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Group C decider - Spain/Croatia and Italy/R.O.I

bomma

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bomma

bomma

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spain-flag.gifcroatia-flag.gif

Team News

Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic was substituted against Italy because of a knock and will be assessed.

The Croats began against Italy with a 4-4-2 formation, but switched to 4-2-3-1 at half-time to enable Luka Modric to play further forward.

If he keeps that role then Ivan Rakitic will drop deep to play alongside holding midfielder Ognjen Vukojevic.

Spain's Sergio Busquets hurt his foot against Ireland, but a scan showed no damage, and he has been passed fit.

Striker Fernando Torres is expected to keep his place after scoring twice against the Irish.

Cesc Fabregas netted as a substitute in that match but with competition for places fierce he may remain on the bench.

MATCH PREVIEW

Croatia and Spain have bristled at conspiracy theorists who suggest the two sides would settle for a 2-2 draw, a result that will take both teams into the quarter-finals at Italy's expense.

“It's out of the question we would agree a result with Spain. To claim the contrary is an insult”
Slaven Bilic, Croatia coach

As coach Slaven Bilic has stressed, Croatians are fiercely nationalistic and proud; they revel in the role of underdog, and in their relatively brief history have gained several notable scalps, defeating Italy and Germany (twice) at major tournaments.

They also eliminated England in qualifying for Euro 2008 - and it's worth remembering that Bilic's side won 3-2 at Wembley despite having already guaranteed their place in Austria-Switzerland.

Spain are proud of their status as proponents of the beautiful game, and surely would not want their legacy tainted by a suspicious result. Besides, it's hard enough scoring one goal against the Spaniards, let alone twice. France were the last side to net more than once against them at a major tournament (in a 3-1 win at the 2006 World Cup).

Additionally, the reigning world and European champions don't really do draws; only two of their last 37 competitive games have ended even - coincidentally, both of them against Italy. And the last time they drew a meaningful match 2-2 was back in 2003, in a European Championship qualifier in Ukraine.

Yet despite that record, many bookmakers offer just 4/1 on a 2-2 draw in Gdansk - short odds indeed given you can get 16/1 on the same scoreline between France and Sweden 24 hours later.

Historically, Italy have been a thorn in Spain's side, and the Azzurri's impressive display in Group C's opening match prompted Spanish newspaper AS to predict "don't be surprised if we meet again in the final."

Vicente del Bosque's side might not relish a rematch, but they will have to focus on the task at hand. Croatia are above Italy in the Fifa rankings, and defeat to Bilic's side would probably mean elimination for the reigning world and European champions.

MATCH FACTS

  • Croatia have won one of four games against Spain (W1, D1, L2). All of those matches have been friendlies.
  • The Croats prevailed in the first meeting, winning 2-0 in a friendly at Valencia's Mestalla Stadium, a game current boss Slaven Bilic started.
  • The most recent encounter was in 2006, when Spain beat Croatia 2-1 in a World Cup warm-up in Geneva.

Croatia

  • The Croats have committed 40 fouls so far - only the Czech Republic were penalized more often in the first two rounds of matches.
  • The last team to beat Croatia at the European Championship (excluding penalty shoot-outs) was England, who defeated them 4-2 at Euro 2004.
  • Mario Mandzukic has had four shots on target in the tournament, but has scored three times.
  • They have scored four goals in each of the European Championship group stages they have participated in (1996, 2004 and 2008). They have managed four goals so far this summer.

Spain

  • Spain are unbeaten in 16 competitive matches, recording 15 wins and one draw. Their last defeat was their 1-0 loss to Switzerland at the 2010 World Cup.
  • Against Ireland Xavi broke the European Championship records for most individual passes attempted (133) and completed (114), according to Uefa statistics.
  • Fernando Torres only spent 38 seconds on the ball against Ireland, but hit five shots (including four on target), scoring twice.

italy-flag.gifireland-flag.gif

Team News

Mario Balotelli trained on Sunday despite limping out of training 24 hours earlier with a knee injury but coach Cessare Prandelli has suggested he may rest Balotelli regardless

Centre-back Andrea Barzagli is expected to feature despite missing the opening two matches with a calf problem.

Damien Duff will captain Ireland on his 100th appearance for his country.

Striker Kevin Doyle starts at the expense of Simon Cox in manager Giovanni Trapattoni's only change.

MATCH PREVIEW

The Republic of Ireland's Euro 2012 hopes may be over a little too prematurely for everyone concerned but an encounter with Italy allows the country to reminisce about past glories, to celebrate the coaching achievements of boss Giovanni Trapattoni and is perhaps one final moment in the spotlight for some of the country's old guard - although not Robbie Keane who has vowed to play on.

