It’s tied 1-1 at half-time. Zidane scored at the seventh minute. Materazzi responded in the 19th. Who do you think is going to win? In regulation, after overtime, or on kicks?
Update [2006-7-9 17:5:32 by BooMan]: Italy won 5-3 on penalty kicks. Zindane was thrown out in about the 113 minute for head-butting someone in the solar plexus. And that was after he almost put France ahead with a brilliant header that was just barely tipped over the crossbar. From hero to goat in a few minutes. You can join the European discussion here.
Looks to me like France just got robbed of a chance at a penalty kick (54th minute).
they took a goal away from Italy for offsides.
I kinda of lost interest after the Mexico v. Argentina game..it seems European style of futbol is dominant this year.
That Zidane header was close. Ribery’s feint-and-shoot was also close. Italy looks burned out, while France still seems fresh.
I cannot believe what Zindane just did…
a well deserved Red Card and a disgraceful end to his career. I was rooting for France hoping to see him go out in style
pathetic. Completely lost his head. 9 minutes from PK’s and you pull THAT.
That was vicious. Never seen someone do that before.
I think that was my exact quote after I watched the replay.
OLast WC, Ortega did a similar stunt against the goaly of Sweeden. He got a red card and argentina was out of the WC. Shit like that should be worth a whole year without playing instead of a few games (generally 4 games)
Hey! How have you been?!?! I miss seeing you here. Wasn’t there an article written about Soulforce not too long ago? Maybe I’m mis-remebering.
Anyway, I agree w/ you about Zindane, even though it seemed Italy was getting away with lots of stuff. And then that French player absolutely choking like that? Oh my. Anyone know the French equivalent to long bus ride home??? Because that’s exactly what it’s gonna be!
I was so rooting for France!
thanks – keep meaning to be around more – but barely keep up with MLW and SP (both of which I’m supposed to be a FP for… and about all I write is my weekly Sabbath Time series. Work and life y’know.
Not seeing the diary – but I always encourage tribbers to check out Soulforce – great group.
It’s tough for me these days, too. Life’s been, well…life. It doesn’t just completely bite like ’05, but it’s been stressful. I’ll sign-up at MLW so I can keep up w/ what you’re writing.
Now that I can no longer be distracted by World Cup, I have to actually finish some housework. :<( Grrrr…
Can’t wait to hear his explanation.
Gilliard thinks the Italian guy muttered a racial epithet. I wouldn’t be surprised.
has to be something deeply deeply offensive… but still…
just cannot lose your head like that. Beat him, don’t head butt him and cost yourself… just sad.
On the upside, I had just been talking to my 7 year old about making poor decisions / not thinking before acting type things…. heck of an object lesson for him.
forza azzurri! i was rooting for them.
a world class player yes, but zizou is well known for his temper. he should’ve been bigger than that, but hey, sometimes shit gets to you. sometimes, it’s on the world stage.
Hey, Simplexity. Nice to see you.
I really didn’t have a dog in this hunt, but you’re right, that was a pretty un-classy way to end your career.
hmmm – as a US soccer fan, I suppose there are worse things than being the only team to take a point off of the World Cup champions.
Congrats Italia
but here’s a linky for Chris if he’s around… 🙂
FORZA ITALIA!
My TiVo pooped out in about the 100th minute because I set it to record the time shown on the schedule and didn’t take into account that it might go into “extra innings.”
So I missed the shootout, and I missed Zindane getting thrown out of the game. Ah, so it goes.
The most bizarre finish to a WC I’ve ever seen, and a sad one. Zidane walked off the pitch, right past his coach and teammates and off to the locker room, apparently without speaking or really even looking at them; and of course is left out of the post game awards ceremony, in which he richly deserved to be involved, since he was instrumental in bringing the French team this far.
If you look at the video of the incident, you’ll note that Materazzi and Zidane were going at it a bit, but it’s not like a little holding, a little jersey-pulling and a little trash-talking is unheard of in their positions.
Then, with his head down, Materazzi appears to mouth a few words, and Zidane turns: but he doesn’t fly into an immediate frenzied rage. He turns, waits a couple of seconds, walks back toward the Italian, looks at him and pauses for another second, and then head-butts him in the chest. An unbelievable, and totally disgraceful way to end a career. It’ll be interesting to see what the French press have to say tomorrow.
It’s truly sad. He’ll never live it down. Ever.
Evviva la patria! Bravo ai miei cugini in Italia.