The IT had a piece from the news conference where Pirlo said he decided to do that penalty after Hart had made his move, that Hart had been a bit puffed up.
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The IT had a piece from the news conference where Pirlo said he decided to do that penalty after Hart had made his move, that Hart had been a bit puffed up.
I also read that Prandelli questioned him about it. Pirlo said it served another purpose too - to pump up his teammates. Quality thinking, if true.
Edit - this is what Pirlo said:
The outrageously cheeky penalty that Pirlo chipped past Joe Hart with his team trailing in the shoot-out is known in Italian as a cucchiaio (spoon) and apparently the midfielder mastered the art as a teenager at Brescia's academy.
Pirlo did not try to dismiss the significance of the way in which he scored: "It was really relevant to the match and our win. This changed the course of the game. In my opinion, Hart seemed to be very confident in himself and, scoring against him this way, it did seem to be a psychological blow. I needed to do something to beat him. Penalties are a very personal thing.
"When you have to shoot a penalty you have to be confident in yourself. I didn't say anything special to my team-mates. We are united as a group."
Yesterday, a member of the Italian media suggested that perhaps he was a bit mad and that might be some kind of explanation for why he took such a risky penalty. "Look, it was not folly. It was not madness," Pirlo said. "I felt like doing that thing at that moment in time. I don't think I was mad when I hit this penalty. I just had this moment of inspiration before I took it."
http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...s-3151560.html
Yeah, the 'psychological blow' thing was significant.
Good on Pirlo.
Am expecting Ingerland to win their next shoot-out v.us in Turkey, 2020...
Pique having a shocker but Portugal need to score cos I can see them tiring with this harrying.
Yep, but equally I can see Portugal getting one major chance. On balance though I can see Spain wearing them out.
It's not just harrying, it's a bit cleverer than that. Portugal are taking up clever positions without the ball.
BBC commentary driving me mad.
I don't have the requisite word for what Portugal are doing.
Harrying will do.
Spain coming into it more. Bento needs to make a change.
They need a Paolo Verde of their own.Quote:
Originally Posted by BonnieShels
probaly gonna give this the kiss of death but I was gonna put some money on spain but then
I looked at the first 10 minutes and opted for the draw.
expect a goal right after I post!!!
Portugal do a decent job marking up, not chasing the ball around like we did
but but keeping their players marked so it is not easy to pass, you can see the Portuguese waiting for the passes.
We wait until the pas has been made and chase ball.
The dullest game ever?
Hope so then I can claim on the draw :)
goal chance ha ha chance missed :)
Hmm..
That Ronaldo is a great lad
I am annoyed cos I backed Italy and they drew. 60 seconds and I collect.
could well be a draw germany italy.
i didn't find it too boring, mind you I was out at the shops for some of it, it is a bit like a game of chess
this passing game, you have to think a move ahead, but we only look at the next move.
Dam we have enough 30 mins of this carp lol.
lol indeed.
looks like only spain can win it before penos
i put some money on spain to qualify in the extra time, seemed a decent bet but it went to peno's still won though