Round of 16: Italy - Spain

[ADRossi]

MoM today was Pelle. Him and Eder seem to compliment each other well. Folks on BBC were saying how they believe the modern defender doesn't know how to play against two strikers.

 

[TheNetworkZ]

Spain BTFO

 

[firmino]

conte is a great coach. there is a huge difference in technical skills between italy (especially without the likes of marchisio, verratti and candreva) and spain, and still it ended like this. or maybe it is the cat to do all the work and conte gets the credit, who knows:

 

[kameru]

Cunte did it again

 

[ElDuccio]

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I realised i actually start to LIKE Cunte a bit...

When he acted this way at Rube i thought he was a complete douche. Now i find it fantastic.

 

[Ffi201zi002tlis]

Am I the only one who think Del Bosque is just an overrated coach? He won a lot at Real, but it's because Real had the best squad back then. Then he took over Spain NT. copied Barca tactics and relied on players' talent again.

 

[ADRossi]

Am I the only one who think Del Bosque is just an overrated coach? He won a lot at Real, but it's because Real had the best squad back then. Then he took over Spain NT. copied Barca tactics and relied on players' talent again.

I mean, you have to give him credit because engineering three consecutive major tournament victories is impressive. Is he some tactical mastermind? No, but he has picked the right players (i.e. trusting Torres when no one did in 2012) and gotten the best out of his players. I think 2014 and this edition of Spain are both missing the same two elements; speed and finishing. I don't think it's a coincidence that Spain was winning titles when they had a world class finisher in Villa at the front. Take him away, and it's a team of wasted possession. Lot's of sizzle, no stake.

Also, the team has aged significantly (as all great teams do). Clearly Brazil in 2013 figured out that the best way to defend Tiki Taca is with pressure high up the pitch and multiple passing outlets in your own third of the pitch to diffuse Spain's pressing. This might be a result of the age of the squad not having the stamina to maintain the pressing style Del Bosque preaches.

If Conte manages to pull this off, it will go down as one of the greatest coaching feats in the history of modern football.

 

[Fapuccino]

If Conte manages to pull this off, it will go down as one of the greatest coaching feats in the history of modern football.

Would it? Italy's strikers are horse crap, but their defence is the best in the tournament (chemistry included). I think teams like Costa Rica and Iceland making the quarter-finals is a much bigger deal than Italy winning Euros. Isn't one of Iceland's co-managers a dentist or something like that?

 

[ADRossi]

Would it? Italy's strikers are horse crap, but their defence is the best in the tournament (chemistry included). I think teams like Costa Rica and Iceland making the quarter-finals is a much bigger deal than Italy winning Euros. Isn't one of Iceland's co-managers a dentist or something like that?

I agree the defense is fantastic, but the rest of the team isn't. Giaccherini, Parolo, Eder, Pelle - these are not quality players. When you factor in the path Italy is going to have to go through to win: Belgium, Spain, Germany, France -all of which are superior sides on paper, this has to be considered an upset.

Is Iceland beating England the biggest upset we've seen at this tournament? Probably. But Iceland was fantastic in qualifiers, and they didn't exactly escape in convincing fashion from a rather poor group. I wouldn't say they quarter final run is that surprising.

 

[wera]

Pelle could start in a bigger club, I am sure. Better than a Giroud, for instance.

Conte knew what to do, loving his Italy.

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Isn't one of Iceland's co-managers a dentist or something like that?

Since when does that matter? Dado Pršić was a mechanic and he still played in a CL final.

Many great footballers are shit coaches. Many shit players great coaches. You do not need to be the best at football (or having football education) to understand how to manage a team.
Also, a lot depends on mentality as well, I think we are seeing Iceland's reaction to CRs comments.

 

[ADRossi]

I'm not sure what to make of Pelle. He's a bit streaky, and a little lazy at times. He disappears from games for long periods of time, but is a strong finisher and has done a great job of building up the attack so far this tournament.

Surely Pelle would score more goals if he played in Serie A than the EPL, no?

 

[thatdude]

I don't know if Pelle could do it over the course of a season in a big club. I think the club would have to have a really good system in place, similar to Conte's Juventus team with Quagliarella - Vucinic or Llorente - Tevez.

I think he could do a similar job to what Llorente did for Juve over the course of a season. He was rumored to Lazio though, him under Bielsa would be intersting. Bielsa certainly got the best of he Gignac who is admittedly more mobile.