3-1 I don't think so...the French defense is too good for that and Italy doesn't have any insane strikers like Zidane. Still, the Italian defense is the best in the world and won't surrender any points, so 1-0 Italy.
Soccer: Azzurri out to stop Zidane
Snuffing out Zizou key to World Cup win
(ANSA) - Duisberg, July 7 - Italy has been thinking of ways to stop French national glory Zinedine Zidane in Sunday's World Cup Final .
The question on everyone's lips is: mark him or not? Midfield tiger Gennaro Gattuso, one of Italy's stars so far, quipped that the best way to defuse the Zidane danger would be to "make the sign of the cross" .
He indicated that the France legend, who is out to exit world soccer in a blaze of glory, might be given close attention .
"I've met Zidane several times playing for Milan but I've never man-marked him" .
Roma midfielder Simone Perrotta, on the other hand, said "we're not going to put Zidane in a cage" .
"We're just going to play our natural game" .
Getting men quickly forward - and using the numerical advantage created if France sticks markers on playmaker Francesco Totti - could again prove the key to success, Perrotta said .
Marking the peerless Zidane has been a sore point ever since the 2000 European championship final, when France pipped Italy at the death - after a match Italy deserved to win, in most observers' eyes .
National coach Dino Zoff resigned after the match when media-magnate-turned-politician Silvio Berlusconi, boss of Gattuso's AC Milan, said Italy had lost because it hadn't put a man on Zidane - as "even an amateur would have understood" .
In truth, Zidane rarely featured in a game marked by sweeping Italian moves .
Nonetheless, Italy are determined to avenge that defeat - and others at the 1986 and 1998 World Cups .
"We're going to give 120% for (coach Marcello) Lippi," said goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, another stand-out .
"There's no way we're going to let the fans down" .
Asked who the favourite was, Buffon - who is implicated in a sports gambling probe - wryly replied: "I guess you could put us at about even odds right now" .
Berlusconi, who has been oddly muted since his general election defeat in April, has yet to give Lippi any advice .
I don't like these personal challenges, they usually backfire and rile that person up more. See Spain's coach re: "We're going to retire Zidane." Well I guess we could say that too now...
Italians get out their flags
Expectation mounts ahead of Sunday's World Cup final
(ANSA) - Rome, July 7 - Italians unable to travel to Berlin for the World Cup final between Italy and France were busy on Friday preparing to join the flag-waving crowds in piazzas and and football stadiums across the nation .
About 200,000 people are expected to gather in Rome's Circus Maximus, the site of an ancient chariot-racing arena, to watch the match on mega-screens and take part in the fondly expected celebrations afterwards .
Likewise huge numbers were expected at Milan's Piazza del Duomo and at central squares in Florence, Naples and Turin. Even though Italy has been in the grip of World Cup fever for weeks now, shops selling the red, white and green 'tricolore' flags and blue national team jerseys were doing a roaring trade as the week ended .
"It's incredible. I've had old ladies buying flags, businessmen buying crazy hats and mums buying shirts for their children," said one shopkeeper near Rome's Trevi fountain .
Up and down the country, plans were being changed and travel arrangements adjusted so that Italians could be in front of a screen by 8 pm on Sunday night .
In the tiny Calabrian village of Gioiosa Jonica locals rescheduled the annual procession with the church's statue of the Virgin Mary to Saturday so that everyone would be free the next day .
In the southern town of Corigliano Calabro, the birthplace of Italy midfielder Rino Gattuso, football fans were preparing triumphal march for Sunday night with every one wearing their local hero's shirt .
Meanwhile, back in Rome, plans were taking shape for a grand event on Monday night to welcome home the Italian players .
"They deserve a celebration regardless of the result," said Mayor Walter Veltroni. "They have put on a fantastic show for all of us". The Italian team is scheduled to land at a military base north of Rome, where there will be no chance of fans mobbing them. Soon after they will be greeted by top Italian officials before being escorted to Circus Maximus to be feted by thousands of fans .
Like many Italians, a restaurant in Viareggio was taking superstitious precautions on Friday to stop fate spoiling the planned party .
The restaurant owners have removed Normandy oysters and champagne from the menu for the next two days .
Expect the French to upset the fancied Italians. Nobody, including me expected the French to trounce Brazil but they did. Zidane is in good form, and when he plays he makes others dance to his tune. Zidane is a good player and for his sake i hope France wins. Too bad i hoped for a Germany-Argentina final, but that was not to be. I supported Germany but they were knocked off by the Italians.
@POLIZEI: How can you say that the FIFA sided with the Italians, the Italians were simply the better side that day and i guess won a deserving victory.
