Good afternoon, Canada!
It’s getting down to crunch time. The men will be separated from the boys today. [Insert your favourite sports cliché here as to indicate the importance of this match.]
England won their group and as a direct result, they avoided playing Spain yesterday. However, Italy shouldn’t be taken lightly. Never mind the fact that the Germans are waiting to play the winner of this contest. The focus for England has to be squarely on today’s opposition, the Azzurri.
Player to watch for England: Joe Hart (pictured below)
Perhaps this is a bit of my English bias speaking here, but Joe Hart has been the best keeper in the tournament. Remember David James? Or David Seaman? Yeah, well, this guy isn’t them. There’s good reason why Hart backstops the mega rich Manchester City and he’s proving why at Euro 2012.
Player to watch for Italy: Mario Balotelli (pictured below, well, kinda)
Joe Hart, Joleon Lescott and James Milner all are expected to start for England against their Manchester City team-mate, Mario Balotelli. The talking point leading up to this match is that his team-mates know how to push his buttons. Expect Balotelli to over-compensate as to prove a point to both England and his team-mates. In doing so, he’ll no doubt become frustrated, as he so often does. Once Balotelli gets heated, one of two things can happen: 1) He will utterly dominate the match 2) An instant red card.
Fun fact: Thus far, England has the best shot conversion rate in the group stages (21.7%).
Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo says England are 'very predictable' and are fortunate to be in the QF of Euro 2012. bit.ly/LSq3V9
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Sky Sports (@SkySports) June 24, 2012Prediction: Expect England to relentless attack the Italians and put the game out of reach before the first half comes to an end. Wishful thinking? Perhaps.
Here’s a email I thought I would share:
Hey Mike,
I know that you’re an England fan and I know that you live in Toronto. Can you please do all of us a favour and liveblog the game from Little Italy?
My response: Do you know exactly where I live in Toronto (nervous laugh)? And no.
Here is how the two teams will line up:
England: Hart; Johnson, Terry, Lescott, Cole; Milner, Parker, Gerrard, Young; Rooney, Welbeck.
Don't understand why Young starts again - he's been weakest link in all 3 games. Should have given way to Walcott or Ox. #England
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Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) June 24, 2012Mario Balotelli & Co.: Buffon; Abate, Barzagli, Bonucci, Balzaretti; Marchisio, De Rossi, Pirlo, Montolivo; Balotelli, Cassano.
Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal).
Caution gentleman: Should Cole, Gerrard, Young, Milner and/or Oxlade-Chamberlain pick up a yellow card today, they will be unable to play against Germany (Assuming they progress).
Roy Hodgson and Gary Neville
Here we go, Canada. Kick off has approached.
Let’s get this thing started with a little bit of music, shall we?
1 min Mario Balotelli takes a wild shot from some distance. Hart easily grabs up the weak attempt. Italy has had all of the possession (Fear not, England. There is a long way to go).
2 min Wow! De Rossi cracks a long shot from distance which curls and crashes off the upright. It’s an extremely lucky break for England. Great start for Italy. Here’s a picture of the shot.
4 min Great start to the match. Johnson kicks the ball right at Buffon from point blank range. It’s an opportunity squandered, unfortunately. Johnson should’ve done better.
So nearly a goal at the other end, Johnson being denied from close range by Buffon's outstretched hand. Great start. #EURO2012 #ENGITA
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Wayne Harrison (@UEFAcomWayneH) June 24, 201210 min England corner. England has regained the bulk of possession and have been attacking Italy with a good amount of pace and vigour. It’s proving to be a very open contest.
13 min A very clever, curling ball in from Johnson nearly finds a streaking Rooney in the box. Buffon absolutely looses his cool with his defence.
Watching England-Italy!! Great game to watch!! I bet for a draw.. 1-1 and extra time! #euro2012
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Gerard Piqué (@3gerardpique) June 24, 201214 min Pasta should be ready in two minutes or so, FYI. I just tossed some up against the wall and it stuck (A little trick I learned in Rome a few summers ago). Looks appetizing, eh?