It was exactly 18 years ago, 18th June 1994, that Ireland beat Italy for the first time in their history courtesy of Ray Houghton's famous strike at the World Cup finals. It's also a poignant date as six Catholic men were murdered by gunmen whilst watching the match in Northern Ireland. The Republic of Ireland's players will wear black armbands as a sign of respect to those who lost their lives in the Loughinisland massacre.

Since 1994, the Irish have lost to Italy only once in four meetings since then and become somewhat of a bogey side for their more illustrious opponents. Their incentive this time around is knowing victory would see them finish above the 2006 world champions in the final Group C standings.

The situation for Italy is eerily similar to that what confronted them ahead of their final match for Euro 2004. No matter how big a win against the Irish, a 2-2 draw (or higher score draw) in the other group game between Spain and Croatia will ensure the Italians head home early - this because head-to-head records come into play when two or more countries finish level on points. Italy's 1-1 draw with both nations would therefore be seen as the weaker result. Sweden and Denmark conjured up a 2-2 draw eight years ago to end Italian hopes; the Azzurri were managed by a certain Giovanni Trapattoni back then. Is he about to watch the same fate unfold on his motherland again but this time from the opposite dug-out?

Current Italian head coach Cessare Prandelli may have seamlessly guided his country through qualifying as they remained unbeaten but they are the only side at Euro 2012 who are yet to win a match this calendar year. Their last victory was a 2-0 friendly win over Poland in Wroclaw last November but Italy have also never recorded a competitive victory on Polish soil drawing all five games - three against Poland in various qualifying competitions throughout the years and obviously both Euro 2012 group matches to date.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

  • This is the third meeting between the countries at a major tournament but the first at a European Championship. Italy won their 1990 World Cup encounter 1-0, Ireland won by the same scoreline four years later at the 1994 World Cup.
  • This fixture takes place on the 18-year anniversary of Ray Houghton's famous winner for Ireland in their 1-0 win over Italy at the 1994 World Cup in New York.
  • Ireland are unbeaten in three matches against Italy under Giovanni Trapattoni's management. They won a friendly 2-0 in the Belgian city of Liege last summer, following on from back-to-back draws in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

Italy

  • Italy have gone six games without a win at either the European Championship or World Cup finals since beating France 2-0 in their final group stage match in Euro 2008 - it's their longest ever major tournament winless streak.
  • The Italians have won their final group game at the last three Euros tournaments - 2-0 against France in 2008, 2-1 versus Bulgaria in 2004 and 2-1 against Sweden in 2000.
  • Italy could become the first country to draw all three group matches in Euro finals history.

Ireland

  • Giovanni Trapattoni is looking to become the first man to coach a nation to victory against his motherland at the European Championship since Guus Hiddink, whose Russia side beat the Netherlands 3-1 in the quarter-finals of Euro 2008.
  • Trapattoni has failed to progress from the group stages in both Euros he has managed in, after also failing to advance with Italy in 2004.
  • Damien Duff will win his 100th cap, becoming the fifth player to reach this milestone for Ireland.

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bomma

bomma

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Permutations are slightly simpler than Group B...

(Taken from Uefa Website....)

Croatia (4) v Spain (4), Italy (2) v Republic of Ireland (0)

• Spain have the simplest task – a draw ensures qualification, a win ensures first place. If Spain draw 1-1 and Italy win 4-0, Spain would finish first ahead of Italy on coefficient.

• Croatia will definitely qualify, as group winners, with victory. They will also be through with any draw other than 0-0 or 1-1. If their game is 0-0 and Italy win, Croatia are out. In the case of a 1-1 draw, they will only be through if Italy do not beat Ireland by 3-1 or better. If it is 1-1 and Italy win exactly 3-1, the Azzurri will be second on coefficient. Croatia can afford to lose if Italy do not win.

• Italy have to win and hope the other game does not finish in a high-scoring draw of 2-2 or more. If the other game finishes 1-1 they must win by 3-1 or better to finish above Croatia or better than 4-0 to top the group. If the other game finishes 0-0, an Italy win would take them through as group winners.

• Republic of Ireland are out but will finish third with a win.