---------------------------------------------
Dont bother arguing with the Chinese. They are commie-propaganda infected brains who are running away from their commie land.
he meant that the italians were the ones who forced fifa to bann frings from the game.And if you look at the game our biggest weaknes was getting the ball from our defence,safetly back into the game to our offensive.And this didnt work.And just this,is normaly the role of thorsten frings.
he meant that the italians were the ones who forced fifa to bann frings from the game.And if you look at the game our biggest weaknes was getting the ball from our defence,safetly back into the game to our offensive.And this didnt work.And just this,is normaly the role of thorsten frings.
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Right on the mark!!!
FIFA reviewed the video and clearly said that no actions would be taken against Germany.
Italy in their typical fashion, whined, pissed and moaned.
FIFA, under pressure from the Italians, reopened the case, it showed Torsten swinging in self defense, and on top of that, never even made contact.
FIFA could easily have said, he was defending him self, or no contact was made, but because of the pressure, and not wanting to make it look like they were favoring Germany, waited till there were less than 24 hours before the game to ban him.
This, in my opinion gave Italy what they wanted, a weaker Germany that they could defeat.
FIFA gave Italy the win, with Torsten, we would have defeated Italy.
_______________________________________________________ "Pulver ist Schwarz, Blut ist rot, golden flackert die Flamme" Ferdinand Freiligrath (1810-1876)
I was a big fan of Zidane but after what I heard I changed my mind
The guy has chosen that he will be the one to take penalties, corners, free kicks, ...
He wants to be the sole star on the field.
The guy got a ghost tell him to play for the national team again
I didn't know he was this arrogant.
btw, France scored 8 goals in 6 games, and they don't play well. I hope that they will lose the final because they don't deserve to win it unlike the Italians who play very well.
FORZA ITALIA !
Don't try this at home lads
"The enemy dies relaxed," observed a Lockheed Martin manager.
Quote:I was a big fan of Zidane but after what I heard I changed my mind
The guy has chosen that he will be the one to take penalties, corners, free kicks, ...
He wants to be the sole star on the field.
The guy got a ghost tell him to play for the national team again
I didn't know he was this arrogant.
This is ridiculous. How much of these hearsays are facts?
What if it was a team's collective decision, or a coach's decision for that matter, would u still hold your grudge against him(Zizou)?
Would France have gone this far if Zizou-who's known to provide great moral support for the team-was that arrogant? I dont think so.
People love and respect Zizou not only for the great tactical skills he displays on the field, but also for his great sense of humility.
The France vs Italy match is gonna be really tight. DefenseWise, both teams are strong, but with Italy having the edge. AttackWise, France have the edge over Italy.
IMHO, Zidane is the topmost player that could really decide the outcome of the match. If he plays his best, France would win; anything short of that, Italy would win.
Italy shouldn't be in finals either, they got a lucky break with Australia. Also France got a lucky call with Portugal... Notice that this doesn't matter because they are in the final and the other teams are not?
If I support Israeli's I'm an evil Zionist who loves killing, a product of propaganda and manipulation.
If I support the Palestinian's I'm a dirty Liberal with a self hating conscience that loves death, a product of propaganda and manipulation.
Well italy started bad,and imo had their best game in the semi finals.Before that they lucked and dived themselfes thru Australia and Ukraine.
But good game against Germany(well they didnt luck them selfs trhough it,but they still dived)+bad playing from Germany.
btw:
First Worldcup final since 1978 were theres no Brazil or Germany playing.
EDIT::
PENALTY minute 6!!!!!
This message has been edited by Spitfirebloom on Jul 9, 2006 7:05 PM This message has been edited by Spitfirebloom on Jul 9, 2006 7:04 PM
FORZA ITALIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DON'T GET CHEATED BY THOSE DIVERS!!!!!!!!!
If I support Israeli's I'm an evil Zionist who loves killing, a product of propaganda and manipulation.
If I support the Palestinian's I'm a dirty Liberal with a self hating conscience that loves death, a product of propaganda and manipulation.
why the hell would non-Frenchies support France over Italy ?
France sucked in their group, they had a lot of luck against Spain and Portugal. They scored 8 goals in 6 games.
...
Don't try this at home lads
"The enemy dies relaxed," observed a Lockheed Martin manager.
If you don't call clipping your own legs and then falling over as if you just got struck in the legs a dive, no help for you...
If I support Israeli's I'm an evil Zionist who loves killing, a product of propaganda and manipulation.
If I support the Palestinian's I'm a dirty Liberal with a self hating conscience that loves death, a product of propaganda and manipulation.
''why the hell would non-Frenchies support France over Italy ?
France sucked in their group, they had a lot of luck against Spain and Portugal. They scored 8 goals in 6 games.''
10 Reasons for France:
1.Because France is properly Germanys best ally.
2.Because im very often in france.
3.They arethe fairer team which great players like zidane or sagnol for example.
4.Its better to luck through teams like spain and brazil (both top favorites)than to luck through teams like australia and ukraine.Italys only goood game so far was against germany.
5.Who cares if they only shot 8 goals?They just dont play offensive but defensive and conzentrate on contering.Doesnt mean theyre a bad team because they play this kind of football.
