Fantastic match. Italy was deserving of their first goal after hitting the post twice in the second overtime. What a fantastic goal from Grosso off some excellent play from Pirlo. Pirlo is majestic in the midfield; I hope we get to see him and Zidane in the final.
At this point the Italian defense has to make them the favorite in the final, although I'm still not sure that Totti in the game is better that Gilardino paired with Toni.
Also, with all the controversy of previous matches, I thought the officiating was outstanding for the most part. And, thankfully, there was very little gratuitous diving or simulation, especially after halftime.
Germany really missed Frings big time! In the middle of the field, you could easily see how much Frings would have made a difference by getting to the loose balls. Thank the Italian TV for that one. Now we have to watch boring Italy again, yuk! GO France...
You won't often catch me cheering for these two teams, but what a fantastic match! I think a lot of that is owed to the ref who just let them play. I thought the game was very clean, with only a few missed calls (particularly the hand ball in the first half).
Probably one of the matches of the tournament so far!
Irish,
Credit where credit is due... I think Italy had the better chances, and made a game of it. It wasnt the synical cheating we saw in the 70's and 80's... Some diving and overacting, but nothing that blatant, and no dives in the penalty box, that I remember... Maybe one.
I really wanted Germany to progress as they've played some very attractive football, but I cant take anything away from Italy.
Absolute classic.
Edit:
Cees: Agreed with the ref, he ignored a couple of early "falldowns" and let the game flow... Good marks to him too.
Last edited by ibroxloyal1 on July 4th at 2:47 PM.
All I can say is that Italia defense is second to none. Now De Rossi will be in the next match so Italy will almost be at full strength. I say "Cheers" to the Germany squad.
Lippi's sub of Iaquinta for Camoranesi was the catalyst and a great 15 minutes of football in the second OT followed. Full marks to Lippi for gambling for offense.
Great goal by Pierlo and Grosso.
Very nice of Gilardino, with time running out, not to hold the ball in the corner, but rather to continue to go to goal and lay off for Del Piero for a fantastic final kick of the game.
A classic...this made me forget some of the less than stellar matches from the round of 16 and quarter-finals. Let's hope tomorrow's match has the same energy and quality football.
I think Michel Ballack was again nowhere to be found on the pitch today, way too little involvement from such a highly regarded talent, he failed to show up this world cup, on the other side of the ball i thought Fabio Cannavaro was excellent tonight i voted him man of the match, he shut down every passing lane in his own third, congrats to italy, and as a U.S. born Portugese citizen i sincerly hope to be there too on sunday in Berlin, Portugal-Italy would be a great final with all the players on the pitch fighting for their first winners medals
Not that anyone doubts this, but I hope the U.S. soccer federation has a television set. Last night on Fox Sports we were treated to an L.A. Galaxy highlight goal. Let's review the mistakes: (1) Galaxy forward (Gomez?) gets by defender due to blatant mistake by defender, (2) Galaxy forward is open for approximatly two seconds (which is about 1.9 seconds more than you can expect in top international play), and does not get a shot off, (3) centering pass is misplayed by defender and other Galaxy player, and finally (4) on Donovan's shot both the goalkeeper and yet another defender watch the ball go by.
On that one play, there were more mistakes than Italy and Germany combined have made this entire tournament.
Congratulations to both Germany and Italy. What the U.S. needs to learn is now to cut down on basic errors. Only then will there be some chance.
anewfan, ur L.A Galaxy comments were pretty irrelevant to Germany vs Italy, and obviously the level of play in major league soccer is far lower from that in the world cup, do u think about what u say before u post it???
That was a great game between the Germans and the Italians. It is my opinion that in this world cup tournament, the team the wins/dominates the midfield will win the game. That was the case in the Brazil - France match and today's game Germans - Italians. Good run for Jurgens boys... great job by Lippi's boys! Let's wait and see what France and Portugal will give us tomorrow.
