The only World Cup 2006 thread you need

[Neemo]

apperently, materazzi insulted zidane's sister as a prostitute twice during the game

still it's just trash talk..the guy is the captain and their best player and he puts himself out of the contest with minutes left? WTF?

[Butch Français]

the penalty are not pure chance

they're very important.
finishing that way is not a disgrace, it uses different style of player, and players needs to focus and use different talent

there's a lot going on when you shoot a penalty.

during my career (ahahahha, ok shut up !) i always refused to shoot 'em and my coach hated that, but i do suck at penalties.

hahha you had a "career" too?
I was actually very good at penalties, free kicks and passes.
but I never liked shooting the penalties though

I never liked the golden goal. the silver goal was a bit more sensible to me.
but I think the way it is now, is they way it should be.
I hate seeing a world cup final end in a penalty shootout though, but it's extremely exciting and I don't mind it in the rounds before the final.

the match yesterday was a very good one. I just wish France had knocked in an extra goal, cos they deserved it in the second half and both the extra halfs. and I generally like France a LOT better than Italy

[the dirt]

apperently, materazzi insulted zidane's sister as a prostitute twice during the game

You sure it wasn't that 8 year old Italian fan that stuck his tongue out at him from the stands? 

[Danny Top Hat]

I heard Materazzi insulted his mother.  Whatever he said, it's absolutely pathetic.  I almost don't blame Zidane - except for the fact that he let his entire country down...

risk serious injury?? that makes no sense to me. how does playing for a long time put you at risk of "SERIOUS" injury?

Their legs will falls off, obviously.

[gnrhamm]

I heard Materazzi insulted his mother.? Whatever he said, it's absolutely pathetic.? I almost don't blame Zidane - except for the fact that he let his entire country down...

risk serious injury?? that makes no sense to me. how does playing for a long time put you at risk of "SERIOUS" injury?

Their legs will falls off, obviously.

It dosen't matter what Materazzi said. It's trash talk and it happens in all sports on all levels. Zidane should be use to it as all players should be. How would he react on an NBA court or and NFL field. All they do is trash talk. No one seemed to care what was said to Totti during the last Euro to provoke him to spit in someone's face. He did it and was punished and he deserved to be. Zidane deserved what he got. He is a great player but has done similar things in the past. He was sent off in the 98 world cup and recieved a 3 game ban for stomping on someones legs. He also was sent off during Champions league against Deporivo, for, if my memory serves me correct, another head-butt.
As far as the penalty shots, I don't like them but they are a fact of the game. Italy have been on the losing end of them many times including the final against Brazil in 94.
Although France played more aggressive in the 2nd half and extra time, they did not nessesarily play better. There are 2 sides to the game of soccer. Offensive and defensive. Remember Greece's deffensive play won them the last Euro. One can say that Italy played a better defensive game and France played a better offensive one.
The ball is round - shit happens!

Viva L'italia - Campioni Del Mondo! 4 Stars!

[2NaFish]

it doesnt matter in the slightest what matterazzi said, any player should be above it, especially a country's captain and even more Zidane.

There is no excuse for his actions.


Still, i'd like to no what he said.

[Shoco]

just read that zidane was sent off more times in his career than roy keane

[Judge Dredd]

it doesnt matter in the slightest what matterazzi said, any player should be above it, especially a country's captain and even more Zidane.

There is no excuse for his actions.


Still, i'd like to no what he said.

A lip reader has told a BBC Radio reporter in Rome that they reckon Zidane was called a terrorist and told to play for the country he was born in (Algeria).

[Izzy]

it doesnt matter in the slightest what matterazzi said, any player should be above it, especially a country's captain and even more Zidane.

There is no excuse for his actions.


Still, i'd like to no what he said.

A lip reader has told a BBC Radio reporter in Rome that they reckon Zidane was called a terrorist and told to play for the country he was born in (Algeria).

Actually it seems he was born in France... i always thought he was from Algerian but the latest re-write of history has him as the son of an Algerian immigrant

Fair do's....

Overall it was....well....a pretty weak world cup

Maybe i just have too high standards - but most of those games had barely a handful of chances, and no one excelled - where was the stunning young players exploding from obscurity? Where was the new wonderkids?

And all those red cards.....

