[sbu_large_image] 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. RÏɠBY
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 8 months ago

    not mentioning the war or anything.. but these croats are filthy

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    1. SPorting
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 8 months ago

      bit tasteless mate.

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      1. RÏɠBY
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 8 months ago

        i'm with some now and we're all supposed to forgot it
        yet we (brit) keep bleating on about the bosh

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        1. SPorting
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 8 months ago

          it's still big news at the war crimes tribunal here in NL.

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          1. RÏɠBY
            • 14 Years
            13 years, 8 months ago

            haven't heard a peep about it here (or in america).. which is woeful really

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    2. BONZ
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 8 months ago

      What that got to do with the Germans?

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  2. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 8 months ago

    This game may finally solve my sub issues.

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    1. A.
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 8 months ago

      Lucky you 😉

      It would be agonising leaving players on the bench because you don't want to drop a 5 pointer and them going on to score a couple

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  3. Demí
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 8 months ago

    Buffon on 4 saves, c'mon just 2 more

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    1. A.
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 8 months ago

      That requires more croatian shots though, and risks the all-importnant clean sheet 😉

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    2. RÏɠBY
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 8 months ago

      serious contender 1/4's onwards

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      1. La Roja
        • 13 Years
        13 years, 8 months ago

        bonucci 7 r/b now, come on 3 more son!

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  4. LOCO ABREU
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 8 months ago

    Strinic 4 rb now.

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  5. chilin_dude
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 8 months ago

    Motta failish, 3pts :/

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    1. Optimus.
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 8 months ago

      better than a kick in the stones though..right?

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    2. RÏɠBY
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 8 months ago

      at least he didn't see red and he'll play next game..

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    3. LOCO ABREU
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 8 months ago

      Not the worst. Ronaldo 1pt,lewa1pt,ozil2pt.

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  6. LOCO ABREU
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 8 months ago

    Pirlo 5 rb now

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    1. RÏɠBY
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 8 months ago

      just an assist and he'll be my 2012 hero

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  7. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 8 months ago

    Cassano will hopefully net one soon. After a fantastic first week, 840th in the world I drop to the 20k mark. Please oh please 🙁

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    1. A.
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 8 months ago

      My rank's been up and down like a yoyo - 7k tuesday, 43k yesterday, hopefully back up today 😉

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  8. Mull
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 8 months ago

    Not even Victor Moses could get this many 2 pointers...

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    1. Piggs Boson
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 8 months ago

      That was such a coincidence (see below) 😆

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      1. Mull
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 8 months ago

        😀 Alba will bring home a comfortable 7 points to give me some decent points.

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        1. JK - Cønt ⭐
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 8 months ago

          Alba CS plus a cross to Torres thank you very much

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          1. Chazza
            • 16 Years
            13 years, 8 months ago

            I'm sure he'll cross to Torres but Torres will probably miss it.

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    2. RÏɠBY
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 8 months ago

      comment of the games!

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  9. Piggs Boson
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 8 months ago

    Oh dear Mull, you're having a mere! 🙁

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    1. beric
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 8 months ago

      Great timing!

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  10. Optimus.
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 8 months ago

    you have to say bufoon has great hair for a 48 year old

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    1. Piggs Boson
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 8 months ago

      Buffon is 34, but i agree with the hair 😉

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  11. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 8 months ago

    Webb is a winker

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    1. A.
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 8 months ago

      Not sure who that was aimed at though

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      1. Bøwstring The Carp
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 8 months ago

        Fergie or something must be in the crowd. That was a wink of "I wont book Modric since he's probably going to United" 😉

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  12. UKG
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 8 months ago

    Strinic one more rb needed. Need every point I can get right now! 🙁

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  13. Touré De Force
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 8 months ago

    Pirlo 5 rb, noice.

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  14. Miro
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 8 months ago

    Di Natale to come on, finally

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  15. NATSTER
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 8 months ago

    Di Natale is coming on...... Balotelli OFF.

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  16. COMH
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 8 months ago

    Di Natale time!

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  17. Touré De Force
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 8 months ago

    Crowd boooooing Balotelli. Plebs.

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    1. riot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 8 months ago

      Peasants

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  18. beric
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 8 months ago

    Nooooo

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  19. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 8 months ago

    MANDDYY YOU BEAUTY

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  20. Miro
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 8 months ago

    Strnic assist!

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  21. COMH
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 8 months ago

    What a finish!

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  22. ★A-O-Chamberlain★ COYG …
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 8 months ago

    Manzukic!

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  23. Chazza
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 8 months ago

    Dang you Mandy.

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    1. Chazza
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 8 months ago

      oh and the other bandwagon, Strinic 🙁

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  24. Optimus.
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 8 months ago

    jeze him again

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  25. crystalpalaceRus
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 8 months ago

    Is that a Strinic assist? 😀

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    1. djman102
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 8 months ago

      A very fine one, at that. Great cross.

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  26. djman102
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 8 months ago

    Mandzucik! Finally, something positive from my team.

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  27. UKG
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 8 months ago

    Mandy!!!! Mandy!!!!! Oh Mandy!!!!!!! Get the f in!!!!!

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  28. riot
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 8 months ago

    Mandy..gets me 5 and loses 4 from Bonucci...

    GET IN GET IN GET IN I KNEW KEEPING YOU WAS WORTH IT YOU LITTLE BEAUTY

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  29. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 8 months ago

    Oh piss off. Took him out and now he ruins the only chance of a CS I had. Dirty skank....

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    1. beric
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 8 months ago

      +11

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  30. TheProfesssor
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 8 months ago

    OH WTF

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