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Thoughts on the Final

July 9th, 2006 | By: Jay | 329 Comments »

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…

- The Gattuso / Zidane encounters will be fascinating. Those two have more heart than the other 20 players on the pitch combined. Some of the most interesting play in the match will happen far from goal, so pay attention.

- Substitutions will be key. Domenech has consistently used Govou and Wiltord off the bench, not exactly names that strike fear into the hearts of the opposition. Italy, meanwhile, sits on a pile of options (Del Piero, Inzaghi, Camoranesi, etc, depending on the starting formations). I wonder aloud whether France peaked during the Spain/Brazil encounters and now might be feeling the lead in their legs. Italy has gotten stronger as the tournament has progressed. Will the trend continue?

- Finally, France will score first… but Italy will score last. And win. It’s inconceivable that the pressure on the French side could be as great as that of the Italians at this point in time, and I expect that France will come out more relaxed in an attacking mode. But this isn’t an Italian side that will be forced to scratch out goals or just win off the counter. They’ve played with three attackers consistently throughout the tournament and while Thuram, Sagnol and friends have been good, they’ve not been brilliant in the back for France. In the end, I think it will be too much Pirlo and the ‘tridente’ will find a hole to punch a couple goals through.

Tags: Group E, World Cup 2006

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Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 329 comments.

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By Marc Dorcel/Mario Salieri production | July 19th, 2006 at 6:09 pm

To joseph from Malta, aka the Italian wannabe.

How to respond to garbage poetry?…Mmmmh write another garbage poem… maybe…

I already wrote in French but obviously u don t get it… Okay I ll switch to English maybe next will be Italian…Or even Chinese!

Joseph held in misery
For whom we have pity

Oh, Joseph, the wannabe
Be all you can be

Just like Mater-nazi and Mussolini
You will crawl on your knee

Just like Italy insipid victory
You won t be eternity

You spit venom
But that won t be ad eternum

You dream being funny
That’s all of your fancy

All this futility
Just to make you happy

Paramount shame upon you
Cause you have no clue

Indeed, you write like a moron
Oh my Lord, Joseph will sink into oblivion

Now it’s time you wake up
Or the crowd will beat you up

Creep back from where you come from
Nobody wants to hear you perform

Just hide your head in your butt
Or you’ll get a headbutt !

Okay Joseph, so now be quiet or I ll make sure the men in black have u sent to Hizbolla crazy f*cks in southern Lebanon. Either this or the Goulag in Siberia.

Posted from France

By Irishdownunder | July 19th, 2006 at 9:01 pm

sara-
“.. irishdownunder being irish and in austrailia do you have an irish accent or an austrailian accent?”

Because of my irish accent has been softened so much from moving around & living overseas, I actually get asked if I’m Canadian a lot. I’ve even being accused of pretending to be Irish.Go figure!?!

After a few beers my accent is distinctly Irish. Why the question?

Posted from Australia

By Natalia | July 19th, 2006 at 9:42 pm

Joseph from Malta….sory but u jus got burned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!hahhaha……this blog tooo funny!.

—-”I’m ecstatic with Italy’s side
such a blow on France’s pride!
You’ve been shamed & humbled
in the Final stumbled
on a great Italian team
out of rage do you scream”—–

ahahhaha….and yet its you haters who are doing the screaming huh? We argue our cases properly but what I seen from you is a bunch o giberish., u need to get ur facts straight b4 u talk bought middle east, aite?! dunt make dat mistake again……keep on defending wats wrong, u kno its wrong ur just in denial.

LONG LIVE ZZ caz you all know he’s da best!

By sara | July 19th, 2006 at 11:27 pm

i love the irish accent…thats why i ask

Posted from Canada

By Irishdownunder | July 21st, 2006 at 3:01 am

sara-

If I’m ever in Canada you can take me for a few drinks and listen to it to your hearts content.

To be sure, to be sure. Remember “trees” a crowd!! (lol)

Posted from Australia

By Joseph from Malta | July 21st, 2006 at 7:14 am

poor old Marc Dorcel
you’re living in hell

it’s just so evident
your big pride has been dent

Insults you conjure full of puerility
reflecting your base infantility

Italty dealt such a severe blow
France was simply forced to bow

Bowing so low, bowing in shame
Italy made your country tame

Italians are the True Sportsmen
not like Zizou that little herdsman

from where else did he learn to attack
from a ram, probably black

Like a ram castrated are the French
putrid are your worlds, full of stench

but there is nothing you can do
Italy crushed France with Zizou!