6.The Totties are the biggest divers in this tournament(except maybe portugal).
7.The pizza i ate today didnt have enough ham on it.
8.Because i allways hated latin at school while french was never a problem.
9.Because italy knocked Australia out.
10.Because if Italy wins theyl have 4 titles,and germany only 3.
This message has been edited by Spitfirebloom on Jul 9, 2006 8:57 PM This message has been edited by Spitfirebloom on Jul 9, 2006 8:02 PM
Anyway, France has deserved to win; nice match, excelent and brave French soccer lost to a pathetically defensive but lucky and effective Italian team.
I was rooting a bit for France mostly because Zidane and Henry, and because I didnt like how some of the Italian players behaved in the first games, but after watching Zidane give that header in the end of his great career the main motivation was gone..
Italy was screwed during the game by a penalty kick for France that in reality shouldnt have existed, and got a goal disqualified because of an offside that wasnt there as well. so I guess lady Justice wasnt blind today.
see ya in 4 years!
~
"I stood among them but not of them, in a shroud of thoughts wich were not their thoughts" ~Lord Byron
Quote:Stop hating on Italy. Luck? It takes much more than luck to win a World Cup.
Of course, but it doesn´t take more than luck to win on the penalties over a team that risked and attacked during the match itself.
And no hate at all towards Italy; I congratulate Italians again for the Cup. Do you expect me to say they played better? Or they deserved to win that match? Well, they didn´t, but they won.
Agree with you completely Shahab jan...
And Dan, IMO that was more of a penalty than the penalty that put Italy through to the quarter final. And moreover, there was a non-call on a penalty in the Second half. So the Italians have no f***ing excuse (if they were to lose).
ren turkish supporters will invade switzerland in 2008 when the plays are there . I will go to from belgium to switzerland time to kick some french, switzer , italian, austrian and english butt
Condolence to you Ren and to the other French WAFFers. Italy is a bunch of whining ninnies. Their only legitimate win after group play was against Ukraine, a team who was lucky to even be in the quarter final.
ISSA , what about italies shame penalty against australia? Italy really sucks but don't worry WC sucks european cup is much better EC 2008 we are coming
@Mino
I do not care much for the European teams other than Turkey and Greece (and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, for they were once part of Iran; but they never have a chance).
"This is a public forum, it´s all about opinions.
France played better, Italy was lucky and won, any problem with that?
I have no love for France or hate for Italy at all. Just saying what we all saw; it does end there."
If France played better, they should have overcomed italy's "luck". But no, zidane let his team and himself down. Anyway, you can say it was all luck and all, but Italy's the one celebrating, not the ones who supposedly played better.
I'm watching French tv channels and it seems that everything is calm in France, people are still happy about our team etc... whishing that next time we'll do better Italians beware of Euro2008.
At least, the fact that France went into final gave a little bit a cheering in France, and in these days, it's great for the French moral that is quite low.
Personnaly, I don't care about football, I'm rugby addicted and in rugby Italy is the laughing stock of all tournaments, so I hope that in the next France-Italy match we'll burry them even more!
Quote:If France played better, they should have overcomed italy's "luck". But no, zidane let his team and himself down. Anyway, you can say it was all luck and all, but Italy's the one celebrating, not the ones who supposedly played better.
Did you watch the game? If everybody played like Italy did on the final, football wouldn´t be the masses attracting show that it is today.
The only good match Italy did on this WC was on the semi-final; had they risked, attacked and made football like that against France, I would be praising them without a doubt. The rest is pure boredom.
And yes, they won. History may remember only that, but those that saw the match will retain French art and the usual Italian tricks.
Who played better is just an opinion. In the end, it's the final score that matters. And i agree penalty kicks are cheap. But what are you gonna do. They couldn't score. lol
Doesn't seem to have riots for now.
Why should we feel ashamed if there are not riots? I don't understand? Maybe according Landos, it's because I'm french so I'm genetically too stupid to understand.
Anyway being second is not different from being third, fourth or last. Only winning matters.
I'm not sure the political repercution of "Les Bleus" winning would have been good for France anyway; didn't even watch the match, my psychic wave of energy wasn't at work .
-------------------------------------------- Pity is treason -Robespierre
Well to be honest, France played the better overall... though the first half was went well for Italy, it was horrible for France. Seriously, they were lucky they didn't go down 3 - 1 just from the first half.
If I support Israeli's I'm an evil Zionist who loves killing, a product of propaganda and manipulation.
If I support the Palestinian's I'm a dirty Liberal with a self hating conscience that loves death, a product of propaganda and manipulation.
Quote:You Westerners only care about money it seems...
Dude, the whole world runs one those things called Money The point is to know how, when and where to bet your money. Sometimes it feels like I need to teach you some things!
"Pulver ist Schwarz, Blut ist rot, golden flackert die Flamme" Ferdinand Freiligrath (1810-1876)
