Group F Thread

[Power King]

HTFU princesses, the whole country hates us Collingwood folk but we thrive on it

I should just keep this in mind. I should know given port and the sanfl.

 

[ErnieSigley]

Indeed. And if they finish 2nd in the group on goal difference, they can avoid Spain in the quarter-finals on goal difference, but they would have to get past the Dutch in the last 16 and Brazil in the quarter-finals, which Italy are more than capable of doing.

I doubt Italy fear Spain. Winning the last WC you would have the confidence to take on all comers. Remind me how many WCs Spain have won?

 

[ErnieSigley]

It is a genuine hate for all those people who were born in Australia, have lived their whole life in Australia, yet always support Italy, Croatia, Serbia, etc.

Italy happens to have the largest population so therefore receives the most hate.

I was born here but have an Italian background. I support Austalia first and foremost but they are crap and therefore will most go the second side.
I agree its bizzare that people go for the country of their ancestory first before their native one.

There are more Greek background people than Italian in Melbourne yet the hatred for Greece isn't there. I suggest its more about jealously than population size.

 

[DB10]

Meh, it's simply obvious that most anglo fans bandwagoning on the socceroos just hate wogs, and hence the Italian soccer team.

Serious question though for anyone that is anti-Italy:

Do you have any friends of Italian background in real life?

Is your hate genuine such that it boils over into racism, or is it merely light-hearted?

I love Italy as country, its culture, history and the Italians here I know are great people. I just hate the football team. ditto France.

the worst thing about the World Cup is all the blow-ins and n00bs with no idea that'll show up over the next month. happens every time.

 

[Kompany]

I doubt Italy fear Spain. Winning the last WC you would have the confidence to take on all comers. Remind me how many WCs Spain have won?

Italy won't fear Spain because they managed to keep them quiet at the euro 2 years ago and they can kill the game like no other, but having won the WC 4 years ago hasn't got any relevance today (just compare the sides and age/form of certain players), leave alone Spain's poor history in tournmanents. Didn't stop them from winning the euro, did it?

I love Italy as country, its culture, history and the Italians here I know are great people. I just hate the football team. ditto France.

Re France, I agree on its culture (great music scene), history and all that, but honestly, how many Frenchmen do you know?

 

[DB10]

just the one. does it really matter?

 

[bok_party]

I'm Australian but my mum and her grandparents are italian. They all support Australia and my grandparents were born in italy! I'm Australian through and through but in the event Australia doesn't make it (and its looking unlikely at the moment) I will support Italy. I'd rather Australia win any day over Italy.

Anyway, Italy looked good. passing was very good I thought and attacked well. unfortunately they didn't have the cutting edge in the final third. Paraguay did what Australia should have done against Germany. They played deep.

 

[esaint66]

GO THE ALL WHITES !!!!!

1-0 tonight, Chris Killen to score

 

[ErnieSigley]

Italy won't fear Spain because they managed to keep them quiet at the euro 2 years ago and they can kill the game like no other,

yet their coach got the sack basically for failing to attack spain.

but having won the WC 4 years ago hasn't got any relevance today (just compare the sides and age/form of certain players),

of course it's relevent, it gives you belief you can do it again in the same tournament

leave alone Spain's poor history in tournmanents. Didn't stop them from winning the euro, did it?

yes Greece won euro too, they should be second favourites

 

[Kompany]

of course it's relevent, it gives you belief you can do it again in the same tournament

Like the Aussies believed they could make it past the group stages again based on their experiences 4 years ago, with largely the same group of players?

Cannavaro is 36, Pirlo & Gattuso are injured/out of form/past it - or at least nowhere near what they were in 06, Toni's not there anymore, Totti's not there, Del Piero's not there, Zambrotta and Camoranesi are 33 instead of 29...

This is a very different squad this year, capable of getting really far as always, but I fail to see the connection with 4 years ago, other than Lippi.

yes Greece won euro too, they should be second favourites

Fnar fnar

 

[youngsaint]

I love Italy as country, its culture, history and the Italians here I know are great people. I just hate the football team. ditto France.

the worst thing about the World Cup is all the blow-ins and n00bs with no idea that'll show up over the next month. happens every time.

I'm that sick of it. Alot of rookies getting about with as much credibility as a Pele world cup prediction.

 

[Dagger5]

Cmon Skrtel and Hamsik.

 

[Pumbi]

Small Crowd is Small.

 

[DB10]

Small Crowd is Small.

the crowds have been a joke all tournament.

 

[beez]

I love the Kiwi anthem

 

[OzBomber]

Where's the haka?

 

[AG]

Where's the haka?

Haha, I don't think it would have the same impact.

Why does the camera have to be so close to the players when the sing the anthem. It's funny when one of them eye balls it while singing though.

 

[AG]

NZ have started well.

 

[jonesy86]

I'm tipping NZ will end up with more goals and points than the socceroos.

 

[magtrev]

So according to the commentator, Killen, Fallon and Smeltz are all actually named Killen.

 

[TheStinger]

Cmon Skrtel and Hamsik.

Yes a Hamsik Hat-trick would be nice.

 

[OzBomber]

I know NZ are playing a far weaker side than us, but atleast they're taking the game on. Have made quite a few chances to start.

Btw, what a shit crowd. South Africans should be ashamed. I think they've lowered the sound of the telecast because it's much harder to hear the vuvuzela's, or it could just be the small crowd.

 

[DB10]

Btw, what a shit crowd. South Africans should be ashamed. I think they've lowered the sound of the telecast because it's much harder to hear the vuvuzela's, or it could just be the small crowd.

no roof on the stands = noise escapes.

 

[TheBlackPrince]

Paston tries to outdo Robert Green in the howler stakes!

 

[Kompany]

Btw, what a shit crowd. South Africans should be ashamed.

You'd think the majority of South Africans can't afford to go, wouldn't you?

The large majority can't even afford to buy a house.