I do agree with some parts of your posts. Congrats! I also think it's a shame that Italy didn't go through to the next round, because I think they're a side that entertains with good individual players and offensive play. (the catanaccio days are over, even though they played defensively in the 60's, they actually DO attack more than most countries now) They have a great defence, particularly the three to the left, Panucci is quite average. Probably the best defence in Europe, I do think that this is some of the reason why people think they still play defensively. They DO attack, it's just that Cannavaro and Nesta is so good they rarely concede goals.. But, as you say, since they didn't make it to the next round, they're not good enough. Simple as that.

Yeah, I forgot to say that Buffon and that suit from the Italian Football Association (or something similar..) is being ridiculous, really disappointed in Buffon especially. Sure, it's tough to be knocked out on a 2-2 draw, but he should not have said anything to the media about it - that's just unprofessional behaviour. Too bad, the two top players making themselves laughing stock, Totti and Buffon! But, as mentioned in the post above, Italy will come back, WC 2006 should be about perfect for the team - Del Piero, Vieri and perhaps Panucci out - Gilardino, De Rossi, Ferrari, Bonera and quite a few more coming through with class. Btw, I think it said somewhere that Totti donates the money he MIGHT get from his lawsuit to charity, probably UNICEF then, since he's a goodwill ambassador there.. (See Totti-thread, and forget the greed-thingy..)

No, Dr.Rich, when I say there's no Totti, I mean there is no worldclass player in a free role behind the strikers to make brilliant passes and neat flickons, which Totti has done in every match this season for Roma. He's just one of the top three players in the world in his position, the two others are Ronaldinho and Zidane. I don't really care whether you anti-Italians agree, I just state my opinion- plus the opinion that most people who's watched Serie A shares. The fact that he failed to handle the pressure on his shoulders is a weakness, and spitting and nearly chopping off Rene Henriksens leg is not something I usually approve of.. actually, I don't approve it this time either! But, he's still a fantastic ballplayer, probably the most complete forward in the whole world IMO. He almost scored as many goals as Shevchenko this season, I'd say that's pretty amazing for a playmaker. Agree with Rover6 actually, great post! The catenaccio days are over, can't believe you people nagging about defensive Italy, even though England has played all three matches with 8 men plus James in defence the last half hour. Italy did that once, against Sweden, and Zlatan scored. Cassano and Del Piero has been very good in attack for them after Totti's suspension, and Zambrotta has, as you mention Rover6, been brilliant at leftback, supplying a lot of good crosses from the touchline. Also, players like Pirlo and Gilardino, who wasn't included this year for some reason, has a lot to offer a side, and will become instrumental for Italy in the future.

Didn't bother to read through all the bash-Italy posts here, so I just expect that most of them made fun of my first one on page one.. I can understand why a lot of you don't like Italy, and I wasn't trying to make you like them either. I'm just saying, I like watching Italy, I like a lot of their players, and I don't really like Denmark that much. Sure, Gravesen has been good this two weeks, and sure the wingers are quick - but there's no Zlatan, there's no Totti, there's no Rooney for that matter.. I did see Tomassons first goal against Sweden, and it was a beautiful one. Still, I don't like him very much, he's poor when it comes to one-on-one situations, and he (except this one goal) mostly scores tap-ins and a few with his head now and then. Besides, he plays for Milan, don't like them much either.. Gattuso of course, but not Tomasson.. Conclusion: I want players who can make it happen, and Italy has got a lot of them. Also, even though Totti made a fool of himself against Denmark, Italy's footballers are not cheaters and spitters. There's barstewards (use your imagination) in England aswell.

No, not really, couldn't care less to be honest. I hope Sweden can keep it going, because I like a lot of their players. But I haven't got the same attitude towards the Danes, I do hope that Czechs beat them.

Disagree, now we'll see a tournament without some of the best individual players in the world, such as Nesta, Cassano, Cannavaro, Del Piero, TOTTI, Fiore etc., replaced with boring, boring Dahl Tomasson... feel sorry for Italy, they deserved better.

Oh, please, why should we sign Thomas Helveg? He's terribly average, probably the worst RB in the Serie A! PS: Great post thenodrog!

Yeah, pretty amazing.. the fact that they actually still pay Robbie Fowler says it all I guess...

