Spain 0-0 Italy at half time ... Spain started brightly, with lots of energy up front, but seem to wither away ... Italy look very composed and slick, and had a perfectly good goal from Toni disallowed ... As this is a friendly, Spain will win, maybe 1-0 ... If it was the World Cup, Italy'd win on penalties ... Spain won't win Euro 2008 if they play Puyol, Ramos and Marchena together at the back - they are rashness personified, the three of them ...

Toni and Pirlo coming off should help Spain, though Borriello has a point to prove. Gattuso for Pirlo is not at all like for like.

Descended a bit into a fairly dull match now, half-way through the second half ... Excellent save by Buffon from Cesc ... crowd had a bit of a 'Raul, Raul, Raul ...' chant going for a minute ...

1-0 it duly finishes, assist from Cannavaro and volley from Villa ...

Sergio Ramos looks even more ridiculous after dying his hair that stupid colour.

Hey, I hope I can recuperate all the 1X2 Special stats from the old site - at the moment it won't let me read anything...

Well, that's that, then - this week there will be no 1X2 Special, and it will only return when the "old" OTF archives can be accessed. That'll be next week, hopefully...

Ant,

Why don't you just start from scratch and then when/if you can access the old board you can add the new scores onto the old ones.

I'll still win the thing, either way, but it'll give everyone else false hope. <damn, are there no winky smily things on the new board>

So it seems that Betis' cunning plan didn't work.

Betis - Barca to be played behind closed doors, whereas if Ruiz de Lopera hadn't screwed around, they could have played down the road at the White Elephant and actually made more money.

Astonishing and tasteless the claim by the Betis official who alleged that making Betis play at the Vicente Calderón would have been an "act of terrorism", given that "terrorism means putting people's lives at risk". Either he should consult his dictionary for a proper definition or he doesn't have much faith in his team's fans' driving ability. Or both. In any case, a ridiculous and hysterical outburst. Needless to say, the RFEF listened sympathetically to him.

The Betis-Barcelona match isn't behind closed doors ... Indeed, according to Marca, Betis have asked their fans to 'tirelessly' support the team this evening, and show to the world what angels they are. Not ignorant, violent 'catetos', oh no ...

The Italians get it wrong again.

And the RFEF cements its position as the only major FA that makes the English look good.

Steady...

And, speaking of La Cartuja, the plan is, apparently, for Sevilla to play there next season while the Sanchez Pizjuan is transformed into an all-singing, all-dancing superduper stadium; or so the club's website said the other day ... What price the 'Del Nido Arena' as the name eventually given to the remodelled stadium??

Tie the two of them in a sack and throw it in the Guadalquivir, I say.

That's a bit harsh, ua, though I assume you are just joshing. I mean, I can understand the hatred for one or the other of the teams from Hispalis, but to hate them both??

Not the clubs, Lodzu, the presidents. The two have them have managed to completely destroy the positive feelings I used to have towards both clubs.

And speaking of that, 2-0 Barca after 15 minutes.

Visca el Barca!!