Logic wrote:Laurencio wrote:
You could at least try? It was the most obvious flaw of Italy's play. They rely a tad too much on Pirlo, because Cassano although a decent player is not good enough to make those pin point passes (shown by his fluffed balls towards Balotelli). Montolivio isn't 100% match fit which reduces his effectiveness. Considering the lack of genuine wingers midfield is where Italy like to be. So who is their main creative outlet? Andrea Pirlo.
Pirlo was moving about like he was taking a jog in his own back yard, passing about with a 10 year old. Italy had a handful of poorly executed passes to Pirlo, but because of the complete and utter lack of any pressure or marking he could just walk about with it, occasionally being rammed down from behind by a headless tackle from a striker. When Italy failed to create movement ahead of the ball (countless times in both halves and in extra time) Pirlo had to sit on the ball for a while, but instead of putting pressure on Pirlo, they just stood there and waited for him to casually pass a pin point ball out wide or through on goal.
Rarely have I ever been more frustrated at a midfield than watching England watch Pirlo. He walks past two feet ahead of England's midfield and they just let him move it about as he pleases. Putting pressure on him could force a flawed pass and create a counter opportunity, it could force Italy to create through less reliable passers, and it could mess with their tempo. It's so basic it's not even funny.
That pissed me off. The English players just seemed to let them play, where was the pressure? fucking terrible to watch.
It's ironic too because the Premier League is famed, at leads by it's pundits, for it's high intensity, high pressure style.