I agree that Frings was sorely missed but to Italy's credit they put together a good game plan for the 90 or 120 minutes and Germany went for the win by introducing Odonkor and Neuville rather than a defensive midfielder that could have gotten them to penalty kicks ... which they have never lost and Italy has never won. Great Match.
I hope Balboa doesn't do the commentary for the final . He is so annoying it hurts. ESPN please do something to not subject us to the horror of listening to his voice for 90+ minutes. Other than him great display by the Azzuri and nice goal from Grosso given his peddling of a PK to the ref 2 matches ago. Italy should really be grateful for him because he has a knack for doing heroic things at the death. France - Italy final. The saga continues (part 2 of Euro 2000).
Its interesting reading about peoples reaction to this match. To me if youd have put on swiss and france shirts, the first 85 minutes were a snore fest. Great final 35 minutes though, and a stunner finish.
I think it points out the difference of south american and european fans. I think the euros really enjoyed all 120, the southies probably enjoyed the last 35 and you can leave the st 85 to the swiss.
A good effort by both teams. In the regulation, I felt that neither team deserved to win rather than lose - Italy had more chances but failed to capitalize. However in extra time, Italy did play better and it showed, and won the game fair and square. The final game, no matter who they play, should be scintillating.
Echoing 'simba9''s coments, Balboa sucks. I'd love to hear JP DellaCamera and Tommy Smyth do the comentary like they do for Champions League. At least they know what they are talking about.
Is it just me, or did anyone else feel Germany's poor offensive performance deserves more credit than Italy's defense for the Italian win? Frankly, the Italian defense looked mighty shaky during much of the game to me--especially during the first half--but the German offense looked far worse. Germany controlled the ball well in the midfield, but I thought Ballack performed poorly in the offensive third, Klose was hardly better, and no one else could put the ball on goal when they took a shot. Also, Odonkor, Schweinsteiger, and Neuville added precious little despite their fresh legs.
Buffon performed fabulously, of course, when called upon, but Germany simply didn't test the Italian defense that much, despite holding and moving the ball well until the final overtime.
Italy did excel in preventing corner kicks for Germany though.
I think the Italian defense will face more serious challenges from either Ronaldo or Henry next match.
my thoughts:
Buffon is without a doubt the best keeper in the world. He gets my vote for MOM with some incredible saves.
The ref did a good job. There were some dives and overacting by both teams and the ref managed to keep the game flowing.
I don't know how you can call this a snorefest, it was pretty end-to-end with a great finish.
anewfan-didn't know anybody was watching mls...
I agree with Simba9, Balboa was horrible and has been during the whole tournament. He had to eat some of the #### he was spouting about benching Totti, who was crucial to the italian's attack for the 120 mins. He was a crappy player and is an even worse commentator. ESPN did a wonderful job of hiring the worst, and I mean worst, possible commentators. They can't get names right- I don't mean pronouncing, I mean talking about the right player involved. It's pretty bad if you can't even get that right...for the twenty minutes they actually spend calling the game, nevermind the stupid BS they talk about the rest of the time.
RIO - Thank you. I was just reading all these comments and thinking the exact same thing. I was just hoping that someone else would say it also. It is amazing how bias affects people's perceptions of the game. Almost the whole 90 minutes were excrutiatingly boring with barely a chance for either side. I almost fell asleep.
Only the last few minutes of regulation (after Odonkor came on and started creating havoc) and the extra time were fun to watch. The extra time was great and the two great goals at the end were wonderful, but seriously people... what are you talking about when you say this was a fantastic match and match of the tournament?!!! What game were you watching?!
Like Rio said just because these were big name teams Germany and Italy everyone #### their pants with excitement. Had this match been between Ukraine and Switzerland everyone would whine how boring it was and that they hope to not see these two teams at the next WC. Watch it again (if you can stand it) - for the first 85 minutes this was very, very far from being a fantastic match and very much resembled the snoozefest between Ukraine and the Swiss.
