I don't think anyone is saying it wasn't a red card Manny.

Yeah...no point in defending him. I still think it wouldn't matter, and wondering what Materazzi said to him.

it was same french guys on the news saying the game was fixed.

I doubt it because it was too dramtic.

Germany has played far better than Italy throughout the WC.

From an attacking point of view yes. but the italians were better in defence, cannavaro i perticular. Him Gattuso Frings and Ballack in the same team would be unbeatable.

About the Zidane red card. From what I saw on the replays, he looked guilty, but sometimes we don't see everything that happens. I remember as a kid Lucius Allen of the Kansas City Kings cold cocked this guy and got suspended for a couple of games. They played the replay of the punch forever and everyone was criticizing him. However, I was at the game and what they never showed was the guy that he hit had grabbed his balls at least once. and punched him in the groin right before Allen cold cocked him. If there had been any justice the other guy would have been the one supsended and Allen would have been seen as the victim. I have no idea if that is what happened to Zidane, but I can't stand how the commentators went on about how vicious Zidane was, when it may have been more justified than it seemed on the replays.

However, Zidane probably was as guilty as he appeared, according to the wire reports I have read. It really ruined a good game for me. I hate penalty kicks anyways, so even if Zidane had not done that, it still would have been unsatisfying. Still, a very enjoyable World Cup overall.

Meh, stupid italians won. (no offense to any italians here)

Why, oh, why didn't Zidane's header score?! Apropos "header"... what an unglorious way to end one's glorious career. A pro should know better, no matter what that son of a bitch said to him. Oh, my...

It was a great game but shame we had to go to penalties. They should have let the game run as long as need be.

I would have rather have seen Germany vs France in the final.

there is no question that it was a red card at all. all i'm interested in knowing is what transpired. i'd feel sympathy for zidane if it was something really terrible but you head butt and you know what you're getting into. you wait till after the game : )

Reading back, I can't believe people were criticizing Materazzi for provoking Zidane. Trash talking is so common everywhere in sports, whether it's from fans or between players. This is not like the Artest situation where he actually got hit by a beer bottle. It's different from Fringes situation either. Zidane didn't get spit in the face or hit in the groin or something. Materazzi could talk any shit that he wanted, and Zidane should have never reacted that way, ever. And it's not his first time. I just didn't expect him to lose his cool like that again this late in his career in the biggest game. Personally, I really don't feel sympathy for him even if it's the most nasty thing ever said, except feel sorry that his glorious career has to end this way.

After some investigation I found this. Zidane is not only the god of football he is also the god o football justice. Why?' watch this

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... =materazzi

i don't get it...

DR.LEcter germany isa great team but the reason they lost to germany (watched the match twice) was simple. THe Italian defence shut downed Klose and Podelski. Ballack was able to things but the other two wern't able to do anything. Then, at the end Germany became to relaxed "yeah were going to win in the penalties" that they forgot to play proper defence and were not able to block the italian late attack. Germany played better in the Tournament however it was not enough in this match.

Congrats to BUFFON. WORLD CLASS, best goalie of the world cup. That save in the Germany game and from the header from Zidane in the finals are one of the reason they won. He almost broke the record of longest time without a goal scored on him.
Congrats to the Italian defence who played liked masters. They did slip but you would expect that after 2 hrs. They didn't stoped the french offence from getting close to net, however they stop them from getting a great shot. They are the reason Italy was able to get past Germany and able to survive France.

I think why people are so shocked is because Zidane of all people did it. He was hyped uped by the media, the king of football in this WC, so its like imagine the best player in your sport attacking somone in the final match. Even In Canadian hockey that would be a game misconduct, so don't even think about saying it was to harsh.

However this Final will be remebered for ages and the main thing we will remember is Zidanne's headbutt. I remeber Zidanes headers in 1998, and Ronaldo's first goal in 2002. Great WC and it has made the sport more popular here in Canada so its all good and VIVA ITALIA. I yelled that at the Italian fans.

But that game against Germany was the only good match Italy played throughout the Cup and the only bad that Germany played.

