World Football Thread XIII - to Berlin

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by The Emperor Fabulous
While I agree that you did control the ball...

...why couldn't you score?

Typical French problem. During the cup, we had only three games where it went well (against Togo, Spain and Brazil). Our team was so strongly focused on defense and midfield (with a great efficiency: the French team hasn't lost any match in ages, and this game is a tie also), but has a grave problem about delivering the goal in the opposing defense.

[laurentius]

I love you Spiff, next time our leftist jeunes/communistas make a trip there i'm gonna buy you a pint.


Its not a very good game if the players are killed

[reds4ever]

Originally posted by laurentius
How can such a thing be even reason to be insult in todays Europe?

So Materazzi allegely said something disrespectfull about his mother, Anyone playing in the top of the world is supposed to be able to play down such remarks. Really its only worlds and these guys will do everything to win so falling for words is just stupid.

Hey mate! I wasn't justifying the headbutt, ZZ was a muppet for falling for it. I just gave the reason ZZ did what he did.

[Spiffor]

In all honesty, I found there were some hilarious moments during the first half.

The ref knew the Italians would dive like crazy (who doesn't), and seems to have expected the French to dive too (I was actually surprised by the dive-happiness in the French team). There were some times where players on both teams fell mysteriously and simultaneously to the ground, and the ref let the game continue as a big "**** you" to the cheaters

Still, the best part was when Sagnol and an Italian pushed each other to get a ball, and the Italian immediately dived. The ref came to see whether there was a problem, and Sagnol (standing as healthily as one can) decided to imitate the Italian

The ref gave a yellow to both of them

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by laurentius
I love you Spiff, next time our leftist jeunes/communistas make a trip there i'm gonna buy you a pint.

[laurentius]

Yeah yeah, but it wasent the boring dive-match predicted by some. The French dived just as much as the Italians. Sometimes it was juts comic like Zinedines and Henrys supposed injuries. Granted the Italians tried to fish up on te situation as much as possible, but the Ref was being pretty fair with both teams AFAIK.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by laurentius
Yeah yeah, but it wasent the boring dive-match predicted by some. The French dived just as much as the Italians. Sometimes it was juts comic like Zinedines and Henrys supposed injuries. Granted the Italians tried to fish up on te situation as much as possible, but the Ref was being pretty fair with both teams AFAIK.

IIRC, he whistled many more fouls in favor of the Italians, though they didn't affect the outcome.

My friends and I attributed it to the fact that Italians are expert divers, whereas the French are amateurs. The Italian acting is much more credible than the French one

[ískallin]

Yes, what is it with those south european countries?

Italy, Portugal, Spain...

They all dive?
Why is that. Is it in their genes to cheat?

[laurentius]

Yeah they are good, I know they very good, maybe the best. But this game wasent a huge hollywood-game you must agree. and you guys had the experience on your side. In fact it was all down to luck at the end.


Maybe you should gibe mazeratti the golden palm this year

Theres just something that makes me wave the italian tricolore....this time they IMHO deserved to win. They tried more, playid marginally better defense, didnt lose their nerves etc.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by laurentius
Theres just something that makes me wave the italian tricolore....this time they IMHO deserved to win. They tried more, playid marginally better defense, didnt lose their nerves etc.

Well, they had a great first period. But after that, they were really inferior to the French IMO (barely any offensive threat, spotty midfield presence), except that they kept their nerves indeed.

[laurentius]

Originally posted by Spiffor

Well, they had a great first period. But after that, they were really inferior to the French IMO (barely any offensive threat, spotty midfield presence), except that they kept their nerves indeed.

Well I simply disagree, I thought they conrolled the match from the start. France was given as easy goal and the Italians had to keep up the pace to try to win the game. I dont think there was a huge defense/defense there because both teams wanted to win the match. The French played more lazy to me and the Italians were constantly on the drive to score on Barthez. The Defence of the Azzurri was great but there were many many positions where the italians could have scored on the corner kicks.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Spiffor
Well, they had a great first period. But after that, they were really inferior to the French IMO (barely any offensive threat, spotty midfield presence), except that they kept their nerves indeed.

Indeed. The Italians had the better run of play in the 1st half (it seemed the French closed down after scoring the first goal, and even after the Italians scored the equalizer continued lackluster play), but after the halftime, the French were superior. They were creating chances and playing attacking soccer. The Italians weathered the storm well, but were outplayed.

[laurentius]

I wonder if we even saw the same match

[Imran Siddiqui]

Materazzi, the 'clean' player:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKGcUr0S-FU

[laurentius]

Yeah he looks like a real genocider.


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