Now that the appetising farce of the 3rd-place game is gone (won by Germany, 3-1, in a fabulous display of entertaining football by both the hosts and Portugal), we can all concentrate on the main course–and you have a choice: Italian cuisine or French cuisine.
Based on the inspired performances of both nations, especially since the elimination rounds started two weeks ago, this is a mouth-watering final. As a neutral, one has to be happy about this final. As well as matching two entertaining offences and two very strong defences, we are treated to only the second final without a German or Brasilian side since 1954 in Switzerland (and for the first time since 1978 in Argentina). Not having (West)Germany or Brasil in a final is a rare delight.
On one side, you have Italy, slight favourites in this match, who’ve begun to add offensive flair (did you see them playing four, yes, 4, strikers in extra time during their match with Germany? That’s not Italian football, but Brasilian or Argentine footie…) to their usual oppressive defence and are as complete a team as you could hope to have in a final. They have famous names and a phalanx of stars, but no true world-renowned superstar, which has perhaps been a major reason they’ve been so in-form for the past two weeks.
On the flip side, you have in France a team of ageing stars on their last hurrah before the make way for the younger generation. You have one world-famous superstar in the mercurial and smooth Thierry Henry. You also have a suffocating defence and a plethora of playmakers and scorers. And, then, you have in Zinedine Zidane a superstar who surpasses mere global eminence: he’s without question the greatest player since Diego Maradona was the master a generation ago. It is to Zizou over the next twenty years that we will be comparing any rising star who wants to be the player of his generation.
And what more fitting a way for Zizou to go out than in a World Cup final.
This a rematch of the Euro 2000 final won by the French on a golden goal by David Trezeguet. And, amazingly and understatedly, it is also a tantalising warmup to these two teams’ Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, as the two are paired together in Group B and will play one another again in Paris on 6 September.
So, what is this final going to come down to? It’s such an evenly-matched final that it’s silly:
- Goalkeepers: Italy’s Gianluigi Buffon is one of the top two or three keepers in the world. He’s working on a clean sheet record of epic proportions: if France fail to score tonight/tomorrow morning for the first 63 minutes, Buffon will have set a record–currently held by legendary Italian goalkeeper Walter Zenga at Italy ‘90–for having gone more than 517 minutes of playing time without allowing a goal. And, let’s not forget, the one goal that he’s allowed in the past month came courtesy of an own goal by teammate Cristian Zaccardo’s miskicked attempt to clear a ball versus the U.S. Buffon rarely makes a mistake and is always in position to back up his defence whenever it is that they make their own rare mistakes. The same cannot always be said of France’s man between the posts, the eccentric Fabien Barthez, who suffers from lapses of concentration at crucial times (witness his near-gaffe late in the semifinals on a Cristiano Ronaldo shot that allowed Figo a free header from six yards out, only for it to go wide). However, it must be recognised that Barthez has been much more the consistent world-class keeper for France than he has been while playing for his club teams; he’s only allowed two goals in this World Cup and he has won a World Cup before, so he’s more than competent. edge: Italy
- Defence: What more is there to say? Italy live by the defence and always have. This edition is led by Golden Ball candidate Fabio Cannavaro and is formidable. Cannavaro and mates have been rock-solid and figure to be no different in this one. France’s defence is only slightly less solid, led by Lilian Thuram, who’s been nearly as good as Cannavaro. They concede nothing easily and are a close-marking, hard-tackling group. Edge: Italy
- Midfield: Italy are solid in the middle, with Zambrotta and Camoranesi the leading playmakers and the defensive Gennaro Gattuso brusquely holding down the middle from the back. They have controlled most of the matches they’ve played in this World Cup and were instrumental in shutting down Germany’s midfield for large parts of their semifinal. However, they lack the starpower of France’s midfield, starting, of course, with the incomparable Zizou and helped massively in defensive prowess by Patrick Vieira and Claude Makelele. France’s attack runs through this conduit and the results over the last half of the competition have been nothing short of excellent. Edge: France
- Strikers: Italy’s strikers have been largely unimpressive in the tournament. Luca Toni has been a massive disappointment, save for his two goals against Ukraine. Francesco Totti hasn’t scored much, but I believe he’s the leading assist man in the tournament. Being negative, he’s Italy’s top scorer with only two goals; from a positive viewpoint, however, Italy’s eleven goals have come from ten different players. France, meanwhile, have the other incomparable: Thierry Henry. He may be the lone striker up front, but he’s ably assisted by young wingers Franck Ribery and Florent Malouda. Edge: France
- Intangibles: Both nations are poised. Italy have rallied admirably around each other and have closed ranks to become really close-knit as a result of the Serie A scandal back home. They have lots of stars, but no true superstar, and have played like a team comfortable with each other. Their reputation for being stingy in conceding goals is intimidating and can wear an opponent down because the opponent is always thinking about that one chance to score and being able to do when it presents itself. France, too, have rallied around one another and are more closely knit than one might think. They unjustifiably have caught a lot of stick from the press back home and from some political corners, most notably the incorrigably racist Jean-
JacquesMarie le Pen, who claims that France’s World Cup team, with seven blacks as starters, don’t truly represent France. This has sought to bring the team closer and it’s hard to understand le Pen’s dumbassness. And then there’s Zizou and his (and his teammates’) desire for him to go out on top of the world. Zidane’s legend is already god-like and going out with a second World Cup title would elevate it somehow higher. Edge: Even
To predict or not to predict, that is really what Bill penned for Hamlet (but with a crunch for room on the wrinkled vellum, his editors changed “predict” to “be”). I’ve been using my subjectiveness to pick most matches, regardless of how objectively I’ve analysed them–and we all know how successful my predictions have been.
