¡Viva la furia roja!

[a la izquierda]

What a boring 90 minutes, but holy cow, the extra time and PKs were so exciting that I a)cursed like a well-salted sailor and b) scared the shit out of my dogs and neighbors.




¡Viva España! ¡Viva Cesc!

[many a good man]

1. Bodes well for the final

It looked like they awoke from a long slumber and finally started playing with real intensity. They'll have to keep it up in the Final if they want to win. Anybody dare to guess Del Bosque's starting lineup on Sunday?

[Ron Obvious]

2. I think..

I think Del Bosque is going to try something radical. Not only play without any forwards but without fullbacks as well, in a daring, ground-breaking 0-10-0 formation. They'll just pass the ball around to each other in midfield until the Germans fall asleep and then... pass it around to each other some more.

Remember, you read it here first!

[T_i_B]

3. Yep

If the other team don't break up Spain's play then we are going to see the same old routine.

Technically outstanding but hoo boy it's boring to watch. You'd hope they play a type of player known as a "striker" in the final. No strikers means no goals.

[Rambis]

4. I dumped direct tv

went with a local cable company (I know the owner) match taped extension didn't so I missed extra time etc. ***********

[T_i_B]

5. Speaking of TV covergae

BBC commentary was pretty rubbish. Martin Keown doesn't half talk a load of rubbish.

In fact come to think of it ex-Arsenal players tend to be really poor as pundits. Ian Wright, Tony Adams and Lee Dixon are all dreadful as well.

[Rambis]

6. They could always have Piers as a fallback option

He should be looking for work soon. Gooners who should be goners-

[a la izquierda]

7. And now it's time to destroy the Italians.

[T_i_B]

8. I can imagine the Spanish tut-tutting about last night

Teams playing with strikers. How very dare they!

Plus scoring with a long ball over the top rather then playing endless tippy-tappy stuff in front of the opposition defence without getting in behind the opposition defenders will never do.

[a la izquierda]

9. Jaja

they win how they win
Funny thing, my ancestry is mostly Irish and the rest Italian, French & Spanish. I root for Spain every time (unless it's against the US).

[a la izquierda]

12. Tut Tut, I think we destroyed the Italians.

[T_i_B]

13. No doubt about that

Looks like the Spanish saved their best performance for the final.

If the score by half time hadn't settled it Italy's 3rd substitute going off with a hamstring injury minutes after coming on made it a guaranteed big win for Spain.

[a la izquierda]

14. I've followed Spain for a long time...

as well as Real Madrid and Barcelona when I can. I knew that Del Bosque had something up his sleeve. The whole tournament felt as though Spain simply went through the motions to ensure they'd get to the final.

[VWolf]

10. Should be a good match,

especially on the heels of the 1-1 group stage draw.

I'm Azzurri through and through, so I'll be on the other side.

Wouldn't be surprised to see this one go 0-0 or 1-1, followed by the crapshoot.

[Marooned]

11. Forza Italia!