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Shades of 1990

July 5th, 2006 | By: Jay | 47 Comments »

The irony is a bit juicy…Germany (West Germany, to be specific) won the World Cup in 1990 on Italian soil as we all know. There is a very real possibility that Italy will now win the Cup on German soil in 2006. So for all the Deutsche out there, the Italians understand your pain.

Tonight’s match was a textbook tactical battle; thrust and parry for 100+ minutes. Nobody can deny the Italian goals were clinically brilliant and both came at short range against a German defense that had given Italy fits all night– the height and pace of Metzelder and Mertesacker had completely snuffed out any chance of the attack going through the middle, and the Germans had pushed up to draw the offside penalty consistently . So Italia was forced to play wide, and the crosses and finishing weren’t at the level they needed to be.

It looked certain to go to penalties, yes? And out of nowhere, Grosso, the most unexpected of scoring threats, changed the course of history on a brilliant assist. I’m still shaking my head in disbelief.

Tags: Group E, World Cup 2006

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Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 47 comments.

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By kol | July 5th, 2006 at 1:29 pm

Hello.
The loss of Germany to Italy make pay germans how the refree bias decisons turned the game towards germans favour against Argentina.

Italy had been ruthless to them. Its the right time to make them pay.

wish you all the best for the final.
lift the cup for the 4th time.

Posted from Nepal

By Haarf | July 5th, 2006 at 2:36 pm

lol, wake up, nobody made pay nothing.

Each team try to do its best. Argentina could have won but made wrong tactical choices.
Italy didn’t. That’s the game.

Posted from France

By Tony | July 5th, 2006 at 2:56 pm

We are all flying high. Fly Italy fly.
http://www.gazzetta.it/PrimaPagina/?rcsrid=gazz_primapag

I-TA-LIA
I-TA-LIA

By pao | July 5th, 2006 at 3:08 pm

“Non ci credoooo, non ci credooooo (I can’t believe it, I can’t believe it)” That’s what Grosso was shouting shaking his head after scoring a wonderful goal. Amazing.

Posted from Italy

By Stuart | July 5th, 2006 at 3:18 pm

Forget about that 2nd goal…the deal was done one the first one, and it was a beauty. A worthy way for a great match to end. Italy needs to learn a lesson from that match…Germany lost because they were tired and dropped their guard just enough in the final minutes to give Italy an opening. Italy never should have gotten that first shot off, but they did, and the rest is the stuff of World Cup lore. Should either France or Portugal get through in an easy match, Italy will be up against the fatigue that Germany dealt with.

By Catherine | July 5th, 2006 at 3:27 pm

Hourray!

Congratulations!

Posted from Canada

By Alastair | July 5th, 2006 at 3:30 pm

I think it’ll be very difficult to top that game as the best of this world cup. I haven’t seen such a well-contested spectacle of pure football in a very long time, and it ended in the most exhilirating and magnificent fashion. I nearly cried

By Tony Soprano | July 5th, 2006 at 3:49 pm

Not only are Italians the best looking people, the smartest, and the best cooks, but we are soon to have the number one soccer team in the world. Please everyone recognize the superiority of Itlay.

As for the German media saying we are parasites, greasy, etc… If that is that case, then why is there an Italian restaurant on every corner in Germany.

Enjoy your pork and potatoes.

It feels good being the best…

Posted from Germany

By Sunday | July 5th, 2006 at 3:59 pm

DeRossi is now eligible to play for the final. Thoughts?

I’m hoping he doesn’t get an opportunity to play since 1) the elbow was a terrible act and 2) this team is doing so well now, why mess with the formula.

Posted from Canada

By Deutschländer Würstchen | July 5th, 2006 at 4:21 pm

I’m sorry that the Germans showed their real arrogant face towards other cultures! They respect other cultures as long as the others lose. When they win, then Germany will always find something to nag on. They will analyse every single irrelevant thing, just to make themselves look in a better light! They cannot accept that they are not among the best! They were lucky to have easy opponents until Argentina. Argentina played a nicer and smoother football, unfortunatelly Germany stood in their own half defending themselves to reach the penalties! Only in the penalty shoot-outs is Germany strong! But I know that with Italy they will fail! And they did! I knew Italy will do anything not to reach the penalties! I was so happy that Italy won! So the Germans finally go back to normal and maybe start respecting other nations they way others respect them.

Posted from Slovenia

By Vincenzo | July 5th, 2006 at 4:39 pm

After enduring the pain of Italia ‘90 and losing to penalties against Argentina in the semis, then in Pasadena in USA ‘94 and losing to penalties in the final against Brazil and the tears of Franco Baresi. Then in France ‘98 losing to penalties against France in the quarters.

I have witnessed some fantastic performances over the years which have included masterful displays of the catenaccio system coupled with swift counter attacks but this game has to be up there with the Brasil - Italy ‘82 game. I was only 16 when my uncle and I watched the game in the Bar Italia with loads of other mad italians. In that year we weren’t really given any chance and none of us thought we had any chance based on our earlier performances.

But Lippi for me has turned a bunch of Prima Donnas into a super team working as a unit in harmony with each other.
I really thought that this game was destined for penalties until that sublime moment when Pirlo slotted the ball through for Grosso to curl around Lehmann. Grosso’s celebration not unlike Marco Tardelli’s goal against the German’s in ‘82 and his incredulity of scoring such an important goal with raw emotion on his contorted face.

WHAT A HUGE RELIEF! And the coup de grâce when Gila reverse passed to Del Piero and he magnificently opened up his body to arch the ball around Lehmann into the top corner.