..but its the total lack of chances or attacking football that bothered me most

[Izzy]

it doesnt matter in the slightest what matterazzi said, any player should be above it, especially a country's captain and even more Zidane.

There is no excuse for his actions.


Still, i'd like to no what he said.

A lip reader has told a BBC Radio reporter in Rome that they reckon Zidane was called a terrorist and told to play for the country he was born in (Algeria).

Lol - the camera was far to far away to make out more than a word or two at the most, u just couldn't see his mouth clearly enough

[Jim]

Maybe i just have too high standards - but most of those games had barely a handful of chances, and no one excelled - where was the stunning young players exploding from obscurity? Where was the new wonderkids?

If David Beckham had have snapped a metatarsal or two you would have got that from Aaron Lennon... Instead he was relegated to a cameo. That said, it was clear last season that he can't keep it up for ninety minutes yet which, of course, given his age isn't a criticism.

As far as the World Cup being a let down, as my dad's generation keep telling me, world cups are always let downs...... I guess we just expect far too much.

[Judge Dredd]

it doesnt matter in the slightest what matterazzi said, any player should be above it, especially a country's captain and even more Zidane.

There is no excuse for his actions.


Still, i'd like to no what he said.

A lip reader has told a BBC Radio reporter in Rome that they reckon Zidane was called a terrorist and told to play for the country he was born in (Algeria).

Lol - the camera was far to far away to make out more than a word or two at the most, u just couldn't see his mouth clearly enough

That's what I thought, anyway Zidane has told his agent he'll reveal all in the next few days.

[GNR_Green]

Zidane's gonna have to come up with a bit more than just "sorry" isn't he!  Fuck knows what he'll say, I don't think he can say anything that'll help his cause as it was a stupid thing he did.

Re: penalties
I think penalties are a good way of settling a cup game, no matter how big or small.  It's a great climax, it puts people through such high emotion, and surely that's what you want as a fan?  Clearly spanking a team is a better way to beat them but I think neutrals had a lot to enjoy in this World Cup final, owing largely to the fact there was a shoot-out.

[Judge Dredd]

Zidane's gonna have to come up with a bit more than just "sorry" isn't he!  Fuck knows what he'll say, I don't think he can say anything that'll help his cause as it was a stupid thing he did.

Considering the reception he got in France today and the French President calling him a genius, I don't actually think Zidane has to say anything.

To be honest, I reckon there are some people in France who are glad that he 'stuck one on' Materazzi.

[jimmythegent]

First of all,? ?I would like to say GO ITALY!!? ?BEST SOCCERSOCCER SOCCER team? in the world . I would also like to say that American Sports? own you bitches .? ?All you have is soccer.? ?There is never a time in america? where there isn't a Professional sport going on.? What other sports do you people have besides soccer?? What else is there when Soccer season ends??? ?Soccer=? a sport that celebrates? divers? and cheaters .? In america? any athlete that fakes an injury? is looked? at as a bitch? ,? that kind of behavior is not accepted in American sports.? ?I don't understand? why that shit is encouraged? in international soccer.? maybe you can give me an intelligent response to that question .? ?Anyway ,? I am glad that? Italy won but this? ?probably was the? worst World Cup I have ever seen? and I have watched all of them since Mexico 86' .

You'd be a fool to judge Football by International matches, if that's what you've done. Even if there weren't other sports when the Football season ends, Football alone is far and above most other sports in the world, as far as most sports fans in the UK are concerned. It's considered far and above American Football, Baseball...you name it, so we're hardly left feeling unsatisfied. How much league Football have you watched? Excluding MLS, because that's no match for European leagues.

There is a lot of play-acting in Football, and it's frustrating as hell. I'm very upset with Zidane, and the various other players that have tarnished the image of the game over the last month or so. Play-acting is not universally encouraged, but I do get the impression that within certain teams the players do encourage each other to do it sometimes. It's hard to think of a way to put a stop to it. It contributed to semi-ruining this World Cup, along with the refereeing and disappointing individual and team performances.

In response to your question about what other sports we have...well, I'm playing Cricket tonight. The nationwide feeling when England won The Ashes last year was fantastic, and many people were drawn in by it. In case you're not aware, The Ashes is a Cricket competition held between Australia and England. Australia normally win.

