Germany to win 3-1. They've just been on fire this tournament and I don't think it's going to stop today. Let's see some more of Klose as well.

Football is only 60 minutes.

Please,please,please let this be a decent game. This tourney is really reminding me why I think international football is farking pants.

Looking forward to a 0-0 tie being decided by penalty kicks.

I can think of an easy way to save 90 minutes, but you'll sell a lot less beer...

A mouth-watering contest. The Azzurri have what it takes to beat this German side and I'm looking forward for it to be as epic a clash as 2006 world cup semifinals.

FORZA ITALIA!

wtf is "farking pants"

mcoctopus: A mouth-watering contest. The Azzurri have what it takes to beat this German side and I'm looking forward for it to be as epic a clash as 2006 world cup semifinals.

FORZA ITALIA!

+1

The ball is round, the game lasts 90 minutes, everything else is pure theory.

Does anyone have a link to online streams for the game? (Not in US, so ESPN is out)

Drink every time Michael Ballack says "I don't know" or finishes a sentence with "but...yeah"

Rooting for Germany because they have the best chance of beating the 11-man paint-dry-a-thon that is the Spanish team, and the Italian fans around here are completely insufferable.

GavinTheAlmighty

Rooting for Germany because they have the best chance of beating the 11-man paint-dry-a-thon that is the Spanish team, and the Italian fans around here are completely insufferable.

Nice trolling

thomps: wtf is "farking pants"

The slacks your mom puts on when she goes out.

/Hey-ooohh

mcoctopus
GavinTheAlmighty

Rooting for Germany because they have the best chance of beating the 11-man paint-dry-a-thon that is the Spanish team, and the Italian fans around here are completely insufferable.

Nice trolling

This isn't trolling, THIS is trolling.

/ I actually like Italy in this tournament; I think the four strongest teams actually made it to the semis for once
// above song from 2010 should be updated for Portugal (diving douchebags part) or Spain ("don't give a shiat who wins as long as it isn't them AGAIN" refrain) :-P

mcoctopus: Nice trolling

I meant locally in the human world, not here. I don't give a crap about the fans on Fark.

And I believe that Germany has the best chance to beat Spain. If you think Italy has the best chance, then that's up to you. If you think Spain is exciting, then more power to you.

If you don't enjoy watching Spain, you're not a soccer fan.

That doesn't mean you have to want them to win.

MugzyBrown: If you don't enjoy watching Spain, you're not a soccer fan.

That doesn't mean you have to want them to win.

There's a difference between enjoying and appreciating. I appreciate. I do not enjoy. Much like the New Jersey Devils under Lemaire. Technically brilliant but not particularly entertaining.

GavinTheAlmighty: There's a difference between enjoying and appreciating. I appreciate. I do not enjoy. Much like the New Jersey Devils under Lemaire. Technically brilliant but not particularly entertaining.

Is park-the-bus counterattacking football better? I feel like what's boring you (and most spain-is-boring people) isn't spain, but how most of their opponents choose to play them.

There's a difference between enjoying and appreciating. I appreciate. I do not enjoy. Much like the New Jersey Devils under Lemaire. Technically brilliant but not particularly entertaining.

You see, that would be more like enjoying the classic Italian squad.

Spain plays a beautiful, skillful, aggressive game. That's how the game should be played.

Rooting for Germany because I support the Turks. Both the hot one and the frog-eyed one.

GavinTheAlmighty

MugzyBrown: If you don't enjoy watching Spain, you're not a soccer fan.

That doesn't mean you have to want them to win.

There's a difference between enjoying and appreciating. I appreciate. I do not enjoy. Much like the New Jersey Devils under Lemaire. Technically brilliant but not particularly entertaining.

Football pundits and connoisseurs agree that Spain Vs Italy group fixture was the best match in Euro 2012 so far. Technically brilliant and entertaining but it's not for everyone's tastes.