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LokedOut420

LokedOut420

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here are a few stats from the first 2 games of the group

spain have completed more passes in the attacking third (416) than the rest of the group combined: croatia (187), italy (138), ireland (90)

ireland have created the fewest number of chances (15), followed by croatia (18) and italy (22), while spain unsurprisingly have created the most (35)

spain have allowed the fewest chances (15), followed by croatia (22), then italy (26) and ireland (27)

spain's opponents have only completed 52.3% of their passes in the attacking third, while they have completed 83.2%

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kpain16

kpain16

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Our media are expecting pretty much the same lineup from us in a 4231 formation. The only difference could be Vida coming in as a RB and Srna going to AMR that would put Jelavić on the bench. If Jelavić plays and not Vida, Mandžukić would be AMR.

Vida at RB makes me cringe. Player that is clearly a CB covering at a RB and who already said he doesn't really like playing it. Him and Vrsaljko both play at Dinamo and the latter one is clearly a better option for the position, yet at NT Bilić uses Vida. Better defensively, but useless going forward.

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eldeniro

eldeniro

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Paul McShane captained Ireland to a 2-0 victory over Italy under Trappatoni so anything's possible.

It's a nice gesture seeing Duff wear the armband, hopefully Ireland do a bit more on the pitch and the commentators won't have to focus on the fans to make us feel better but I'm not really expecting much, Italy have looked good so far imo, particularly against Spain. It'd be nice to see a win though just so we don't leave with nothing.

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Oblivion

Oblivion

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It will be kind of funny if Italy crush Ireland 6-0 or something while Croatia and Spain draw 2-2.

If I'm not mistaken a similar situation happened 8 years ago. Italy had to win against Bulgaria (and they, 2-1, did thanks to a last minute goal), but both Denmark and Sweden drew 2-2 and threw Italy out. And history likes to repeat itself...

Read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2004_Group_C#Notes

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Rikulec

Rikulec

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Our media are expecting pretty much the same lineup from us in a 4231 formation. The only difference could be Vida coming in as a RB and Srna going to AMR that would put Jelavić on the bench. If Jelavić plays and not Vida, Mandžukić would be AMR.

Vida at RB makes me cringe. Player that is clearly a CB covering at a RB and who already said he doesn't really like playing it. Him and Vrsaljko both play at Dinamo and the latter one is clearly a better option for the position, yet at NT Bilić uses Vida. Better defensively, but useless going forward.

If Srna plays AMR, then RB should be Vrsaljko in my opinion (well, at least if he's as good as in FM). I hope for Ireland not to lose, in Trap I trust!

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Astafjevs

Astafjevs

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I'm baffled by Prandelli's decision not to start Giovinco if a trequartista is needed.

It's not that baffling is it? It's really easy - he isn't a trequartista, he's a striker, at least in Prandelli's mind. Mystery solved. And he's said after Russia that Italy can't play with three strikers yet - hence, he won't use Giovinco there.

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kpain16

kpain16

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CROATIA: Pletikosa, Vida, Ćorluka, Schildenfeld, Strinić, Srna, Rakitić, Vukojević, Modrić, Pranjić, Mandžukić;

SPAIN: Casillas, Piqué, Ramos, Arbeloa, Alba, Iniesta, Xavi, Alonso, Busquets, Silva, Torres

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georginho_juventusygr

georginho_juventusygr

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Prandelli can **** right off. Why the **** has he dropped Bonucci and Maggio ffs? I just brought both of them into my fantasy team.
My guess is that Maggio is getting rested, and Barzagli is better than Bonucci but yeah, I share you pain as I've added them for the next stage too.

Bonucci: because Barzagli is better. Bonucci is a libero type. Barzagli is a "traditional" central defender like Chiellini.

Maggio: because he's more a wing back than a full back. Abate is a full back. Good or not is another story.

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Rob1981

Rob1981

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Rainer Bonhof is the only player with three medals, and the only player with two gold medals. He was in the West Germany squad in 1972 (gold), 1976 (silver), and 1980 (gold). He played in a final match only in 1976.

The following have played in two final matches:

Soviet Union

1960 (gold), 1964 (silver): Valentin Ivanov, Viktor Ponedelnik, Lev Yashin

West Germany

1972 (gold), 1976 (silver): Franz Beckenbauer, Uli Hoeneß, Sepp Maier, Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck, Berti Vogts, Herbert Wimmer

1976 (silver), 1980 (gold): Bernard Dietz

Germany

1992 (silver), 1996 (gold): Thomas Häßler, Thomas Helmer, Jürgen Klinsmann, Matthias Sammer

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Noob21

Noob21

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Are there really no spanish DM players better than Busquets? Does he play for national team because he plays for Barca? Or has his diving reputation hidden his quality? I would like to know..

I used to think so when he "kicked" out Toure from the Barca starting lineup, then again he's tidy and has more control on the ball than people give him. He's perfect if you have "wandering" midfielders and you want someone to mop up loose balls

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