Finals: France - Italy

[snefroe]

Sne,

Zizou was born in Marseille, France ;-)

French Empire you say ? I didn't know it expended to Argentina :-D :-P (Trezeguet)

*yoda*

ok... so Algerian descent... details, yoda, just merely details... so there's an argentinian in there as well eh? well, it only prooves our point: this team isn't really french, it's a bit of everything, really... |-/

[Ras 74]

I have to apply to our green friend here.

In some how I have done that since a kid and a sertain Platini was playing.

I always wanted to be him when we was playing at our "back yard".

I think france has been one of the worst teams this year.

Until it started to get serious!!

First they sent home Spain, which EVERYBODY said, -"Hey I think they really can make it this year".

We know by fact. this ain

[xwingyoda]

3-1 Germany *sweet*

I really want to Congratulate GERMANY for a couple of things:

* a great organization of the competition *y* *y*

* great supporters

* a great great offensive team 8-

[ApophisV]

It will really be a tough team to beat in '08 ;-)

No, no, the teams on 2nd to last place will be tough after NOT crying because Germany won the European Championship '08!!!!!

GO KLINSI GO!!!!!!

[xwingyoda]

He he, Apo is finally showing some patriotism ;-)

I really hope Klinsi stays !! He did such a tremendous job changing the whole team's system of play and what have you !! I salute him for his fantastic coaching and hope that he will be here in '08 trying to beat a fresh new French Team ready to win the Euro again :-P

*yoda*

[Lost Viking]

Go Zidane! He clipped it in! Great goal!

[snefroe]

there's still time for the italians... about 76 minutes..

hehe what did i tell you? :-P 1-1

[Lost Viking]

hehe, anyways why the hell did Zidane just hit an italian player in the chest?!? He just lost the the game for them!

[Echo]

hehe, anyways why the hell did Zidane just hit an italian player in the chest?!? He just lost the the game for them!

That was one of the stupidest thngs I have ever seen.

[Hobbes]

I think Italy deserved it cos "technically" they were the only ones scoring a goal "in play". Hadn't it been for the free kick France would've lost in regular time already (although, maybe trailing 1-0 they would've pressed a bit more, who knows).

As for Zidane: nothing to say, except that he's an idiot. In your last career game, after having played a great tournament, you just stand above everything, you just don't care what anybody says or does. He was a hero already, championship or not. Boo *n*

Anyhoo, finally four weeks of torture are over >:-)

[DoubleT]

Gooo Italy!!!!!!!

And yes its sad that a legend does does stupid things....

Anyway good that Italy wins, as i see it they won the regulat game.... Nice acting by the french player at the penelty..

[kenji]

i want to puke at zidane's action. totally ruin sportsmanship, and shows how sneaky he is.

[snefroe]

well it wasn't the first time that a so called legend does something like this. Remember Beckham a few years ago? pressure on these people is so high... at one moment they just snap

in any case, not an unforgetable tournement if you're asking me

[Shakar]

Such a shame from Zidane.

But my team, Italy, won!

FORZA ITALIA!

[Aredhel]

I am sooo sorry for the French team!

They played a very good match (When you do not include the thing Zidane did)!!!

And all in all!!! Germany is my champion of this WC!!!

All in all it was a really watchable WC and I am a bit sad that everything should be over now!

[Kikuichimonji]

I was surprised the Italians scored all of their penalties since the pressure was high and Ialians have an even worse history at penalty shootouts then the Dutch. All in all, the best team won IMO.

And Zidane...stupid, just plain stupid. Also weird that the people in the stadium itself apparently didn't see why Zidane got sent off. Hence the huge amount of booing towards Buffon.

[xwingyoda]

What to say !!

I am SO pissed right now :-P

First at the ref bastard !! Tks for omitting the second penalty kick and loads of Italian faults !!

Second to Domenech: tks for getting Henry out (in the event of penalty kick, we need him megablock !!)

Finally Tks to Zidane !! What a glorious way to end his carriere (I hope its over by now !!). Whatever fantastic he is, that is such a disgrace for my country !! Even I will apologise for that action !!

He alreday had a red for something that bad in '98 mind you !!

His action is unforgiveable !! End of story !!