16 min Italy can’t seem to get organized at the moment. Pirlo has been a complete non-factor thus far. And more importantly, the pasta is officially ready! Bring out the garlic, tomatoes, and olive oil.
Here is a look back at Johnson’s attempt on goal
It would appear as though minutes 16 to 30 have been erased. I’ll attempt to restore those minutes at the half. But for now, I blame my pasta-induced coma for diverting my attention.
30 min Welbeck takes a pass from Rooney and absolutely butchers a great scoring chance, sending it high over the net.
34 min For all of the Italian possession, they have yet to find their way through. The ball has generally been in the midfield for the last 3 to 4 minutes. Time to check on the garlic bread.
hands up who thinks England were playing better without Rooney? Perhaps bring back Carroll & Walcott #euro2012
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Mark Shaw (@markshaw) June 24, 201237 min Rooney is taken down incredibly hard in the midfield, yet there is no whistle. There has been an incredible lack of free-kicks in this contest.
Not impressed by Italy. Poorest team they've had for a very long time.
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Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) June 24, 201238 min Cassano gets a shot on target. His effort from 25 yards out swerves, forcing Hart into a nice save. Italy has been pouring the pressure on England.
This game is making me way nervous. Quick thought, lads - can't win the game if you're barely touching the ball. #England #euro2012
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jian ghomeshi (@jianghomeshi) June 24, 201243 min As Mr. Ghomeshi rightly points out, Italy has been doing well to keep possession.
HALF TIME
Quick stat for you, Canada: Italy have completed 299 passes. England, on the other hand, a mere 152.
Okay. We’re back. No subs to report on. Quick tip: Cheap red wine just isn’t worth it. But pasta is pasta, so don’t waste your money.
46 min England are showing a good spring in their step at the moment. I wonder what Roy told the lads at the half? Something about springs, no doubt.
48 min De Rossi, who appears to be completely offside but isn’t, missing the net at point blank range. England is once again let off the hook by some shoddy Italian finishing.
51 min Terry breaks up a terrific cross. Everything happens all at once as Balotelli strikes from close distance but is stopped by Hart. The rebound comes out but it’s hit over the net. Fortuna is clearly favouring the English.
I've seen the headline tomorrow + I luv it!!!! "The great escape"
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Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) June 24, 2012Here’s an email for a reader.
Question Hey Mike, why don’t you place in Italian tweets as well. You know, to balance things out?
Response: Thanks for the email. I don’t understand Italian.
57 min England sustaining a lot of pressure. Ashley Young clashes heads with Abate as the two men go down to the ground.
58 min Walcott and Carroll warm up for England. It looks as though they’ll be focusing their efforts on the attack going forward.
We can't beat the defenders because we're too slow, too tired. Need fresh, fast legs.
#Theo #TheOx
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Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) June 24, 201260 min Milner and Welbeck go off for Walcott and Carroll. If you’ll recall, last time Walcott was brought on against Sweden, he changed the make up of the match entirely. Here’s hoping he can duplicate that effort.
Theo Walcott is the first player to come on as a sub in all four of his country’s matches at Euro 2012.
#bbcfootball
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BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 24, 201263 min Time for a pinch of Gelato.
64 min Carroll knocks the ball of an Italian defender in the box. The English will get a rare corner… Nothing happens. Italy get possession.
67 min Cassano is taken out from behind by Carroll. No free kick. There has only be 14 free-kick so far this match, which I’ve been told insn’t much.
70 min Rooney grabs the ball and passes it to Walcott. A nice build up from England is quickly squandered by a terrible pass from Parker which sails out of bounds. The Germans must be laughing out loud right about now.
73 min Steven Gerrard is down with what looks to be cramp. This can’t be good for England’s chances.
75 min England is surely getting a lot of men behind these shots. Say what you will about John Terry, but he’s having an excellent match.
77 min Italy’s best player this afternoon is being taken off for the former West Ham player, Diamanti.
80 min De Rossi is being taken off for Nocerino. I have to say, I don’t fully understand these changes, but then again, I know basically nothing about Italian soccer.
