Comments on: World Cup Final open thread

By: Ray

Ray — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 07:42:56 +0000

One the ‘US not being beaten by Italy’ thing. The US only played Italy for 90 minutes. In 90 minutes, Germany and France weren’t beaten either.

By: vice

vice — Sun, 09 Jul 2006 23:47:14 +0000

Sorry Chris – one sublime match (Germany) doesn’t earn my support, especially when they were, next to Portugal, the kings of diving and moaning. Even tonight, they only carried the match for a stretch in the first half. Granted, the French could not beat Buffon, but I was hoping for a second for France…

By: Jim

Jim — Sun, 09 Jul 2006 23:46:48 +0000

For what it’s worth on the “US is the runner-up” comment, I just came back from the Fan Mile in front of the Brandenburg Gate here in Berlin. Well, an Italian guy accidentally stepped on my foot and after he apologized, he asked where I was from. When I said the U.S., he said, “Hey, when we played you the game finished 1-1, so that means we’re equal.”

I guess there’s at least one really drunk Italian out there who agrees with you.

By: snuh

snuh — Sun, 09 Jul 2006 22:55:52 +0000

italy really have mastered the art of winning but not deserving to.

By: radek

radek — Sun, 09 Jul 2006 22:18:26 +0000

Hmmm, ended up watching the game with an ex-girlfriend who knows nothing about soccer.

She: “Who are you rooting for?”

Me: “France”

She: “Why?”

Me: “They cheat slightly less then Italians”

Oh well. This has been one of the most disappointing cups I’ve ever watched. Pretty much every team I cheered for lost. Poland, Czechs, Ecuador, Australia, Dutch, Ukraine. I guess that’s what you get for going with the underdogs. Most games were freaking boring. Refereeing with some exceptions was spectacularly horrible. Same old boring teams won. Then, my second-most-hated team wins the damn thing. My most-hated team, with the most-hated player, gets fourth. Gawd, I found myself cheering for Germany and France, WTF? I think I applauded that headbutt (very good indeed – I appreciated how he jogged up to get in front of Materazzi all cool and sneaky like, then turn around and BAM! outta nowhere) as much I would have a goal.

College football starts soon.

By: yabonn

yabonn — Sun, 09 Jul 2006 22:05:34 +0000

Well, we lost. On the plus side :

– no more flags everywhere – no Chirac bounce – no Zidane ads everywhere, for ever and ever and ever – the face of sport journalists

Ah well : GG Italy.

By: a

Sun, 09 Jul 2006 21:41:44 +0000

Oh c’mon, that’s not really a reply Chris.

The U.S. should be the runner-ups because they were the only team to have played Italy who didn’t lose.

(And this is, of course, just a joke…)

By: Dan Kervick

Dan Kervick — Sun, 09 Jul 2006 21:30:24 +0000

Well there’s no question the French had the better all-around game. They actually mounted an attack in the second half and put some pressure on Buffon and Italian defense.

The Italians seemed to hit the wall at the end of the first half, and were collectively running in sand for the entire second half and both overtimes. They could barely string two passes together. Their fatigue was so palpable it was almost painful to watch.

But lots of credit to the indomitable Cannavaro, and all the Italian defenders, for just hanging on for 75 minutes, with a stalled Italian attack turning the ball over again and again and again.

Did it look to anyone else that the pitch was very slow? Maybe it was the humidity. Many of the ground passes seemed to slow down and barely reach their intended targets.

Henry finally played a good game. Maybe someone should have hit him in the head sooner.

By: P O'Neill

P O'Neill — Sun, 09 Jul 2006 21:11:27 +0000

classic analysis on Sky News now—the Italians “such a colourful people”

By: P O'Neill

P O'Neill — Sun, 09 Jul 2006 21:00:00 +0000

Speaking of USA-Italy, a bit sickening to see Danielle de Rossi up there collecting a medal.

By: Chris Bertram

Chris Bertram — Sun, 09 Jul 2006 20:57:01 +0000

Well, I guess this means the U.S. are the runner-ups – they were the only team not to get beaten by Italy.

England didn’t get beaten by Italy, nor did Portugal, or the Ivory Coast, or Ecuador …. etc etc

By: a

Sun, 09 Jul 2006 20:52:00 +0000

France played better in the second half, Italy in the first, and both teams looked like they were dying of exhaustion in the over-time.

Well, I guess this means the U.S. are the runner-ups – they were the only team not to get beaten by Italy.

By: Randy Paul

Randy Paul — Sun, 09 Jul 2006 20:51:18 +0000

Isabel,

Arab is a person who is ethnically Arab. Arabic is the language that they speak.

yes, what did materazzi say, and in what language?

I’m sure whatever he said, he said in Italian as Zidane played for Juventus for several years and probably knows some of the language.

By: Filter

Filter — Sun, 09 Jul 2006 20:46:43 +0000

Yes, France played better. :-)

By: Daniel

Daniel — Sun, 09 Jul 2006 20:44:41 +0000

Well, didn’t think there was a dime’s difference between the two

were you watching a different match? I thought France played better to the tune of at least 25c. Them’s the breaks though.