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Make the republican party small enough to drown in a bathtub.

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You are here: Home / Sports / England v Italy Open Thread

Reader Interactions

118Comments

  2. 2.

    Leeds man

    The teams;

    England (4-2-3-1): Hart; Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines; Gerrard, Henderson; Rooney, Sterling, Welbeck; Sturridge.

    Italy (4-1-3-1-1): Sirigu; Darmian, Paletta, Barzagli, Chiellini; De Rossi; Pirlo, Verratti, Marchisio; Candreva; Balotelli

  3. 3.

    Morzer

    After the mighty Costa Ricans crushed the Uruguayan Empire, I have given up predicting games based on past form and realistic expectations. England to win 2-1.

  5. 5.

    humboldtblue

    @Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN): No shit. Either we back those Island bound pasty-faced tea guzzlers or the hairy fascists who, when they aren’t flopping like a landed guppy are remonstrating as if the world is about to end.

    Guess it’s time to start drinking

  9. 9.

    humboldtblue

    Yet another outstanding first round matchup with still another to go with Germany v Portugal

  13. 13.

    humboldtblue

    @Morzer: As was pointed out earlier, there has been avid support so far for all the South American teams between those countries — except Argentina. Hell, everybody hates the Argentinians

  15. 15.

    Violet

    Looks like quite a few empty seats in the stands. Are they having trouble selling tickets?

  18. 18.

    Tony J

    England off on the front foot, but both sides are looking like they want goals and are capable of getting them.

    Beer will get me through this.

  19. 19.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    @Violet: Manaus is a smallish city (by the standards of these things; about 1.7 million) in the middle of the jungle with basically no road connection to the rest of the country. Building a massive stadium there is pretty much the pinnacle of the waste of this tournament. I’m kind of surprised the organizers didn’t do everything possible to make sure the place was packed just to avoid more backlash.

  20. 20.

    Steeplejack

    @Violet:

    This game, at least, did not sell out. I have read that the Brazilians are interested in the Brazilian team, not so much in “random” games between teams they don’t care about, and that European tourists are less likely to book a trip to a lesser known city. Fortaleza is a big city of about 2.5 million people (fifth largest city in Brazil), and it’s a hell of a beach resort and tourist hub—my brother-in-law is from there—but I would assume that your average European (or U.S.) soccer fan would think Rio, São Paulo, Brasília, and then start to draw a blank.

    Don’t even get me started on Manaus.

    ETA: Just realized this game is in Manaus. D’oh! Never mind.

    And Manaus is hosting only four games. Ridiculous to build a stadium for that in the Amazonian wilderness.

  22. 22.

    burnspbesq

    England is essentially in a 4-2-4, and there is an acre of space in front of their back line that Gerrard and Henderson are having to work very hard to close down.

  23. 23.

    tsquared2001

    The Italian kit is the best. When I play online FIFA, I play with the Italian side since I can’t seem to score and I can always count on the defense to be solid although that play makes me want to rethink my whole life

  26. 26.

    Violet

    @Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN): @Steeplejack: Yeah, it seems dumb to build a stadium there. Who will use it after this? Still seems like they could have found a way to fill those lower seats. Allow people with cheaper seats to move down maybe? Give them away to school kids? It looks bad on TV.

    I like Balotelli’s hair.

  27. 27.

    humboldtblue

    England haven’t looked this speed-based and dangerous since they were flying Spitfires. That speed is working well

  28. 28.

    burnspbesq

    England needs to bring on a real midfielder in place of Rooney. Lampard, Barkley, take your pick.

  33. 33.

    tsquared2001

    Get over yourself Rooney. That guy. Except for Suarez and Ronaldo, Rooney just makes me want to punch his little head.GOAL GOAL GOAL AZZURRI

  47. 47.

    tsquared2001

    Fucking Rooney with the perfect cross. You still suck Wayne and nobody likes you

  52. 52.

    Amir Khalid

    Weird. The England team physio(therapist) is now off injured. He got piled on in the celebrations after Sturridge’s goal and his ankle is broken.

