Italy/Netherlands Live Blog

I'm not sure what's more baffling...the fact that any intends on live blogging about an Italy/Netherlands soccer game or that its 2:20 EST (I'm guessing 11:20 Pacific for you SSR) and other people might join in...my TV is roughly 2 miles away...ha!

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It's people like Julie Foudy that alienate me from watching soccer on ESPN.

It's soccer that keeps me from watching soccer on any channel

You want goals (because apparently the only important thing about soccer is scoring, everything else is moot point)? Here, a 7-4 game a couple of months ago.

http://www.y...ture=related

You see, you guys don't know about football, a game played by the other 200+ countries in the world.

You've been exposed to soccer, a similar game played in the US and Canada where the play is about as lousy as you can imagine.

Rolling Stones ESPN?

The best part about soccer is this (and this has nothing to do with the other comments):

The poorest kids in Bangladesh can get 2 garbage cans and a ball of rubberbands and play the game seamlessly. It's such an easy game to play and you can use just about anything.

When I played (and coached), a garbage can was used in drills during our baseball practices. So much for your point, SS.

The always wonderful national anthems are being played right now for the respective sides as we near kickoff.

Netherlands are using a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Italy are using a 4-3-3, they are looking to attack like heck.

We're underway from Bern!

Netherlands in the orange jerseys, the Italians in the blue.

The Dutch have not beaten Italy since 1978 as the ball goes out of play. Oh and an awkward bounce for Gigi Buffon for Italy and he just catches before a horrific bounce into the net.

Antonio Di Natele has made a good run but his ball into the box was atrocious and the Dutch get a break. A foul on the Netherlands, a quick restart and a lousy shot by Camoranesi, goal kick Netherlands.

Van Bronckhorst with a bad tackle, free kick Italy which is given away, but not for long as the ball has gone to Marco Materazzi.

Pirlo, a dangerous tackle by Nigel Di Jong.

Just 6 minutes in and Italy on the attack, Luca Toni for Camoranesi, lovely through ball for Ambrosini! Just out of his reach, goal kick Netherlands.

Certainly Italy are the aggressor and have had a much better start.

So, SS, you live blog a hockey playoff game or basketball game on your site and leave some of us out to dry, yet live blog a soccer game here? It should be the other way around.

Pirlo to the right flank and Gattuso's ball in, backheel from Di Nitale goes back to the Dutch.

Pirlo again, wonderful change of direction, but Italy give it away, Wesleey Sneijder with it now.

A bad tackle by Gennaro Gattuso and it may be a yellow card here....no, the ref has decided no yellow card.

Oh and Van Nistelrooy is down right at the edge of the penalty area and it is a free kick for the Netherlands!

Sneijder places it....it's a low shot and it may have hit Pirlo in the buttocks, but it's fallen to Van Der Vaart!!! Saved by Buffon and that's the first good chance of the game.

Brockman: [calling plays from booth listlessly] Halfback passes to the center. Back to the wing. Back to the center. Center holds it. Holds it. [rolls eyes] Holds it...

Mexican Announcer: [excitedly] Halfback passes to center, back to wing, back to center, center holds it! Holds it! Holds it!!!

Gattuso's balls in for Luca Toni on the header which goes wide of the goal and no trouble for Van Der Sar at all.

Vinny Del Negro looks like he will go to the Bulls BTW.

Van Bronclhorst pleading with the ref his challenge was not bad, and he has a point, but the foul has been given. Italy give it away on the quick free kick.

Game has slowed down a bit, now they are on the attack, Van Nistelrooy turns well and shoots but Buffon collects Netherlands 2nd shot on goal.

Khalid Boulharouz, former player for Chelski...er....Chelsea, is dispossessed but wins the throw in.

Sneijder, good ball for Van Nistelrooy on goal!!! Did Buffon get a touch on that? He's gone out wide, crosses it and it's a wasted chance for Netherlands. He went around Buffon and lost his footing and it should've been 1-0 Netherlands.

Good aerial battle now going on and the ball falls to SNEIJDER!!! But the ball sails high. So after 20 minutes we've seen several half chances and chances for both sides, but no goals yet.

you keep blogging...the rest of us will make our best attempt to derail you...

Pirlo, still with it, Zambrotta in there as well, Di Nidale back for Zambrotta, now Pirlo moving as well, sends it in and it's headed away for an Italy throw in.

Ball just went out of play and Italy with it again, Ambrosini is taken down and it's a foul and a poor tackle.

The free kick to the far post for Toni! Just out of his reach again trying to head it in and it's a goal kick.

Free kick for the Netherlands and it's a good delivery and MATERAZZI NEARLY HEADS IT INTO HIS OWN NET!!!! A near own goal as it goes a foot wide and it's a corner kick.

A bad corner kick though and Netherlands at midfield, long ball for Van De Vaart is too long and it's a throw in for Italy.

Not a bad game, could be better, and another foul from Italy right near the penalty area.

Buffon has it only half away, it's gone out for VAN NISTELROOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOAL FOR THE NETHERLANDS!!!!

That is the worst call ever, the ball went in but it took a deflection, Mathijsen was the one who touched the ball and was a mile offsides, but the goal is given.

