Absolutely amazing performance by Zidane. He was as dominating as in 1998. His fundamental skills, court vision, and everything was too much for Brazil to contain
Yup...he dominated the midfield. The set peice that lead to the goal was amzingly places perfet...you couldn't have done it any better. He was one of my favorite players for a long time. I kept up with him since 98
Only problem being some of our best players would only be backups in the European leagues. If Donavan stayed there and actually played against better talent he would be a better player today. He lowered his ceiling by staying in the US to play for MLS. He had the talent to be a great player for the US but if you play against lower talent becuase you can't handle the big time your only gonna be as good as that talent... He should have stuck it out and actually used it as motivation to fuel him into getting better....that way right now you would have had a real star on your team instead of one that just fades out. Not many US players get the opportunnity to play in Europe or if they do they get limited time...but they should honestly take that challenge...i believe Keller did if i am not mistaken..but the whole Donavan thing always pissed me off. That's like a first round draft picks saying i don't want the challenge of the NBA, "DO YOU MIND SENDING ME TO THE NBDL, So i can be a star"
Great game by the French. A well deserved victory over Brazilians, who looked like a bunch of pretenders. This shows the '98 World Cup Final was not a fluke. Dating back to 1986, France has beaten Brazil 3 times in World Cup matches. So France has Brazil's number. It's interesting to note Germany has France's number, and Italy traditionally has Germany in check. Let's see if these trends hold true in the rest of the games.
He's like Hakeem even better in his early 30's. Did you see the spin move? He wasn't the quickest on the field or the reigning World Player of the Year but the clinic he displayed against Brazil, it was sublime. If he was a painter, he'd be up there with Van Gough.
England is similar to Spain. Great expectations and big game underachievers. It's almost as if they have stage fright. Heck they should have fielded the Liverpool FC team at least that team never gave up. And they can win penalty shoot-outs. My heart is on France. Financially I should be barracking for Portugal. I drew them in the office sweeps. As long as the world diving champions don't win it, it will be a great result.
You're kiddin right. Please tell me how many world cups spain have won? not even on their own soil like we did on ours. Not even quarters of the major tourneys. Spain are different from us, they are the ultimate underachievers, England meanwhile just find new and worse ways to torture their fans, and sometimes like today they revert to the tried and true methods. Lose a man to an unfortunate red card, and then play fantastic, courageous football down a man, and then lose in penalties. painful doesnt even begin to describe it. I have run out of tears after so many penalty losses that i cant even cry today, i am just in disbelief. oh and we didnt give up today similarly to the liverpool squad last year, and what we needed that liverpool had in 2005 was a german to take a pk for us- Dietmar Hamman. ****in German Robot Players. I think Italy will win it all, everyone is dismissing them like they are also rans, its all about germany this germany that, people forget germanys defence has been weak all tourney and i would put more trust in Nesta/Barzagli and Cannavaro than Metersacker and Metzelder. 1 goal allowed in 5 games and that was by their own defender, and luca toni just got going, totti is picking up form, i think italy will win it silently, people will go on and on about Zizou and germany but italy will creep up and win it. Damn, i'm drunk/pissed/shattered.
Look at this positively,this loss plus all the sad losses previously suffered by England will only make the its ultimate win in the world up sweeter.
This World Cup turned out to be the return of sorry a$$es in the last one. Portugal and France didnt even make out of the group 4 years ago. Italy was killed in the round of 16 by the lucky South Korean. So every dog has its day. I am betting France and Italy meet in the final, and France wins in PSO in a 0:0 tie.
You are welcome. It's going to be 2030 in Beijing, England beat Argentina to settle all the problem once for all.
Head-to-head records in World Cup between Germany (including previously West Germany), Italy, and France [sorry Portugal fans]: Germany vs Italy: 2 draws, 2 losses; last played in '82 final where West Germany lost to Italy in the final. Germany vs France: 2 wins, 1 loss; West Germany beat France in '82 SF and again in '86 SF. Italy vs France: 2 wins, 2 losses; Italy won the first 2, but lost the last 2, the last one was in '98 QF.
I'm looking foward to Tuesday and Wednesday. I really hope that Germany just kicks the s*** out of Italy. I'm just tired of them. France and Portugal should be a truly great game. Deco will be back and rested. I think Portugal can do it...if they keep their cool. Zidane is looking like the Zidane of 1998. It's very hard to believe that he's going to retire after this. There is no way this man should stop playing. He is still the best in the world. I'm going with Portugal winning 1-0 and Germany winning in pk's.
I can't believe what happened today, but man, you have to give Portugal credit...Brazil choked...France is ok, but man, Brazil underachieve this go round... Germany and Portugal will face off with Germany the winner...
