Bus parking deluxe and fans who know only one sound (whistling). Not exactly an appealing combination tbh
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You have to admire the Turks for their resistance imo. If they can keep it up, it will be difficult.
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Someone needs to teach them a song for the team. Something, anything but whistling!
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Well, many would give a penalty for that last situation. I agree with the Norwegian studio commentators that are saying that Italy should probably think they should have got a penalty (according to the new hands rules that I don’t like, but in England and in Serie A that would have been a penalty).
Anyway, that was a fantastically fun 45 minutes.
In term of common sense, I don’t believe that should be a pen. But football these days desperately lack of common sense.
Great kebabs, though.
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Yes. Basically the national dish around here
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It should absolutely not be a penalty, but in England and Italy it would have been. The new (awful) hands rule says that it is. Now, I don’t like that hands rule, but according to it, it was a pen.
There’s a whole chain in London:
They’re pretty good, although not as good as some independent old-school Turkish places.
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All these talking of food is making me hungry, and I had lunch only 3 hours ago!
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Chiellini’s last championship. I wish he had scored on that magnificent header. But like the commentators said, why the Turks let a man as good on the head as Chiellini stand free, God only knows.
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Italy’s left hand side looking much better now going forward. Insigne tucking inside finding nice pockets of space and giving Spinazzola a lot of room to run into and drive at the full back.
So 0-0 half time. Not really changed my thinking on the game, both sides will be fairly happy so far. Turkey will be came into the game with a very deliberate 4-4-1-1 system just looking to get two banks of four into the way and plenty of cover in front of the defence. When they pinch the ball the plan is clearly to try and get Calhanoglu to create something for Yilmaz on the counter. It’s not pretty but it’s been quite solid and Italy’s chances have been half chances at best (Insigne probably had the best one on his give and go from the edge of the box when he should have worked the 'keeper).
Italy are doing OK. Ironically for a team that have dominated possession though their best work has been off the ball as the counter press have been triggered well, particularly on Soyuncu who looks a bit of a donkey today. I’m slightly disappointed with their actual play in possession though, it’s a lot of stuff in front of the Turks and then a hopeful cross or chip into the area which Demiral and Soyuncu will win every time.
The exception to that is Insigne who has shown some very good spacial awareness, coming off the left hand side to sit in the pocket and cause some issues for the Turkish defenders who don’t want to come out and follow him. Spinazzola has also been good taking advantage of those wide open spaces down the left hand side when Insigne does move infield. Immobile and Berardi just aren’t close to the same level as him as you get the feeling they could do with another clever player in there to break through.
Kevin Kilbane here also mentioned that Turkey players used to grab the oppositions, especially in their own box. Chillani was left alone and really should not miss that chance. (Edit: He didn’t miss actually. It was a good save.)
I don’t see the good Turkish tactical play some see at all. They are much too deep, they don’t take their runs properly when they actually won the ball, which can’t possibly be their manager’s plan. They created only a single run of any significance all 45. Italy played well, created a lot of dangerous situations while being truly good to re-win the ball.
The extremely low laying Turkish defence, if it continues, will lead to several shot opportunities from medium distance next half. It is no plan to defend that deep, and they don’t do that on purpose. Much too dangerous since you can’t block shots from medium distance.
Turkey has been a massive disappointment versus how I have seen them before, while Italy has been much better than I imagined they would be.
But of course, it is football, Turkey may get a goal or two on counters or dead balls in the next 45 and Italy may be ineffective.
But 14-0 ladies and gentlemen. 14-0 in finishes in favour of Italy. Rarely have I seen such utter domination. I would firmly suggest that no manager managing for Turkey wanted that stat, so Turkey can’t possibly be happy with anything except the actual result (which they must love).
Much better start by Turkey.
Ouch, you can hear that clattering into each other.
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Söyüncü. Still the Über-Umlaut.
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Terrible to allow that counter and unnecessary corner.
Brilliant goal to start off the Euros
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