Group E - Belgium, Italy, Republic of Ireland, Sweden

[Furball]

Reckon this could be the game of the tournament so far. Been an excellent opening half hour.

 

[Uppercut]

That's a beautiful goal too.

 

[BoyBrumby]

That, conversely, was a howler.

Free header from five yards.

 

[Uppercut]

Have to say that Italy completely dominating a team with much better individuals bodes well for Chelsea next season.

 

[grecian]

Reckon this could be the game of the tournament so far. Been an excellent opening half hour.

Springwatch has been really good, you're clearly missing out.

 

[Furball]

Tell you what, I wouldn't mind Arsenal throwing in a cheeky bid for Barzagli. Great player.

 

[Furball]

Have to say that Italy completely dominating a team with much better individuals bodes well for Chelsea next season.

It'll be interesting to see if he tries 3 at the back at Chelsea and whether he can get it to work.

 

[Cabinet96]

Apparently he doesn't actually like 3 at the back he's just done it at Juve/Italy because of the players he's had available

 

[sledger]

Have to say that Italy completely dominating a team with much better individuals bodes well for Chelsea next season.

Belgium have been pretty tepid though tbh. They continue to strike me as a group of individuals rather than a proper team, just bereft of any collective strategy. I remember thinking this two years ago during the WC, and wondered if they might have got it together a bit in the intervening period, but so far it seems like it's just more of the same.

Edit: Not meaning to take anything away from Italy of course - they've been pretty good, and fun to watch too.

 

[Uppercut]

Tell you what, I wouldn't mind Arsenal throwing in a cheeky bid for Barzagli. Great player.

The back three are all world class, but I don't think I can remember the last world-class Italian to leave Italy at their peak.

Forgot Carrasco is on the bench for Belgium, this is even worse than I thought. De Bruyne played out of position to get Fellaini in at 10 and Carrasco out, that's incredible. The team picks itself and he picks a totally different one.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Barzagli's about 80, isn't he? Bit of a stretch to say he's at his peak.

 

[Uppercut]

Barzagli's about 80, isn't he? Bit of a stretch to say he's at his peak.

I think this season was probably his best. Late bloomer.

 

[Furball]

The back three are all world class, but I don't think I can remember the last world-class Italian to leave Italy at their peak.

Forgot Carrasco is on the bench for Belgium, this is even worse than I thought. De Bruyne played out of position to get Fellaini in at 10 and Carrasco out, that's incredible. The team picks itself and he picks a totally different one.

Lorenzo Amoruso.

 

[sledger]

Barzagli has been really good for years. Probably better now than he ever has been previously, but it's weird how he's only recently been getting mainstream recognition.

 

[Furball]

Zambrotta at Barcelona is probably the serious answer.

 

[Furball]

Lukaku's been minging tonight.

 

[Furball]

Thiago Motta being Italy's number 10 is depressing.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Third stoppage time goal I've seen and third time the game has ended virtually dead on the 'minimum stoppage time' (which has been 3 minutes every time).

 

[Furball]

Ooft. What a counter.

What a very Italian performance, kept Belgium completely at arms length. Aside from France I reckon that's easily been the most impressive performance of the tournament so far.

 

[sledger]

Yeah, great job Italy. Great performance. Belgium really pedestrian.

For once I agree with the BBC pundits entirely. One side played like a team, the other just played like a bunch of headless chickens. Very disappointing really - was hoping Belgium might really be good.