It's a copy and paste from media but dissects the Italian previous performances and goes into their unbeaten run a bit more...
"And now a little game called Imagine if Italy were England. What would everybody be saying?
That they beat a poor Turkish team, an ordinary Welsh team whose stars are past their best and a Switzerland team ranked two places lower than Mexico, all at home, to qualify from the group stage.
That they were outplayed by Austria and needed extra time to scrape through the round of 16.
That they beat a Belgium side that always disappoints in tournaments, that has an aging defence, that had a half-fit Kevin De Bruyne and was without Eden Hazard. That Italy were outplayed by Spain in the semi-final and were very fortunate to win on penalties.
Add in its likely If Italy were viewed like England, their victory over Turkey would be seen as routine
And that their run of 33 games unbeaten is nothing special and includes victories over Finland (twice), Liechtenstein (twice), United States, Bosnia-Herzegovina (four times), Armenia (twice), Moldova, Estonia, Northern Ireland, Lithuania and San Marino.
Indeed, the sequence only includes five matches against recognised football powers and the results from those games are three draws (versus Portugal, Holland and Spain) and two wins by tight margins (1-0 v Holland, 2-1 v Belgium).
It would all be nonsense, of course. Italy are a very good team, deserved finalists, and fancied by many to lift the trophy"
Found this interesting.
posted on 9/7/21
Valid point and puts a more negative English perspective on things, but that doesn't take away their achievement to go 33 games unbeaten as well as reach a major tournament final at the very least.
It just shows how we need to rubbish the "English negativity" narrative to be honest.
posted on 9/7/21
Then imagine if Italy were outplayed by Scotland and needed to cheat the to get past a Z list team. England are now viewed in the same way France were for cheating to get past Ireland.
posted on 9/7/21
Furrrk off Barry
posted on 9/7/21
Then imagine if any tournament winning team had ever had to play footballs world powers the whole way through a tournament - it’s never happened before but people will rubbish England because France, Spain, Belgium failed to advance far enough to play them.
I don’t really care, but some folk need to prepare, if we win on Sunday then we are going to see some mighty tantrums and mud slinging from opposition fans. To be fair how often do we slam the Germans - they’ve never cared and neither should we.
Fingers crossed that come Monday morning we are waking up to loads of whinging from mostly Scottish fans on this site
posted on 9/7/21
comment by Striketeam7 - #WhatwouldSandydo (U18109)
posted 28 minutes ago
Then imagine if any tournament winning team had ever had to play footballs world powers the whole way through a tournament - it’s never happened before but people will rubbish England because France, Spain, Belgium failed to advance far enough to play them.
I don’t really care, but some folk need to prepare, if we win on Sunday then we are going to see some mighty tantrums and mud slinging from opposition fans. To be fair how often do we slam the Germans - they’ve never cared and neither should we.
Fingers crossed that come Monday morning we are waking up to loads of whinging from mostly Scottish fans on this site
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Very doubtful. There’ll be the odd bit of banter that will probably focus on the fact you didn’t beat us, but to a man every Scotland supporter recognises you have a great squad of players and a manager who for once appears to make the most of that.
You were always high up on the favourites list and the draw as it happened with so many games at home made you even more so.
The rivalry would want many of us to have the Italians win just to witness the usual deflation that has usually come after the hype; but there’s a strong expectation you’ll win it.
I won’t be supporting you, but I’ll be happy for my Mrs and some of my kids who are English if you do win. I’ll probably keep schtum at home if you don’t only for self preservation. Everyone else is a target for the sheite and mockery I’ve taken from mates and colleagues.
posted on 9/7/21
Lol..the Scots will be in mourning
posted on 10/7/21
A lot of truth in this. We’ve often overhyped our players and teams but, paradoxically, we’re also quick to explain away (relative) success and decent performances where we’d usually just give credit to a different international team for producing the same.
posted on 10/7/21
comment by Got_Better (U6241)
posted 16 hours, 6 minutes ago
Lol..the Scots will be in mourning
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Hmmm.
Despite showing you how wrong you are; you might be a tad premature don’t you think?