Word: midfields
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...Gritty, dogged Italy advanced to the quarters by somehow avoiding a loss to Romania and beating a French team that is fading faster than its own side. Against high-scoring Spain, and lacking its midfield virtuoso Andrea Pirlo, Italy opted for its classic catennacio defense, and Spain suffered the consequences. Italy's interest in attack was episodic, and with the helpless Luca Toni leading its offense, Italy registered its first corner kick 40 minutes into the game...
...Euro 2008 headed into the knockout phase, the biggest question is whether anyone, least of all Russia, could stop Holland? Marco van Basten's team has swept passed Italy, France and Romania without stopping, which is pretty much the way its midfield plays. Van Basten has a red-hot Wesley Sneijder leading the attack, and the prospect of Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie coming off the bench has to frighten any opposing defenders. And Ruud van Nistelrooy at his goal poaching best. That may be too much for its next foe, Russia. The Russians were another...
...idea. But Holland against Spain - you can imagine a 5-3 final score - could be the game of the tournament, assuming the Spaniards can manage a way through a depleted Italy. And why not? Spain has two superb finishers in Torres and Villa and an equally lethal midfield. The Italians, who turned their first round into a three-part opera - tragedy (vs. Holland), desperation (vs. Romania) and redemption (vs. France)- are going to need some new actors. Italy's maestro Andrea Pirlo is suspended, as is their Rottweiler defensive midfielder Gennaro Gattuso. On the plus side, striker Luca Toni...
...Torres set up the first goal by undressing Russian centerback Denis Kolodin and serving Villa with a gilt-edged pass to make it 1-0 at 20 minutes. It would be the beginning of a long night for the Russian back four as Spain's midfield had a truckload of keys to unlock their defensive scheme. In the 44th minute Iniesta skipped through three Russians and let go a perfectly timed pass that Villa pushed through goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev's legs. Villa did it all himself for the third, and Cesc Fàbregas got the fourth as Spain, like...
...Dutch happy. But that in no way reduced the comprehensive nature of Holland's victory. Holland's 4-2-3-1 formation is built for maximum attacking speed. And Italy's defense, without its captain Fabio Cannavaro, couldn't handle the pressure, especially with its own three-man midfield. There was no controversy on the second goal, just awe, as Dirk Kuyt, filling in for the injured Arjen Robben, collected a long pass on the right after a breakout and found Sneijder racing to the near post. Sneijder's volley left Italian keeper Gianluigi Buffon at sea, and the rest...