Jump to content
Phantis Forums

Cyprus - Italy


DUDE

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 79
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Guys we lost. And you know what? I'm not even that mad. We were supposed to have no chance in hell. none what so ever. And we scared the s%$#! out of the azzurri.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re I know, but we still pushed them hard, and have a lot to be proud of. We have to take care of business against Bulgaria and Ireland, and with performances like these, we can do it!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ela drakoui help me out. Lo so che avete RAI in Svizzera

si certo ma io non ho nessun televisore per vedere :LOL:

Italy got the points, typical. Cyprus at least put a good display.

Better than Greece let alone FAR better offense is pushing it big time though.

Offensively, theres only Aloneftis that would have a chance at making Greek team and that wouldnt even be guaranteed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

PPFFFFFFF! My cousin hasn't played for Cyprus since 2004! Aloneftis is more of a striker. :LOL: Makridis, one player. Our midfield is getting there, but it's not where it will be soon.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

demorolizing loss here Cyprus has lots of talent the azzuri got there asses kicked all over the pitch but we cpulndt bury or chances nice to see our boys play there attacking football!! Ate drakos to les Turk otto rehegal wasteying to call up konstantinou okkas but was advised they were from Cyprus the hrizete be po allow to kypriako podosfairo we have a bright future were playing the world champions all over the pitch were a little nisi of 7 hundred thousand!!! Bravo Sti Kypro mas

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Defending champions Italy needed a last-minute goal to eke out a 2-1 victory over lowly Cyprus in their opening 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ qualifier. Antonio Di Natale, with his second goal of the night, secured an undeserved three points for the Azzurri in this entertaining game in Group 8.

Italy were given an almighty scare by minnows Cyprus, who ran them ragged at times on a balmy Mediterranean evening. Di Natale opened the scoring with a raking shot from outside the 18-yard box with only eight minutes on the clock.

The goal came against the run of play, with the hosts having missed several golden opportunities to score first. But Cypriot heads did not drop and continued to take the game to their opponents, who lacked any fluidity in midfield.

In defence, early injuries to Fabio Grosso and Alessandro Gamberini seemed to unsettle the champions. Omonia winger Efstathios Aloneftis equalised on 28 minutes from close range, after a scramble in the box as Italy failed to deal with a low cross from Marios Nicolaou.

The pacey wide player caused trouble for the visitors all evening and should have got on the scoresheet with just four minutes gone if it wasn't for an outstretched arm from keeper Gianluigi Buffon.

Several minutes later Buffon was called on to block another effort from striker Michalis Constanitnou. Captain Fabio Cannavaro, who missed UEFA EURO 2008 through injury, also saved his team by stopping a goal-bound shot from Constantinou.

With Constantinos Charalambides and Costantinos Makridis orchestrating the middle of the park, Cyprus made their world class counterparts Pirlo and De Rossi look ordinary at times. The second half followed much the same pattern with Cyprus taking the initiative while the Italians looked to break on the counter-attack.

Gennaro Gattuso came on after the interval for an ineffectual Luca Toni to bolster the midfield and help repress the Cypriot attack. Alberto Gilardino also laboured up front but he had a great chance to score when put through on goal but keeper Antonis Giorgallides stuck out a leg to force the ball wide. The keeper nearly gave a goal away when he fumbled a shot but defender Elias Charalambous cleared off the line on 69 minutes.

Cypriot wonderkid Demetris Christofi almost scored an unlikely winner on 75 minutes after coming off the bench but with only Buffon to beat he lost his balance and shot wide. The most expensive player in Cypriot football also had a free shot from a corner but his effort went agonisingly wide with ten minutes to go.

Italy endured several more close calls in the latter stages before Di Natale scored the unlikely winner, much to the relief of Italy manager Marcello Lippi on his competitive return to the hotseat having replaced Roberto Donadoni.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guys I'm gutted!!! I can't believe we lost that! When you're the underdog and deserve to win a game, and you lose, it really is devastating.

Ireland's win against Georgia is a bad result for us too! I still think that if we sort out our away form we can steal a play-off spot, but that would mean we can't realistically afford to lose another home game.

As for the discussion some of you are having, who's better Greece or Cyprus, Greece clearly have a superior squad, however there are numerous Cypriot players that would make the Greek squad. Aloneftis would walk into Greece's team and after Ninis and Papasta, Christofi would be Greece's hottest young prospect. Okkas and Konstantinou when fully fit would also be in, and so would Georgallidis. Makridis would also have a fighting chance of making it. Apart from Aloneftis who would clearly be in the team, not just based on talent, but also on the fact that Greece has no left-sided players, we can't know who'd be in the starting line-up under Otto. His team selections bemuse us all at times. Based on ability though, the above players would all be in the squad, and for a country of 700,000 to produce that much talent is pretty impressive.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    No registered users viewing this page.

×
×
  • Create New...