One of the Italian players nearly walked off the pitch and was just given a yellow card, 1-0 Dutch though.

Van Bronckhorst tussling with Gattuso and is called for the foul. Here is Luca Toni, taken down inside the penalty area but no penalty given, good tackle by Van Der Vaart as the Netherlands are full of life now.

Italy have been awarded a corner kick on the deflected cross from Zambrotta with a half hour gone.

Pirlo to deliver the corner, it's cleared off the line by Van Bronckhorst!!! In transition, Van Bronckhorst, long ball and now it's gone back in for SNEIJDER!!!!!!!!!!!! WONDERFUL FOOTBALL!!! IT'S 2-0 TO THE NETHERLANDS!!!!!!!!!

Two goals in 5 minutes, and the Italians are flattened after 31 minutes.

Camoranesi's ball in and the volley from Di Natale!! Oh Van Der Sar's lost it on the save but regathers the ball and kicks it away! What a game now!

Italy won't go away despite their poor start, but here is the Netherlands, that looks like a bad foul by Zambrotta and he has been given a yellow card for kicking the Dutch player's heel.

(derail alert)

I think tomorrow I'm gonna paint my extra bedroom and do a running blog of the paint drying.

Then I'm gonna cut my lawn and do a running blog of the grass growing back.

Then for the topper, I'm gonna stare at the sun with binoculars while I juggle molten lava and give myself an enema with a chainsaw... a chainsaw that is on fire, that is... and do a running blog about that too.

Throw in to Italy and they have a chance to bring one back, the cross is deflected and caught by Van Der Sar with ease.

Buffon only allowed 2 goals in the World Cup and has allowed two today.

Like a 16 year old losing his virginity, I'm assuming this one is over before it started...

My perseverance to complete this game without having soccer haters cause me to lose it is strong.

Sneijder's volley hits and Italian player, Gattuso for Di Nitale but it is cleared away for an Italy throw. Camoranesi crashing in to Van Bronckhorst and the ball is headed away.

Holland (I'll call them whatever I want to) are in full control of the game despite their non attacking formation. Italy look flattened out there.

A 16 year old that has lost his virginity wouldn't be live blogging a soccer game either....

Italy nearly had a gift as the Netherlands gave it away in their own half....ESPN is promoting the NBA Finals....classy, when British people talk about basketball it sounds like....Americans talking about soccer!

Just 3 minutes to go until halftime, VAN NISTELROOY IS IN THERE!!!!!!! OH WHAT A SAVE BY BUFFON!!! Nearly 3-0 there, Van Der Vaart with the ball for Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Buffon to the rescue.

Van Nistelrooy is taken down but no penalty, ref says get up.

Pirlo for Italy, sends it for Zambrotta but it goes out for a goal kick. We are looking at 1 minute of stoppage time as the Dutch fans are on their feet at a colorful and packed house in Bern.

Oh Di Nitale with a great effort! Just over the bar, wonderful chance for Italy.

Halftime now, two goals in 5 minutes for the Dutch. Italy nearly brought one back on a couple of occasions before halftime in an enthralling contest in Bern. Van Nistelrooy and Sneijder are the goalscorers, and the Netherlands are 45 minutes away from what would be a famous win over the Italians.

Netherlands 2 Italy 0

Just to alienate you guys, soccer fights (in South America in Europe) are much better than the "fights" they have in baseball.

During half time Judy Foudy and the rest of the in-studio group were complaining that Ruud was offside on the first goal. However this is not so and Judy and Tommy should both know why.

Even though Buffon pushed his defender off the pitch, he was still the last defender because he wasn't given permission to leave the pitch, he was simply hurt and laying over the touchline.

That makes the injuried defender the final defender and Buffon (the keeper) the 2nd to last defender. With Ruud in front of Buffon when the ball was played it is a legal play and a legal goal.

SSR let's just get it out of the way:

Soccer is a better sport then baseball.

I'll take my 5 or 6 minuses and a bunch of crap replys so I might as well make the most out of it.

Lakers fans are better then Celtics fans

The Patriots are a classless organization of two-faced cheaters

Baseball players approach fights like they are wearing tampons -you want a real fight watch hockey.

Now I feel like I at least earned the minuses I was gonna get by saying Soccer is a better sport then Baseball

And Julie Foudy sucks.

The 2nd half begins and right off the bat Sneijder is tackled off the ball and there is a foul on him trying to get it away from Gattuso.

The ball in the box and it's only half away, Luca Toni unable to maintain possession but wins a corner....which has to be retaken.

Pirlo sends it near post for Panucci who sees his header go into the stands for a goal kick. Van Nistelrooy with 3 Italian players on him gets the cross in but Buffon is there.

BTW, to those who tried to derail this, you lose.

Camoranesi has some space but his first touch lets him down and it goes to Edwin Van Der Sar, Alessandro Del Piero is getting ready to check into the game.

Orlando Engelaar loses it, but here come the Dutch again, shots are 9 to 4 in favor of the Netherlands, corner kicks are even at 2-2. Italy has been outmatched in every way, shape, or form.

A yellow card on Gattuso for one bad tackle too many, as Andy Gray put it.

