. On the UEFA European Football Championship listing Italy has 125 points with 67 wins, 40 draws and 18 losses.
Croatia -> A young team in the tournament; with not much to offer yet other than two quarter-final qualifications. Unfortunately until Croatia’s Independence in the 90’s there was national team; all were represented by the SFR Yugoslavia. Before the 1940’s thought there was a national recognized Croatian team by FIFA. She passed through the qualifying rounds with 7 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses. I must say that I am not too familiar with most of Croatia’s players because I do not follow their league but there are a few from the current roster that play in big European clubs such as Vedran Ćorluka, Danijel Pranjić, Ivan Rakitić, Ognjen Vukojević, Luka Modrić, Darijo Srna, Tomislav Dujmović, Nikica Jelavić, Eduardo. On the UEFA European Football Championship listing Croatia has 63 points with 39 wins, 14 draws and 10 losses.
Ireland -> has been in the tournament since its inception although qualified only once in 1988 for the group stage. Apart from the players which all play for the English League, I have no knowledge of this team since I haven’t seen her on official tournaments. Noticeable players are Robbie Keane, Shay Given, John O’Shea, Richard Dunne, Glenn Whelan, Damien Duff and Kevin Doyle. On the UEFA European Football Championship listing Ireland has 112 points with 45 wins, 33 draws and 34 losses.
The matches for Group C are:
10 June Spain – Italy 18:00 (CET)
10 June Ireland – Croatia 20:45 (CET)
14 June Italy – Croatia 18:00 (CET)
14 June Spain – Ireland 20:45 (CET)
18 June Croatia – Spain 20:45 (CET)
18 June Italy – Ireland 20:45 (CET)
Spain and Italy will pass from this group... I will be shocked if any other team makes it!!!
UWAH... only five more hours before the kick-off... one more group to go...