I understand that if you're Italian or German it was still fun to watch because of tension (just like UKR - SWI was fun to watch for me), but in terms of actual play it sucked. Thank god they saved it with a great half an hour in extra time because neither team wanted to go to PKs and the play opened up.
Can Cannavaro get any love for Golden Ball? He is BALLING!!!
Italy played some great football tonight and deserved the victory. Created a lot of chances, and both goals were super.
I look forward to an entertaining match tomorrow, and don't discout Portugal. Felipao's boys are talented and can play with anyone.
Buffon is definately a great keeper and has had a great WC, but Man of the Match? I'm sorry, but again I'm not sure if my TV was showing a different game than everyone else's, but on my TV Buffon had to make exactly two good saves. The rest of the time he had absolutely nothing to do! For that matter, Lehmann didn't have much to do either aside from taking the ball out of his net twice at the very end. For all the raving about how fantastic this match was neither team got much of a sniff in the first 85 minutes. I think everyone's perspective is totally skewed by how entertaining the last half an hour was and the names of the teams.
Odonkor didn't add much? Again, I'm speechless when I read stuff like that. The guy singlehandedly energized the whole German team crating dangerous situations almost everytime he got the ball. He was one of the main reasons the game started to flow end to end! They should have brought him on earlier.
Ticket to Germany is on in 3 minutes. I'll be interested to hear Bobby's take on the game. I bet that most people who rave what a fantastic match it was would be whining about a snoozefest had they posted at the half or at the end of 90 minutes.
Ill try to explain it to you. Italy controled the ball for much of the first half, and to their credit did attempt to go on the attack, at times they were frustrated by a decent german defense, at other times they lacked the conviction or creativity to do anything with it. The excitment was watching lehman come off his line and catch corner kicks.
Germany on the other hand in 120 minutes of futbol mustered 3 shots! One of which threatened Buffon, off podelski from inside the box. Bllack was awfull, and as an Arsenal fan only can hope he plays like this. I thought sweinstieger was going to hurt himself tripin over the ball. Paging Klose hey the game is starting!
Italy, and i give them all the credit in the world, Lippi made great changes that ultimaelty won the day-- but that was after minute 85. Cannavaro has been the best player of the tournament. But for much of the second half they were not at all threatening
I have been really dissapointed with Ballack in this WC. In the past I thought he was overrated, but I thought I just hadn't seen him enough. But he has shown me nothing. I think Arsenal made the best signing of the year with Rosicky. I'd take him over Ballack any day. What is your take?
Finally, I have never seen more whining about losing than from England fans. The pure hatred of Cristiano Ronaldo has been incredibly immature and classless. England fans still seem to be living in denial that Rooney stomped on Carvalho's jewels. I've seriously never seen so much denial and mental gymnastics to avoid the truth.
Clark_Thomas,
I agree with you regarding Ballack.... Neither of Chelseas two big signings had good world cups, and I also think Ballack is overrated (or overvalued, anyway).
I do take issue with your other comment, thoug... Most guys onn this Blogs supporting England agree that it was a minimum yellow, and probably red. Personally a red is in order if the ref sees it as retaliation. As for Ronaldo... Dont get me started. He's a whiner, a poser and a ponce - nothing to do with this incident, but the guy fancys himself. Getting involved was out of order when it's your club teammate on the chopping block. Winking at the bench, thats a disgrace, and puts him into the class of a cheat, or instigator at the very least. He'll have a torrid time back in England, couldnt happen to a nicer person. What's the betting he gets nailed all the next season by the English players?
I'll look forward to seeing him cry many a time this coming Premiership season.
Last edited by ibroxloyal1 on July 4th at 5:40 PM.
ok ok I've calmed down. Let me explain:
I admit, the game was boring for the neutral. Still, surely the ending made it worth it, no? I am very biased towards DelPiero, and Buffon. I also hate Lehman-sorry rico, but except for Henry, I don't like aresenal. forgive me, I've been a ManU fan since King Eric played.
