Issue # 10.2.6 "Volare!" (7/12)

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Monday, July 12, 2021 - Issue # 10.2.6 "Volare!" - [Daily: July 11]

The 2021 Euro 2020 Champion
1934 WC Champs 1938 WC Champs 1968 Euro Champs 1982 WC Champs 2006 WC Champs 2020 Euro Champs
ITA - Italian Rep (Italy) - Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (FIGC)	#7 | 1A | Winner | 5-0-2 2nd Title ('68) A1: Beat Turkey 3-0 A4: Beat Switzerland 3-0 A6: Beat Wales 1-0 R16: Beat 2C-Austria 2-1 (ET) QF: Beat 1B-Belgium 2-1 SF: Beat 2E-Spain 1-1 (PSO 4:2) F: Beat England 1-1 (PSO 3-2)

NOT COMING HOME, GOING TO ROME
Gli Azzurri takes the 3rd Euro Pool, FrankfromSeattle joins winners

ESCONDIDO, CA (smt) - Another heartbreak for 1D-England, though with this being their first major final in 55 years, the fans may just keep celebrating the success.  A great start 116 seconds in put ENG up 1-0 but who would know that by the end of 120 minutes of play, that would be their only shot on goal.  A mad scramble off a corner kick put ITA level in the 67' in a match that ITA controlled (62% possession).  ENG came out stronger in the Extra Time as they seemed to not want to go to penalties based on their history.  Yet ITA still outshot ENG 5-2 in the extra 30 minutes (20-6 for the match).

In the PSO, ITA won the coin flip and went first.  ITA's second was saved and it seemed like ENG's luck was turning.  It was 2-2 with ENG's third kick to give them the lead, but a stutter step of an attempt did fake out the GK but the low shot to the opposite side hit the left post.  ITA applied the pressure getting the 3rd but ENG's was saved.  ITA had a chance to win it but

England vs Italy Live! (7/11)

1 am PDT:  Eleven hours to go until the Euro 2020 played in 2021 Final.  I'll try to do a live update (tormenting Tuan L or Giacomo G) although the total goals tiebreaker won't affect the top 4 (current total: 5) but will decide if my Futbol Fabone Twelf finishes 47th or 48th (no more than 3 goals!).  ENG is a slight favorite at approx 1.6:1, playing at home, with an over/under of 1.5 goals.

Noon PDT:  I love how all these matches start at the top of the hour.  Easy to predict where the matches are (e.g., 45 after the hour should be nearing halftime, all finish within 2 hours with no extra time).  Expecting 65K in the stadium.

2':  1:57 in, ENG scores on a great finish off by Luke Shaw a great cross.  Footballsack looks good now!  ITA is behind for the first time in 18 matches.

13':  Rain!  But cool at 67F.  Here in LA, 94F and rising.  ENG still attacking which is nice.  Can't find my Becks ENG jersey but maybe it doesn't matter (wore my ARG jersey and ARG won yesterday).  I do have a couple ITA jerseys but rooting for ENG today!  Although I love blue, I still prefer ITA's white... with the horizontal graphics of Puma logo and ITA crest with Italia underneath, it reminds me of a racing jersey (maybe I have Ford v Ferrari on the brain, great movie) for some reason, it looks classic and slick.  I don't care for ENG's home (white) jersey of the Nike and crest in the middle vertically.  Looks odd.  And their blue away is just an alternate mess (though maybe I might get one... cause blue ;-)).

30': Ah, English fans.  You can always count at some point fans breaking down a barrier (in this case outside the stadium) just as you can always count on fans of Mexico to continue to politically incorrect chant on the opposing GK (where the match was stopped twice yesterday for MEX-TRI Gold Cup match in Arlington, TX).  ENG now more opportunistic, praying on some sloppy ITA passing.  Of course, before last match vDEN, ENG has had very few shots each match... today: 1.

12:50 pm Half: 4 min stoppage seemed like a lot.  ENG holding to a 1-0 lead.  So it won't be a scoreless final.  It's Footballsack/Avenger #3/Slyelf/Fantasy in the money spots right now.  Gli Azzurri/FrankfromSeattle would be eliminated.  Total goals tiebreaker is now 6.

1:06 pm 2nd half kicks off!  "No subs" as we say working LA Galaxy matches to Opta.

50': Dangerous free kick for ITA is high.  ITA outshooting ENG 7-1 with 62% possession.

55': ITA's picked up a couple of yellow cards.  Just 6 red cards thus far, 5 straight red but 4 have occurred in the knockout stage.

67':  Scramble off the ITA CK and ITA puts it in.  A header off the left post rebounds to Leonardo Bonucci who buries it from close range.  1-1!  Gli Azzurri has hope again.  ENG GK made a great save just a few minutes before.  The difference between 1st and eliminated?