Now that my rant is over I am really sad !!

Italy played really well during the first half *y* Then from the second half till the end of the extra time, France was SO dominant !! The press said that physically they were out, but the game showed that it was Italian players that were so OUT !!

Than there is Viera's injury which was psychologically the beginning of the end !! He did a tremendous competition and I hope he will be alright really soon !!

We had so many occasions but they didn't go in (and thats whats important in football). Italy played the Penalty Session because they couldn't play ball (the poor giys were soooo tirted !!)

Oh well, too bad that Trezeguet's penalty didn't go in, those things happen (ask Italy in '98 !!)

I really want to congrat France for what they did !! We can never forgive what game Zidane (not in the finals of course >:-( ), Makelele, Thuram and Viera did !! Without them, France wouldn't be here !!

Also I was pleased to see Ribery and how the newer generation played !! This is encouraging for September ;-)

I really want to congrat Italy (G I'm writing a novel here !!) for all the pleasure they gave us as well !!

But Italy is in our qualifying chart for the Euro '08 so we'll have ou revench very soon ;-)

Allez les Bleus !! Et Merci pour tout *sweet* !!

*yoda*

[chewie]

X-O I cannot beleive Zidane did that. Mein Gott, it was such a stupid thing, especially being his last game.

The game was great though and there were some awesome plays. I really didn't care who won because I was wanting Germany to make it. Oh well. It was still a great World Cup to watch.

Congrats Italy!

[kenji]

What to say !!

I am SO pissed right now :-P

First at the ref bastard !! Tks for omitting the second penalty kick and loads of Italian faults !!

Second to Domenech: tks for getting Henry out (in the event of penalty kick, we need him megablock !!)

Finally Tks to Zidane !! What a glorious way to end his carriere (I hope its over by now !!). Whatever fantastic he is, that is such a disgrace for my country !! Even I will apologise for that action !!

He alreday had a red for something that bad in '98 mind you !!

His action is unforgiveable !! End of story !!

Now that my rant is over I am really sad !!

Italy played really well during the first half *y* Then from the second half till the end of the extra time, France was SO dominant !! The press said that physically they were out, but the game showed that it was Italian players that were so OUT !!

Than there is Viera's injury which was psychologically the beginning of the end !! He did a tremendous competition and I hope he will be alright really soon !!

We had so many occasions but they didn't go in (and thats whats important in football). Italy played the Penalty Session because they couldn't play ball (the poor giys were soooo tirted !!)

Oh well, too bad that Trezeguet's penalty didn't go in, those things happen (ask Italy in '98 !!)

I really want to congrat France for what they did !! We can never forgive what game Zidane (not in the finals of course >:-( ), Makelele, Thuram and Viera did !! Without them, France wouldn't be here !!

Also I was pleased to see Ribery and how the newer generation played !! This is encouraging for September ;-)

I really want to congrat Italy (G I'm writing a novel here !!) for all the pleasure they gave us as well !!

But Italy is in our qualifying chart for the Euro '08 so we'll have ou revench very soon ;-)

Allez les Bleus !! Et Merci pour tout *sweet* !!

*yoda*

that's alright, don't be too upset. i was watching the TV and all the 20-30 something french gitls were like weeping and all because their 'hero' got a red card.

there is always another chance four years later but i guess the world has a very different view towards the team now this had happened. like what the football narrator said:

"If a star could conduct this sort of twisted behaviour, what do you think the rest of them can do?"

[Hobbes]

First at the ref bastard !! Tks for omitting the second penalty kick

Well, he gave you the first, which clearly wasn't one, so it's even.

Second to Domenech: tks for getting Henry out

That was surprising...

Italy played really well during the first half *y* Then from the second half till the end of the extra time, France was SO dominant !! The press said that physically they were out, but the game showed that it was Italian players that were so OUT !!

Still, they didn't score. Too bad. If you don't score (and I'm not talking penalty kicks cos I don't count those as "real goals") you don't deserve to win. Playing well "for the eye" doesn't help.

We had so many occasions but they didn't go in (and thats whats important in football).

See, you say it yourself ;-)

Italy played the Penalty Session because they couldn't play ball

Well, it's their right to. The rules don't forbid it (unfortunately). But if France can't keep them from doing by simply scoring one teeny weeny goal, well...

