I agree with some posters that this is not really a good WC. Most of the teams were so scared to be scored on that they packed all their players in the backfield. They were just playing not to lose because so much was at stack. So if you could find yourself love this WC, you really have the potential to become a soccer fan. IMO the premier and championship leagues games in Europe are much much more entertaining and exciting than the games in this WC.
i'm a hardcore b-ball and soccer fan and i can't find it in my heart to say this wasn't a real good WC, i think the 1990 world cup was was much worse, but with all that in mind, i thought the referring in this wc was horrible....the refs made it a point to get involved in the game way too much, make too many questionable calls, and set all-time records for yellow and red cards issued....referring at the last wc was bad and i didn't think it could get any worse, but it did
http://home.skysports.com/worldcup/...119&lid=13&title=Materazzi+denies+Zidane+jibe materazzi is denying the allegations in a pretty funny way by saying, "It is absolutely not true, I did not call him a terrorist...I'm ignorant. I don't even know what the word means..."
I like your fine read, and agree it was great opera. Maybe that is why the Italians won But I watch sports for the better players and teams to determine outcomes, less from luck (PK), bad calls, and antics (dive versus the Aussies). We have Hollywood for that and the good guys always win in drama, not thugs like Materazzi and De Rossi. Funny how nobody tarnishes Larry Bird career for clocking Laimbeer--though I don't remember if it was in the playoffs and certainly not in a game 7. Mix in a more dangerous sport with years of thugish play that ZZ is very familiar with (see the video, ZZ used to play in his league) and maybe some racists comments (we will see), and you have Materrazzi. You act like it is just a few Americans without context defending ZZ. BigTex did you not notice the entire German stands booing Materazzi and the Italians after the play? The Germans booing the Italians over the French. The knowledgeable and until then largely split crowd clearly thought a great ending to a world cup was spoiled, and didn't foremost put the blame on ZZ. Until we have more facts I’ll be inclined to think they know more to it (they may have seen what preceded the incident over the whole game). Also, Zidane has been the greatest player since Maradona. Getting France to the finals over the heavily favored Spanish and Brazil teams reaffirm his already legend status. Yes he had a shocking melt down. He should have been smarter and cooler (clock him after the game if it was that bad), but if his family, nation and ethnicity are being abused the response could be understandable. Not justified, not unpunished, but understandable. ZZ does owe his team and country an apology and explanation, but he will be forgiven I believe. Heck the British forgave Beckham for his chocking red card idiot play that cost England versus Argentina (88 maybe), and Beckham has never delivered for his country like Zidane has. I disagree both of these statements. There was 10 minutes left. France had been relentlessly attacking for the last hour of game time and no goal. Even a man down France had decent chances and played with more passion and energy--maybe even inspired by what happened, but Italy still bunkered down & played for the PK, and no goal by either side. 90% chance it goes to penalty kicks and the Italians still have the upperhand because of Buffon, and maybe the scouting report that helped their offensive players take PKs that Barthez was not remotely close to. Even without the red card Italy probably takes it to PKs (90%) plus with probably a 70% to win from their. Italian R, you should celebrate and don't let any whining and b****ing from me and others spoil that. You have a great country and many great players worthy of accolades, a couple players' distasteful games and attitudes don't spoil the whole. Personally, I think Perlo was the man of the turnament. He was the glue that held the midfield together, sometimes it was like he was the only Italian controlling the ball and making possession saving plays versus Germany and France--kind of reminded me of a younger fresher ZZ. He also set up the turning point scores in both last games. Mad props to Perlo (my favorite Italian player to watch how he works), Cannavaro, Buffon and your fellow countrymen.
In the stadium, they did not show the replay of why ZZ was sent off. Of course most would be watching the ball, not two players walking back towards the action. It is obvious that they missed what actually happened, so crowd reaction is not relevant in this case.
This world cup is not good? Because of low goal count? I have watched 7 world cups in my life, the 94 and 2002 world cup was the least exciting. I like the 86 mexico and 90 the summer of Italy best. Epic matches like 86 France vs Brazil, England v Argentina, 90 Argentina vs Brazil, Italy vs Argentina are pure gems. When Italy lost to Argentina in the semifinal 90, you could feel death from the Italians. What did 2002 have, Turkey vs Brazil? But this one's got enough drama too. This final will go down as an epic match remembered for long long time.
Per the book, the 2 assistant referees (linesmen for American Football folks) can help making the call by raising their flags to get the attention of the center referee. They can tell the CR what happened and let him decide what to call. I don't think the 4th or 5th referee should be consulted nor should any referee uses TV replay to help them make the call.
Man, believe me, I had celebrated a lot! I almost lose my voice . Nothing written here can change my satisfaction! Nobody can ruin my joy cause I've been waiting for this moment for so long!! I'm just trying to be fair, with that phrase I meant that not always the best team win. I guess that happens almost in every sport, even in basket. Yeah I obviously agree with you, Pirlo Cannavaro and Buffon were by far our best players.
Anyway feel always free to advise me if i write something extremely wrong or fun or both. I know my english is bad, I'm always trying to improve it.
It had Senegal, US/Mexico, Korea/Italy. Big teams coming up short and unexpected teams playing big. If you're going to judge WC's on one game than be my guest.
Are you British? Yes, there were underdogs winning unexpectedly in that world cup, but quality wise it wasnt that good, because power houses exited too early.
But can't that be part of the excitment..that's the whole thing about Cup football...it's win or go home....sometimes it's awesome to see big teams lose.
Ohh, now who sounds "British"? What you wrote is pure euro/south american-snob bullcrap. It's almost as dumb as those who say it wasn't a real WC because so and so team wasn't there. There is only ever going to be one exception for that to be true, if Brasil were not at the WC, then I would agree.
Have some of you never played sports before? There's going to be trash talking, and it's going to get personal. Materazzi wasn't making an address to the United Nations, here. He was running smack during a soccer game to get in his opponents' head. I don't advocate calling all Arabs terrorists, but Zidane surely has heard that one before and shouldn't let it rile him up in overtime of the world cup final. Materazzi almost certainly doesn't think Zidane is a terrorist in real life, come on. He was trying to get in Zidane's head and he succeeded. Zidane was ejected and left in shame. Materazzi's team won the world cup. Game over.
Certainly it was unexpected that a veteran like Zidane would lose his cool but your attempt to justify the remarks as 'running smack' is pathetic. Calling someone a n***** and someone's mother a terrorist w**** is way over the line. I don't have a problem with you rooting for Italy but where is your sense of sportsmanship? It appears you don't have one.
You're defending a guy who headbutted an opponent away from the ball and you're questioning my sense of sportsmanship? Laughable.
