[lakerboy]

I believe both teams will play for a draw here. What does italy need to do to get thru? Thoughts.

[ridims]

italy needs to win big if they draw

meh either way who cares

[lakerboy]

I swear I saw spain/croati draw +168 at pinny two days ago.

[vasilli07]

The question should be why would Spain be bother with Italy? Afterall, if Italy qualified, they will only meet in the finals again provided if Italy can make it there.

And Spain is running a big risk if they are going to play for a draw. If somehow Italy is winning and Spain is losing, why would Croatia let them equalize? Spain is the strongest nation here, every team will want to see them get ko.

[ebbearsfb1]

Crotia should play to win.. if italian wins 3 0 and spain/cro draw italian would advance I believe

[eXon]

I Got the 2-2 @ +600! Just like in 2004 when the same result sent them home from Portugal.

[pattymayo]

Crotia should play to win.. if italian wins 3 0 and spain/cro draw italian would advance I believe

If they draw 2-2 Italy is out even if they win 10-0.

If Italy wins and Spain/croatia does not end in draw then Italy advances.

A 0-0 draw and Italy win will send Italy through .

A 1-1 draw then Italy needs to score at least 3 and win by 2 for Italy to advance

Basically italy must win big and hope there is no draw in Spain game

[ebbearsfb1]

Ahow if its 2 2 does cro advance... I thought it comes down to goal difference.. if italian won by 3.. they would be plus 3.. cro only plus 2?. Well hopefully spain and italian win outright

[riffraff24]

Something about this game ain't right. Insane movement on that Spain ML making me think it's a "trap".

[EaglesPhan36]

This match is going to be so far under a microscope that it's idiotic to think a fix would be in the works. Defending EURO champs nonetheless as part of this. This shouldn't even be a conversation, but the masters of the fix - the Italians - brought this to attention before their last match was even over and now it's all anyone wants to talk about. Seems epically stupid to make any sort of bet based on this perception, but I am sure a lot of people will put down some coin because of this talk.

If you even bother trying to decipher line movement, have your head examined.

[HotStreak]

So if a draw happens its a fix?

[riffraff24]

This match is going to be so far under a microscope that it's idiotic to think a fix would be in the works. Defending EURO champs nonetheless as part of this. This shouldn't even be a conversation, but the masters of the fix - the Italians - brought this to attention before their last match was even over and now it's all anyone wants to talk about. Seems epically stupid to make any sort of bet based on this perception, but I am sure a lot of people will put down some coin because of this talk.

If you even bother trying to decipher line movement, have your head examined.

Dont be so mean EP! I wuv yew! <3

[ridims]

the game will end in a 1-1 draw bet your farm on this one. even your wife and kids

[EaglesPhan36]

If you really want to see collusion, you may want to pay attention to the Italy-Ireland match that no one is talking about. Italian at the helm for Ireland who has nothing to play for and could roll over for Italy without it looking like much since the Irish have been horse shit defensively. Italian who was at the helm of the 2004 Italy team that got "screwed" by the 2-2 draw. You really can't make up these story lines.

[mngambler]

This match is going to be so far under a microscope that it's idiotic to think a fix would be in the works. Defending EURO champs nonetheless as part of this. This shouldn't even be a conversation, but the masters of the fix - the Italians - brought this to attention before their last match was even over and now it's all anyone wants to talk about. Seems epically stupid to make any sort of bet based on this perception, but I am sure a lot of people will put down some coin because of this talk.

If you even bother trying to decipher line movement, have your head examined.

smart man imho

[nick2060]

The only real deterrent to intentionally drawing this match would be having to trust the other team to not screw you over. Whoever scores first will have a significant advantage, but if these teams are 2-2 in the 70th minute, you think either is going to bother trying to push men forward and risk a counter? Probably not.

No reason to look for conspiracy in the Italy/Ireland match, Italy should squash them regardless of whether they try or not.

[RubberKettle]

Spain has not conceded 2 goals in a non friendly since WC 06 when Zidane put them out.

Will be interesting to see what happens

Italy should just worry about beating Ireland. Italy have not won any of the 3 matches since Trap became Ireland's manager. Italy have 0 wins in 2012 too.

[thetrinity]

no reason to collude in this game IMO.

[vaas187]

you people are ******.....

spain and italy both with a W today. croatia is good but in a shitty group. would have faired better in the group of death

[rumnblack]

The only time Spain can meet Italy is in the Final. If anyone truly beileves that;

A) Spain are scared of Italy

B) Spain actually think Italy can get to the Final

C) They would risk letting Croatia 'have' two goals, and then risking Croatia thinking: 'If we push forward now we can knock Spain out."


Knows nothing -zero - phuck all about football. Seriously.

Spain would love to play Italy in the Final so they could dismantle them.

[yisman]

Draw is +280 at Pinnacle, btw.

I think Spain wins.

[odog11]

Ahow if its 2 2 does cro advance... I thought it comes down to goal difference.. if italian won by 3.. they would be plus 3.. cro only plus 2?. Well hopefully spain and italian win outright

They do the tie breakers first for the "mini group" which inclunes only the teams that are involved, so goals against Ireland don't count. In this scenario all tied on goal differential at 0 and the 2-2 draw would give Croatia one more goal scored in the mini-group. You can't really start the game colluding on a 2-2 or even a 1-1 tie, but if Spain is up 2-1 or even 1-0 in the 2nd half there will not be much urgency for them to press forward and score, leaving the door open for Croatia to possibly score late and draw.

Edit: This all being said I played Italy to qualify at -150.

[byronbb]

The movement was crazy on this. SBO opened 1x2 on spain at -125, sitting at -200.

[McBa1n]

Sheesh - I'd stay far away from the game no matter what, unless you're playing 'draw'.

[Dirty Sanchez]

The Croatian fans are already at it...threw a flare within the first 5 minutes

[TheBack]

Spain will win its just by how much. I mean do u see how they toy with teams. Its sick they control the ball for 75% of the time in most games.

[TheBack]

But for some reason i bet the draw like a moron. Lol i should have bet spain -1 @ -127 but im an idiot.

[yisman]

^ no goals 33 minutes in, draw looks better than spain win

[Fl6j66]

"no goals 33 minutes in" means shit

[Dirty Sanchez]

I believe both teams will play for a draw here. What does italy need to do to get thru? Thoughts.

That's a tough one because no one knows where the Italian team is betting...they're sly....and dirty at the sametime

[TheBack]

Yeah if it is tied at half i think Croatia comes out in the 2nd and takes more chances since italy is winning. Which will open things up for Spain and i think Spain atleast scores 2 in 2nd half bcuz of that.

[SamsNCharge99]

ok someone explain this to me b/c either ESPN is wrong, and I DONT KNOW WHAT THE FUKK IS GOING ON

Italy is up 1-0
Spain Croatia tied at 0-0

based on those scores, ESPN says Italy wins Group with Spain getting 2nd
based on points and goal differential it should still be Spain winning and Croatia in 2nd.

anyone?

[Ghenghis Kahn]

damn i got suckered into betting the over in this crap game. hope italy scores couple more goals.

[yisman]

"no goals 33 minutes in" means shit

it means a lot, actually.

[yisman]

Sam, the first tiebreak is HTH.

Stop looking at goal differential. This is not the World Cup.

Italy and Spain would advance currently.