Italy are the soccer world-cup champions after defeating France in the finals couple of hours back - Rome is exploding with joy after the finals.
France deserved to lose, after what Zidane did in the extra time by hitting his head on Materazzi’s chest. That will probably stand as one of the most bizarre incident in the history of world soccer. I have tremendous respect for Zinedine Zidane as he is truly one of the genius of the game but he disgraced himself in what was the last international match of his career.
I went to watch the match live at Fox on the big screen TV - a neat restaurant in the heart of Gurgaon. By the time I picked up Manish and checked-in at Fox at 11 PM, the place was already packed. If we hadn’t gotten our reservation done, I would have been found watching the match on my home TV.
After the opening dance, the match started at 11.30 PM IST and I could see that there were more France supporters than Italy.
Manish had gotten hold of a T-Shirt that had Italy written at the back and so was officially a Italian supporter. But I am sure if he had gotten a France T-Shirt, he would have been a France supporter. Anyways, the first real activity happened in 7th minute when France were awarded a penalty kick for what was seen as an unfair decision by he referee. On replays, it was pretty clear that the offence was not worth a penalty - and that appalled the audience in the restaurant. Soon after Zidane converted the penalty to a goal, there was a dramatic conversion of French supporters who began to cheer Italy. I, who was also supporting France so far, became an avid supporter of Italy - because I felt that Italy were handed off an unfair deal. And then France also won the semi-finals also because of a Zidane penalty which was another controversial decision. It proved too much to me and, I assume, to many other viewers in the restaurant.
After that, Italy were clearly the superior team in the first half. France didn’t look like one who had answers to Italy’s attacks - particularly their headers and, finally, Materazzi converted a corner shot into goal by a header beautifully. They made a few more attacks also but missed on the opportunities.
The second half belonged to France who, all of a sudden, were a much improved team and played like world-champions. Both the teams attacked but neither were able to score even though both the teams had their chances. The game went in the extra time and France again looked slightly better team. They were attacking more but Italy’s attack looked more solid even though France looked more dangerous. If not for the excellence of Buffon, the Italian goalkeeper, Zidane would have given France a lead in 105th minute - that was an excellent excellent save.
What happened few minutes later was probably the most bizarre incident in soccer that I have witnessed live. Zidane felt that Materazzi was un-necessarly blocking him and, out of anger or frustration or I don’t know what, he hit Materazzi on his chest from his head - and that was a strong hit. Zidane was shown a red-card and was sent off the field - which was a sad way for one of the game’s greatest to end his career. This is an incident that he will repent all his life - not because France lost the game but because it was one of the most un-sportsman like behavior on the field.
The game moved to penalty shoot-outs and Italy buried the ghosts of 1990, 1994, 1998 - when they lost on the penalty shoot-outs. Italy emerged the winner of FIFA World Cup 2006 and they deserved it. This was one of the most entertaining world cup finals ever played.
And the man on the field who was most active or will be in the news most is Materazzi. He was the one who apparently blocked France initially that got Zidane awarded the penalty and moved France ahead in the 7th minute 1-0. Then he was the one who scored for Italy to equal the score and, at the end, got hit by Zidane and became the reason for Zidane’s red-card.
The soccer world cup also sees a sharp increase in my interests towards soccer and it was well worth it in the end - the excitement is such that I am awake till 4 AM to write this post. 
Tags: World Cup 2006, Soccer World Cup, Fifa World Cup, Italy, France
Disclaimer: The photos are linked from a Yahoo site and not owned by the current blog author.
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Pingback on Jul 10th, 2006 at 9:34 am
[...] France, you deserved to lose!Italy are the soccer world-cup champions after defeating France in the finals couple of … This was one of the most entertaining world cup finals ever played. … Tags: World Cup 2006, Soccer World Cup, Fifa World Cup, Italy, France … [...]
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July 10, 2006 at 4:59 am
Hey Ashish, nice to read your thoughts on the game, the match of the year! But I would myself be a little more linient on Zidene. The whole world is coming down on him but one also has to see what Materazzi had told him and how he had behaved with him. In a game some players rely on talking bad/ insulting and getting personal with opponents just so that they(opponents) be provoked into something awful. And this has happened a lot many times with me, though I never could do what Zidene did, but sometimes I wish I could just to silence them. Although nothing can condone Zidene’s act, one has to feel a bit sorry for him too.
Great to see so much enthusiasm for soccer in India, may be if you get the time you should check out the English Premier League as well - its as fast and as exciting - its 3 minutes to 5 here in ‘The Royal House of Kota’ (as i like to call it) and I have a train to catch - if its on time then will see you between 2 and 3.
Cheers
July 10, 2006 at 5:59 am
Italy deserved to win?
Well, they win the WC, but not the game — which they deserved to lose. Did you watch it?
July 10, 2006 at 8:40 am
Rahul - Materazzi is known as somebody who will say nasty things about a person to break his rhythm and, possibly, he said something that angered Zidane beyond imagination. But, then, this is really a part of the game - this happens all the time in Cricket. Remember Australians and their powerful sledging - everytbody knows that it is wrong but nobody can hit any player because of that. A professional has to develop a thick skin - you got to give it back to them being in your limits or rather limits of the game. I am sorry to say that I don’t have any excuses for Zidane but I am really sorry that his last game ended like this. He had a chance to be one of the greatest of the game - he will still be, but there is a big black spot on that now.