With Italy, I’ve only picked them once (Australia) since the group stages, although I should have, in all objectivity, picked them a second time (Ukraine). And in their semifinal with Germany, I had to pick the hosts because of the momentum they were riding at the time.
As for France, I’ve been more successful. I’ve only picked against them once (Brasil), and that was an agonising toss-up that I basically flipped a coin over.
If you’ve been reading my opinions over the past few weeks, you know who I’m not cheering for. And I’m sure it’s obvious my feelings for Zidane, as well. I think France will win, perhaps in extra time, perhaps in a PSO. This is a tossup for me, to be honest, were I more objective in picking Italy’s matches. Should Italy win, they would be a worthy champion, my feelings for them notwithstanding. However, I just don’t think Zizou is going to allow France to lose.
Enjoy the game and may your team win.
17 Comments
Excellent preview once again. My heart says France but my head says Italy. Italy 2, France 1.
Study: Paraguayans lead World Cup in misbehaviour
Berlin — Who’s the baddest World Cup team of them all? A software company says Paraguay ranks at the bottom when it comes to misbehaviour at the global soccer tournament.
Staff at the British office of Information Builders (IBI) tracked a string of alternative statistics during Germany 2006, including dives, feigned injuries, referee intimidation and tantrums — even players who didn’t sing their national anthem.
According to their findings from watching TV broadcasts of the games, Italy leads in dives (32), France in tantrums (28), Paraguay in fake injuries (12), and Serbia and Montenegro in players not singing the anthem (31).
Croatia, France, Italy and Portugal are tied in bullying the referee incidents with five, although Croatia played half the games (three) than the others did.
To create an even playing field to compare teams, Information Builders devised the “IBI Foul Play Index,” which awards points for yellow and red cards, bullying the referee, dives, fake injuries and tantrums. The total is then divided by the number of games played.
Paraguay leads the tournament with a Foul Play Index of 45, followed by Italy (40) and the Netherlands, Ivory Coast and Portugal (37).
France, Italy’s opponent in Sunday’s final, is tied with Germany, Switzerland and Togo for 14th at 26. England, tied with South Korea, is 19th at 23.
Trinidad and Tobago were the goodie two-shoes of the tournament, according to Information Builders with a Foul Play Index of just 14. Next were Brazil, Costa Rica and Sweden (all 15) and the U.S. (16).
T&T were nailed for just four dives, three tantrums, two fake injuries and three players not singing the anthem.
Angola, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Spain all scored perfect marks in anthem singing.
Information Builders is using the information to promote its software, which organizes data.
Interesting study. I guess Portugal bad rep isn’t that warranted after all
As for the final, i’m 100% for Italy. C’mon, France eliminated Portugal in 1984, 2000 AND 2006. Think i’m going to cheer for them?
Italy is the second dirtiest team? I think they are the worst.
I still cannot forget McBride’s injury. This type of thing makes soccer a dirty sports. FIFA should have issued a stronger verdict, like disqualifying Italy for further participation. Let’s clean up the game.
It is not win or lose, but how you play the game. I hope people boo Italy from the start to the finish.
I applaud the English soccer association’s stern judgment on Rooney’s behavior. He is banned for two games.
Italy should do similar thing but it won’t. This shows that the English and the Italians are different peoples.
The above study didn’t include the third place match between Portugal and Germany. After seeing that game, I’m sure if the study was done after the game, Portugal would have lead all teams faking dives, right there a top with Italy. In that game..my god.. Portugal and their dives.. that was so bad. One replay showed Rinoldo diving just outside the penalty box. The German player stuck his leg out, but he was nowhere near touching Rinoldo. That wasn’t the only dive that stuck out, there were just too many numerous dives - mostly by the Portugese. I was cheering for Portugal before the game, but I ended up cheering against them. Thankfully, the Japanese ref did an excellent job and did not fall for all the nonsense that Portugal tried. They probably thought that they could fool and intimidate an Asian ref from a non-European country.
Great analysis. Quick editor’s note: it’s not Jean-Jacques le Pen, but Jean-Marie le Pen. No the matter the name, he’s still a racist asshole.
