Tango76
12 Jul 2006, 02:00 AM
... we can reconsider tha final match with some more calm. Is was not a very nice match, but seldom world cup finals can be so. It was, however a very intense match, that I am sure tested the french and italian fans' nerves alike.
A few considerations, please no flame or trolling. Just some serious debate between civil people who love the beautiful game.
1) Italy won, and deserved to win. I read many people (obviosly many of them being french fans) complaining about the lack of spectacularity in the italian way to play the game. Well, face it: not always the most entertaining team wins. In fact it most often does. One could argue that Brazil played a better World Cup in 1998 than France, but France won in the end and deserved it. Their game, much like Italy's game during this world cup, was more effective. Not more beautiful. But more effective. Spain delighted against weak teams, but melted against a solid France.
Italy allowed 2 goals in the whole tournament: an own goal and a penalty in the final. Their defense was almost perfect, despite Nesta's injury. They knew they had not history-making forward and decided to focus on team playing. The strategy proved succesful. Totti was recovering from a terrible injury and couldn't really do much. He was playing with 10 metal plugs in his right leg. Also because of this, Italy was the team in the world cup that scored with the highest number of players. They had no superstar, but a serious group of good players and their strategy took advantage of this. Defending is a critical part of the game, and it CAN be spectacular, for people who really love the game. They faced Ukraine before Germany, but remember it's in fact France fault. Had France qualified first in the group, it would have been in Switzerland place, so probably in Ukraine place against Italy.
2) France was a great team. But face it: after the first couple of games in the group phase, most french supporters would have signed a contract for the second place. The team improved on the field, and their technical level in the final was superior to that of the italians. Still, France had problems scoring for the whole tournament. Not a little problem if you think of it.
Les Bleus clearly outclassed Brazil but eventually won the game because of a ridiculous mistake by Carlos, on a free kick. They won against Portugal on a (dubious) penalty. And again scored against Italy with a (again dubious) penalty. The defense was very solid and the midfield world class, but Henry was a little bit alone and (good) defenses could quite easily take care of him.
Of course France could have won the final. But didn't show anything that much superior to the italians, who in fact kept less control of the ball but hit a post and scored a goal in a (10 centimetres) offside.
3) Zidane. He was one of the greatest players ever. Pure class. The prototype of the modern attacking midfielder. After what he did, he deserves no apologizing by his fans.
First of all: everybody on the internet and the media speculates about what Materazzi told him. Fact is, nobody knows it as of now. At least wait. Many people are SURE he must have said something racist. It might be, but we don't know. It really doesn't matter. A player faces his good part of insults every time he plays a game. He should control himself, and strike back in the BEST way: by playing.
Imagine this: Materazzi insults Zidane, Zidane just walks away, scores an outstanding goal and just smiles at the italian defender. How does it sound? To me THIS ONE would have been the perfect end to his magnificient career. Instead he chose to be forever remembered as a great player, and a mediocre man. A shame considering he could have been a legend.
Moreover, as the captain of the team, he left his team-mates in a difficult situation... in the world cup final... for many of them the LAST world cup final of their lifes.
The Zidane-player has no effect on the Zidane-man when considering his actions. He was a giant as a player, has become a big delusion as a man.
4) A few minutes after Zidane madness, Buffon and Barthez, preparing for penalty kicks smiled at each other and shared an hug. Just seconds from the most important 10 minutes of their careers, being goalkeepers in a World Cup final penalty shootout. That is being sportsmen. This should be the spirit. This is what the world cup should be about.
Disclaimer: if I offended anyone in any way, please accept my apologies. I didn't want to. Hope we can discuss a little bit keeping the thread civil.
My best regards to everybody, no matter what team you support... get ready for South Africa 2010!
A few considerations, please no flame or trolling. Just some serious debate between civil people who love the beautiful game.
1) Italy won, and deserved to win. I read many people (obviosly many of them being french fans) complaining about the lack of spectacularity in the italian way to play the game. Well, face it: not always the most entertaining team wins. In fact it most often does. One could argue that Brazil played a better World Cup in 1998 than France, but France won in the end and deserved it. Their game, much like Italy's game during this world cup, was more effective. Not more beautiful. But more effective. Spain delighted against weak teams, but melted against a solid France.
Italy allowed 2 goals in the whole tournament: an own goal and a penalty in the final. Their defense was almost perfect, despite Nesta's injury. They knew they had not history-making forward and decided to focus on team playing. The strategy proved succesful. Totti was recovering from a terrible injury and couldn't really do much. He was playing with 10 metal plugs in his right leg. Also because of this, Italy was the team in the world cup that scored with the highest number of players. They had no superstar, but a serious group of good players and their strategy took advantage of this. Defending is a critical part of the game, and it CAN be spectacular, for people who really love the game. They faced Ukraine before Germany, but remember it's in fact France fault. Had France qualified first in the group, it would have been in Switzerland place, so probably in Ukraine place against Italy.
2) France was a great team. But face it: after the first couple of games in the group phase, most french supporters would have signed a contract for the second place. The team improved on the field, and their technical level in the final was superior to that of the italians. Still, France had problems scoring for the whole tournament. Not a little problem if you think of it.
Les Bleus clearly outclassed Brazil but eventually won the game because of a ridiculous mistake by Carlos, on a free kick. They won against Portugal on a (dubious) penalty. And again scored against Italy with a (again dubious) penalty. The defense was very solid and the midfield world class, but Henry was a little bit alone and (good) defenses could quite easily take care of him.
Of course France could have won the final. But didn't show anything that much superior to the italians, who in fact kept less control of the ball but hit a post and scored a goal in a (10 centimetres) offside.
3) Zidane. He was one of the greatest players ever. Pure class. The prototype of the modern attacking midfielder. After what he did, he deserves no apologizing by his fans.
First of all: everybody on the internet and the media speculates about what Materazzi told him. Fact is, nobody knows it as of now. At least wait. Many people are SURE he must have said something racist. It might be, but we don't know. It really doesn't matter. A player faces his good part of insults every time he plays a game. He should control himself, and strike back in the BEST way: by playing.
Imagine this: Materazzi insults Zidane, Zidane just walks away, scores an outstanding goal and just smiles at the italian defender. How does it sound? To me THIS ONE would have been the perfect end to his magnificient career. Instead he chose to be forever remembered as a great player, and a mediocre man. A shame considering he could have been a legend.
Moreover, as the captain of the team, he left his team-mates in a difficult situation... in the world cup final... for many of them the LAST world cup final of their lifes.
The Zidane-player has no effect on the Zidane-man when considering his actions. He was a giant as a player, has become a big delusion as a man.
4) A few minutes after Zidane madness, Buffon and Barthez, preparing for penalty kicks smiled at each other and shared an hug. Just seconds from the most important 10 minutes of their careers, being goalkeepers in a World Cup final penalty shootout. That is being sportsmen. This should be the spirit. This is what the world cup should be about.
Disclaimer: if I offended anyone in any way, please accept my apologies. I didn't want to. Hope we can discuss a little bit keeping the thread civil.
My best regards to everybody, no matter what team you support... get ready for South Africa 2010!