I got some comments on my last posting. JOHN said that it would be pathetic to raise the question that a remark made by a player should be punished by changing the result of the game.

I have to say: It's not me who demands that. It's FIFA's Disciplinary Code.

But I'd like to raise another question: As players at WC level serve as role models for millions of kids around this planet shouldn't they be more aware of that? Zidane gave a terrible example on how to react to whatever Materazzi said. How long until a kid at school does the same thing - referring to Zizou?

And if Materazzi said something rasict how should the Italian Federation or FIFA go about it?

Of course nobody wants to rip Italy off their well deserved title. But isn't it absurd to have all those anti-racism campaigns surrounding the Cup if the major protagonists themselves act differently?

PS: I don't say Materazzi made such a remark - I'm talking if ANY player did so.

"I am very conservative when it comes to the laws of the game", FIFA president Sepp Blatter said in a Reuters interview back in November 2005.

Earlier that year he said: "If we start to make it too scientific this game will lose its fascination."

What he was basically saying back then and this is still his thinking today is that football must keep its human face and must accept errors.

This means, no supporting technology may be used during the game, such as a video replay for the ref.

Millions at home saw the replay of Zinedine Zidane’s header against Marco Materazzi in Sunday’s WC final – on their TV screen. So did the journalists in the stadium, who all have a TV set in front of them.

The only ones not getting the replay are the refs on the pitch, the players and the spectators inside the stadium. The fans don’t get the replay because FIFA doesn’t want to cause any commotion because of a controversial scene (they only see the goals).

The refs don’t get to see it because this would change the nature of the game (to accept human errors, see above).

Italian coach Marcello Lippi said after the game that the fourth and fifth official both saw the slow-motion and then informed referee Horacio Elizondo about the incident. French coach Raymond Domenech agreed saying: "We have Video in football."

Absurd as it is, but if fourth official Luis Cantalejo and his colleague Victoriano Carrasco really used the replay for their decision to inform Elizondo about the incident, Zidane shouldn’t have seen a red card during the game (he could have been punished after the game).

Sometimes a picture speaks more than a thousand words. In downtown Berlin tonight the Italians took over. Cheering and chanting, they are great winners.

does this picture show "A Night at the Opera" or what?

As always, who is down first in regular time wins the PK - it's like a rule.

Let's enjoy the moment. I'll be back with pics and perhaps audio later. Stay tuned.

Adieu France. What an end to your career Monsieur Zidane...

What a shame. The World's probably best player and saviour of this World Cup for fine play shows us his ugly side: He rams his head against Materazzi's chest. A deserved red card.

What is the French team worth without him?

Domenech pulls out France's secret weapon: David Trézéguet. The French striker scored the Golden Goal against Italy in the 2000 European Championship final.

No Golden Goal today, but maybe Trézéguet can score anyway and the defense does the rest to ensure a French win.

France can still bring in two fresh players whereas Italy has used all subs already. Italy played a strenous extra time in the semi final against Germany, France won against Portugal in regular time.

But the "Equipe Tricolore" cannot simply rely on Henry. The Italians have him under contol, almost flawless defensive work.

Pirlo takes the free kick and the ball just passes the bar by inches. Good shot. I think Barthez could be the weak spot in the French defense - more long distance shots could help.

France seems to only have Henry on their mind when attacking thus making it easy for the Italian defense to foresee their play.

Said that, Malouda enters the box and falls. Should have been penalty, Zembrotta clearly committed a foul, but ref Elizondo doesn't blow the whistle.

Did anyone see Totti at all?

Italy is accumulating chance after chance. Toni just had two in a row. France should be careful. Coming back against Italy is close to impossible.

Now that is something: Marco Materazzi, after fouling Malouda for the French penalty and after almost heading the ball into his own goal only minutes later, now scores the equalizer after a free kick.

1-1, everything is open.

Malouda goes down in the box ... penalty for France > 1-0 Les Bleus

But what a shot from Zidane. the ball hits the crossbar and goes down barely behind the line. Zizou plays it cool.


Just saw the replay: Materazzi played foul. A deserved penalty for France.

Let's see how the Azzurri deal with that. It's only their second conceded goal in the tourney.

Thierry Henry has clashed with Fabio Cannavro and looks as though he has ceased to realise that this is the 18th World Cup final. Poor guy. It is the last thing he needs, the last thing the French need, and certainly the last thing that the match needs. Still, it is good news for Miroslav Klose, who will finish as the leading scorer if Henry does not emerge from his coma.

ITALY
Gianluigi Buffon - Ganluca Zambrotta, Marco Materazzi, Fabio Cannavaro, Fabio Grosso - Simone Perrotta, Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso, Mauro Camoranesi, Francesco Totti - Luca Toni

FRANCE
Fabien Barthez - Willy Sagnol, Lilian Thuram, William Gallas, Eric Abidal - Patrick Vieira, Claude Makelele, Franck Ribery, Zinedine Zidane, Florent Malouda - Thierry Henry

REF
Horacio Elizondo (Argentina)

The World Cup hosts provided offensive, fast-paced football — the most flamboyant of all teams — thus restoring German football's reputation. And with the world not just watching but taking part Germany has also restored National pride — sixty years after World War II. Read the full strory ...

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