I blame premier league. An overdose of EPL has spoiled viewers' tastes everywhere.

mcoctopus: A mouth-watering contest. The Azzurri have what it takes to beat this German side and I'm looking forward for it to be as epic a clash as 2006 world cup semifinals.

FORZA ITALIA!

I think this game is going to be incredibly open and dynamic. The Italians will outnumber the Germans in the midfield with their diamond shape, but the Germans will try to make them as narrow as possible and zip up and down the flanks and then either pump in crosses or try to work the ball back in and expose Pirlo defensively. The Ozil vs. Pirlo matchup is going to be fascinating to watch.

I pull for my German motherland in every competition, but I am about as unsure about this matchup as any. If they can tactically beat the Italians here, then I am feeling good about the final against Spain.

The Voice of Doom: mcoctopus
GavinTheAlmighty

Rooting for Germany because they have the best chance of beating the 11-man paint-dry-a-thon that is the Spanish team, and the Italian fans around here are completely insufferable.

Nice trolling

This isn't trolling, THIS is trolling.

/ I actually like Italy in this tournament; I think the four strongest teams actually made it to the semis for once
// above song from 2010 should be updated for Portugal (diving douchebags part) or Spain ("don't give a shiat who wins as long as it isn't them AGAIN" refrain) :-P

I suspect I would enjoy that if it had English subtitles...

/don't care who wins
/as long as Spain demolishes them

Think it's Germany's time today. La Furia Roja vs Der Mannschaft on Sunday!
/but if Spain plays them the way they did the first half of yesterday's game with Portugal, Germany will bury them

I have a sneaky suspicion that the majority of Americans who root for the Spanish national team do so because they spent a semester abroad in Madrid or Barcelona while in college. And that the majority of Americans who root for the Italian national team are from Long Island and New Jersey, but at least they can make the argument that they have personal roots to the country!

I said yesterday it would be Germany 3-1.

I'll also place an O/U on jokes about the war at 10.5

Jamespoon

mcoctopus: A mouth-watering contest. The Azzurri have what it takes to beat this German side and I'm looking forward for it to be as epic a clash as 2006 world cup semifinals.

FORZA ITALIA!

I think this game is going to be incredibly open and dynamic. The Italians will outnumber the Germans in the midfield with their diamond shape, but the Germans will try to make them as narrow as possible and zip up and down the flanks and then either pump in crosses or try to work the ball back in and expose Pirlo defensively. The Ozil vs. Pirlo matchup is going to be fascinating to watch.

I pull for my German motherland in every competition, but I am about as unsure about this matchup as any. If they can tactically beat the Italians here, then I am feeling good about the final against Spain.

It's German fatherland surely.

I disagree. I think this is technical ability vs team play and strategy. Prandelli is better on strategy. The only way Germany will win is by being brilliant in the box.

Jamespoon: I have a sneaky suspicion that the majority of Americans who root for the Spanish national team do so because they spent a semester abroad in Madrid or Barcelona while in college. And that the majority of Americans who root for the Italian national team are from Long Island and New Jersey, but at least they can make the argument that they have personal roots to the country!

I root for Spain because they're one of the few teams that has 10 players on the field with real soccer skills and play an amazing team game offensively and defensively. They're also one of the few teams who will actually try to attack for most of the match (offensively and defensively).

Jamespoon: I have a sneaky suspicion that the majority of Americans who root for the Spanish national team do so because they spent a semester abroad in Madrid or Barcelona while in college.
I started following the Spanish team when my Scots lost interest in playing competitive football, and seeing Valencia players perform well for the national club. I do own a Spain kit, but support scotland over them-when they play.
Most of my friends own a Spain kit and supported them over the Dutch last WC
i guess they and I really respect the play and players spain has now.

Please, please, please let Germany win. Also: there is no way in hell Spain vs Italy was the most entertaining game in this tournament. England vs Ukraine is up there 1-0, then 1-2, then 3-2. Russia dominating the Czechs 4-1 is up there, NL losing to Denmark is up there, but my pick is probably Portugal over Denmark 3-2 in that epic back and forth in the 2nd half.

