Spain, the defending European champions and World Cup Champions, will take their first step toward trying to win an unprecedented third straight major title with their Euro 2012 opener against Italy.
For Italy, the match is a stiff test for a team facing plenty of adversity amid the latest match-fixing scandal and a rash of pre-tournament injuries. The 'Azzurri' could trot out a 3-5-2 formation to try and cope with Spain's dynamic possession game. For Spain, the big question is which forward will be called upon to lead the line, be it Fernando Torres or Fernando Llorente.
The day's second match features Ireland taking on Croatia in a match-up of teams with realistic aspirations of reaching the knockout rounds if Italy can't get it together. The Croatians boast a skillful midfield led by Luka Modric, while the Irish are led by the aging trio of Robbie Keane, Damien Duff and Shay Given.
Here is the viewing schedule for the day's matches:
12 p.m. - ESPN/ESPN3.com - Spain vs. Italy
2:45 p.m. - ESPN/ESPN3.com - Croatia vs. Ireland
If you will be watching today's Euro 2012 action, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action.
Actually I prefer the moniker “Group of Debt”. That was my favorite piece of commentary from the play by play man. Just look at the Euro Financial Crisis and three central countries are Italy, Spain and Ireland! Hilarious and sad at the same time. If only Greece could swap places with Croatia could we have the full-on “Group of Debt”
Oh right, Seattle – the place where soccer was also invented.
Spain wasn’t that impressive at all.
I look forward to you acknowledging Lalas’ commentary.
I’m loving Ballack as the big scary German that doesn’t smile.
He’s given some good insight, he’s honest, and his personality is hillarious in contrast with Lallas.
When he made that, “Italy is a better side” comment, Lallas almost jumped out of his skin.
Good point. Bob Ley’s lack of soccer knowledge is painfully evident, and he really didn’t put the team in position to shine.
Bob Ley was the point man. The #10. The trequartista, and his inability to get the best out of the guys around him made for some awkward, yet laughably entertaining moments.
..and the Robbie Keane Handball against Georgia that all of Ireland and a large number of my fellow Americans seem to forget? Gimme a break. I’m more impressed that Ireland scored a goal since I didn’t think they would and said so. Hopefully things work out better for them but puhlease don’t pull this good football karma crap. Play Good Football for good Football Karma.
It was a shockingly mesmerising chemistry.
I couldn’t look away.
I actually enjoyed Casey Keller.
Reminds me of the commentary pairing from the movie ‘Dodgeball’. ESPN the Ocho.
Keller has a lot of enthusiasm and his unconventional delivery is a welcome break from the typical cliches thrown out by most color comentators.
Just my thoughts, but I can understand where some might not agree.
+1
This is the group of death,….for Ireland. They were hard done by a terrible first goal (Given?) and should have had a PK in 62nd minute but otherwise were totally outclassed.
It looks really bad for Ireland now. I’m not sure they’ll get a point in the opening round.
I agree with you on the detestable Ballack.
But I’m okay with the use of side, pitch, and football. To accomplished watchers of soccer, American or otherwise, these words are common enough. When you watch broadcasts of EPL or whatever league on Fox Soccer, you become comfy with these terms and I personally use them all the time. I like that ESPN is not dumbing it down TOO much and expecting the fans to be somewhat conversant with the game.
Cheers!
insulting* the hand that feeds
US coverage of an international soccer tournament wouldn’t be complete without Europeans insulted the hand that feeds while an American Eurosnob nods in agreement.
Sure, Italy is traditionally better than the US, but Ballack is a prick for belittling Lalas and the audience.
More than that, I’m fed up with Bob Ley and his incessant, unnatural injection of “side” and “pitch” and “football” to show his faux Euro sophistication of the beautiful game.
Um, no. When the term “American” is used it is almost always to describe a citizen of the United States of America, not someone from North America (three sovereign countries with unique people, culture, and government).
And yes, the wave was invented in the USA.
Bam
wah wah wah…
3-2 Egypt FT
Oh boy Given needed to have that. 1-0 off a weak header.
Alti, let the hate go my friend. You’ll be better for it.
Bob Ley should take some criticism for the lack of insight in the studio show. A guy like Rossi, with little media experience, needs pointed questions involving what’s going on in the game so he can just talk about the game.
I’ve watched the NHL network studio show during the playoffs, and seen current players they bring in give a lot of interesting analysis of the game.
You had a defender, midfielder, and striker in there, they should have been able to cover the Italy Spain game from any number of different angles.
Egypt just went ahead of Guinea from the PK spot. 2-1 to Egypt with 70 minutes gone.
The wave started at husky stadium, in Seattle. Go dawgs. Rossi with the most toothless analysis I’ve ever heard. I understand you play with Mario and that may make being critical troublesome. That being said.. don’t take the gig. Come on espn.. Really? though I like ballack thus far.
Spain really misses David Villa…they need a pure finisher to capitalize on the chances they create. Torres was that finisher a few years ago, and I can’t help but think that he can be that he can be that guy again…
I’d love to see Ireland do well. I feel like good football-karma should be coming their way after the Henry handball incident a few years ago.
I think this overcrowded midfield experiment will be sufficient against weaker teams where they can more easily pick apart the defense. But Italy’s quality defensive play exposed the problem with Spain’s system. Spain will need someone up top after they leave the group stage.
Screw you Rossi. You suck as a commentator. Whoever hired him at ESPN should be fired immediately.
He’s a pretty poor commentator, and I find him kind of annoying, but i really appreciated his comments on diving too.
+1
I came here specifically to comment about how awful Rossi’s presence and analysis was and it looks like everyone has beaten me to it. Not only is he inarticulate, he has nothing to say.
Well, that was a pretty interesting contest. There was enough skill, excitement, and flair in the second half to complement the careful nature of the first half. I thought it was good times.
At the end, Spain’s goal came before any substitutions or formation changes and Torres’ horror show makes del Bosque’s selection seem okay.
Now do we see Torres again or will it be one of the others?
yep.. Rossi a laugh, but we’re all talking about, it, right? Score one for teh rating/buzz chasing producers…
Tighten your tie and button your collar Giuseppe. Geez…
yeah, Rossi’s accent sounds robotic
Torres pulls a Balotelli, not once but twice!
that’s true, but i took it as he was referring to the USA as opposed to the Americas.
Can’t believe he’s in. He didn’t do much in the WC, either. Mata or Llorente are better choices.
You called that.
He looks uncomfortable, but English hasn’t been his primary language for years.
Cliches and platitudes. That’s all he brought to the studio, in my view.
Wow, Torres. Jeez. It hurts to watch.
Seeing deRossi get elbowed in the throat makes me happy.
Ha! I’ll take that!
Italy trying too many long balls over the top. Not everyone can be Pirlo.
Ian Darke seriously needs to learn how to pronounce Giovinco. It’s driving me mad. Jo-Veen-Kho not Jo-Veen-Cho
Italy better slow this down or they are going to concede very soon.
I wonder if this game will impact the French Open. You can bet Nadal is watching this right now during the rain out.
Agreed about showing their work. But also, they are so very married to the ‘conventional’ wisdom that they simply can’t accept an unusual formation or substitution.
The most frustrating thing about it is it seems like it could be good commentary if they just elaborated on what they were talking about.
If they say del Bosque will be questioned, for instance explain what’s so odd about the formation–both in terms of the way Spain play and how it might play against the opposition.
I feel like most commentators just give answers without showing their work, which isn’t informative or entertaining.
Well, that’s a nice turn of events. Some attractive stuff on both goals to complement the interesting tactical battle.
Tough foul by Marchesi on Iniesta. Ouch.