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[Deleted User]

no

but its spoiled the finish



very strange

[Deleted User]

that's why I 'd love to know the very reason!
But I don't think it was a magnificient game all together.

dan dan

Nah, it didnt spoil the finish, that was just the commentators getting all glassy eyed.

Zidane was never an earth-shattering player, he just had an arrogant streak and was solidly built, which meant that people naturally gave him space to pass the ball and he used that well.

That same streak showed at the end, both in his play and his actions.

Italy were awesome first half, the most un-Italian game ever. Reverted to type second half, but overall a very solid team.

I for one am pleased.

[Deleted User]

Also it saddens me a little as Zidane has been an exemplary character in France, defying at some level the racism in the country.

[Deleted User]

The headbutt was nothing like the Italians reaction would suggest and, unlike Figo's headbutt in the face, it was aimed at the chest.

[Deleted User]

ive taken harder hits from a hockey ball and stayed standing!

[Deleted User]

but

he couldnt complain about the card


just a strange end

[Deleted User]

the red card was justified.
It does not quite matter whether the italien was hurt or not, the very act was not acceptable.
Again, it is sad!

popsider

To be fair to the Italian that was a full on headbutt - you can excuse him going down after that one. I've taken plenty of elbows from centre forwards over the years but that was one of the worst things I've seen on a football pitch - Duncan Ferguson got sent down for less.

[Deleted User]

so is there to be a hate campaign aimed at Buffon for running up the pitch to round on the ref to look at the Zidane incident ?

or Lippi for haranging the 4th official ?



BBC didnt seem to pick up on that

[Deleted User]

Zizou deserved everything he got. Inexcusable from a genuine superstar, but he has now paid the price for damaging France's chances of winning the World Cup and going down as one of the three or four greatest players in the history of the game.


Maye not the time and place for this, but I can only guess Materazzi said something racist

[Deleted User]

Zidane can't complain about the red card. The whole incident was still a farce though. An incident that summed up the Italians nicely.

Will be good to see what happens tomorrow for Italian football, could be a very strange time for the Italians.

[Deleted User]

I'm a Man Utd fan - bring on Gattuso. Or even, dare I say it, Vieira

popsider

Read somewhere else that Matterazi is supposed to have called him a terrorist - it's 2nd hand info make of it what you will.

I don't know Buney - I'm generally against people surrounding the ref but that was an assault - I think a player doing that in the Premiership would face a police enquiry - I mean Bowyer did last season for far less.

[Deleted User]

im thinking of the backlash Ronaldo has had for getting a bit upset about Rooney grinding Carvalhos goolies!




and i dont disagree with the red card for Zidane -it was indefensible - am still puzzled by it tho

but i thinki said earlier - Shearer was quite keen for Rooney to "stick one on" Ronaldo when they get back to training so there is a very odd double standard about what is tolerated in football

[Deleted User]

I'm back!

Dodge - "Zidane can't complain about the red card. The whole incident was still a farce though. An incident that summed up the Italians nicely".

What the hell are you talking about? If you actually watch the game properly rather than keep all of the preconceived ideas you have about the Italians you might be able to see what's going on.


Anyway, it was fantastic. I was in the Piazza de Plebiscito (the main square in Napoli) with about 30 or 40,000 screaming Italians (and about 1,000 scooters). It was one of the noisiest things I've ever heard. Just after the penalties was amazing - thousands of scooters buzzing up and down every square piece of road and or pavement, waving flags and blasting airhorns - fantastic, and well deserved. The fact that I had £30 at 8/1 on Italy to win at the start of the tournament probably helped...

[Deleted User]

id did you actually see the footage of the entire incident including the lead up where the Italian player was busy tweaking his nipple? That would be what the hell I was talking about, sly fouls that provoke a reaction from the opposition followed by howls from the Italians. The reaction is then punished but not the provocation.

Italy played well for most of the first half but France had the best of the rest of the game and should have taken their chances and put the Italians away.