  53. 53.

    raven

    @Randy Paul: Malcolm Mitchell, Georgia’s best receiver, broke his ankle celebrating in a touchdown in the opener against Clemson. Didn’t help the Dawgs!

  55. 55.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    Is the guy that Uruguay lost to the red card important to them? How big a loss is that going forward?

  56. 56.

    Tony J

    Even game so far. Italy look slick when they get around the box, but England have stepped up and matched them in attacking intent. Very good game to watch.

  57. 57.

    Morzer

    That was a helluva first half of soccer and England can feel pleased with the way their young guns have made Italy think again. I wonder whether we might just see the first draw of the world cup here?

  58. 58.

    tsquared2001

    What is up with the Italians and these shots from 30 yards out? Considering the historical and complete ineptitude of English keepers, they need to work that shit just a bit more and get close

  63. 63.

    tsquared2001

    I @Morzer: I have been pleased with all the matches so far. An entertaining world cup is a good thing (as Martha Stewart would say)

  65. 65.

    Amir Khalid

    The latest on England physio Gary Lewin is that his ankle is not broken, just dislocated. Could still be the end of his World Cup, though. if he can’t run onto the pitch to treat the wounded injured.

  66. 66.

    Violet

    They just said the physio has a dislocated ankle. How did it happen? Celebrations gone wrong?

  67. 67.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    @Amir Khalid: A dislocation can be worse than the ankle actually breaking. If the bone doesn’t give way there can be serious ligament damage as they stretch and tear.

  68. 68.

    tsquared2001

    What happened to my old,stodgy England? Italy is having some serious problems with the quickness But then Balotelli shows what true form looks like

  75. 75.

    Tony J

    What a simple goal to give away. Long way to go, but FFS don’t just give it to them.

  76. 76.

    SRW1

    Their attacking via the right side is impressive, but did somebody forbid Italy to also try on the left more than ten yards into the English half?

    Very entertaining game. England is holding its own. Maybe that Hodgson fellar will finally get some respect and acknowledgement that he knows what he’s doing.

  77. 77.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    Shouldn’t that have been a penalty? I’m watching without sound so I have no idea what the announcers are saying.

  78. 78.

    Violet

    @SRW1: Yeah, initially I thought it was a bit slow and boring but it’s turned into a really entertaining match.

  89. 89.

    tsquared2001

    Ten or twenty years ago, I would have booked this one as a win for Italia. But this defense is not the Italia defense i knew and loved. 20 minutes to play and I am very fucking nervous

  92. 92.

    Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)

    Have all of England’s players forgotten how to hit a cross?

  93. 93.

    Amir Khalid

    Aside from that one pass for the equaliser, Wayne Rooney hasn’t been the player that England needed him to be tonight.

  97. 97.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    @Amir Khalid: I’m sure he’s good but Rooney has failed to impress me any of the times I’ve watched him, whether it’s World Cup or for United.

  101. 101.

    Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)

    @Violet: It is my understanding that he has never scored a World Cup goal although he is one of England’s highest goal scorers of all time.

  102. 102.

    Violet

    Five minutes of added time. That’s a lot. But the England team that’s out there now looks uncertain.

  103. 103.

    Amir Khalid

    Won’t it be something if England and Uruguay both miss the knockout stages.

  106. 106.

    Morzer

    @Violet:

    Most people thought Italy would win, but England did much better in this game than expected, especially in creating chances. I still think they would be better off without Rooney though.

  109. 109.

    Amir Khalid

    England will now have to beat both Uruguay and Costa Rica to make the knockout stages. They must improve their finishing and secure that vulnerable flank.

  111. 111.

    Sloane Ranger

    OK, OK, we lost. We’ll do better next time. Time to drop Rooney, the most over rated England player EVER!

  113. 113.

    Morzer

    @Amir Khalid:

    I think England should be able to do that. They’ve finally found some young players with speed and technique and Uruguay at least looked very short of ideas. That said, I could see Costa Rica running at the England defense and making life hard for them.

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