I've had several weeks to ponder the World Cup Final. There just arn't any words.
ZIzou, Matterazi. Crazy ending to a otherwise crazy world cup.
Someone knows something, I mean al the mikes on that pitch must have caught something, otherwise why the ban for Matterazi. I too believe it was very bold of FIFA to ban him for trash talking. But it really dosn't matter all that much does it? The game of a life time IS OVER! It doesn't change the outcome of the game, the moment is gone, lost forever.
Any talk about stripping of Zizou of the golden ball is a load of ####! The WTF football moment of the decade (well, besides the actual head butt). There's no way you can do that, though I do believe Cannavaro deserved it as well. It's too late! People voted honestly and fairly, it's not like striping a olympic medal for doping. Zizou carried the hopes and dreams of a nation and the strength and heart of an entire squad the whole tourney. The same can be said of Cannavaro. Zizou is older and it was his last game, so give a brotha a break.
Anyway, it was awesome World Cup, much more entertaining than the Japan/Korea one, though not only for the the actual playing of the game. My most memorable moments, not in any particular order.
* Netherlands vs. Portugal - not the most beautiful game, it was down right ugly, but entertaining none the less. Cristiano in tears, figo head butt, yellow and red cards flying.
*John Terry in Tears - After England's gutting loss. That man is a freaking work horse.
*Henry knocked out - many people will forget the other 100 minutes of the Final match, but not me! Thierry Henry running flat out into the (beautiful) chest of Cannavaro, was hilarious and scary at the same time. They had to use smelling salts.
*Maxi RodriguezGoal - Brillant.
*David Beckham Goal - well mostly for posh celebrating, and becks celebrating.
*Steven Gerrard and Crouchy scoring - Liverpool Lads done good.
*Michael Owen injury - A tourning point for England.
*Rooney/Cristiano - Please read previous blogs.
* Zizou - The man, the myth the head butt.
*California Klinnesmen - You show all those nay sayers, well done.
Let me just get this off my chest before I praise the Italians.
I don't care if you are bleeding from your eyes, your leg is literly falling off, YOU STAY in the World Cup Final match. Vieira, Henry and Ribery were subbed out, like wimps. I'll give Ribery a pass, I knew before the game that we would come out at the end of the 90 or in extra time. That man is a maniac on the pitch, crossing and up and down, he is all over it like white on rice. I know that man is plain tuckered out. Veira with a hamsting, Henry with a cramp is down right insulting.
Zidane and Materazzi both deserved red cards. Zidane for the obvious, and Materazzi for whatever he said to cause the reaction. I am in shock at Zidane, but whatever that dude said must have been really REALLY bad. I disagree that his actions will tarnish his otherwise legendary name. I'm still in awe of him and I stand by him behind in his actions.
Italy really didn't play that well during the game, but when did that ever stop a team from winning a match.
Italy to all their credit have come into this tournament with something to prove. United in all of their evilness. Cannavaro totally deserves this win. Buffon deserves this win. They have shown from the begining that they were a powerful advessary to all that oppose them. Maybe that's why I hate them so much. I knew once Portugal lost to France that all hope for Italy losing was lost. Portugal Vs. Italy would have been something to see (although the fire of portugal was out during their third place match).
I prayed this match would end in regulation or OT. I hate penalty kicks with a passion. Unless you have a spot on Keeper and all your best men on the field, only then will you be confient enough to pull it off. Italy had that in ####s today.
If anyone is in doubt that Italy should not have won this game and thus the whole World Cup, please someone name one team out of the 32 that played better. As much as I hate to say it (type it) I can't name of one.
There isn't enough I can say about England loss to Portugal on Saturday. I've talked about it with everyone of my friends and family who called to give their condolences. Between Ronney's hotheaded bad decison, becks exit, Lampard not showing up, Sven's continued 4-5-1 line-up, and our weak bench, I've had enough of the could of should of's.
John Terry's tears post match will haunt me forever, or at least untill Euro 2008.
Emotionally I was a wreak for this one. Of 'course theres no doubt that England is my team. but I can trufully say that I've and a place in my heart for Portugal since the last WC in 2002. I even featured Figo and Beto in my Sims neighborhood along with Oliver Kahn, Becks, Dietmer Hamman.
There's not one person out there who can deny Christiano Ronaldo was the man of the match for that game. He totally killed us, that super hottie. I don't know how he's going to come back to Man. United to play along with Rooney after this. I think he played on the right and Becks of course has bad D and only stopped him a couple of times and Neville was trying to attack and Christiano would alway counter. Simao was killer after he came on and how cool was it for him to get the captains band.
All in all, for England to have any saving grace Portugal must win the whole GD thing, so atleast we can say "well, we got beat my the champs, so, yeah".
Portugal will have their hands full with France, but if France plays like they did in their win over Brazil, Portugal is soo out of here. France dominated the entire match, leaving everyone (except me, 'cuz I never like them anyway) to say "Brazil who?" On the attack from minute une, there was no stopping them. Zidane is the gipher, and Cisse it's all for you buddy. I gave France not chance in the early rounds after their so so perforances (I didn't see them but I heard about them), and thought they'd again make an early exit, but WOW. I usually don't care much for Henry (he's an arsenal man, you know), and with all those offsides calls, I didn't think he'd ever put one in the back of the net that would be called fair. If it weren't for the magic master himself Zidane, I'd be over. I don't know what that man is on, but I want some. Everyone else is Fantasic as well, (don't feel like looking up all the spellings, except Makelele I know that that spelling).
I still hope Germany will kick the Azzurri in the pants (hey odin) and It'll be France and Germany in the Final, and France giving Zidane a happy retirement gift. But I way my favorite teams are going, I shouldn't root for anyone and just wish for a good game instead.
Oh and Becks stepped down as Captain. Maybe they'll pass the band to Gerrard, Terry is another good choice. All I know is that whenever Gerrard steps on to a Liverpool Pitch or even Carragher (who subs for Gerrard as Captain at Liverpool), they light up that field and they take charge of that pitch. I haven't seen Becks do that In a long time. So a change of guard is a good thing.
Well, xabi alonso, pepe reina and that hottie Torres anyway. What happened out there? France is not that formidable, but when you add all the racial controversy they had a lot more passion to win out there.
If there is anything that can ruin a sports reputation, it's racisim. I wanted Spain to win, I had friends on the team, Xabi Alonso, Pepe Reina and Luis Garcia, so I wanted them to win and go far, but when you add the whole racisim thing. You've got the whole world wanting you to lose. Just look at that france team, there's like 12 big black guys out there and Thierry Henri kicking a loser racisist coaches ####, i don't care who you are, you wanted them to win.
What's up with the whole racisim ####? #### noises and all that. It's freakin' 2006 get the F over it. Racisim is so last century.
Read the book "How Soccer explains the world". It's awesome. Whole much of bull#### that's happening and has happend in the socer world that I never was a where of.
Anyway it's a shame France is going to lose to stupid Brazil. I can't wait until someone kicks them off their throne. I hate rooting for the favorites. I do like Kaka and Dida and Cafu though..
and um, by the way Thierry that was a dive bubba. Super dive, you lucky duck. I thought that yellow was going to be for you. Poor Puyol he had a good game. Thierry couldn' not be offsides even he he wanted to, that back line did good.