Good thing it's over and we can all be normal people again... ;-)

But Italy is in our qualifying chart for the Euro '08

Which will be held in my country *sob*... this is gonna be sooo bad... *sob*

[BigDaddy]

The final game was overhyped (as is usually the case). IMHO, France has nothing to be ashamed about - They played a tough schedule (more difficult than Italy); ousted the former champion team, Brazil; and had a number of older players on their team.

As far as the Zidane incident, he certainly deserved to be ejected, but controversy is now brewing over whether or not the video of the incident is what led to the red card. Hopefully, we should be hearing a lot more about Materazzi's words to Zizou soon (... and those words must have been >:-) ).

Football is a team effort, and should not rely on the actions of just one man. France just seemed to have lost their breath with the loss of their captain. (Barthez did not fare well in the PKs; and this was probably somehow directly related to Zidane's absence.) Still, they did play well enough to get into the final game, and Zidane did help them get there... again, as before.

Germany vs. Portugal... now THAT was a great game! Go Germany! :-) Go France! :-) Go USA! 8-

[Vader]

Well i enjoyed the game and thought it was better than most world cup finals, some thoughts i have about the game and the World Cup overall.

*The french should of had a second penalty...but

*I dont believe that the first penalty should of been given as replays showed that their wasnt much contact

*Zidane is such a fool, no matter what was said to him he should of known better

*Despite all their problems at home the italians had a great world cup and deserved their win

*Subbing Henry was foolish

Otherall thoughts:

*This WC was poor in my opinion

*Their seemed to be no great teams and attacking football was not seen often

*Germany should be appluaded for the way they played they DID play attacking football which was great to see.

*Portugal over took the award for freestyle diving

*Their was a real lack of surprises ie smaller teams beating/knocking out bigger nations

*Brazil were far too confidant and never looked like a good side

Oh and sne since when has beckham been a legand?? The guy is only well known for marrying a spice girl and his looks. For me a legand should be that because of what he did on the pitch and lets be honest becks has done nothing at either world cups or euro championships.

[snefroe]

*The french should of had a second penalty...but

*I dont believe that the first penalty should of been given as replays showed that their wasnt much contact

Oh and sne since when has beckham been a legand?? The guy is only well known for marrying a spice girl and his looks. For me a legand should be that because of what he did on the pitch and lets be honest becks has done nothing at either world cups or euro championships.

ok... maybe not a legend, but he was praised by every one to be the next wonderboy of British football, and to be honest, his part very often is decisive; take for instance his free kick at one of he games of this cup: the team wasn't playing all that well, they didn't seem to get through the defences, then he gets to shoot at the goal and it makes all the difference. He's not a Zizou, not a genious, but he's at the same time very important for the British team, more than Rooney anyway... Rooney... here's another guy who was taking on a lot of pressure and what happens? yep, a serious kick where we, men, don't like to get one at all, and out he is...

De Bleeckere (the belgian ref who was at the cup), explained why he too would have given a penalty: he says that the actual incident started with the first of two faults by the Italians just before the actual penalty fault. the ref warned the Italians not to push it, twice, even tho other refs would have given cards for these faults, he didn't. and then the penalty fault happened. so in this case, it was the context around this mistake that made the ref decide to allow a penalty. In any case, all analysts agreed here that giving the penalty was a correct decision, even though that particular mistake wasn't that bad...

[Vader]

Beckhams time as a wonderboy has long passed and even though he scored during the WC his teamplay and workrate has been shocking for awhile now. In the postion he plays he should be tearing down the wing and spraying crosses in but these days he seems to be crossing from the half way line and his pace is gone.

If we had played our young right winger Aron Lennon then i think the whole team would of been better, heres a young kid that can run and scared the hell out of a few teams when he came on.

As for rooney well i have to disagree about beckham being more important, rooney is a fantastic player and one that gives his all. His play week in week out is of the highest standered and he seldom has a bad game. People seem to forget that hes only 20 and was recovering from an injury add to that the fact that he was asked to play in a postion that he dosent play and im not surprised he lashed out.

[Jipay]

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)