That said, I really enjoyed this game. DelPiero's goal, and Buffon's saves were excellent. Seeing Lehman go down wasn't quite as enjoyable as in the CL final, but still good nonetheless.
Ran-ok I admit Buffon doesn't deserve MOM, but then I wasn't very objective with my previous post...except the rant about the announcers.
Slobelo,
I went back and watched large parts of the game, and the defence of Italy was immense in shutting down Ballack, Klose and Podolski. One of the best defensive performances I think I've ever seen. They closed them down, 2-3 men on them at a time, and the Germans never had a chance to score.
Italy, based on this defensive display, will win the cup.
Yes the game opened up, but Odonkor is only partially to credit for that, and if he added so much, why did Germany end with just two shots on goal? I agree he should have been in earlier. The subs Germany brought in were geared to ending the game before PKs, but as far as Germany's play on field, did anyone really feel like they were doing anything but trying to hold on for pks after a lackluster offensive performance all game?
My point is, the German offense was simply lifeless, even with Odonkor. Maybe Italy deserves all the credit, but I'm not ready to fully concede it after such an awful German performance.
It was great, and a bit of a shock, to watch these two teams put on a great show, both on defense and attack. Although the Italians and Germans both tried their best dives, the ref only rarely bit. A game with flow! Huzzah ! !
With luck, the remaining two matches will be as entertaining and furious.
el. im glad u r excited and happy and as i said the last 35 minutes were great, the first 85 were francevswiss redux = zzzzzzzzzz.
this game will be remembered for a long time in history for the 2 goals italy scored at minute 129 & 130 in a packed stadium that the host team had never lost in before. it doesnt get more dramatic than that. but to call it a classic, operetic drama fest for a full 120 is just not true. it was really good the last 35, and stuningly dranatic for the last 2.
ps u calm down really quickly, it took me a year after brasil won in korea!
Hi Charlie,
For the first time in a month, I have to disagree with you!
I thought the game was spectacular - I was saying so during the game.
Maybe you dont like the teams playing, or your still hurting (like me) ;-)
no im fine, i called my frieds n munich twice in the second half just to make sure they were awake!
the highlite of the first half was lehman catching lobs from the italian corner kicks.
but thats ok if we agreed al the time itd be boring! like i said, i think the euros, and i dont mean that offensively at all, would really like the full match, but the south americans would only like the last 35 minutes.
The wink has been absurdly taken out of context. Who knows what was said to him? I have seen him wink several times on the pitch in the past. He may be arrogant but he is a 20(or 21) year old kid so people should chill out a bit. His swagger is part of why he is so great. There is no justification for all the vilafication and name calling in my opinion. Additionally, I did notice that he was wearing a Portugal jersey and not an English jersey. It's obvious his passion is for his national team more than anything. And I think that is how it should be.
Anyway, I just can't see neither France nor Portugal beating Italy. Their defense is just too strong. Italy refuses to concede and then eventually they score. 2006 World Cup Champions = Italy.
Pirlo and Italy dominated the first half, they took advantage of the space Frings has owned so far in the tourney.
Slight advantage to Germany in the second, though they didnt really create that much. They started to defend a little bit higher and Ballack got more involved.
OT was surpricingly open and it looked like both teams played 5-0-5 with no midfield to be seen... Italy looked a little bit sharper which was shocking to me after seeing the 2nd half where the Germans looked fresher.
MOM: Cannavaro! 120 mins of stunning performance.
Also think that Italy outsmarted Germany. Germany tried to play the same way as in every game so far, even the substitutions were the same. While Italy changed their game plan and caught the germans off guard. Think they frustrated the Germans by having so much possesion as they had...
you have lost touch with reality!! I re-watched the game again and if you tell me that was boring then I have to think that you don't know much about football!!! Definitely better than Brazil's ####!!
