I love this time of year.

ESPÅNA!

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[p.twimg.com image 600x450]

I've never been so disappointed to figure out a picture was 'shopped. (I mean, the Irish supporters and the Poznań cops have apparently been getting on well enough, I'm sure the latter would be willing to pose if asked.)

Also, most Olympic swimming pools are only two metres deep; dive in and you'll probably crack your skull. I wholeheartedly endorse this as a replacement for the yellow card as punishment for grass diving.

/Australian
//Our soccer players don't dive, they foul

Gianluigi Buffon saved 92.9% of shots he faced - the best record in Euro 2012 qualifying.

Xavi had the best pass completion rate (94.9%) in Euro 2012 qualifying.

The National Flag of Italy

expobill: Xavi had the best pass completion rate (94.9%) in Euro 2012 qualifying.


One might say he's not too.....Xavi




/see, because it is pronounced "Shabvi" (with that weird, half "B", half "V" spanish thing), which is also like "shabby" and since he completes 95% of his passes, it is a bilingual joke on his name's pronunciation but also the word "Shabby", and then the joke's third layer is the CSI guy who makes puns. Stay with me folks. we're in this together. when the tide rises we all float.

My name says it all, but I will say it anyway:

VIVA ITALIA!!

I'd like to think that Ireland has a chance to advance out of the group.

I'd also like a pony that's a unicorn that poops gold.

The pony is much more likely.

Kurohone: I'd like to think that Ireland has a chance to advance out of the group.

I'd also like a pony that's a unicorn that poops gold.

The pony is much more likely.

Eh, if the last World Cup taught us anything, it's that Italy has the potential to be really, really poor at times. That said, I know next to nothing about the current Croatian squad, so you might still be right...

Kurohone: The pony is much more likely.

Ah, but the pony does not have Robbie Keane. That makes a difference.

Kurohone: I'd like to think that Ireland has a chance to advance out of the group.

I'd also like a pony that's a unicorn that poops gold.

The pony is much more likely.

Italy sucked harder than England at the last world cup, Croatia arn't the team they were ten years ago and after the way the Netherlands, Germans and Portugal played over the last two days anything could happen. If Ireland get a lucky goal and win today then its all to play for. Spain will have all the pressure on them and Italy are not a team that can chase a game. I would say its a decent punt to stick a couple of quid on Ireland to qualify.

Come on Ireland!

Spain 2-1 Italy
Ireland 1-0 Croatia

Worst player in the tournament - still Samaras.

I'm Keane on Ireland's chances today.

Norfolking Chance: I would say its a decent punt to stick a couple of quid on Ireland to qualify.


fair play to Norfolking Chance. Those jackeen steamers keep acting the lairy on the pitch, quite likely to deliver a funt in the shandons, bob's yer uncle.

rickythepenguin:
. Stay with me folks. we're in this together. when the tide rises we all float.

great efforts¡
great job!

Kyut > Fabregas

/seriously though, why is he up front? Everybody touts his expertise at distributing and creating plays. I don't see him as a finisher at all.

okdaddio: Come on Ireland!

Spain 2-1 Italy
Ireland 1-0 Croatia

Worst player in the tournament - still Samaras.

Downing will take that on Monday.


Spain start slow, Italy are pretty defensive. I see that one as a draw either 0 - 0 or (much more likely) 1 - 1.

Croatia's had some defensive injuries and their best creative force, Modric looked really tired at Spurs at season's end, so I think the Irish can nick a late goal and win it 1 - 0.

So my prediction is Ireland will be topping the group cometh the evening.

Still feel they'll not get out of the first round, as I see the two Mediterranean teams advancing.

I've got an unimpressive 50% success rate so far. I'm going for a minor upset with Italy to beat Spain 1 - 0 in the first game. For the second I'm going for Croatia 2 - 0 Ireland.

rickythepenguin: fair play to Norfolking Chance. Those jackeen steamers keep acting the lairy on the pitch, quite likely to deliver a funt in the shandons, bob's yer uncle.

I read this three times before I looked at who wrote it, and was kind of surprised that it was a non-British person. Well played.

Buffon vs Iker!

The bravest man in Holland:

Purple_Jack: The bravest man in Holland:

Ha!

I think Barca is going to run away with this one.... Mario is getting sent off.

Ramos cut his hair, not a good sign
i heard Espana has no strikers today?

Morning all. What a great sports weekend, eh? Surprised no one flopped on the coin toss or fistbump right there. Lets get ready to rock.

expobill: Ramos cut his hair, not a good sign
i heard Espana has no strikers today?

Yeah, weird, they're spamming midfileders. Might work. Could see a 97/3% possesion advantage.

Purple_Jack: The bravest man in Holland:

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How does he stay afloat with such heavy balls?

/spain has 6 midfielders? yikes

Purple_Jack: The bravest man in Holland:

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Awesome. Hoping for an Italy/Spain draw 1-1 or so and an Ireland win. I really just want an exciting game to watch!

Mr_H: /spain has 6 midfielders? yikes

Spain with a 6 man midfeild and Italy with a 5 man defence. Both teams don't want to loose this. The question is who can get through the mass of bodies and win. I'm going for a 0-0 with maybe an Italian getting sent off.

Italy 1-0
Croatia 0-0

They have black people in Italy now?

Oh come on, Ian, you're English. You should know better than to say "LITERALLY passing them to death".

i love watching Espana play football, what passes!

Here's hoping for an early Italian goal so I can bite my fingernails all game long as Spain tries for the equalizer. . .then Italia holds on for the 1-0 win!

That was ugly..looked like a 3rd grade soccer match.

/No bunching!

I like how Italy uses blue on their kits even though it is not on their flag.

The pitch looks slooooow

You know, when he's not diving to the ground making a scene, Busquets has some good feet on him.

swahnhennessy: They have black people in Italy now?

Mario Gomez. Scott Gomez. Every now and then, we minorities get really lost and say "fark it. I meant to be here. Let's start a family".

orange storm: I like how Italy uses blue on their kits even though it is not on their flag.

azzuri royalty in italia was always blue since the middle ages, and before

orange storm: I like how Italy uses blue on their kits even though it is not on their flag.

Netherlands national color is orange.

swahnhennessy: They have black people in Italy now?

Dude, black people are everywhere. We've even got Negroes in Paris now.

Did Silva just pass the ball to the goalie?

Silva-Torres, 35mn

he was open for a second, but that strike had no power

iker screwed up, on the flick to bousquets

Busquets sounds like a French delicacy. Mmmmm, freshly baked busquets with honey.