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I-TAL-IA! I-TAL-IA!

World Cup 2006: ITALIA!

Plus, what was Zidane thinking??

That is all.


31 thoughts on I-TAL-IA! I-TAL-IA!

  1. I’m glad you’re happy and all that, but thpthpthtphtphttphtpthp.

    And Zidane was probably thinking something along the lines of “What did you just call me, you ignorant-ass motherfucker?” Followed quickly by “Oh crap. That was a stupid thing i just did.”

    Here’s hoping that 2010 in South Africa gives us better football than we just saw. Until then, go FC Dallas and Blackburn Rovers.

  2. I had the same reaction on both counts, Jill. It was an exciting but not a beautiful final, and I too am looking forward to 2010 (and Euro 2008). Until then, I’ll follow the Galaxy, Newcastle United, Exeter City, Celtic, Rapid Vienna, and Atletico Nacional (Colombia). Lots to keep me occupied.

    Gattuso and Cannavaro — sublime. I love defense.

  3. Depending on what was said, maybe it was deserved. It was his final game, I guess he figured he’d go out with a literal bang.

  4. Indeed, what was Zidane thinking? I do love that clip of him doing it though, I can’t help but laugh out loud at the way the other guy falls.
    I haven’t really been following the Cup and only half-watched that game, but I’m so glad I happened to catch that when it happened.

  5. What was Zidane thinking? Probably that someone just said something racist to him and twisted his nipple.

  6. I started watching the game leaning slightly toward Italy (even though they beat Germany), and by the 70 minute mark I was unquestionably cheering for them. They had a lot of heart, and I like that.

    Gattuso really impressed me, both his playing and his sportmanship. Partly he reminds me of myself in skinny Italian soccer player form, so a bit of that is purely narcissistic.

    Dad and I had to see the replay a few times before we could believe Zidane did that.

  7. Buffon should have won the Golden Ball. If France had won, i would have given it to Zizou, and it does suck that France was about 1.5 inches away from going to a 6th penalty and a chance at victory, but thems the breaks. Buffon allowed a grand total of two goals over seven games, and he could do little about either one (an own goal and a penalty kick). He had a brilliant tournament.

    And screw penalty kicks to decide a championship. Blah.

  8. Sorry for the double post, but Cannavaro would have worked for me, too. He wound up second in the balloting.

  9. Congrats to Italy, though I will say that deciding a game on penalty kicks sucks. I’d rather have a golden goal, myself.

    I was very upset by Zidane’s head-butt. Yes, it deserved a red card, but quite frankly, I really don’t care about Materazzi. Zidane – yes, at age 34 – was the best player on that field and he made a crucial mistake that I believe cost France the Cup. Zidane would not have missed his penalty kick like Trezuguet did. Furthermore, he’ll be forever associated with that one move, which is really unlike him and unbecoming of such a fantastic player. He has been my favorite player for years and I wanted to see him go out on a good note.

    And was was up with all the Italy supporters at the bar my friends and I were at? We were outnumbered like 3-1.

  10. The headbutt was actually not at all unlike Zidane. He was sent off 8 years ago in France and suspended two matches for stomping a Saudi player in group play, and he was sent off and suspended for five matches for headbutting another player in either 2000 or 2001 during Champions League play while he was with Juventus. He has a terrible temper, which is quite possibly part of the reason why he was such a wonderful player; he was able to channel his anger into brilliant play.

    I really hope he doesn’t retire from club football, even though he’s retiring from international play. I would hate for such a great career to end on such a horrible note.

  11. I really hope he doesn’t retire from club football, even though he’s retiring from international play. I would hate for such a great career to end on such a horrible note.

    Agreed. I’d love to see him follow in the footsteps of the many old greats who end their careers with a year or two in the MLS.

  12. The headbutt was actually not at all unlike Zidane. He was sent off 8 years ago in France and suspended two matches for stomping a Saudi player in group play, and he was sent off and suspended for five matches for headbutting another player in either 2000 or 2001 during Champions League play while he was with Juventus. He has a terrible temper, which is quite possibly part of the reason why he was such a wonderful player; he was able to channel his anger into brilliant play.

    That’s a good point; I suppose I’d seen him play so well for so long that I didn’t consider those incidents representative of him as a player, but maybe that’s just my interpretation.

  13. Ive played american football at a collegent level, although differant i imagine the intensity is the same. With that said its an easy answer. The Italian player obviously said something about Zidane’s mother.

  14. Lovely bit of symmetry in that the fatal penalty miss was by Trezeguet, who scored the winning goal against Italy in the Euro 2000 final. On top of that, he is one of only two French players who is on an Italian club (for now….)

  15. Perhaps the only thing Zindane was thinking was, “at which point shall throw this game so I can be paid off by the Italian mafia?”

  16. two independent news sources are saying the reason was the use of the phrase

    “dirty terrorist”

    there is a PURPORTED transcript on my site from a russian news source.

  17. I think what Zidane did was disgraceful, regardless of what the Italian may have said to him. Soccer is a team sport, and Zidane let down his teammates because he got his feelings hurt.

    I’ve played sports all my life, and I’ve been called some pretty vile things myself (apparently for some guys, that’s part of their game). But I never have punished my teammates by responding to it like Zidane did.

  18. There is some interesting background on this incident on Alternet today.

    Personally I would have preferred a French victory, I think they are better players than the Italians. And when it gets to penalty shootouts, it is no longer really a question of skill.

  19. Zidane is a french algerian muslim, he’s very used to racial slurs and insults being thrown at him, in france, by the french, who you may recall had a little helot uprising of immigrant muslims a while ago. I know, I know, there is of course, no context on the field and players are expected to be inhuman vulcans without any feelings, therefore, Zidane, like all minorities, is the real trouble maker for reacting to oppression and racism, while racists are saints who have every right to spew hatred at people without expecting any consequences to occur due to their hatred.

    Stupid fucking ragheaded surrender monkey.

  20. Umm…no one is saying Zidane is the real troublemaker for doing what he did…we’re only saying that maybe, just maybe, there’s a better way to respond to racism on the pitch than turning around and headbutting the guy…and judging by how Zizou hung his head and avoided everyone, and also how he has yet to give an interview or tell anyone exactly what happened, he probably thinks we’re right. Materazzi is pretty clearly a jackass, and we only give jackasses what they want when we respond violently.

  21. Thank you so much, R. Mildred, for articulating exactly why all this “trash talk is part of the game” shit pisses me off so much.

  22. Was anything racist actually said to Zidane? It’s a good theory, but personally I don’t see much real evidence to suggest that ZIdane wasn’t just reacting to a rather unfair obstruction.

  23. And when it gets to penalty shootouts, it is no longer really a question of skill.

    Hitting the net isn’t a skill?

  24. Hitting the net isn’t a skill?

    It’s more a test of nerve over skill, as at that level I don’t think you’ll find any players who can’t hit the net.

    It’s kinda like ending the NBA Finals with a free throw competition.

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