Italy V England

Usually I would write these things straight after the match, yet the game was so tense I needed the rest of the evening to unwind a catch my breath and gather my thoughts. England were always planning for penalties, giving their history this was a surprise, yet even the interviews before the game were a huge indication of their intent, they intended to hold out for 120 minute or " nick" a winner. For me, this is the equivalent of anti- football and if the Italians did this they would have been "slaughtered" by the media and there would have been groans about how the Azzurri is a boring team to watch, yet when England do it they are portrayed as " heroic", the hypocrisy makes me sick.


Prior to this encounter England had been hugely disrespectful to their opposition and in my opinion this is an indictment of the people. They were speaking about the semi- final against Germany as if it was a foregone conclusion that they would beat Italy with ease!! And least we forget the most popular criticism that the media just loves to make.... They're too old, for God's sake Andrea Pirlo is just 33, when was that considered to be old?? And all through the game you kept hearing how he's going just collapse and how his knees are going. This is only the tip of the iceberg, the commentators would continually throw abuse at the Italians for either getting a decision their way or going down injured. The most obvious was when Scott Parker caught Balzaretti's face with his boots and the commentators would insist it was " play acting" when the replays showed his boot hit him in the face!!

The funniest thing in the game was when there was an obvious foul on the boys in blue yet no mention of it from the commentating team. Late on in the second half when they brought in the £35m player ( yeah right) Andy Carroll on and he was clearly locking arms with Pirlo, because that is the only way to stop him, yet not even a peep from anyone. And Terry would barge his way to try and stop play, and what I found hilarious was the “ lovefeast” the commentating team had with him! He gets away with being a bully because people just excuse him and say he’s just using his physicality, well I have an answer for that…. He’s an un evolved oaf and the game has gone beyond theses schoolyard tactics! And the blatant barge on Maggio by Ashley Young just showed how ignorant the media were, because if any of them had seen him play for Napoli would know how quick he was, and he would have been able to get the ball had Young not stuck his bum out! It was a huge injustice that he got a 2nd yellow card which rules him out for the semis against Germany. I could go on forever about how biased the commentating team were and how sadistic they were at times when they were hoping Abate had an injury, yet I’ll let your minds wonder and discover on your own just how unprofessional they were.

There is no doubt in my mind that the better team went through. Italy had over 60% possession with 35 shots with 20 on goal, and Mario Balotelli had 11 of them. I am slightly worried with their finishing, even though they tested Joe Hart 8 times, 8 out of 35… ummm some work is still needed. Antonio Nocherino did have a chance to win it late on into extra time yet it was deemed to be off side…and it was, by a whisker! If Balotelli can get his shooting boots on then we may be able to cause the Germans some trouble, but with injury problem to Chiellini, Marchsio, De Rossi and Abate and Maggio ruled out though suspension, it will be far from easy!

FORZA AZZURRI!!