Great quote by Andrea Barzagli the former Italian and Juventus defender who played alongside Chiellini and Bonucci.
"Training with Chiellini is like being put in a cage with a gorilla and you have to steal his food'
Kane and Sterling need to forage against the 36 year old Chiellini and 34 year old Bonucci.
I like Chiellini but all this media talk of him being like a roman warrior is getting a bit boring. If Kane was playing for Spain the other night, Italy would of been knocked out.
That's why I preferred this quote about him being a gorilla by an ex team mate not the Roman warrior.
Plus is this just kidology or are the Italians fearful of This England side ? They never have been before.
Quote from the Italian captain: "England's bench could have made it to the final as they have extraordinary players"
Seems like an OTT statement but...
Does he honestly think England could win the Euros with a centre back partnership of Coady and Mings and Ramsdale in goal? Absolute nonsense from him. Play the game instead of mind games. I wonder how long it will take for him to roll around the floor after Kane brush’s him aside?
Well there were lifers who though "what ever team Southgate picks the bench would beat it". So some obviously agree.
England were "soft" for such a long time. Flat track bullies who would stroll through qualifying and then fold at the first serious challenge.
I genuinely feel the Italian's are scared of us and rightfully so. They aren't alone.
We will either lose 2-1 to a goal on the counter and Italy spend the last minutes of the game throwing themselves to the floor/murdering our pacy players (I'm looking at you two, Chiellini and Bonucci, who both wouldn't look out of place in a Mafioso documentary)
Or...
We'll redeem ourselves in the ultimate way, winning in a dramatic penalty shootout with Belotti missing the final penalty
Missus has just asked me to mow the lawn which I likely will do because otherwise I am gonna just be listening to World in Motion on repeat whilst punching my chest and crying in a strange kind of state of higher exaltation.
She probably needs to be aware that with my current ability to concentrate on anything other than the football that it will look like Stevie Wonder has taken the Flymo to it
We will either lose 2-1 to a goal on the counter and Italy spend the last minutes of the game throwing themselves to the floor/murdering our pacy players (I'm looking at you two, Chiellini and Bonucci, who both wouldn't look out of place in a Mafioso documentary)
Or...
We'll redeem ourselves in the ultimate way, winning in a dramatic penalty shootout with Belotti missing the final penalty
I've got a feeling and I hope I'm right. If we are a goal up with 15 minutes to go it wont take a lot for our players to go down.
We don't build the team around anyone, we have been through all that nonsense with Rooney(It was unfair on Wayne) and this is a team or to be precise a squad effort.
The central midfield defensive partnership of Rice and Phillips has been at the heart of England’s progress, both in terms of protecting our back line and the general cohesiveness of the side. They will have to be at it today, as the Italians break with real pace. I think that Walker’s speed and powers of recovery will also be important, as they were in the semi-final, although England’s defence has exceeded all expectations (certainly mine).
A big decision for Southgate as to whether he keeps the same formation with Mason Mount in midfield or switches to wing backs. He and his staff have got everything right so far and there’s no reason to think they won’t do so tonight.
For all their experience, Chiellini and Bonucci won’t relish facing the pace and verve of Sterling and Saka (if he starts) and we have some very potent weapons on the bench, even if Foden isn’t fit.
Italy will be a tough nut to crack but all long unbeaten runs have to come to an end. They have the greater experience and pedigree as a football nation but I would not underestimate the importance of home advantage. As Bob Paisley once said, I’ve never known a supporter to score a goal, but the Wembley crowd is bound to inspire our players.
If we win I expect Johnson to call an election to try to get another five years from the glow of happiness around the country (except Scotland, of course).
If we win I expect Johnson to call an election to try to get another five years from the glow of happiness around the country (except Scotland, of course).
The 'wow's and 'look at that's are quite touching. It's good to hear they aren't blasé about it, but let's hope they don't get overwhelmed by the occasion.
Comments
England were "soft" for such a long time. Flat track bullies who would stroll through qualifying and then fold at the first serious challenge.
I genuinely feel the Italian's are scared of us and rightfully so. They aren't alone.
Or...
We'll redeem ourselves in the ultimate way, winning in a dramatic penalty shootout with Belotti missing the final penalty
Either it'll be a replay of the Denmark game and England win out due to fitness.
Or England get more nervous as the game goes on and Italy score after a mistake from a defender/Pickford.
She probably needs to be aware that with my current ability to concentrate on anything other than the football that it will look like Stevie Wonder has taken the Flymo to it
If we are a goal up with 15 minutes to go it wont take a lot for our players to go down.
In the world Cup 2018 there were no teams written down for the final.
I woke up this morning with butterflies; serves me right for falling asleep at 1.30am on the sofa with the light on and the back door open.
We don't build the team around anyone, we have been through all that nonsense with Rooney(It was unfair on Wayne) and this is a team or to be precise a squad effort.
If only England had a Danny Green to end that run.
*Danny is at Concord Rangers (Canvey Island) he was on the bench when I saw them play against Whyteleafe in the FA cup last season.
The replies on twitter are pretty funny. The amount of outrage over a bit of fun.
A big decision for Southgate as to whether he keeps the same formation with Mason Mount in midfield or switches to wing backs. He and his staff have got everything right so far and there’s no reason to think they won’t do so tonight.
For all their experience, Chiellini and Bonucci won’t relish facing the pace and verve of Sterling and Saka (if he starts) and we have some very potent weapons on the bench, even if Foden isn’t fit.
Italy will be a tough nut to crack but all long unbeaten runs have to come to an end. They have the greater experience and pedigree as a football nation but I would not underestimate the importance of home advantage. As Bob Paisley once said, I’ve never known a supporter to score a goal, but the Wembley crowd is bound to inspire our players.
penalties it is then
England's heroes | Through the eyes of Charlton
343 in that case would put Mount wide I guess?
https://mobile.twitter.com/garyekins/status/1413579512508559363