It takes seven solid matches -four knock-out round victories- and some luck to win a World Cup. People can whinge and moan all they want, but at the end of the day it was Italy who did the business this time around. I won’t say it was the prettiest of Cups, maybe not even the most memorable, but it counts and WOW does it feel good.

Whatever happens in Berlin a few hours from now, it’s been a great run. That said, we know that “just making it to the final” is not enough. Second place isn’t just for losers- its a painful and heartwrenching affair. What can we expect in the 90+ minutes tonight? I’ve got a couple thoughts…

We all know there are guys who “spit the bit” when it comes to playing on their national squad, and there are players (and teams) that somehow, that jersey conjures magic. Zizou is obviously one of the latter; the same could be said for Platini. But this isn’t the French blog is it? Non.

Elizondo to referee the Final.

OK, before you jump to any conclusions, I can’t dislike the French. My beer league team captain Jean-Phillipe brought Dom Perignon (”French gatorade” as he calls it) to our match on Saturday night. I’ve read everything Camus put down on paper. And I even like their fries.

The irony is a bit juicy…Germany (West Germany, to be specific) won the World Cup in 1990 on Italian soil. There is a very real possibility that Italy will now win the Cup on German soil in 2006.

I’m sure I’ll have something more interesting to say later on tonight, but right now, all I can do is shove my heart back down my throat and say “waaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!”

I’m pulling my hair out. I don’t want this match to go to penalty kicks. Iaquinta is coming in for the extra periods, which is a good sign. Give me people who can run.

Finally, no more waiting, no more debating. For those of you, be you German, Italian, or wherever you are, let’s hope for an exciting and clean game.

So Torsten Frings is suspended. You think Klinsmann is laying awake tonight, sweating about it? You think oddsmakers on the match even budged? Not a chance. Unless Podolski, Ballack and Klose get some ‘Tottenham lasagne’, this doesn’t impact the match.