Yeah.. World Cup is over. When I saw Italy's first two games' result, and upon tracing the path they need to take to win the holy grail, I have sensed that they would be in the final. But I had no idea who the other team would be, and I definitely wouldn't expect France to be there. When I knew that it was Italy vs France, I told my friends that I would back Italy to win.
I suppose any Arsenal fan would back France to win. In fact I would love to see Zizou winning the Cup for one last time. But this Italy side has got the luck as well as mentality and therefore, deserved to win it. Domenech was as clueless as a certain Swede yet Lippi was tactically in par with Mourinho. No contest.
Speaking of Zizou.. surely everyone are condemning him right now, with the local newspaper all asking the big "WHY". Some even went as far as questioning whether he was a saint or a devil. He was definitely not a saint but if that headbutt is good enough to make him a devil, we would certainly have many devils playing football at the moment. Think about the tackles that break players' leg (some of them were intentional), or those bloody elbows that flatten the opponents' faces (players such as Shearer or Essien are experts in this).
It's a fact that there is no reason solid enough for a player as experienced as Zinedine Zidane to do that. And I should make it clear that I truly agree that he was wrong there and then.
He shouldn't do that even if Materazzi scolded his mum or, as some sources say it, called him a dirty terrorist (Zizou is a Moslem). No, he should have kept his calm and seek the chance to stamp on the Italian during play. That way, he might get away with a mere yellow or even if he was sent off, his reputation would not be tarnished. That is the coward way of football, isn't it?
I don't know what has happened between him and Materazzi but I was sure that Zizou is not someone who would react easily. It will be interesting to hear Zizou's explanation.
In any case, I personally found it a fitting finale for a footballer whose skill earned him the status of 'deity'. The final showed us that he was a mere human with emotion, after all.
I suppose any Arsenal fan would back France to win. In fact I would love to see Zizou winning the Cup for one last time. But this Italy side has got the luck as well as mentality and therefore, deserved to win it. Domenech was as clueless as a certain Swede yet Lippi was tactically in par with Mourinho. No contest.
Speaking of Zizou.. surely everyone are condemning him right now, with the local newspaper all asking the big "WHY". Some even went as far as questioning whether he was a saint or a devil. He was definitely not a saint but if that headbutt is good enough to make him a devil, we would certainly have many devils playing football at the moment. Think about the tackles that break players' leg (some of them were intentional), or those bloody elbows that flatten the opponents' faces (players such as Shearer or Essien are experts in this).
It's a fact that there is no reason solid enough for a player as experienced as Zinedine Zidane to do that. And I should make it clear that I truly agree that he was wrong there and then.
He shouldn't do that even if Materazzi scolded his mum or, as some sources say it, called him a dirty terrorist (Zizou is a Moslem). No, he should have kept his calm and seek the chance to stamp on the Italian during play. That way, he might get away with a mere yellow or even if he was sent off, his reputation would not be tarnished. That is the coward way of football, isn't it?
I don't know what has happened between him and Materazzi but I was sure that Zizou is not someone who would react easily. It will be interesting to hear Zizou's explanation.
In any case, I personally found it a fitting finale for a footballer whose skill earned him the status of 'deity'. The final showed us that he was a mere human with emotion, after all.
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