Well done to the Germans for a great display of football played in the true spirit (notwistanding Michael Balak who IMHO is a utterly insidious character) of an honourable meeting between two great footballing nations

I am so priveleged and lucky to be Italian. Thank you and FORZA my beloved AZZURRI! CAn this really be our year?, I hope and wish for an even better performance in the final.
ciao ragazzi

Posted from United Kingdom

By Guiseppe | July 5th, 2006 at 5:27 pm

Got to say that was the best game of the cup so far! Italy played with so much heart and determination, (one of the best games I have ever seen Italy play for attacking football in a very long time) I was preparing for a dreaded shoot-out(but still quite confident about beating Germany on penalties) but what a strike by Grosso in the final minute! it was so emotional, anybody else think Grosso’s celebration was a little like Marco Tardelli’s of 82′? then DP with the final nail in the coffin! I was out of my chair when that flew in, what a finish by DP, thought Cannavaro was immense at the back as always, he reads the game so well, Gattuso broke loads up in the middle (had a laugh when he pulled Ballack’s ear after apparantly both players ‘made up’ after Ballack’s late tackle on him), very impressed with Grosso and Zambrotta all game, both full of energy who never stop running, Grosso’s goal would of made ronaldinho proud and hes a defender! wasn’t sure when Iquinta came on but very impressed with his play in this game (held ball up well and created a few corners for us)not to mention great saves from Buffon (what a keeper!) and shades of DP’s champions league form for Juve (especially the goal) lovely finish, and my hat goes off to Lippi he certainly gets the best out of his players and a good tactical brain. All in all every player in blue played a faultless game, just what people come to expect from this great past and present footballing nation, now im just going to savour that match for the next couple of days then look forward to the final…THE WORLD CUP FINAL! sounds good doesn’t it? lets hope to see more of the same from Italy….Im more than sure we will. FORZA AZZURRI!

Ciao!

Posted from United States

By Pruritus | July 5th, 2006 at 5:41 pm

Hey, whats the point about FORZA ITALIA?
I was told by some italians that the “good” italians used to say ITALIA FORZA. ??? Cant understand that.

Posted from Germany

By jon jon | July 5th, 2006 at 6:32 pm

^*GASP Italy actually earned a victory! It’s a miracle!

What a sickening match, full of the usual sights that are familiar to anyone who’s used to watching the italians play. The operatic dives, the “help i’ve been shot”! collapsing to the pitch, followed by “it’s a miracle! I can walk again!” recoveries….Then you had Totti taking a running jump onto Ballack’s back and then acting as if he was the one who got fouled?!? fucking disgusting, ref should’ve given him a red, not a yellow for that piece of shit acting.

If Portugal manage to simulate their way to a win, it’ll be hilarious to see which of these dirty nations outdoes the other in the Final. Hell, what with both teams sure to be flopping and faking injuries all the time, it’ll be a *real miracle* if we see any action at all

Posted from Switzerland

By rinaldo | July 5th, 2006 at 6:52 pm

With de rossi back, we atleast have more depth on the bench for the midfield…and i’m sure that lippi will stick with the 4-4-1-1…with de rossi and barone on the bench.

Posted from India

By divya(India) | July 5th, 2006 at 7:01 pm

Well it was an awesome performance by italians,all the players of Italy played superb,though they committed so many fowls in the last games,they proved their talents.I can say Germans had a big nose cut by facing this awesome Tigers. i expected a goal from toti but unfortunately it was compensated by Grosso. In the place of Argentina Italy has proved their excellence towards Germany, when i saw the match i had an intuition that Italians will give them back,where Germany was acting as a Rat and Italians were acting like a cat.

Posted from India

By BARBAR | July 5th, 2006 at 8:11 pm

by the way, in German “Forza” means “fart”, so we really looooooooooooove to hear you saying that again and again hehehe

so, Juve in C, all others in B? uuuh seems as if some World Cup finalists are on the market now

Posted from United States

By Sunday | July 5th, 2006 at 11:27 pm

Barbar, what will we do without your posts? It made the victory all the more sweet. Hope you will continue to come along for the ride until the final

Posted from Canada

By pao | July 6th, 2006 at 12:53 am

barbar mate, let’s fart together as a sign of respect.

Posted from Italy

By 2-0 | July 6th, 2006 at 2:59 am

hee hee farts…i got farts now…nerves anticipating sundays match

lets hope the French stink like these farts.

Posted from Canada

By mike | July 6th, 2006 at 5:40 am

JoseManuelAntonioPaoloMariaCarloRonaldinho Meneses =john under alias….
Jose/John go away you hater and quit spreading lies about dives. If you are so interested in diving go jump in a 20ft deep pond of shit and drown.

Posted from United States

By The Big Lead » blog » Getting Soccer Wrong. Again. | July 7th, 2006 at 6:33 pm

[...] Players and Refs Turn Cup Into Field of Screams (New York Times) Why the United States doesn’t take to soccer (USA Today) Shades of 1990 (World Cup Blog) [...]

By Nice01 | July 9th, 2006 at 1:05 pm

posted from “jon jon” :
“these dirty nations”

Of course u’ve lost a good chance to be silent.. i dunno what game u’ve seen but it was not Germany V Italy on semis…
The essence is u can judge football only if u can play it or at least understand it.
I think Switzerland’s way of playing football is a kind destroying the game… so Germans can gudge, French the same and so on for all that understand football… I’m sorry u ll never win nothing in football.
Keep on skiing

By locu | July 25th, 2006 at 6:23 am

http://www.bastardidentro.it/node/view/18646

Posted from Italy

By locu | July 25th, 2006 at 6:25 am

http://www.bastardidentro.it/node/view/18650

Posted from Italy

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