Jusqu’au bout, les Bleus!
Kevin
“No the matter the name”
Piss, fuck, diddle. Hate the smell o’ me brain farts.
Kevin
i stand corrected. goddamn french names
jean-jacques, jean-marie, billie jean king, nom de plume, fruit of the loom… it’s madness, i tell you, madness, to keep up with a name like that…
Right now, Portugal is winning the “Most Entertaining Team” vote over at fifaworldcup.com. (Korea won in 2002.) I guess all the diving and histrionics might end up winning them something, afterall.
Sigh…
Well it’s done. Now just 4 more years to wait until we can do it again!
By the way, I am glad Italy won…just because it pisses so many people off.
On the flipside, what the hell was Zidane thinking!??!
Well in one neanderthal act of unbelievable stupidity, Zidane ensured that his name will not be remembered in a list of greats like Pele, Dimaggio, Gretzky, Sugar Ray Robinson, and Jim Thorpe. No, he has relegated himself to the list of juvenile losers like Mike Tyson, Dennis Rodman, Ty Cobb, Tie Domi, and Pete Rose. What a dork! What a freakin fanouk! I hope he has a headache. That was the weirdest thing I’ve seen in a football match in a while.
And a boring game to boot. Fairly clean until Zidane crapped his pants, but not overwhelmingly so. Azzuri D was definitely the key to this win and it was fairly obvious from the beginning they were holding out for a long ball, quick run type goal. Buffon, Pirlo and Cannavaro were in top form again, though I think the edge will go to Buffon for the Golden Ball Award. Meanwhile it never should have made it to extra time. Malouda should be forced to share a closet with Greg Louganis after that picture-perfect half-pike into the dirt (9.5). Other than Italy winning, ironically by being the more classy team (is that possible?), that was overall a disappointing match. American Football anyone??
i thought it was a great match. Quite exciting. How can a match be boring when either side has a chance to end it all with one more score? And, yes, I saw the whole thing.
Good game. Entertaining as well.
Grosso is a star. Zidane loses cool at the end of match.
Too bad for Koreans. If the French had won, Koreans could have said, “We tied with the champion (=We are as good as the Champion)”.
Controversial but entertaining World Cup. I hope African teams bring more fire into the World cup next time.
Whatever bit Zizou in the arse, we’ll prolly never know. What could Materazzi tell him that would make him snap like that? He had also head-butted – albeit very lightly, more a taunt – during the game against…? was it Switzerland? Anyway, not the best show for a player usually better known for fair play and greatness. Thank God he didn’t head-butt Materazzi in the face…
Before that, the French team was the better – the second half was basically spent in the Italian half, but they didn’t break. Which is what counts, as much as it eats me… Well, both teams will meet in September for the qualifying rounds of the Euro 2008.
And now, let’s prepare for a *real* World Cup: Rugby, in 2007 and in France!
dissidentdave, out of deference to you i’m not using any caps. but, i am curious as to your praise for zidane. how would you rate van basten to zidane as both came after maradona, though there was some overlap with diego and marco. granted they played different positions and had different strengths but 270 goals in only 10 years with 24 in international play would seem enough to overshadow zidane’s 123 goals with 30 in international play over 18 years. and, van basten was mr. clutch if ever there was one. anyhoo, just a thought.
mrchips, thanks for your deferential use of all lower case letters.
i suppose that we each have our version of what makes a player so great. while it is true that “marco goalo” was a supremely gifted scorer, and he did define clutch, it is my feeling that merely being a scorer does not a player of his generation make. if that were the case, ruud van nistelrooij would be one of the greatest players ever.
the reason i hold zidane in such high regard is how he was able to command his teammates and make them better, much as michael jordan was able to do when he played in the NBA. zidane could control a match without having to score because he so often had the presence of mind to put his teammates in position to score. he was a leader and, often, as went zizou, so went france.
i had a discussion recently with a roundtable of friends about what makes a player great and in a class separate from other players–as a great player for country or as a great player for club?
my assertion was simple: the two greatest players in history–pele and maradona–are more remembered by football fans for their exploits for country than they are for club performances. and that’s not to say they weren’t in a class by themselves while playing for club, it’s just that players are more recognised for what they do on the international stage than for what they do at club level. sure, maradona and pele were loved by the fans of the clubs for whom they respectively played, and they had dynamite careers, but very few, if any, of their club performances were on an international stage because that’s not the nature of club football.
admittedly, van basten had rotten luck with injuries, without which his goalscoring numbers would be even more phenomenal and which perhaps also contributes to his not being recognised more readily as a once-in-a-generation type of player.
in the end, such proclamations, aside from ones made about pele or maradona, are usually subjective and mine about zizou certainly are. i guess it might also boil down to this: who, from the last decade and a half, would i want to start a team with? my answer would be zizou, without question. your answer might be different–and ten others commenting here might each have ten different answers, as well. such is the nature of sports…