Italy owned the first half and Germany the second half. Germany expected Italy to lay back and wait for them, instead in the OT, Italy's tactic was surprisingly extremely offensive...and many people will find difficult to believe it..
That's it. If you are trying to badmnouthing this match and the deserved victory by the Italian team, well, back off!! We are making such big deal from it because it is a BIG DEAL... you would done the same, but unfortunately your team had to pack up and go back home!!
i was wondering how long it would take after espressing a different opinion to be called stupid.
lol, hey if u get kicks out of watching lehman catching shyddu corner kicks then this match was for u, enjoy! i prefer something else.
re read what i wrote, i was giving all the credit to italy, and wsnt bad wouthing the gae in the least.
and hey is i hadnt wont squat in 16 years id be screaming too! brasil doesnt go that long bewtween showing up, but this isnt about brasil so i dont know why u made it about them. must be jealous.
Well done Italy. Hard luck Germany. The right team won but it's sad to see Klinsmann's boys go out like this. I really felt Germany needed to score an early goal. Ballack's no Zinedine Zidane.
Also, Jose Peckerman should take some lessons from
Lippi. What a fantastic coach.
First I want to let you know that I'm Leeds so you can just imagane my hatred for the scum accross the pennies. On top of this I hate the style of acting and diving players like Ronaldo brings to the game.
With that said you know what I think of Ronaldo, BUT the way people in England judge him right now is way out of line! He was wearing a Portoguese shirt on the day and doing that he better play his heart out for his country and not run around and think about next season. You would not except anything else from an English (or Scottish?) player if that was the case. English players to also talk to refs... so why cant he do it, Figo was there to and why dont anyone get on him?
Sorry, but a World Cup SEMI-FINAL is NEVER boring!
Plus, even if it wasn't a semi-final, the game was very entertaining. No game ends in the last two minutes of extra time with two great goals is boring! I mean it was end-to-end stuff for the whole extra time. Italy hit the up-right and the post in less than a minute. Lippi played Iaquenta, Gilardino and DelPiero ; all attacking players in the last 15 minutes or so, against the host nation in the semi-final! Italy for once had the initiative and they deserve to go through. Anyone who fails to see this is undoubtedly biased.
How I know it was boring? the people setting beside me fell asleep... they woke up to see the last two goals.
Little opportunities created... unless if you watch Serie A Juve every sunday, you would find this match entertaining... but then, it's all fixed and scripted.
T.
Last edited by Thierry_Henry on July 4th at 11:02 PM.
MAN OF THE MATCH
The referee was on, an outstanding performance by the man from Mexico. The game was allowed to FLOW. We very well may have been watching 4 different teams this week if all the previous games had officiating with this quality.
I have learned to stop speculating, to stop crystalballing for the past several hours witnessing how Germany lost that game. I guess whoever is going to win the Jules Rimet Cup Sunday should win it that way during regulation time or possibly in ET. No winning thru PK..Please!! No ifs, ands or buts!! from a REFEREE point of view...
By the way, can someone tell me how to have the Blog Administrator post my blog in"BLOG OF THE DAY" section or into " MOST INTERESTING BLOGS"section??. I am tired of writing good stuff without readers or commentators. My blogging is not that bad comparing with some of the prime time daily bloggings..I need some help....HELP!! HELP!! POST my BLOG!! PLEASE!! PLEASE!!!
I thought the game was kind of boring as well. I didn't see a lot of creativity or flash. However, it was definitely full of suspense. From that perspective you can say the game was good to watch. My problem is that after 60min of no goals I was thinking, "great, now I'll have to watch another 60min and then it will go to penalty kicks again." If you don't think anyone is going to score, the suspense and thrill are gone...
As for Ronaldo, I've seen him wink on camera at least a dozen times during these finals. The fact that he winked after the red card means absolutely nothing. Rooney stomped on the guy's nads for crying out loud, that's a red card. Full stop. Ronaldo had nothing to do with Rooney getting the red. Rooney had to do with it.
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