You know what all those games have in common? Both teams showed up ready to attack and we had goals. We didn't have a team passing back and forth for 10 minutes at the halfway line trying to draw out an opponent. That's what Spain/Italy was.

I would posit that the group stage was one of the best group stages in a long time because almost all teams went out to win and didn't worry about possession like spain does. Do I appreciate how great they are at passing? Sure. I also like seeing well thought out attacks, end to end action with both teams going for it. In a tournament, hoping to hold on to possession and be defensively sound while only going for an attack if you pull someone out of position and hoping to win 1-0 is not exciting and unwatchable to me.

I have a sneaky suspicion that the majority of Americans who root for the Spanish national team do so because they spent a semester abroad in Madrid or Barcelona while in college.

What's wrong with that? I still support Kaiserslautern because I lived there as a child. That seems a more legitimate reason than a bunch of guido's claiming Italy because their family immigrated 200 freaking years ago (even though I do this exact thing for Wales, but it was only 1 generation removed).

desertgeek: I'll also place an O/U on jokes about the war at 10.5

In the first 20 minutes?

Stimied in a Rut: You know what all those games have in common? Both teams showed up ready to attack and we had goals. We didn't have a team passing back and forth for 10 minutes at the halfway line trying to draw out an opponent. That's what Spain/Italy was.

I would posit that the group stage was one of the best group stages in a long time because almost all teams went out to win and didn't worry about possession like spain does. Do I appreciate how great they are at passing? Sure. I also like seeing well thought out attacks, end to end action with both teams going for it. In a tournament, hoping to hold on to possession and be defensively sound while only going for an attack if you pull someone out of position and hoping to win 1-0 is not exciting and unwatchable to me.

So you want Spain to just go face first into 10 defensive players?

The reason they pass about the midfield is because everybody is so afraid of getting burned by them, they sit back and dont' even pressure the ball.

Vs Portugal, it was a lot more up tempo because Portugal played a high pressure defense that caught Spain off guard and caused a lot of mistakes in the first half.

Spain just hasn't been finishing this year because they lack a finisher like Villa. They've been generating a lot of top quality opportunities in all of the games.

MugzyBrown: So you want Spain to just go face first into 10 defensive players?

Or a chainsaw, either would be fine.

I'm gonna guess Germany wins, but Italy's not gonna be easy. Just hope it's a fun game. I have an Italian friend who is currently working in Germany. I suspect he's laying low today.

/he's not much of a sports fan
//*I* know more about soccer then him
///tempted to get him a US jersey when I visit next month

[Insert joke about midfield axis here]

mcoctopus: It's German fatherland surely.

I disagree. I think this is technical ability vs team play and strategy. Prandelli is better on strategy. The only way Germany will win is by being brilliant in the box.

The Germans aren't good strategically? I think Loew has been a very good tactician, ever since the Klinsmann days.

Either way, the game is going to force both teams to think strategically. The Italians have four central midfielders that are going to make it very difficult for the Germans to dominate possession. They also like to push their full backs up to create width, but the Germans have been excellent at containing that in this tournament, so they'll continue to try to do that in order to make the Italians play as narrow as possible. So there's going to be an important battle for dominance of the wings.

Pirlo sits back the furthest, but isn't the best defender in the midfield. So what the Germans will try to do is play contain, win the ball, and play their transition game on the wings to avoid their more defensively adept midfielders, and then base their attacks on the movements of Ozil on Pirlo. If Pirlo allows Ozil to roam around, then they're in for a long day. Same goes the other way as well, if Pirlo is given freedom then lots will happen as well. But given what a disaster that was for England on Sunday, I think that's unlikely to happen.

I think that Italy will be playing a largely reactive game here, depending on what kind of strategy Germany employs with Ozil tracking back and pushing up with their defensive line and full backs in particular to compress the Italian midfield and attack.

