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Well, Italy did win. But if the ref wasn't stupid, we might well have beaten Italy... therefore, I declare Australia as the true winner of the World Cup.

I was working on Saturday, listening to Germany vs Portugal match on radio, and heard something I ever expected to hear in my life time from my English friend.

"I want the Germans to win!"

Okay, I wasn't surprised after the English-Portuguese match, still that was unexpected...

Vive la France

Hello, everyone! I would like to share my feelings about the yesterday's final. I cheered for France and was greatly disappointed with the result. However, imo, Italy's victory was unfair and tainted (unawarded penalty in the second half+disgusting provocation by Materazzi). I don't condone what Zidane did (the red card is fully justified), but he is still a great player and a permanent part of world football history. His nerves just didn't last, as for the italians .... well, with Zizu on the pitch they had no chance and they knew it. I fully support the Federation for giving Zidane the golden ball - he deserved it, no matter what.

Which do you think should have been awarded? I can't remember any close chances where something deserved to be blown...

Zidane the best player?! I spilled my coffee this morning when I read it all over the papers! You have got to be kidding me! I couldn't care less what he was told, that was a barbaric move last night, like he was in the middle of some street fight. And best player after that?! Are they insane? Not to mention that overall, even discounting this shameful act, he was no where near the best player. One good game against Brazil does not make the best tournament player! Talked about biased!

Was very happy for Italy, overall they deserved it, and well while I am not a fan of penalties it is how it is. We partied all night all right, nobody here can stand the French players so it was a good night

For the record...

... the Golden Ball (I nearly wrote Golden Globe ) Award goes to the Best Player voted by the media. Vote officially ended by half time. Zidane's red card happened during the second half of the extension.

[QUOTE=dj_venom]Which do you think should have been awarded? I can't remember any close chances where something deserved to be blown...[/QUOTE]
What about Malouda being knocked down in the penalty area on the 50th smth minute of the second half? The referee blind to this, how biased is this, ah Ashen? About what Zidane did, I already said I think it was wrong, but there are some things for saying which one is bound to get punched in the face, among men anyway

[QUOTE=Pekka]What about Malouda being knocked down in the penalty area on the 50th smth minute of the second half? [/QUOTE]

You could argue that the original penalty should not have been a penalty though (which in my opinion it wasn't), so all in all it balanced itself out.

It's hard to argue that Zidane didn't deserve the Golden Ball as he single-handedly willed France into the final, but I still think Buffon or Cannavarro should've won it. Regardless, you won't see me making to big of a stink about it.

[QUOTE=TonyMontana1638]It's hard to argue that Zidane didn't deserve the Golden Ball as he single-handedly willed France into the final, but I still think Buffon or Cannavarro should've won it. Regardless, you won't see me making to big of a stink about it.[/QUOTE]

Agreed.

@Pekka - But what Zidane did was really nasty. I believe a punishment is in order for him.

I disagree with France victory over Portugal, even though Zidane carried the team on his backs. I agree with the victory over Brazil (the team played nothing).

This is my last post in this thread (I promise ), so I am gonna make this brief. Is Zidane an angel? - far from it. Did the weight of the whole team rest on his back? - definitely. Is he gonna be remembered? - no doubt. Are Materazzi and the likes of him gonna be forgotten? - before they're forty. Is THIS the only thing that counts - you bet.

[QUOTE=Pekka]This is my last post in this thread (I promise ), so I am gonna make this brief. Is Zidane an angel? - far from it. Did the weight of the whole team rest on his back? - definitely. Is he gonna be remembered? - no doubt. Are Materazzi and the likes of him gonna be forgotten? - before they're forty. Is THIS the only thing that counts - you bet.[/QUOTE]
Well I think Materazzi will be remembered, as will at least a handful of players on that team, internationally, and every last one of them, nationally. I'll always remember Luca Toni and his outrageous goal total from Serie A '05/'06, Cannavarro and Buffon for their spectacular play and Grosso for that 119th minute goal in the semis. In Italy itself, every player on that team will be remembered like saints.


But I agree with you and understand what you mean, Zidane outclasses everybody on that team and has left a legacy matched by very few. However, his legacy is irrelevant in terms of whether or not he deserves the Golden Ball and isn't factored in; it's only his performance in the '06 WC that matters... But you won't see me saying he doesn't deserve it for that reason, because he played magnificently.