America probably does have a larger number of popular sports, for all I know, but then it also has a few more million people than most countries do. For the record though, here in the UK we do also have Rugby League, Rugby Union, Horse Racing, Golf, Tennis (notably Wimbledon), Snooker, Squash, Hockey, Sailing...etc. There are American Sports here too, such as Basketball and Ice Hockey. Not many people really care about them though, compared to how people care about Football. We're not forced into following Football, we choose to because it is an excellent sport and we love it. I'll grant you that a few of the sports I've mentioned are ones I don't particularly enjoy, but the point is that they are there for others to enjoy, watch and participate in. Only in your somewhat ignorant view does American sport 'own' us 'bitches'. I personally don't feel owned, and I don't feel unsatisfied with the sporting entertainment that is made available here. By the way, American Football and Baseball both owe their development to sports played in Britain, which I find mildly ironic

its called soccer in my country, so get off your fucking high horse.

Precisely. I never realised people really took this issue so seriously... I'm English but come on guys, it's not that important what other people wanna call the sport. I'm sure there are plenty of other more worthwhile things to worry about. I plan to carry on calling it Football, but I'm not going to worry too much if other people want to call it Soccer. I don't see why I'd want to bother.

good post -  more than the post that prompted it deserved

[2NaFish]

the problem is that there is no better way to finish it. if you or anyone else can think of a better way to finish a game of football then Sepp Blatter and i would love to hear it.

penalty kick are unfortunate but its the way it has to be. and england are awful at them.

why not just play the actual game until there is a winner?

also, the entire OT should be sudden death (i.e. first goal wins, game over).

risk of serious injury increases over time and is unpractical in a tournament like the world cup where there is a short amount of time. this is not a dig at american sports, but football is compeltly unlike them in the cardiovascular stakes.

as for sudden death, it was tried. we called it golden goal. it was universally seen as the gheyest rule since, well, ever. its completly outwith the spirit of the game. there's nobility in penalties that a sudden death goal just doesnt have.

[DeN]

now i understand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKGcUr0S-FU&search=materazzi

[sandman]

now i understand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKGcUr0S-FU&search=materazzi

that was awesome.

he's a cheapshot artist, but it paid off for him. he got under zidane's skin and he lost his cool, which you could argue cost france the title.

[TAP]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/5169342.stm

Zinedine Zidane has apologised for the headbutt on Italy's Marco Materazzi which earned him a red card in Sunday's World Cup final penalty shoot-out loss.

The France legend did not reveal what Materazzi said, but claimed it was "very personal" and concerned his mother and his sister.

"I want to ask for forgiveness from all the children who watched," Zidane said.

Materazzi responded to the French TV interview with a statement again denying insulting Zidane's mother.

Zidane was sent off for headbutting Materazzi in the chest in the second period of extra-time in Sunday's final in Berlin.

Italian defender Materazzi, who scored the equaliser on Sunday, said: "I didn't mention anything about religion, politics or racism.

"I didn't insult his mother. I lost my mother when I was 15 years old and still get emotional when I talk about it.

"Naturally, I didn't know that his mother was in hospital but I wish her all the best.

"Zidane is my hero and I have always admired him a lot."

Zidane appeared on French TV station Canal Plus to explain his actions.

He refused to say sorry to Materazzi and said he did not regret what he did after being provoked by the insults.

"You hear those things once and you try to walk away," said Zidane, who retired from football after the final in Berlin.

"That's what I wanted to do because I am retiring. You hear it a second time and then a third time.


"This was not something to do. I want to make it clear because it was watched by two billion people and by millions of kids.

"I want to apologise to them but I can't regret what I did because it would mean that he (Materazzi) was right to say what he said."

[SWINGTRADER]

The new FiFa  rankings are in  and as usual  it is a fuckin joke .   1. Brasil  2. Italy 3.  Argentina. 4. France 5. England


How the fuck is Brasil still number 1 ??  I thought the winner of a world cup would automatically get #1 spot.   I also don't agree with Argentina at #3 . I think germany should have that slot because  they are an awesome  young team  that I think will be a heavy favorite  in 2010.  I also think they will win the next Euro Cup even though I think Klinsman resigning might hurt the team's chances.