World Cup Final open thread

I can’t resist utilitarian arguments: go Italy!

As an Australian still bitter about our loss, I’m going for “not Italy”. I’m not sure I’ll ever forgive them for putting me in a situation where I have to cheer for France.

Hih. As for football fanaticism, and despite World Cup 98 and Euro 2000, France still seems to me rather moderate, by european standards.

With the bad results there was some bitterness between the team, the fans, the coach, and not little derision from the media. “The other countries have real supporters” you could hear.

But it all clicked at the Spain match, and now it’s on again. Now the players won’t be afraid of missing the final cause of a yellow : Italy is going to face the Spain/Brazil team.

So the oldies are baahaack, through doubt and uncertainties, etc, etc, and if they win, it’s going to be damn classy.

As a consequence, go France! :)

If Italy wins us Yanks can then say we held the WC champs to a draw.

In Southern California all eyes and ears will be on the Dodgers as they try to salvage a split with the Giants! I must admit, I do not understand all this running about a field like Irish dancers, not allowed to use your hands, and for what? Goals are certainly not the object … are they? I think the most spectacular sport to come from Europe is the recent Chess-Boxing matches, now that is a sport of brain and brawn. Nothing like cheering on Tihomir Titschko as the sweat drips from his brow while he contemplate sacrificing his knight! Certainly more fun than watching ballet dancers bounce balls off their heads.

I could make a short or a long argument about this (neither of which are particularly linked to the performances during this tournament) but to make a long story short:

I hope that France wins and expect that Italy wins.

Go Blue!

France, Italy, Dodgers: I can’t make up my mind.

12

WWGS? (What would Gramcsi say?)

Isn’t this Zidane’s final professional match?

I’m not sure what to hope for, that he leaves the stage carrying the Jules Rimet or, like Bradman, walks away oh so close but not quite.

Check this out: Instapundit thinks that Germans sing Nazi Anthem at World Cup.

Since I am French and fear yet another wave of fanatical ball-worship by my country-men, I hope the Italian team wins.

pleeese.

And Prodi needs all the help he can get. Some Brazilians claim the defeat of their team is a danger for Lula’s reelection now.

Allez les Frogs!

That was a penalty? Looked like a fair challenge on my screen.

The Matarazzi header was a beauty.

Yes, it was a penalty. Materazzi can make very stupid fouls. Very balanced match until now, if you ask me.

I don’t think the second one was a penalty. Zambrotta missed the ball but didn’t do anything to bring Malouda down. Even the French can dive, you know.

Buffon — again!

But if we’re prioritarian rather than utilitarian, then we should root for France:

“It is a common mistake to think that the French care less about their football than the English. The glorious victory of 1998 is every bit as important in the French psyche as England’s victory in 1966 is to every English fan. However, in contrast to England since the arrival of the Premiership, football is still largely a working class and immigrant obsession and match-going an urban phenomenon. This, in part, explains its near-invisibility in the higher echelons of the media and the rarefied indifference of most politicians when it comes to the sport of ‘prolos’ and ‘beaufs’ (a word that roughly means ‘chavs’).”

god that was a good headbutt.

Oah! Zizo, you pillock!

Mmmm…. What did the Italian tell him? I know that soccer is also about mindgames, but..

ooh goody, penalties!

I posted a separate entry about Zidane and Materazzi.

I hated this ending in 1994 and I hate it now.

well I’ll be …

Well, didn’t think there was a dime’s difference between the two, but Italy surely deserved just as punishment for Zidane’s stupidity. Sheesh, what a bonehead.

Yes, France played better. :-)

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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…