You condone violence on the pitch
not only a cry baby, also a bitch

you cry in agony like a whore
‘cos your ass is so sore

stop that buggery, it will make you mad
Zizou’s disaster mad you so sad

that’s why you have to take it out
‘cos you aren’t mature, you’re a clout

no amount of buggery will make you happy
you’ll only shit more in your nappy

Because of defeat, France do you cry,
vicious Zizou made it more wry

his 14th red card, sent off in shame
making excuses, that are so lame

Makila now you realize, what a beast
you raised in your family feast

Your son will die out soon Makila, just like you
what a disgrace you’ve been, mama Zizou

Justify Marc, your anti-Italian hate
with racist remarks, insults you mate

please don’t stop, keep it up:
you sweeten Italy’s Victory in the World Cup!

****
4 stars, that no Zi-gun, nor Blabber-Blatter can ever remove….

Posted from Malta

By Natalia | July 21st, 2006 at 2:18 pm

Joseph you try to hide your bestial side, you’re turning into a racist bastard…your posts from before wer alright…

materazzi’s punishment has been a severe blow to you. You keep going on about zizou’s mistake, but even fifa has agreed that the provocation needed serious attention.

By sara | July 21st, 2006 at 4:27 pm

irishdownunder, you have yourself a deal

Posted from Canada

By sara | July 21st, 2006 at 4:33 pm

irishdownunder, question, what’s your real name?

Posted from Canada

By Irishdownunder | July 21st, 2006 at 4:45 pm

sara-
sorry I can’t stop an chat…. it’s Michael O’Gara

Later XXOOXX

Posted from Australia

By sara | July 21st, 2006 at 5:15 pm

Michael O’Gara…i like it

we shall chat soon enough

bye XOX

Posted from Canada

By Joseph from Malta | July 23rd, 2006 at 9:46 am

Natalia that’s called “projection”

You’re putting your feelings into others.

Racist are the French, who condoned not only Zizou’s vicious act, but also the anti-Italian slur that has been going on for a long time.

Natlia, there is no other way to put it:
FIFA’s shameful decision to reward such a vicious attack is wrong on all counts that if it weren’t so serious in nature, it would be pathetic & hilarious.

The unjust 2 days suspension of Materazzi (who didn’t utter any racist insult at all) are nothing but a reward to anti-Italian hate, & to violence in sport.

But it isn’t: can you imagine the bad example on kids around the world, the groos contradiction on the “Fair Play” FIFA itself touted during this World Cup?

The whole French nation, the bigots who claim to be oh-so-politically-correct, owe a big apology to Italy & Italians worldwide.

Not to mention what FIFA & that mad-hatter Blatter should do…

…you do understand all this, or do I have to write out in prose for you?

4 stars
****

Posted from Malta

By Scorpio | July 23rd, 2006 at 3:05 pm

To Joseph and all the trash talking that went on and on either about Italia or France,

Joseph I am afraid you are just out of topic and irrelevant. When I read your post I have the feeling I must step in and correct the terrible bias. As a French citizen of Italian parents.

Your claim that French people are racist is sheer calumny for a country which is known for its open border policy (far more than most of other European countries) and political asylum welcoming. I believe that your hatred toward the French is owing to ignorance. For sure the country isn’t perfect, just like any other country in the world it has its bunch of intolerant uneducated far right wing racist moron, but these species are the minority and the exception. What happened in Spain, for example, where the national coach overtly made racists comments, could never take place in France without the coach being fired, the media denouncing and condemning the comments and, the people taking the streets.
French society has welcomed and embraced many different cultures building up a complex mosaic (not without difficulties) which represents France nowadays with its strength and its weaknesses. For immigration matters this country is way ahead of its neighbours namely Spain and Italia.
French are certainly not racist toward Italians, there’s a quiet big Italian community, of which I am part, thriving in this country. Italia and France share a great amount of cultures & history. Both countries are probably more alike than any other country in Europe and they are mutualy indebt as for cultural and historical legacy. Ask yourself why is that their flag is so much alike?

I don t know your personal story, I doubt you are Italian though. Because either French or Italian, on both sides most of the people are laughing about this stupid Zidane-Materazzi incident and most of them are certainly not drawing such shallow conclusions as yours about an entire nation.

I have come to love both countries, but when I see people bashing either Italia or France based on a wrong ground of assumptions or arguments I can t refrain but lash out. Teasing is part of the game (just like we may do on this blog), but tedious bashing and silly conclusions like yours aren’t. You take Italian side, great, but your conclusion is as silly as the ones some other bloggers have come to depicting Italia as a fascist country full of cheaters and divers… The irony is that each time moronic comments are made it seems that it stems from non-directly concerned third parties people who take side with the utmost violence…

As for the incident, both players were silly, and Zidane blew it. Well, it’s over, it’s part of the drama, Italia won, I’m glad I had both of my teams playing the Final, two great football powerhouse with a little plus for Italia thanks to this 4th star which adds up perfectly with the previous ones!