Italy vs. France

nlgbbbblth

PHB wrote:

Indeed, that is an annoying trend, players can play till 32 without many problems,.

And even longer.

In the 1970s and 1980s age was not as much an issue as it is now.
Yes, the pace of the game and fitness levels have changed but the current trend of dismissing players as soon as they hit a certain age is ridiculous.

International retirements are often rash and usually follow defeats. It's somewhat akin to the ball owner sulking and talking back his ball - 'I'm not playing anymore'. Players should still make themselves available for selection even if they may not be picked on the squad.

Only one player from the 1990 World Cup featured in this one.
Guess who?

PHB

France

Emerson?
Oh no, it's probably some Saudi Arabia guy, Jaber? I thought that was only 4.

16 years!!! I thought only Matthäus and Carbajal had done 5 world cups.

Vokes

PHB wrote:

Makelele will have a lot less effectivness in stopping Pirlo, because Pirlo does most of his playmaking from the deep. So while he will stop Totti, Pirlo will be able to create quite a bit.

Makelele won't move from his spot towards Pirlo, otherwise Totti will have space to do his stuff.

It will be Viera's job to harass Pirlo and deny him time and space to dictate the tempo.

nlgbbbblth

PHB wrote:

Emerson?
Oh no, it's probably some Saudi Arabia guy, Jaber? I thought that was only 4.

16 years!!! I thought only Matthäus and Carbajal had done 5 world cups.

Not Emerson.
Saudi Arabia didn't qualify in 1990.

He could have done five world cups but was ignored for the 1994 finals.

Vokes

Must be Kasey Keller?

nlgbbbblth

SofaKing wrote:

Must be Kasey Keller?

Well done.

Was third choice keeper in 1990.

Born in 1969. Haven't heard him mention anything about retiring either.

nlgbbbblth

Others who have bridged the '16 year gap'

Giuseppe Bergomi - Italy - 1982, 1986, 1990, 1998
Elias Figuero - Chile - 1966, 1974, 1982
Hugo Sanchez - Mexico - 1978, 1986, 1994
Émerson Leão - Brazil - 1970, 1974, 1978, 1986

Rossonero

France

Italy.

i think french will be tired, and there is too much publicity on it being Zidane's last game.
Have 20 euro on Gattuso being man of the match.

pp_me129

France

Come On My Italian Sausage!!!!!!

Pigman II

nlgbbbblth wrote:

Well done.

Was third choice keeper in 1990.

Born in 1969. Haven't heard him mention anything about retiring either.

Don't forget Cannavaro. He was a ballboy in the 1990 final.

Dave!

Another filthy f*cking dive, and we've got a goal

1-0 to France

Supercell

France

Thats harsh on Italy

Ruu_Old

Well I was right about Zidane scoring from a penalty and the cheeky chip down the middle just my timing was off, not too bad. G'wan France!

cournioni

France

DaveMcG wrote:

Another filthy f*cking dive

Yup. But sure its ok, everyone is doing it these days.

stevenmu

On the plus side, if that dive now ruins FIFA's showpiece event, and for many it will no matter what happens now, they'll be forced to take a much tougher stance on diving in the future.

Bounty Hunter

France

Buffon is finally beaten by an opponent at the world cup and it had to be Zidane thus the Italiens cant play a defensive game so we should expect a good game.

it already has a memorable goal too.

YeatsCounty

France

That was never a penalty. Never ever. I really thought that justice had been served with Zidane's cheeky penalty but he was lucky.

Come on Italy! Make it #4, don't let this tournament be decided by cheating.

EDIT: I really hope that France don't defend for the next 80 minutes. Imagine the bile that some people would come out with if it was Italy who had employed such tactics in their semi-final.

Aquos76

Now we will have a game. C'mon Italy....

Supercell

France

1-1 nice!!

PHB

France

Go on Italy!!!!

I thought the match was on at 8, just switched on now. **** yeh!! Who dived?

YeatsCounty

France

YES!!!! MATERAZZI!!!

Game on.

bohsman

France

Get in!!!!

Game on now, hope Italy hammer them.

Necronomicon

France

PHB wrote:

Go on Italy!!!!

I thought the match was on at 8, just switched on now. **** yeh!! Who dived?

Malouda.

C'mon Italy!

Davei141

You lot sure it was a dive? it seemed stone wall in real time.

Great match btw.

Necronomicon

France

I thought it was a penalty when I saw it in real time, but the replay is pretty incriminating.

PHB

France

It was a peno, just saw a replay.

Gattuso MOM so far.

Davei141

I thought it was a penalty when I saw it in real time, but the replay is pretty incriminating.

I disagree, he caught his ankle.

Necronomicon

France

I still think Malouda tripped over his own leg.

A Dub in Glasgo

France

Stonewall penalty for France, the French player did not dive!!

mike65

A very soft peno, slightest contact from a leg being withdrawn. Italy looking better overall, with some slackers on the French side + Barthez!

Mike.

A Dub in Glasgo

France

mike65 wrote:

A very soft peno, slightest contact from a leg being withdrawn. Italy looking better overall, with some slackers on the French side + Barthez!

Mike.

You very clearly see the contact on the Maloudas ankle which pushes it to his other foot. Why is that a soft peno? Regardless of the Materazzis intention, Maloudar was taken out of the game in the penalty area.

Duras

France will win IMO...
How many of you got tricked by the funny hour and missed the first half....
I was so sure that it will start at 20:00 so I missed first the 30 minutes of the game :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

Duras

Wow. what a goal... But offside

Ponster

Whatever way it ends I'm glad that France are actually playing football which hasn't always been the case in this World Cup.

mike65

Shocking lack of ambition, esp by the French. Henry has barely turned up for most of this game. Oh well just 30 mins and the shoot-out to go.

Mike.

PHB

France

Materazzi to score first in extra time, 20-1, not too bad a bet

evilhomer

France

Henry could have been in for a couple of tap-ins at this stage.
Why is he hanging about on the right wing???

mike65

Where was he for Ribarys cross in the last min?

Mike.

acquiescefc

I think everyones being a bit harsh. Its the biggest game in the world and you can see theyre half knackered but they are playing to 'not lose' than win.

Its a shame like, but its played in a good spirit at least(no Portugese). I cant see much else except spotkicks, at least it will be tense.

Endurance Man

France

My word, what a terrible terrible final , has Henry just given up all together? After this performance neither side deserves to win, really is lame.

Duras

Zidane is just great... Excelent header.

Necronomicon

France

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Barthez have a pretty decent penalty record with United?

PHB

France

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Barthez have a pretty decent penalty record with United?

Yeh he did, he is a good peno stopper, but not fantastic, just a very good shot stopper in general.
Buffon is the world number one keeper, so I'd expect him to save some if it goes that far.

acquiescefc

oh my god....zidanes a nutter

Ponster

****

PHB

France

What the **** did Zidane do? ****ing hell, rofl, I love that guy.

****ing hell, Zidane finished his career with a headbutt on Materazzi.
Christ!

Haha, Materazzi pinched Zidane's nipple. Then said something, then Zidane was sent off, ****ing hell.


If France win, does Zidane lift the trophy?

Davei141

Haha, GEW ON ZIDANE!

CRAPPOLA!

bohsman

France

Zidane ha ha ha

Good riddance.

DMC

Shocking. Absolutely shocking.

Endurance Man

France

Dumass, get off the field.