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I know there's a thread for world cup games but felt this one deserved it's own thread as there is obviously a lot of interest in this on here.

For some reason I'm really excited for this, possibly due to seeing the competition really light up last night.
Really think (hope) we can get something from this.

I expect the line up will be:

...................Hart.....................
Johnson....Cahill.....Jagielka......Baines
...........Gerrard.......Henderson.........
....Welbeck......Rooney......Lallana
..................Sturridge.............

Although I'd like to see Barkley in there for Henderson and Sterling for Welbeck.
Italy are obviously gonna have a lot of possession so countering well will be key and hopefully the likes of Lallana and Gerrard can actually help us keep the ball at times.

My optimism is probably misplaced but f*ck it. Come on England!!

Come On You Lions!!!

If Danny Welbeck starts I'm turning it off.

Breks wrote:If Danny Welbeck starts I'm turning it off.

welbeck will start. woy wont stick his neck out this early, although if england do progress it wouldnt surprise me if the side by that stage is ragless

nothing to fear
come on england!

Nigels Tackle wrote:nothing to fear
come on england!

We don't do we? Italy really aren't all that great. That's why I'd play Barkley and Sterling and try and take the game to them.

Word is Buffon might not start after being injured in training.

Bridge'srightfoot wrote:

Nigels Tackle wrote:nothing to fear
come on england!

We don't do we? Italy really aren't all that great. That's why I'd play Barkley and Sterling and try and take the game to them.

Italy's defence is pretty fucking shocking imo, but so is Rooney normally for England, so it evens out.

If Mario shows up, we will have a problem.

Does anyone remember a young kid coming on for Italy in a full international in recent times, smallish, attacking mid/No 10 type position, & being absolutely exceptional, or am I imagining it & it was U21s ?

Can't see anyone in their squad who fits the bill.

I clearly remember seeing some kid who I thought looked fantastic & now I have no idea if he's gone shit, injured, dead, signed for someone who won't play him, or perhaps it wasn't a full game at all & he's only about 18, & my memory is fucked. But I could have sworn it was the full Italian team I saw him play for & not the U21s.

Does this ring any bells or is it likely I'm mixing it up with the U21s ? Could have been a friendly I suppose.

Ted Hughes wrote:Does anyone remember a young kid coming on for Italy in a full international in recent times, smallish, attacking mid/No 10 type position, & being absolutely exceptional, or am I imagining it & it was U21s ?

im assuming it wasn't Immobile who had a hat trick last week..right?

phips wrote:

Ted Hughes wrote:Does anyone remember a young kid coming on for Italy in a full international in recent times, smallish, attacking mid/No 10 type position, & being absolutely exceptional, or am I imagining it & it was U21s ?

im assuming it wasn't Immobile who had a hat trick last week..right?

No this kid was more of a Silva/Nasri/Zola kind of idea.

He was so good I just thought 'sign him' straight away, but maybe I am thinking of a younger age group game. Even if that was the case though, I would expect him to be in the full squad now, if he wasn't then.

Might be Insigne? Or Giovinco, but he's not in the squad & a bit older. Both are about 5'4.

this guy?

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giampaolo_Pazzini

scored a hattrick for their u21s vs england when wembley opened

On this note , my brother has his picture splattered on the front page of Daily fail , the lucky bastid is in Manaus dressed as Brian Blessed.

The twat......and Im an even bigger twat as my flight to Peru is at 5.30 today.....Im such a cunt.

Saul Goodman wrote:Word is Buffon might not start after being injured in training.

Out of the match and maybe entire World Cup

phips wrote:

Saul Goodman wrote:Word is Buffon might not start after being injured in training.

Out of the match and maybe entire World Cup

That'd be a shame, I'm sure I seen him in somebodies WC Dream Team.

Nigels Tackle wrote:this guy?

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giampaolo_Pazzini

scored a hattrick for their u21s vs england when wembley opened

No it's not him but I remember that & was surprised Pazzini never became the full dog's bollocks.

I Just Blue Myself wrote:Might be Insigne? Or Giovinco, but he's not in the squad & a bit older. Both are about 5'4.

Deffo not Giovinco as this was a pretty young kid, but I suppose it could possibly be Insigne & he's just not reached the level I expected.

carl_feedthegoat wrote:On this note , my brother has his picture splattered on the front page of Daily fail , the lucky bastid is in Manaus dressed as Brian Blessed.

*like

carl_feedthegoat wrote:Im such a cunt.

And ?

Ted Hughes wrote:

carl_feedthegoat wrote:On this note , my brother has his picture splattered on the front page of Daily fail , the lucky bastid is in Manaus dressed as Brian Blessed.

*like

carl_feedthegoat wrote:Im such a cunt.

And ?

Point taken.

I'm almost certain it was Insigne, Ted. He was incredibly highly related a couple of years ago - i think you were watching him in the under 21 tournament about a year or two ago (not sure when).. I watched it too when England were in it and he was different class. Best player on the pitch by far. He had bright blonde highlights back then i think if that rings any bells?

Not sure if he's reached those heights since but i do remember him being touted as Italy's big hope.

twosips wrote:I'm almost certain it was Insigne, Ted. He was incredibly highly related a couple of years ago - i think you were watching him in the under 21 tournament about a year or two ago (not sure when).. I watched it too when England were in it and he was different class. Best player on the pitch by far. He had bright blonde highlights back then i think if that rings any bells?

Not sure if he's reached those heights since but i do remember him being touted as Italy's big hope.

I think you're probably right judging by the sound of that, cheers.