STAT: 23 attempts on goal by Italy. 6 attempts on goal by England.
81 min Barazagli picks up the first yellow card of the day. Free kick to England.
Best player on the pitch, btw, has been Pirlo. Peerless. Sending the ball on a journey around #eng half. Joy to watch. (Gerrard ok btw)
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Henry Winter (@henrywinter) June 24, 201286 min Oh dear. England gains some momentum with Carroll running around the defence only to have Parker rifle a pass out of bounds. Again.
88 min Johnson makes a super block against Nocerino. Nocerino was streaking in the box, found the ball at his foot, took a shot, only for it to be blocked at the last second by Johnson. I’m sure I can find a Tweet that better explains it.
92 min Rooney strikes a bicycle kick over the net in what has been the best bit of attack England has produced all day.
My little trip over to the gym will have to wait (And trust me, I could use it). We’re going into extra time. 30 more minutes, folks.
And the soccer has started again.
Ah, extra time. The dentist's waiting room of football. #euro2012
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Colm Tobin (@colmtobin) June 24, 2012You’d have to to think that Germany is absolutely loving the fact these two teams are duking it out in extra time. Not only do the Germans have more days to rest in between matches, but they also will have played less soccer. 30 minutes to be exact.
93 min It looks at though Jordan Henderson will be replacing Parker for England, despite all the Ox for Young Tweets.
94 min Maggio will miss the semi-final if Italy get through after being booked. His offence was getting close to an English player. Very light call indeed.
100 minutes have now been played. I have yet to take a rest since 6:58 a.m. this morning when I started building this page. For you, readers, anything. Just don’t call me a hero!
101 min Balotelli has a go from distance but it’s deflected and slows to a crawl. It’s easily gobbled up by his Manchester City team mate.
105 min Walcott runs the ball down the wing and sends in a cross for Carroll who meets the ball out of bounds.
END FIRST HALF OF EXTRA-TIME
And here we go again, all of the players are sucking back water and getting rubbed down. Can’t we cut to commercial or something right about now, TSN?
Not to tempt fate but #ENG and #ITA are as bad as each other at shootouts. England have won 1 of 7. Italy 2 of 7.
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Ben Smith (@BenSmithBBC) June 24, 2012107 min Young gets kicked in the face.
Passes made: England 320 Italy 709
109 min Stalwart defending by England. They are heavily under pressure but still, this late in the match, blocking just about everything.
111 min Balotelli takes a free-kick in a promising spot. He makes an absolutely dogs dinner out of it.
114 min GOAL! Actually, offside.
The crowd erupts as the Italians hit the ball into the net. Unfortunately for them and fortunately for my pocket book, the play is blown offside.
116 min Sheesh. England look woeful in attack. It’s one Hail Mary long-ball after another.
Go figure. #penalties is apparently trending on Twitter in the UK.
That’s it. We’re off to penalties. On with the show!
The Gods are conspiring in our favour. By the beard of Zeus, we will conquer these pesky men from the continent...
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Joseph Barton (@Joey7Barton) June 24, 2012PENALTIES
Buffon shakes Gerrard’s hand for the third time this match. These guys gotta be running out of things to say to each other.
Here we go. Who will emerge as a hero? Who will be the goat?
Italy will kick first. Hart smiles at Balotelli.
Balotelli scores even though Hart guessed right.
Gerrard scores to even things up.
ITALY 1 ENGLAND 1
Montolivo MISSES THE NET!
Rooney strikes it to the keepers right GOAL!
ITALY 1 ENGLAND 2
Prilo barley touches the ball. Extremely cheeky. He scores.
Ugh. Young hits the crossbar. The advantage is lost.
ITALY 2 ENGLAND 2
Nocerino scores.
Cole fails to convert.
This is not looking good for England.
Dimanti scores
ITALY WIN 4 to 2
That’s all folks. English hearts are broken. Italy will be playing Germany in the semi-finals.
I suppose it is justice as Italy played better. Penalties again!!!??? Good night all past my bedtime.
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bradley h friedel (@friedel_b) June 24, 2012Have an excellent night, Canada.
