Developers World Championship: Match Report - Czech Republic v Italy (Group F)

CZECH REPUBLIC Totemo (Hexage)

VS ITALY Fallen - Ep. 1 (7th Sense Studios)

Permutations, permutations, permutations. The iPhone Game Developers World Championship was beginning to resemble a mathematician’s wet dream.

In very simple terms, though, whatever the score today, Italy were out. Finito. Arrivederci. Ciao.

The Czech Republic’s situation was vastly more complicated. Currently on four points in second place, the Czechs knew that only a victory this afternoon would guarantee them a spot in the second round.

Should Hexage’s third app at the World Champs, the match-three puzzler Totemo, come away from iStadium II with a draw or worse, however, central European eyes would swiftly home in on the giant scoreboard for the latest on Scotland v New Zealand.

Italy may have Fallen from grace over the past 13 days, but 7th Sense Studio’s survival horror title was hoping to put this whole sorry Episode behind it forever with a farewell win.

Kick Off: 3pm, 24th June

The critical view: The Czech Republic’s cerebral style of game helped it gain dominance in the centre of the park, freeing the thoughtful sweeper to join the attack at logical junctures. Playing at its own pace, Totemo assumed that a fatal gap would emerge soon enough.

Fallen’s speciality was survival, mind, and its mean-spirited defence ensured this time and again both from set-pieces and open play.

Last-ditch block tackles, the kind of which John Terry would appreciate, and clever jockeying down blind alleys by well-established anti-hero of the Italian faithful, Roman Mendez, kept the sheet clean.

Unfortunately for the Italians, these negative tactics extended to their forward play too and Fallen – Ep. 1 couldn’t conjure up any meaningful attacking thrust, the only real sign of aggression coming in the form of third-person fights behind the ref’s back.

Ultimately, the half-time clementines couldn’t have seemed very appealing to the Czechs or Italians, since while the former were clearly anxious at not being able to get a goal, the latter just preferred their own bloody variety.

Half time: Czech Republic 0 – 0 Italy The Fans’ 45: You had to admire the Italian tifosi, who, in spite of a wretched campaign, made the journey in good number to England for the team's swansong.

Totemo's witchdoctor had allegedly placed a hex on the Italians during the break, yet, if so, it didn't have any effect. Breaking free from their own shackles, the Azzurri produced some sublime multi-touch controls in the penalty area for the opening goal, sliding home from just beyond the spot.

As the shadows began to lengthen, the Czech fans looked increasingly nervous and their players too frequently looked over their shoulder, albeit mainly to glance at the clock.

Unfortunately, there were still a couple of minutes left when a truly shocking defensive clearance gifted Fallen a final chance. A chance which they duly took, some superb 2.5D graphics combining expertly with a moody soundtrack to disrupt Totemi's four-in-a-row backline and allow Roman Mendez to fire in a second.

There was barely time for the restart before the whistle blew, leaving the Hexage team with nothing to do but wait anxiously for news from the other match. Horrific news, as it turned out, the second goal making all the difference.

This promising Czech Republic side had Fallen at the first fence alongside the Italians.

Full time: Czech Republic 0 – 2 Italy Latest Group Tables - Fixtures & Voting - Squads

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