| SPAIN |  | 1 | : | 1 |  | ITALY |
| Di Natale, 61' | Fabregas, 64' |
My match rating: ★★★
My man of the match: Pirlo (I)
UEFA report ---|||--- Player ratings ---|||--- Photos ---|||--- Highlights
UEFA report ---|||--- Player ratings ---|||--- Photos ---|||--- Highlights
What an excellent game! I was worried that it might be a one-sided affair, with Spain tiki-taka'ing their way to a 3-0.
Instead, Italy found their footing early and kept the Spaniards on their toes for the first hour of the game. Pirlo and Motta were crucial to Italy's early midfield domination, as was Del Bosque's decision to play his star midfielders Iniesta and Fabregas as improvised forwards. While Iniesta was dangerous and the best of his men, Spain's legendary midfield fell to Pirlo's superb tactical intelligence. Pivotal was also Prandelli's decision to play De Rossi as a sweeper, for he and Chiellini guaranteed an experienced and rock-solid foundation for an otherwise young and vulnerable defensive line (read more on De Rossi's defender star quality here). At the other end, Cassano practiced what he learned from his trequartistarole model Totti and dominated Spain's defensive three-quarters.
Then, as usual, the game changed with the first score. Pirlo served Di Natale a delightful ball at the edge of the box after a quick counter. The Udinese striker should have sided it to the oncoming Cassano, but instead curved it past a blameless Casillas and just inside the far post. At that point, despite some interesting chances for Spain early in the second half, Italy's lead was well deserved. That shocked the Spaniards, who seemed to suddenly remember that they are World champions, European champions, and overall football demigods.Cesc equalized right away after a cunning inside pass from Silva: a goal whose beauty matches and perhaps surpasses Di Natale's. Italy was in for it and risked big in the next 15' as Spain gained yards and confidence. With the scare gone and the midfield balance reestablished, both teams crafted and missed the game's clearest opportunities: Torres twice for Spain and Di Natale and Marchisio for Italy.
The final score fairly represents an exciting, fully balanced, and very intense game, which rivals Germany-Portugal as the best yet in Euro 2012. The only sour note is Italy's Balotelli, not because of his hotheadedness (though that was definitely there...) but for the missed chance at 55'. I've rarely seen such a display of stubborn self-confidence in the small box, and the football gods rightfully punished him. And so did Prandelli, who promptly replaced him with Di Natale. And we know how that turned out!
Instead, Italy found their footing early and kept the Spaniards on their toes for the first hour of the game. Pirlo and Motta were crucial to Italy's early midfield domination, as was Del Bosque's decision to play his star midfielders Iniesta and Fabregas as improvised forwards. While Iniesta was dangerous and the best of his men, Spain's legendary midfield fell to Pirlo's superb tactical intelligence. Pivotal was also Prandelli's decision to play De Rossi as a sweeper, for he and Chiellini guaranteed an experienced and rock-solid foundation for an otherwise young and vulnerable defensive line (read more on De Rossi's defender star quality here). At the other end, Cassano practiced what he learned from his trequartistarole model Totti and dominated Spain's defensive three-quarters.
Then, as usual, the game changed with the first score. Pirlo served Di Natale a delightful ball at the edge of the box after a quick counter. The Udinese striker should have sided it to the oncoming Cassano, but instead curved it past a blameless Casillas and just inside the far post. At that point, despite some interesting chances for Spain early in the second half, Italy's lead was well deserved. That shocked the Spaniards, who seemed to suddenly remember that they are World champions, European champions, and overall football demigods.Cesc equalized right away after a cunning inside pass from Silva: a goal whose beauty matches and perhaps surpasses Di Natale's. Italy was in for it and risked big in the next 15' as Spain gained yards and confidence. With the scare gone and the midfield balance reestablished, both teams crafted and missed the game's clearest opportunities: Torres twice for Spain and Di Natale and Marchisio for Italy.
The final score fairly represents an exciting, fully balanced, and very intense game, which rivals Germany-Portugal as the best yet in Euro 2012. The only sour note is Italy's Balotelli, not because of his hotheadedness (though that was definitely there...) but for the missed chance at 55'. I've rarely seen such a display of stubborn self-confidence in the small box, and the football gods rightfully punished him. And so did Prandelli, who promptly replaced him with Di Natale. And we know how that turned out!
| IRELAND |  | 1 | : | 3 |  | CROATIA |
| St Ledger, 19' | Mandžukic, 3'
Jelavic, 43'
Mandžukic, 48' |
My match rating: ★★ ½
This match was very entertaining, but it was also evidence that you cannot judge a football match by its score, as so many laypeople tend to do: of today's two matches, by far the most rewarding one was the one with the fewest goals. That's because Italy and Spain gave life to a game of chess with high stakes and abundant talent, whereas Croatia and Ireland are much lower on talent and higher in energy, will, and brazenness, and their game fully reflected this character. That may appeal to some viewers, and as I said it was very entertaining and I had a lot of fun, but consummate footy fans tend to favor brains over brawn.
With that said, there was plenty of brain at work, at least on the Croatian side. That is not to say that Ireland's coach, the Italian Giovanni Trapattoni, didn't plan the game right; but I often felt that his men were being outsmarted by the Croatian midfielders' wider range and superior physical prowess. The score of 3-1 may be a little severe on Ireland, who played a resolute game and produced at least as many chances as their opponents. But of course, the scoreboard is what matters in the end.
The Blazers thus climb to the top of group C after matchday one, which confirms that Croatia are the third power in this group. Should one of the powerhouses Spain and Italy make a false step, Croatia will be there to pick up the pieces and grab the second spot.
My man of the match: Jelavic (C)
UEFA report ---|||--- Player ratings ---|||--- Photos ---|||--- Highlights
UEFA report ---|||--- Player ratings ---|||--- Photos ---|||--- Highlights
With that said, there was plenty of brain at work, at least on the Croatian side. That is not to say that Ireland's coach, the Italian Giovanni Trapattoni, didn't plan the game right; but I often felt that his men were being outsmarted by the Croatian midfielders' wider range and superior physical prowess. The score of 3-1 may be a little severe on Ireland, who played a resolute game and produced at least as many chances as their opponents. But of course, the scoreboard is what matters in the end.
The Blazers thus climb to the top of group C after matchday one, which confirms that Croatia are the third power in this group. Should one of the powerhouses Spain and Italy make a false step, Croatia will be there to pick up the pieces and grab the second spot.
GROUP C STANDINGS
| team | points | wins | ties | losses | goals+ | goals- |
| CROATIA | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| ITALY | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| SPAIN | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| IRELAND | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
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