Don't think so,

Balotelli just didn't score last time, otherwise, Italy would have overunn us.

Not at all the point I was making. Lol!!!!

LOL!!

OK I am sort of agreeing with, whilst being boring 

Italy should have this match dead and buried by now.

Instead of which Germany are still knocking, even though they aren't good enough really.

Can't believe how wide open Germany have been at the back. We knew they were capable of conceding, but they've looked capable of conceding with every attack.

Oh dear, another German retreat from Poland.

Just goes to prove how good England really were after all.

Smirk 😉

Italy played some delightful football tonight - the way the game should be played.

I hope to god they murder the waiters.

good game tonight, well done to Italy, just goes to show that England wer'nt that bad after all  

Also remember German had 2 extra days rest

Surely the food the waiters serve can't be that bad?!

It's rancid and out of date.

Well I think you garnered 2 tongue in cheek replies plus one in earnest

England certainly have a better back 4 than Germany, their defence tonight was woeful.

I watched the Germany v Greece QF last Friday night, and even though it was a very comfortable victory for the Germans in the end (should have scored a lot more than 4 goals IMO), I did think at times during that game that the German defence looked less than sure of itself. I can remember a couple of occasions in the first half where they nearly let the Greeks in and then when Samaras equalised early in the second half, I thought their defence looked a little dodgy.

Germany actually did OK in midfield and attack last night and could of easily scored first. But as soon as they conceded you could see the fear and doubt in their play. The amount of space they gave Balotelli for both goals especially the second goal was shocking you will never win a tournament defending like that. If not for poor finishing Italy should have scored 4 or 5.

Congrats to Italy, and a great game to watch.

Hodgson blasts Capello's 'cheap' shot at Rooney

Capello appears to have been angered by Rooney's perfectly legitimate pre-tournament observation that communication within the England dressing room was better because Hodgson had a perfect grasp of the language.

Indeed, having now seen Rooney underperform at yet another major tournament, Capello pointedly argued that "he only understands Scottish", underlining the 26-year-old's best displays have come for Manchester United.

Having backed Rooney to the hilt throughout both the build-up to Poland and Ukraine, and the tournament itself, for which the forward missed the opening two games through suspension, Hodgson is hardly likely to change his stance now. And, speaking to talkSPORT, he took Capello to task for his comments.

"Capello is entitled to his opinions, I suppose but I always think it's a bit cheap to kid on a player who was so anxious to do well," he said.

Questions have been asked about Rooney's conduct prior to the tournament, particularly a very public holiday in Las Vegas with former Red Devils team-mate Wes Brown. Hodgson has already dismissed this - and defended his decision to give Rooney an extra week off in the build-up, which meant he missed the friendly win in Norway.

That move could now be interpreted as a mistake given the forward looked so short of match fitness when he did eventually enter the tournament fray against Ukraine. Hodgson is having none of it though, and has revealed he stopped Rooney pushing himself too hard at England's Krakow training base when the United man wanted to do additional work.

"His attitude was magnificent," said Hodgson. "He was putting in extra work because he was concerned he was behind the others having missed the first two games through suspension.

"His desire to do well was enormous and we were trying to put the brakes on. In the final game he, along with one or two other players, didn't play to the level he can but that's what football is about.

"If every player was a robot and played at the same level in every game then football would be very simple and we wouldn't need coaches."

 For England that may well be the norm (not playing well) however other teams don't seem to have that problem.

It would seem that England having a coach hasn't really helped.

Rooney did seem to not play very well, IMO he shouldn't have started, in his first game anyway, not too mention the second.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/hodgson-blasts-capellos-cheap-shot-152931053.html

Indeed. To be honest, some of Germany's defending last night reminded me a little of England's defence when they faced the same German team in the last World Cup, and it was the same very poor defending by England on that occasion that led to the Germans putting 4 past them. As you say, the Italians could easily have scored 4 or 5 goals last night had they taken all their chances.

What happened last night makes me think all the more that England were extremely fortunate to take the Italians all the way to penalties last Sunday night, because just as was the case against Germany in last night's game, had Italy's finishing been better there probably wouldn't have even been the need for extra-time on Sunday night, let alone penalties.