2008-06-22 - Spain v Italy

June 22, 2008

Euro 2008 2008-06-22 - Spain v Italy Sports Betting Preview by Gooner
Spain vs Italy UEFA Euro 2008 - Quarter-Final Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna Sunday 22nd June 2008 - KO 19:45 The final quarter-final at UEFA EURO 2008 brings together two former winners in Spain and Italy, both of them bidding to add to their one and only success on the European stage. For Spain it is an opportunity to make the last four for the first time since 1984 while Italy are bidding for their second semi-final in three EURO tournaments. SPAIN Spanish fans would have been disappointed to see the final results from Group C meant that they had to face the Italians, as for all the Spanish bravado and boasting about their team, the Azzurri are the one European side that Spain worry about at competitive games. (see h2h below). Spain are in good form, that is clear, as they are on a runk of nine straight international wins and seven competitive match wins. Victory will see them break their record for longest winning streak which stands at nine - and last time that streak was ended by .. Italy. WEIRD FACT : Spain have been knocked out of major tournaments on three occasions on 22nd June, all three occasions after a penalty shoot-out. Spain went out against Belgium at the 1986 World Cup, England at Euro 96 and South Korea at the 2002 World Cup. ITALY Italy have not been very impressive at all during group play, heavily beaten by the Dutch 0-3, and then only claiming a 1-1 draw with Romania thanks to a penalty save by Gigi Buffon which gave the Azzurri a lifeline. It was a better performance against France winning 2-0, albeit a very disappoint France, but once again Luca Toni looked less than lethal, and it was a pair of goals from a free-kick and the penalty spot that won the game. The loss of midfielders Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo will affect Italy’s shape here, although it must be said that neither player has been living up to his reputation so far. A GOOD OMEN? : The last two reigning world champions from Europe went on to the final of the next European Championship. After winning the World Cup in 1990 Germany finished runners-up in 1992 and 1998 World Cup Champions France also won Euro 2000. HEAD TO HEAD Spain and Italy have played each other on 27 previous occasions. Spain have won eight, Italy nine and there have been 10 draws. In competitive matches, Spain have been less successful winning just one out of nine. Italy have won five times and there have been three draws. Spain though have not lost to Italy in their last four encounters since a 2-1 defeat in the 1994 World Cup quarter-finals, managing two wins and two draws in 4 friendly encounters. The most recent fixture came in Elche in March 2008, when Villa’s goal with 12 minutes remaining secured a 1-0 win for Spain. TEAM NEWS Spain coach Luis Aragones still says that he has not decided on his line-up yet but he is likely to stick to his first-choice side after having fielded his reserves in the 2-1 win over Greece. Aragones gave a strong indication to what his preferred starting line-up is when Spain trained on Friday - playing the XI in the first two games against the rest of the squad on Friday. Italy midfielders Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo are both suspended for this match after picking up two bookings. Alberto Aquilani and Massimo Ambrosini will probably come in while Daniele De Rossi and Simone Perrotta may also start. THE VERDICT The form line suggest Spain should win this match, while history, omens and that wobbly Spanish record suggest that Italy could provide some sort of upset. Italy do have the belief about them to win this game, but considering what I’ve seen on the pitch so far, I feel that the 2.60 price on Spain to win is a price not to be turned down. The Pick : Spain 2-1 Italy PERCENTAGE ESTIMATE : Spain 42% - Draw 30% - Italy 28% FIXED ODDS BETTING : I’ll go with SPAIN to finally get over their Italian hoodoo in competitive games. This is their best chance of doing it.

Euro 2008

2008-06-22 - Spain v Italy

Sports Betting Preview by Gooner

Spain vs Italy
UEFA Euro 2008 - Quarter-Final
Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna
Sunday 22nd June 2008 - KO 19:45
The final quarter-final at UEFA EURO 2008 brings together two former winners in Spain and Italy, both of them bidding to add to their one and only success on the European stage.

For Spain it is an opportunity to make the last four for the first time since 1984 while Italy are bidding for their second semi-final in three EURO tournaments.

SPAIN

Spanish fans would have been disappointed to see the final results from Group C meant that they had to face the Italians, as for all the Spanish bravado and boasting about their team, the Azzurri are the one European side that Spain worry about at competitive games. (see h2h below).

Spain are in good form, that is clear, as they are on a runk of nine straight international wins and seven competitive match wins.

Victory will see them break their record for longest winning streak which stands at nine - and last time that streak was ended by .. Italy.

WEIRD FACT :
Spain have been knocked out of major tournaments on three occasions on 22nd June, all three occasions after a penalty shoot-out. Spain went out against Belgium at the 1986 World Cup, England at Euro 96 and South Korea at the 2002 World Cup.

ITALY

Italy have not been very impressive at all during group play, heavily beaten by the Dutch 0-3, and then only claiming a 1-1 draw with Romania thanks to a penalty save by Gigi Buffon which gave the Azzurri a lifeline.

It was a better performance against France winning 2-0, albeit a very disappoint France, but once again Luca Toni looked less than lethal, and it was a pair of goals from a free-kick and the penalty spot that won the game.

The loss of midfielders Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo will affect Italy’s shape here, although it must be said that neither player has been living up to his reputation so far.

A GOOD OMEN? :
The last two reigning world champions from Europe went on to the final of the next European Championship.

After winning the World Cup in 1990 Germany finished runners-up in 1992 and 1998 World Cup Champions France also won Euro 2000.

HEAD TO HEAD

Spain and Italy have played each other on 27 previous occasions. Spain have won eight, Italy nine and there have been 10 draws.

In competitive matches, Spain have been less successful winning just one out of nine. Italy have won five times and there have been three draws.

Spain though have not lost to Italy in their last four encounters since a 2-1 defeat in the 1994 World Cup quarter-finals, managing two wins and two draws in 4 friendly encounters.

The most recent fixture came in Elche in March 2008, when Villa’s goal with 12 minutes remaining secured a 1-0 win for Spain.

TEAM NEWS

Spain coach Luis Aragones still says that he has not decided on his line-up yet but he is likely to stick to his first-choice side after having fielded his reserves in the 2-1 win over Greece.

Aragones gave a strong indication to what his preferred starting line-up is when Spain trained on Friday - playing the XI in the first two games against the rest of the squad on Friday.

Italy midfielders Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo are both suspended for this match after picking up two bookings.

Alberto Aquilani and Massimo Ambrosini will probably come in while Daniele De Rossi and Simone Perrotta may also start.

THE VERDICT

The form line suggest Spain should win this match, while history, omens and that wobbly Spanish record suggest that Italy could provide some sort of upset.

Italy do have the belief about them to win this game, but considering what I’ve seen on the pitch so far, I feel that the 2.60 price on Spain to win is a price not to be turned down.