No need to scout for future strikers, what is wrong with Gallagher, Stead and hopefully Jemal ? Also, Barker, Garner +++ ! Leftwingers is another story though, if Watt or Peter doesn't make it to senior level within the next season we WILL need a Gamst or someone else to cover for the future I guess.. And, as Souey says to LET, we don't have any money (for some reason?) this summer, therefore we sign bosman and free transfers. Wouldn't you say that Dickov, De Pedro and perhaps Matteo is quite good considering they are free?

GREAT news, he WAS nominated for best left winger in Europe last season - alongside Duff, Giggs etc. Let's just hope he can adjust to the Premiership, he's more of a passing winger with an eye for goal if I'm not mistaken. The fact that he was included in the Spain squad last season is a sign of quality - with Vicente, Reyes and so on.. probably the national side in the world with the best wingers IMO! Now all we need is a solid CD, what about that young Israel defender - he was on free transfer, I'm sure he won't demand huge wages?? Perhaps a good signing if we sign Matteo as well....? Btw, doesn't La Liga have a very low wage level? I do think De Pedro is a quite cheap option, actually?

He said that, but he didn't think that a leftwinger was that important - now we've lost Todd (probably soon anyway) and need a replacement for him. Yorke leaves, I'm sure, Dickov replaces him. So really, the leftwinger is all that is left - and therefore Souey has the "right" to complain IMO. Can't understand why we could offer 1,5 millions for Gamst though, if we were THAT broke. Let's hope we can get De Pedro or something, and that Williams can land Matteo for us..

Great, now let's forget the central midfielders and concentrate on getting Matteo and Gamst Pedersen to the club.

Yeah, I'm aware of that. But where in London? Just didn't understand why this was the place for a mini-riot..

Suspected that Gamst was interested in moving, after reading what he's said about the club. Hopefully we'll come back with an improved bid, but I don't think the transfers will happen on Tromsø's premises, and certainly he won't be signed for october ! Sadly, really, I think Tromsø will bend although they financially and contractwise doesn't have to sell - good for Blackburn though.

Why Croydon ?? Where is it anyway? But credit to the England fans IN Portugal, after a match like that you'd think there would be trouble..

James has to take some of the blame for Zidane's freekick, it's in the long corner and that shouldn't be possible - great freekick or poor freekick. It's his corner, he didn't move and was misplaced to far left where the wall covered. He was probably afraid of a great freekick to the other side, but that just isn't good enough - the far corner is James' corner and it should not be possible to score there.

You're joking aren't you? Beckham's penalty was going in exactly the same position as Zidane's. If James had dived that way he may well have saved it. Difference is, Zidane saw James leaning to the left before shooting, Beckham didn't see Barthez lean to the right.

The penalty wasn't THAT bad, if anyone's to blame it's Gerrard and Heskey - plus perhaps James. Heskey for making a totally unneccessary freekick, James for letting Zidane steering it in the corner excellently, and Gerrard for messing up COMPLETELY in the end. But this whole Zidane vs Beckham thing is idiotic IMO, the match is between France and England, not Z and B. A disgrace that Santini can go back to the hotel with three points after choosing Wiltord btw, not just in the squad, but for choosing him instead of players like Rothen - when France needs to score.. But what the heck, let the unfit and poor frenchy get some minutes...

You're not talking about Giannakopoulos are you?

And for Carew, appearantly..

You can't really blame Karyaka for cutting into the center, Izmailov spent his whole match trying to take on Puyol - not exactly the easiest task.. BUT, I would still like to see MGP, don't give up on him yet !

And of course, Norwegian Nettavisen reads Norwegian Dagbladet.. ...this is the same old story all over again, because Nettavisen claimed that Ferguson was interested all the other Norwegian newspapers wrote about it aswell. Soon, the Norwegian writer in SkySports will read it - and spread it to the rest of the world. In two weeks: Gamst signs for Blackburn in a £1,500,000 deal.

Agree with Rainmaker and Daheri, bet that Rovers returns with an improved offer in a week or two. And Dagbladet hasn't got a clue, they just draw their own conclusions from an article on the official site...

That's just great! However, since Matteo is on a 2 million contract, they'll probably try offloading him cheaply and let Rovers do the negotiating, wouldn't you think? Give him to JW for half'a'million, he'll persuade him into taking a crappy contract - and everyone's happy!

Viduka and Milner by any chance? Actually, it was Viduka and that coach/manager, Blackwell. Milner was in the trunk..