I'm just happy the final wasn't announced by the other ABC/ESPN announcer team (JB something?). He was so hyping up Zidane in every France match he did, saying millions of times that "this could be the last game for the great Zinedine Zidane" and repeating his full name every time. Drove me crazy. I mean, Zidane was truely wonderful in the elimination rounds, but you can't show such a bias toward one player.

Tens of Thousands of Italians party in uptown Toronto






Also French choach response to Zidane
"Zidane being sent off changed everything," France coach Raymond Domenech said. "Even in extra time, the Italian team was waiting for only one thing, and that was penalties."

"It's regrettable," Domenech said. "We regret it, he regrets it."

I wonder does anyone have that sad but amazing picture of Zidane walking down to the locker room with the Cup behind him. That is a classic shot. I wonder if there is a picture of that.


Plus enjoy WC final was as watched as many people as a hockey Playoff game. That that shows the power of football.


DR.lecter, Zidane's headbutt will become a classic memory. For sure, its already on metacafe!
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/177686/zi ... last_game/

great soccer clips

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/116635/ma ... brazilian/

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/144201/be ... alty_kick/

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/20570/now ... urve_ball/
I don't see how this is possibile

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/120936/booooooom/
WOW

Here's the official overall ranking:

01 Italy .......................... 17 Pts. ..... 12:2 Goals
02 Germany ................... 16 Pts. ..... 14:6 Goals
03 France ....................... 15 Pts. ....... 9:3 Goals
04 Portugal ..................... 13 Pts. ...... 7:5 Goals
05 Brazil ......................... 12 Pts. .... 10:2 Goals
06 Argentina ................... 11 Pts. .... 11:3 Goals
07 England ...................... 11 Pts. ...... 6:2 Goals
08 Spain .......................... 9 Pts. ...... 9:4 Goals
09 Switzerland .................. 8 Pts. ...... 4:0 Goals
10 Netherlands ................. 7 Pts. ...... 3:2 Goals
11 Ukraine ....................... 7 Pts. ...... 5:7 Goals
12 Ecuador ....................... 6 Pts. ...... 5:4 Goals
13 Ghana ......................... 6 Pts. ...... 4:6 Goals
14 Sweden ....................... 5 Pts. ...... 3:4 Goals
15 Mexico ......................... 4 Pts. ...... 5:5 Goals
16 Australia ...................... 4 Pts. ...... 5:6 Goals
17 South Korea ................. 4 Pts. ...... 3:4 Goals
18 Paraguay ..................... 3 Pts. ...... 2:2 Goals
19 Ivory Coast .................. 3 Pts. ...... 5:6 Goals
20 Czech Republic ............. 3 Pts. ...... 3:4 Goals
21 Poland ......................... 3 Pts. ...... 2:4 Goals
22 Croatia ........................ 2 Pts. ...... 2:3 Goals
23 Angola ........................ 2 Pts. ...... 1:2 Goals
24 Tunisia ......................... 1 Pt. ....... 3:6 Goals
25 USA ............................. 1 Pt. ....... 2:6 Goals
26 Iran ............................. 1 Pt. ....... 2:6 Goals
27 Trinidad & Tobago ......... 1 Pt. ....... 0:4 Goals
28 Japan ........................... 1 Pt. ....... 2:7 Goals
29 Saudi Arabia ................. 1 Pt. ....... 2:7 Goals
30 Togo ............................ 0 Pts. ..... 1:6 Goals
31 Costa Rica .................... 0 Pts. ..... 3:9 Goals
32 Serbia & Montenegro ..... 0 Pts. ..... 2:10 Goals

That's outrageous!!!! Zidane has been voted the best player of the tournament

A nice gesture...

I dont know what you have. After all that cheating cheap falling for red cards, penalties etc.. a true honest open gesture of emotions by Zidane.

and btw: Everyone knows what an asshole fouler Matarazzi is. I guess they were happy at the Fifa to see that he got finaly a true punishment.

Read a funny statistic today. Italy was the team with the most dives. The 37 topped even Portugal. A truly great champion!