Ireland's two group rivals - top 2 in Europe

Ah well :)

I know they're losing but it's great to see a side actually playing football against Spain.

Italy have actually came back into game since going behind they now have 53% possession.
But they are not creating clear chances.

Interesting that, despite Chiellini's departure, there is a Juventus spine to this Italy side, just like the Spanish side is strongly represented by Barcelona (though with a Real spine). Can you imagine an England side going out with the same set up?

What was the highest finishing English side last season that was predominantly English (say 7 out of 11)?

Probably Swansea, ironically.

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

What was the highest finishing English side last season that was predominantly English (say 7 out of 11)?

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Accrington??

WE are as bad as Italy 4-0 :angry2:

I hear faint echos of the "Field of Athens Road" from the Italians!!

Lol just realises Athens is in Greece :)

Let's make that The Fields of Ancient Rome!!

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

What was the highest finishing English side last season that was predominantly English (say 7 out of 11)?

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Stoke, maybe?

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Originally Posted by back of the net

I dont care how good spain are

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I think how good Spain are, has a lot to do with it.

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Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

it's great to see a side actually playing football against Spain.

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Great revolutionary tactic that. By trying to take on Spain at their own game, they only kept the score down to the biggest loss in a final in the competition's history. That's where playing football against Spain gets you.

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Originally Posted by mypost

I think how good Spain are, has a lot to do with it.

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Sorry but it has nothing to do with it. We had a one shot on target, for a team of mainly premiership players to offer as little as we did is so wrong. Spain can beat any team 4-0 but to surrender and take the beating like we did is worrying and serious questions have to be asked

If Spain can do that to any team, even in the final, what's to complain about?

The team of mainly Premiership players, saw 4 such players relegated last year, another demoted to a lower league club since the tournament, another playing in America, and another in Russia. That's 7 players from the team of "mainly Premiership players" trying to cope with players from the best clubs in the world, and take them on at their level.

What's the answer? There is no answer. We have to do what everyone else has done for the past 6 years. Take it.