Euro 2012
14 June 2012 1908 comments
Paul Paul
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Italy and Spain both go seeking their first wins in Euro 2012 today after playing out a 1-1 draw in last Sunday’s Group C opener. While Vicente Del Bosque’s side have to wait until later tonight before squaring up to Republic of Ireland, the Italians take on group leaders Croatia in the early kick-off and, as usual, we’ve opened up the Dugout Discussion ahead of the 5pm showdown…

The team news is in already and the lineups are as follows:

Italy XI: Buffon; Bonucci, De Rossi, Chiellini; Maggio, Marchisio, Pirlo, Motta, Giaccherini; Cassano, Balotelli.

Croatia XI: Pletikosa; Srna, Corluka, Schildenfeld, Strinic; Rakitic, Modric, Vukojevic, Perisic; Jelavic, Mandzukic

Cesare Prandelli remains faithful to the XI that started the game against Spain. The 3-5-2 system stays intact, then, with Daniel De Rossi once again kept in defence, while right-back Christian Maggio offers Fantasy managers an out-of-position prospect on the right of the midfield five. Up front, Antonio Cassano and Mario Balotelli keep their places, with Antonio Di Natale set to once again play the role of impact sub.

Slaven Bilic’s side is unchanged from the 3-1 win over Republic of Ireland. Darijo Srna is again at right-back, cut-price Fantasy favourite Ivan Strinic (4.0 in the McDonald’s game) remains at left-back, while Luka Modric will keep the more advanced central midfield role against the Italian’s three-man defence. Unsurprisingly, Nikica Jelavic and Mario Mandzukic maintian their places up front after notching all of the goals against Ireland between them.

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  1. Menly
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 6 months ago

    New post my friends

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  2. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 6 months ago

    Since Torreslooks first choice, do we reckon Llorente or Negredo will get a run out against the Croats, or will it be Fabregas/Torres again?

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    1. Derailed Bandwagon
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 6 months ago

      Torres will start imo

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  3. TheHunter
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 6 months ago

    AHOY ! Does anyone know wither or not Mandzukic is okay ? He was taken off on a stretcher in Croatia's game with Italy. I fear he could have picked up an injury which is frustrating given that he has been a pretty consistent differential point source. Again, if anyone has any news, hit me up.

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  4. Captain Shirokov
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 6 months ago

    So....stick with Pilar captain (14) or switch to Nasri/Benzema?

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    1. Derailed Bandwagon
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 6 months ago

      stick

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  5. UKG
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 6 months ago

    Down to third in my ML but green arrows otherwise. 48 with Lescott, Debuchy and Benzema to play. 5,992 overall rank. Happy as i have zero spanish coverage. Mandy cap, stick or twist? I'm thinking 14 is good enough and he saved my gw again.

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  6. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 6 months ago

    Just made the error of checking where I'd be if I'd stuck with Pirlo and Pilar instead of Rosicky and Marchisio......245th

    Bol*^#^{**}{#%^*+++!!!!!!

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  7. Mr. O'Connell
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 6 months ago

    Malafeev | Given
    Strinic | Alba | Kadlec | Olsson | Maniatis
    Blaszczykowski | Sneijder | Iniesta | Ozil | Shirokov
    Jelavic | van Persie | Ibrahimovic

    What transfers should I be looking at? When is the best time to play wildcard?
    Very aware I have no France coverage, but don't want to put in Benzema as I have a bet on him to be Golden Boot winner and will probably jinx it.

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