Eljorje - yes, I did watch the match. This post is about that only. I do think that Italy deserved to win - it would have been a shame to see France winning after what Zidane did. That was plain stupid - especially coming from him. And Italy played well - in fact France also played well. Just based upon how both the teams played, there was little to choose from - and so if Italy won on shoot-outs, it’s not unfair as few of the other penalty shoot-outs. Why do you say that Italy deserved to lose?
July 10, 2006 at 3:47 pm
Hi,
Inspite of l’affaire Zidane, I believe the french lost it through unimaginative substitutions and a lack of plan B. When Vieira limped of France had an oppurtunity to grab the game by the scruff of its neck and win in Normal time. Domenech should have brought on Wiltord in place of Diarra. This would have allowed Henry to play off Wiltord as he used to at Arsenal and make more of an impact on the game. Zizou could have played Vieira’s creative holding midfielder role as he was short of pace anyway with Makelele covering up.France normally play a Zidane centric system whilst Arsenal play an Henry Centric one. Given that the Zidane centric system was not working, Domenech should have reverted to the other one (ie Wiltord for Vieira) and would probably have had an impact.
The armchairmanager in me lies satisfied :p
July 10, 2006 at 7:33 pm
No person is bigger than the game, and if Zidane had to go, he had to. I don’t buy the argument that France lost due to Zidane’s exit. He was not in the best of forms on the D-day –– quite evident from the penalty that he missed by a whisker. For Italy it was Veni, Vidi, Penalty, Vici!!!
July 11, 2006 at 2:15 am
Ashis, in Europe we call it “Football”, the word soccer is very American
Adding fun and trying to forget what happen to Zidane yesterday… http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/france/5165296.stm
Ashis you are right about facts on Materazzi. However Zidane could have avoided this by lifting the world cup in 5 minutes. Sledging has become part of most games these days..
July 11, 2006 at 5:49 am
The fact that you saw what Zidane did and could not hear what Materazzi said makes you plain biased against Zidane. Team france played a great game even though Zidane was certainly not at his best.
Italy strong attack in second half? Thats plain BS - their possession of the ball was so small that each of their attacks went up to at most 70% of its development. Yes, their defence was absolutely invincible. And they were clearly betting on the penalty shootout coz nobody trusted Barthez.
Penalty shootout - None of the GK’s did a good job. Buffon got lucky.
Zidane cannot be excused for the act but the world is making this too big a deal out of it coz it was Zidane’s last match, France’s victory supposedly depended on this etc etc etc. We have seen much more unsportsman like behavior here. Dont forget the match between Holland and Portugal where there was lot of fighting on the field. And it all seems forgotten now? Does anyone care for sportsmanship past the match? Making a sensation out of something is whats being done with Zidane. Zidane has been one of the masters of the game and too bad he made the mistake in his very last match. Well guess what, its over, and its ok! He still ruleZ.
July 11, 2006 at 10:43 am
Prashant - good explanation. I am not too aware about their team tactics - so I can only say “Excellent - that’s a good explanation”
Kishor - correct! No person is bigger than the game and I also think that France didn’t lose because of Zidane, though there were chances that they could if there was more time left in the extra time. And Zidane didn’t miss a penalty. He was not even present for penalty shoot-outs.
Santosh - yeah, I also like to call it Football but when I talk to people from US (and those are people I talk to most often), there is always a confusion
So, I guess that I just use Soccer more here. Yeah - you are right, sledging is part of almost any game today. But then being a professional, it’s the job of players to have a thick skin.
Anonymous - it would have been better if you had mentioned your name. I am not biased against any team though I do was favoring Italy after the first penalty by Zidane when France went 1-0. I thought that the penalty was not fair. You would think that the possession of ball was small - but reality is far from that. After the first 90 minutes, Italy had 58% possession while France had just 42% - and the same was true for first 45 minutes (and so for the second half too). Though I will agree with you that France looked a better team in the second half.
July 12, 2006 at 11:28 am
Zidane is a Muslim. Materazzi called Zidane, a “muslim terrorist” thrice before he lost his temper and smashed his head into Materazzi’s chest.
Its really shameful and embarassing for Muslims to be labeled as terrorists because of a few Muslim fanatics doing inhuman activies
July 12, 2006 at 11:37 am
Well we are being unfair to Zidane, cause as per the rumours Meterazzi said something really bad, and given the rough upbringing of Zidane, he could not control his anger.
All that can be said is that Zidane should have been more responsible and could have probably done something about the Sledging later. Sledging of any form in any sport is bad and Sporting Bodies like FIFA,ICC should take steps to reduce it.
Imagine some stranger walking upto you and saying something insulting about your family, you won’t even tolerate those kind of words from someone known to you let alone a stranger.
All in all, the incident gives us something to remember Zidane, who was one of the Best Soccer Players of all time.
And Yes World Cup Football beats Cricket(which has become quite boring now) anyday
July 12, 2006 at 3:13 pm
Shakira looks hot!
July 12, 2006 at 11:04 pm
Well, it’s not fair to say that France deserved to lose beacuse just one person behaved badly on the field. The team lost beacuse the other team was stronger. Why to blame just a single player? I think you have overdone in the title of the post.
July 12, 2006 at 11:06 pm
Nice snaps!
July 13, 2006 at 4:25 pm
Oops:) I meant Zidane’s converted the spotkick in the begining of the match with much difficulty — it hit the bar, and was just over the line.
August 27, 2006 at 11:16 pm
Zidane il a tapé ! (Zidane hit) the song which made a hit in France!)
I do not know if France deserved to win but Italy surely did not. See you in Euro 2008 and France will crush Italy!!!
a French guy who supports his country