MugzyBrown: Stimied in a Rut: You know what all those games have in common? Both teams showed up ready to attack and we had goals. We didn't have a team passing back and forth for 10 minutes at the halfway line trying to draw out an opponent. That's what Spain/Italy was.

I would posit that the group stage was one of the best group stages in a long time because almost all teams went out to win and didn't worry about possession like spain does. Do I appreciate how great they are at passing? Sure. I also like seeing well thought out attacks, end to end action with both teams going for it. In a tournament, hoping to hold on to possession and be defensively sound while only going for an attack if you pull someone out of position and hoping to win 1-0 is not exciting and unwatchable to me.

So you want Spain to just go face first into 10 defensive players?

The reason they pass about the midfield is because everybody is so afraid of getting burned by them, they sit back and dont' even pressure the ball.

Vs Portugal, it was a lot more up tempo because Portugal played a high pressure defense that caught Spain off guard and caused a lot of mistakes in the first half.

Spain just hasn't been finishing this year because they lack a finisher like Villa. They've been generating a lot of top quality opportunities in all of the games.

If Spain plays Germany there won't be 10 people sitting back. Even Italy attacked somewhat when the two played. If you don't play with a recognized striker or two you should be able to deal with people attacking you for being too defensive. Croatia didn't sit back much either and we got a decent game out of that. All I'm saying that without Puyol, Villa and Torres starting like they did in 2008 and 2010 we have a much more defensive team that are a lot more boring to watch. Disagree as you wish.

Official Germany XI: Neuer; Boateng, Hummels, Badstuber, Lahm; Kroos, Khedira, Schweinsteiger; Özil; Gomez, Podolski

Hmmm... Kroos hasn't started a match yet in this tournament. It seems a bit odd to play him in the SFs against Italy over Mueller, Reus, or Schuerlle. Actually, I probably would have dropped Podolski, who hasn't been too effective, for Reus. I think there will certainly be questions asked of Loew's selection if the Germans lose today.

Will anyone score a goal? Probably not.

Jamespoon: I have a sneaky suspicion that the majority of Americans who root for the Spanish national team do so because they spent a semester abroad in Madrid or Barcelona while in college. And that the majority of Americans who root for the Italian national team are from Long Island and New Jersey, but at least they can make the argument that they have personal roots to the country!

So? What are the right reasons to root for a team?

So... nobody has any links that will help me stream the game at work?

Am sad.

The Shoveller: So... nobody has any links that will help me stream the game at work?

Am sad.

ESPN3 should have it.

Karma Chameleon: So? What are the right reasons to root for a team?

mine.

/and if italy is the team of jersey shore, LETS FARKING GO GERMANY!!!

SigmaAlgebra: Hmmm... Kroos hasn't started a match yet in this tournament. It seems a bit odd to play him in the SFs against Italy over Mueller, Reus, or Schuerlle. Actually, I probably would have dropped Podolski, who hasn't been too effective, for Reus. I think there will certainly be questions asked of Loew's selection if the Germans lose today.

That is weird. Either Kroos is playing on the right, or they're playing a different formation, or they are reporting the lineup wrong and that Kroos is actually replacing Schweinsteiger who has a bum ankle.

Or maybe Ozil on the right??

KaisertheCoyote: The Shoveller: So... nobody has any links that will help me stream the game at work?

Am sad.

ESPN3 should have it.

Thanks, but I can't stream that outside of the US.

The Shoveller: So... nobody has any links that will help me stream the game at work?

Am sad.

There will be one here in about 30 minutes. But it is in Dutch Link

The Shoveller: So... nobody has any links that will help me stream the game at work?

Am sad oh so very happy.

ftfy

Autistic_Monkey: The Shoveller: So... nobody has any links that will help me stream the game at work?

Am sad.

There will be one here in about 30 minutes. But it is in Dutch Link

Thanks. Don't care about language, just want to see the game!