Finals: France - Italy

[snefroe]

I just want someone to explain to me how someone can be kicked out of a game by using a video replay when this kind of material isn't allowed by the FIFA yet... (this doesn't excuse the hit though)

to my knoledge, this hasn't been done yet. i think what happened is that one of the line refs or the fourth ref talked to the ref through the intercom and explained what had happened.

[Hobbes]

I just read that Zidane did receive the "Golden Ball Award" nonetheless.

He received 2012 votes, followed by Fabio Cannavaro with 1977 votes, and Andrea Pirlo with 715 votes.

Oh well...

[Vader]

Fifa have confirmed that no video footage was used in the sending off of zidane, reports have stated that it was the forth offical that saw the incedent and he told the ref.

http://home.skysports.com/worldcup/article...plays+were+used

[Kikuichimonji]

Why does everyone say subbing Henry was stupid? He could barely walk off the pitch being as tired as he was. Making him play 15 more mins like that would've been a waste since France would basically've been playing with 10 players.

As for the second possible penalty...well, it might've been one. Then again, the first one was not. Materazzi actually pulled his leg back and didn't even hit Malouda (or very, very slight).

[Kahgarak]

I think that Italy will win the World Cup. :p

[Vader]

Errr your abit late with that prediction! :-D

[ApophisV]

Just a few words:

For me Germany is the real Champions of the heart (damn this K.-O.-System!), we have a young and energic team (okay, there has to be done some fine tuning, but most of the guys are new to international games!), our team was greatly supported by so many fans! (Damn, the party is most probably over now... :'-( ) And we just missed the finals because of some silly circumstances!

BUT I think France had deserved the victory yesterday, they played alot better than Italy (which only had ALOT of luck during the whole championship)

Zidane's action at the end was absolutely horrible, but thats not the fault of the french team but because of one head damaged person... Actually I think France had made it if there hadn't been the Z-Disaster at the end... (Allez les Blancs!)

My 2 Euro-Cent ;-)

[Sir Dillon]

I agree with Apo here about France deserving the win (and on the Germany team, but because they're one of my favorites, my opinion is rather biased ;-) ) they played much better then Italy, and pretty much dominated in everything but goals. But that being said, I'm still glad that Italy won. X-D

[Jipay]

One close friend of zidane actually told the press that the guy he kicked has been insulting his mother during the match, and since she is really sick, the last insult was too much for him. Maybe one day we'll know the full story.

[DoubleT]

Well dont belive everything you read in the press.. And no matte what, Zidane is a pro played alot, he you should just have ignored it

And i think Germany was pretty lucky with who they had to face in start..

[SuvieD]

I didn't get to watch the match but I saw the part where Zidane headbutts that guys chest and I thought it was kind of funny. I mean in the US when an arguement breaks out the first thing they do is throw a punch or start pushing. I guess the whole no arms rules for football is important even when fighting. X-D

Should he have behaved better? Sure. Was what he did totally uncalled for? Maybe. Was headbutting the jerk right to the ground for bad talking his mom worth any red card or penalty? I am sure it was.

In the NFL if a ref hears that kind of talk the player doing it is in trouble. Taunting is what makes most sports fun but on the professional level with pressure so high it really has no place. That guy got what was coming to him probably.

Go Zidane!

[KimT]

What a way to end a great soccer career :-|

I'm not much of a soccer fan myself, but I have never seen anyone act as stupid as Zidane did - not even the crouch kicking or the Portugese player headbutting the Dutch player is a stupid as that.

Man soccer players are truly as stupid as their fans.

Go Hooligans! ;-)

KimT

[snefroe]

What a way to end a great soccer career :-|

I'm not much of a soccer fan myself, but I have never seen anyone act as stupid as Zidane did - not even the crouch kicking or the Portugese player headbutting the Dutch player is a stupid as that.

Man soccer players are truly as stupid as their fans.

Go Hooligans! ;-)

KimT

g... and this coming from a teacher! :-P

i think it's a shared responsability though. abusive language has become a nuesance in today's football. not only between players on the field but also between the supporters and players. african players, for instance, are constantly being confronted by the public making animals sounds as soon as they get the ball. it's become so far that refs just stop the game for as long as it continues, players have refused to continue to play,... Players aren't any better. a football field is no excuse to offend people or people's relatives and i think that is what happened here. i don't hear this type of language on a tennis field or volleyball field...

[Vader]

My take on this is that football has always been a mans game, by that i mean it was always seen as a tough rugged game abd as such bad language has always been acceptable, which i understand. But racist remarks and noises are never acceptable and those doing it should be charged and banned from attending matches.

Every time i watch a game with barcelona and eto in particular i hear the sound of monkey noises from the crowd and thats disgusting. I dont for the life of me understand why these morons arent punished like wise the italian fans who throw flairs at players.

[Zane]

I voted Italy.

....

What?

-Tilius-

[Jipay]

Well tonight Zidane will reveal the secret insult on the french TV. I am pretty sure there will be plenty of adds before, as this all story has become really important.

Well, I wasn't such a fan of zidane, but damn, after this, I like him a lot ! I am fed up with guy who are insulting others. They are never punished by anything, and this specific italian player has already done a lot of bad things.

[xwingyoda]

The Zidane "incident" n

[Jipay]

Well let's first see what the insult was :)

[xwingyoda]

Well let's first see what the insult was :)

Whatever the insult was !! That is NO excuse for his gesture on the field !! Do not forget he played 4 years in Italy and he is no newbie to free provocation and insult !!

Already Spanish and English tabloids were decrypying what Materazi was saying: its something like "your mom is a terrorist whore" or something approaching !! Ok such words are inacceptable and Zidane's mom is really sick BUIT that is no excuse !!

*yoda*

[Jipay]

It is, because this italian megablocks would never had to pay for his insult. And Zidane couldn't punch him outside of the field otherwise he'd have to go to jail.

[xwingyoda]

It is, because this italian megablocks would never had to pay for his insult. And Zidane couldn't punch him outside of the field otherwise he'd have to go to jail.

Yeay its so much better to screw your team and country over insults !! That is insulting !!

*yoda*

[snefroe]

It is, because this italian megablocks would never had to pay for his insult. And Zidane couldn't punch him outside of the field otherwise he'd have to go to jail.

Yeay its so much better to screw your team and country over insults !! That is insulting !!

*yoda*

zizou wasn't the cause of your loss, yoda. he wasn't in the game anyway and france wasn't playing very well either... i only find that it's such a sad way to go for such a brilliant player

still, i don't think the zizou case goes to the heart of the problem, which is: how do we stop the excessive verbal and physical aggression on a football field?

[xwingyoda]

His gesture did influence the psyche of the other players (without mentionning that he could not shoot at the penalty session !!)

All of that because it was an act by Zizou, the soccer "God" who is not sorry for what he did !! (what an exemple for today's youth !!).

Zidane is sooo protected by the FIFA !! Come on he did not deserve to win the golden boot !! He played one great game and lost more duels than won them, he did not get a free kick or corner kick kicked properly...

If that fould was commited by anybody else, there would have been nothing done by the FIFA !!

Come on, Luis Aragones did call Henry a "nigga" and the FIFA didn't care !! Yeay 300 euros that is such a punishment !!So why does the FIFA acts like that NOW and notr before ?

Anyhow the sports only looses by such actions !!

*yoda*

[Hobbes]

still, i don't think the zizou case goes to the heart of the problem, which is: how do we stop the excessive verbal and physical aggression on a football field?

Abolish the sport.

[Jipay]

I fully concure, abolish football and put baseball and hockey games instead