Zambrotta somehow kept it in play, still going past Kuyt and bends it far post! Just wide and a good chance for Italy despite the tough angle.

In other news: The Kansas City Royals beat the Yankees 3-2....hahahahaha.

I want to take timeout to thank SSR for doing the live blog AND to thank KD, Manny, JuT and whoever else has entertained me by messing around in this thread. The information on the match has been quality and the jokes have been enjoyable and basically it's made one of my worst days in a long, long, long time not quite as shitty.

So it's one o'clock out your way on summer break and your live blogging a soccer game. Me thinks you need a girl and a job.

I'll get home later and watch the highlights on "Baseball Tonight" What channel is "Soccer Tonight" on, SS?

Italy gaining the possession in the 2nd half, free kick into the box goes past everyone.

Still 2-0 after 57 minutes, Dirk Kuyt, the ball played to the left side for Sneijder. Throw in on the deflection to the Dutch, Sneijder again, now Engelaar for Van Bronckhorst, lovely football from the Dutch,it's so lovely they just messed it up and lost possession in their own half.

There is a foul of course because of the poor giveaway on Nigel Di Jong who has a yellow card now.

Ball across the face of goal for Italy but no real threat, good defense from the Netherlands on the 4-3-3 formation. Foul on the Netherlands and they gave it away so cheaply.

Dirk Kuyt's cross is lousy but the ball isn't cleared well enough, Italy is living dangerously and they get the throw.

Fabio Grosso forward now, the World Cup hero gets a throw in, and they get another one. Pirlo was impeded with and they have a free kick.

It is PIRLO!!!!! Just wide, what a shot from Pirlo and nearly brought one back.

Substitution For Italy:

Off: Antonio Di Nitale

On: Alessandro Del Piero

There is Del Piero but he's offside.

It is Del Piero with space and a shot and Van Der Sar makes a good save.

Italy are pressing now, but no goals to show for it. Netherlands attacking, Van Der Vaart, Kuyt's ball in is cleared away.

Camoranesi on the counter attack, Grosso's cross was deflected, corner kick, he cannot keep it in.

Van Der Vaart taken down and it's a free kick from about 25 yards away for the Dutch. Can they put this one on ice?

Sneijder and Van Der Vaart are there, who will it be? It's Sneijder....not even close.

Del PIERO IS THERE!!!!!!!!! OH!!!! Just drifts over the bar....near brilliant goal there.

Sub For the Netherlands:

Off: Ruud Van Nistelrooy

On: Robin Van Persie (From the Gooners)

Okay, I've got to eat, be back in a few.

Am I the only one who is getting the impression that everyone in The Nether lands has the same last name?

Thanks for the sentiment KD, there's nothing to really be done for it, I kinda anticipated that today could be rough, it just turned out to be a complete shitstorm this morning. Now though I'm just trying to make it to 3pm so I can focus on work (or the stuff I do when I should be working) and get to the end of the day, at least I get paid tomorrow =)

OH IT'S THREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT'S GAME OVER NOW!!!!!!!!! Van BRONCKHORST ON THE 2ND EFFORT HAVE WON IT! ON the counter attack, Buffon made a great save on Kuyt's shot, he sends it in, and Van Bronckhorst is there for the winner.

The only thing worse than a bad day at work is a bad day without a job...I feel for you, my wife lost her job in April after 16 years...she's happy, I'm scared shitless.

And just moments ago, before the goal, Pirlo's free kick hit the post and it was essentially a 2 goal swing, and it dooms Italy now.

Fabio Grosso with the free kick that goes into the parking lot.

Here comes the Dutch, Ibrahim Afellay IS GOING FOR GOAL AND HITS THE WOODWORK!!!!!!!!!!! Unbelievable angle that shot came from and he just came into the game.

They have waited for 30 long years, and the Netherlands are just 7 minutes away from winning against Italy. Not to say the Italians didn't have their chances, but they couldn't finish it when it mattered. They'll get a corner kick here though.

Panucci's header is way over....hmmm...I wonder which bastard said Italy wouldn't make it out of the group? Mack? Mickey?

Italy were beaten twice on world class counter attacks by Holland, and they will end up losing their first group stage game, with France to come soon.

Van Persie has found a way through and goes for goal!! Past Buffon, but past the net and wide. Nearly goal #4 for them.

Now in the 90th minute, Italy look rattled, Van Der Vaart, it's fallen to Van Bronckhorst, takes a deflection, the clearance is poor but no shot for Sneijder.

Just 3 minutes of stoppage time, and what a day for the Dutch.

A deflection and Italy still can't get a goal, appeals for handball are not answered.

Corner kick though, and the flick is away, and the Netherlands are seconds away now, and Italy fittingly ends the game falling down.

The game is over! A thrilling match that deserved a much better scoreline, a famous win for the Dutch, and the Italians, the defending World Cup champions, have been beaten to a pulp defensively.

Scorers: Van Nistelrooy (26th minute), Sneijder (31st) and Vn Bronckhorst (79th)

What a game, the Dutch lead the group of death is now theirs to lose, final score from Bern:

Netherlands 3 Italy 0