ijjysmith
Calm
I say got it in the bag, and by that I mean got here....only the bloody QUARTER FINALS. In all honesty there is no way I would have put a penny on that before hand. So...can't complain.
I'll tell the truth here. I wasn't expecting to have to write a fourth one of these so bare with me here.
The Ukraine match was a bit lame wasn't it? I'm no neutral but even I was a bit bored. Rooney looked unfit (not as unfit at Miguel Veloso though, the fat Portuguese Molby), Ashley Young continued being sh*te while being a snide whereas usually he's just a snide who is actually alright for Man United, and James Milner continued to put more crap crosses in to fill up his Opta Stats #aimless. However, I seem to have filled all these previews up with negatives. If they were all negetives we wouldn't be in the Quarters would we? So, Lescott has played well hasn't he? Parker likes heading on the floor doesn't he? Walcott is a good sub isn't he? That'll do for positives.
So Italy next. And all their Ballotelli madness. They've actually been quite quiet this tournament. Which can only mean dangerous things. De Rossi has been a bit of find at the back, Cassano is uber unpredictable, and pass master Pirlo. They actually have a decent squad. And of course they have....
Christ knows what he'll do in this game but it's bound to be ace. Even if that's a 35 yard free kick, or he licks Glen Johnson's face and gets sent off. Anything could happen.
Italy are actually a bit more attacking nowadays. Prandelli has got them actually trying to score more than one goal. This is good as if it had been Hodgson's England against say, Lippi's Italy then it could have been the most boring game of all time. We know England will sit back, and at least with Italy having a proper go England can try that counter attacking thing that happens usually in the 92nd minute and Gerrard steals an easy finish of an 18 years old Southampton lad (actually found out today that The Ox was born in Pompey FFS!). WE ALL SAW IT STEVEN. Should be an alright game this anyway.
I guess we all should have known that Capello's old boys would end up playing his even older boys. And I guess I should have known that the team GOT gave me in the Sweepstake would end up playing England. Hey, I can't lose. Well I can actually. If England lose I won't know what to do....that brings me to penalties. I thought of this the other day. Would you bring Baines on for someone who can't take pens late on? I bloody would. I'm really not sure I could take another loss on penalties. Hate them, but love them when teams i don't care about are in them. FIFA (the tits) have been looking for alternative to pens. Here's a thought. JUST LEAVE IT.
Remember that? Bad Butcher wannabe.
However, you can well see Parker getting in that state as he dives head first at a Mario piledriver. And to be honest England are gonna need that sort of commitment to do this. There does seem to be a certain steel to this side. But have we really played well for a total of 90 minutes yet? In the 3 games combined? Against a decent French team, a dodgy Swedish team and a pretty terrible Ukraine team? No we havn't. Yet i see and hear little glimpses of optimism sneaking in to the average fan. Luckily i'm not blind and bring you all back to earth.
It's in.................you lucky French swines (and that's all i'm saying about that).
England might beat Italy. Italy might beat England. England are saying Italy are the favourites. Italy are saying England are the favourites. Personally i'd put Italy as slight favourites. But we shall see.
Not that it matters. I've just watched Germany rip Greece a new one so whoever wins this is unlikely to go further.
For all you non-Englanders. Just remember Italy invented the pizza. So without them Pineapple on pizza wouldn't exist. Think about it.
Alf Ramsey
