Steve’s Stats: Analysis of Goalkeeper Performance at the Quarterfinal Round for 22 June 2008: Italy x Spain

Steve’s Stats: Analysis of Goalkeeper Performance at the Quarterfinal Round for 22 June 2008: Italy x Spain
by Steve Amoia for Keeper Skool

Spain is the last team at Euro 2008 to remain after winning their first three games. Croatia and The Netherlands have been eliminated. As I noted yesterday, only one team has ever won the European Nations Cup after winning their first three group round games: France in 1984 with Michel Platini, who is the current President of UEFA.

Italy started slowly, as is their custom, and barely made it out of Group C. But I recall 1982 when they fared even worse (3 points from 3 games), and went on to defeat Argentina, Brasil, Poland, and finally West Germany in the World Cup final. Football is a game entertwined with history. Already at this Euro, Holland defeated Italy for the first time in 30 years, and Italy defeated France for the first time (in normal time) since World Cup 1978, As you will see in the comments below, history is not lost upon younger men such as Buffon, 30, and Casillas, 26. Between them, they have won 166 caps for their respective countries.

Record Set by van der Sar

Yesterday in defeat, the great Dutch keeper, Erwin van der Sar, set another record. He played in his 16th European Nations Cup game, and now holds the absolute record. He annoucement his retirement from international play after the game.

History is Against Spain

Spain has not defeated Italy in a competitive game since 1920 at the Olympic Games of Antwerp, Belgium; however, they have won 9 games in a row, and are unbeaten in their last 19. During that string, they beat Italy, 1 x 0, during a friendly in March 2008. During his tenure, Mr. Luis Aragones has only lost 4 games. On this particular date, 22 June, Spain had lost 3 penalty kick shoot-outs (1986, 1996, and 2002).

Comments by Manager Luis Aragones of Spain

“It is my job to relax the squad. I see the glass half full and the certainty of qualifying is within me. The important thing is to reach the semi-final, it doesn’t matter how. Italy are accustomed to giving their all and have won a great deal, so we must have respect and fear when facing them.”

Source:Football Italia, 21 June 2008.

Comments by Roberto Donadoni of Italy

“La Spagna è una squadra forte con grandi individualità. E’ composta da ottimi giocatori che in nazionale non hanno ottenuto gli stessi risultati che con i rispettivi club. Per questo avranno molta fame di vittoria .Noi dovremo giocare con la loro stessa voglia e come se avessimo la stessa fame”.

“Spain is a strong team with great individualtity. It is composed of excellent players who at the National team level haven’t obtained the same results that they have with their respective clubs. For this they will have a great hunger for victory. We will have to place with the same desire and as if we had the same hunger.”

Source: La Gazzetta dello Sport, 21 June 2008.

Comments by Gigi Buffon

“The fact they haven’t beaten us in competitive matches since 1920 could be a problem, because taboos are there to be broken. We just hope that record carries on for a few more years. Villa is one of the best in the world at striking the ball, while Torres has also shown he is strong. They are players who have been on the international stage for many years and we know them well.”

Source: Football Italia, 21 June 2008.

Iker Casillas on Luca Toni

“Dovremo stare molto attenti sulle palle inattive, perchè lui è molto alto. Se riusciremo a bloccarlo saremo sulla buona strada per scacciare una volta per tutte la maledizione dei quarti. Ma la favorita resta l’Italia, lo dice la storia”.

“We need to pay a lot of attention to the dead balls, because he is very tall. If we are able to control him, we will be on the right road to overcome all of our bad luck at the quarterfinal stages. But the favorite remains Italy, the history says so.”

Source: La Gazzetta dell Sport, 21 June 2008.

Italian translations of the quotes by Donadoni and Casillas by Steve Amoia.

The Keepers: Two of the Elite

Gigi Buffon is making his 86th appearance for the Azzurri. He will be the team captain tonight.

Iker Casillas will also captain La Furia Roja, and tonight will be his 80th cap for Spain.

Image details: EURO 2008 – Spain Training & Press Conference served by picapp.com

Here are the game statistics, which are courtesy of the La Gazzetta dello Sport. Saves will be provided by ESPNsoccernet.

Italy (G. Buffon) x Spain (I. Casillas)

Goals allowed: 0 x 0 AET
Penalty kicks allowed: 4 x 2
Penalty kicks saved: 1 x 2
Shots on target faced: 3 x 4
Shots off-target faced: 5 x 14
Shots blocked: 4 x 7
*Saves: 9 x 6
Corners faced: 8 x 3
Crosses faced: 26 x 31
Posts and crossbar: 1 x 0
Passes: 10 x 20
Pass completion rate:100% x 80% (Buffon had the first 100% rating in our compilation).

Game environment: Night and dry.

*Saves courtesy of ESPNsoccernet.

Castrol Performance Index

If you would like to learn more about the numbers at Euro 2008, Castrol has some interesting statistics. For example, according to their site today: “There were 54 shots last night, a tournament high. The game also boasted the most number of saves in a game (14) and the second highest number of passes (1,103).” To take a longer look, please click here.

Steve Amoia is the author and editor of World Football Commentaries. He has written for Soccerlens and Keeper Skool.