Euro 2012

Matchday Three – Day Three – Dugout Discussion

18 June 2012 886 comments
Paul Paul
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It’s the penultimate evening of the group stages already and Group C is still far from decided. While Republic of Ireland have nothing but pride to play for against Italy, Cesare Prandelli’s team need the three points to stand any chance of progressing.

A win for Spain against Croatia in the other game would be beneficial to the Italian cause but, as the previous couple of nights have shown, we should take nothing for granted. Both games kick off at 7.45pm this evening and, as always, our Dugout Discussion is up and running.

The team news is in and is as follows:

For Italy, Cesare Prandelli rings the changes for their must-win match. The 3-5-2 system is out, replaced by a 4-3-1-2, while four players are replaced in the starting XI. Ignazio Abate and Federico Balzaretti are handed starting roles at right and left-back respectively, Daniel De Rossi moves back into midfield, while Andrea Barzagli comes in at centre-half. Thiago Motta plays “in the hole” behind a front two, with Antonio Di Natale partnering Antonio Cassano up top – Mario Balotelli, Christian Maggio, Emanuele Giacherrini and Leonardo Bonucci drop out.

Giovanni Trapattoni makes just a single alteration to his side, with Kevin Doyle returning to partner Robbie Keane up front – this means Simon Cox drops to the bench.

Italy Starting XI: Buffon; Abate, Barzagli, Chiellini, Balzaretti; De Rossi, Pirlo, Marchisio; Motta; Cassano, Di Natale

Republic of Ireland XI: Given; O’Shea, St Ledger, Dunne, Ward; McGeady, Andrews, Whelan, Duff; Keane, Doyle

Defending champions Spain keep faith in the side that hammered Republic of Ireland last time out. Fernando Torres continues to lead the line after his double against Trapattoni’s troops last Thursday, leaving Cesc Fabregas to warm the bench.

Slaven Bilic makes a couple of changes to his side. Croatia look for a little more security and roll out what appears to be a 4-5-1 formation; Nikica Jelavic drops out, as does Ivan Perisic, with Danijel Pranjic and Domagoj Vida handed starting roles against the Spanish.

Spain Starting XI: Casillas; Arbeloa, Pique, Ramos, Alba; Busquets, Xavi, Alonso; Silva, Torres, Iniesta

Croatia Starting XI: Pletikosa; Srna, Corluka, Schildenfeld, Strinic; Pranjic, Rakitic, Vida, Vukojevic, Modric; Mandzukic

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886 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Is Forca Inter throwing flares again?

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    1. Parm
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      Yep.

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  2. FPL Daniel
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Iniesta nice throw ball to TOrres. Jesus what I have to do in order to get points from INiesta. So that hit INiesta and Jelly would have been nice for Cassano or Pirlo and pilar or something. That was my choices.

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    1. The Milkman
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      It was a poor ball I thought...

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  3. Chazza
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Iniesta really has been below par tonight... so far.

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    1. The Milkman
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      Yep, a bit sloppy by his standards.

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

    Strinic yellow.

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    1. Gaz Downright
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      not what POR need

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  5. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    No Jelly no party...

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  6. FPL Daniel
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Forza are u out there? Why Bilis isn't realizing that he need goal and some Jelly time. How he would achieve that with 4 5 1 ?

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  7. shermanater
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    come on croatia

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  8. Mr Sarcastic
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Hmmmm, maybe no torres for me after all.
    Anyone robbed a bank and going ronaldo / gomez / benzema?

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    1. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      yes But I only took enough for myself.

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      1. Mr Sarcastic
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 5 months ago

        shame, have to take torres instead of benzema then.
        It doesn't look right to have torres in my team tough.

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    2. Demel
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      Ronaldo/Gomez/Cassano

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    3. RÏɠBY
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      benz looks about as useful as rvp

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  9. super zlatan
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Could this be the first goalless draw of the tournament

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  10. The Milkman
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone starting to get the feeling Croatia will nick a late goal and go through with Italy?

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    1. super zlatan
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      Would love that.

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    2. r0nh
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      I've have said already that Spain are going out!!

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  11. Back on the horse
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    So as it stands this is good for England, if England top the group? they would play Italy instead of Spain?

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    1. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      as it stands if England top the group they would play Spain

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      1. Back on the horse
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 5 months ago

        oh yeah, I meant if Engalnd come second. Anyway, best for us to avoid Spain

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        1. RÏɠBY
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 5 months ago

          not if they follow the croat system

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      2. Back on the horse
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 5 months ago

        Just noticed the spelling of your name, Kahn. how does that compare to Khan; are they alternative spellings or completely different origins?

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  12. Mr Sarcastic
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Oooooh, fck. Chiellini out, bonucci in - not good for italy at all.

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  13. Declan
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    No cleansheet Cheillini

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  14. Mílanista
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone miss out on a Chiellini cleanie by 3 minutes?

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    1. GunsnRoses
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      Killer 😉

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  15. crystalpalaceRus
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    omg nearly croatia!

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  16. isacki: full casual
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Did anyone lose their Chiellini CS?

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  17. A2U
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    WHATASAVE

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  18. super zlatan
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Wow. Save by casillias!!!!

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  19. GunsnRoses
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Ratizic (whatever the spelling is :D) almost a free header 😐

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  20. Dynamic
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    What a save!

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  21. FPL Daniel
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    OMG Croatia. That suits Spain. They could be another Russia. THey need to attack

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  22. rdb
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Modric showing why hes worth 30m right there!

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    1. Gaz Downright
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      *45

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    2. The Milkman
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      50m

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    3. rdb
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      Trying to keep the price down as am a Man Utd fan ;D

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  23. Parm
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    SAVE!!!!

    Modric is quality.

    Fergue, snap him up.

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  24. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Great save Casillas.

    That's the way boy, only let them in if it's Mandy

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  25. Chazza
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    This game is about to get seriously hot.

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  26. RÏɠBY
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    NO FEAR!!

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  27. isacki: full casual
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Mad respect to Croatia, taking the game to Spain

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  28. Dynamic
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Navas coming on

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  29. Portsmouth Bubblejet
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Quite some performance so far for Croatia by Gordon Schildenfeld, considering the fact that he's spent this season playing in the German second division. He was also strong when he helped Sturm Graz to the Austrian title in 2010-11.

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  30. Dynamic
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Torres off.

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