metalorange said:

I know, it's sad isn't it? Let's hope for a real good final.....which almost never is the case.....
[Edited 7/6/06 10:56am]

Thursday, July 6, 2006

World Cup: France's cup runneth over
http://seattletimes.nwsou...cup06.html
By Jason La Canfora

The Washington Post

MUNICH — The accusations began flying almost from the opening kickoff. Liar. Cheat. Diver. Scoundrel. The French and the Portuguese players traded barbs throughout their World Cup semifinal on Wednesday night, alternately bemoaning and lauding the work of referee Jorge Larrionda, all the while contending that the opposition was embellishing contact and feigning fouls.

Players screamed at one another, both coaches rushed to the sideline to accuse the opposition of faking it, and those on the benches erupted at every perceived offense.

It was fitting, then, that some degree of controversy surrounded the outcome of the match — as it has so many times in this tournament. French star Zinedine Zidane converted a penalty kick after Thierry Henry drew a disputed foul to give France a 1-0 victory in front of 66,000 at Allianz Arena in Munich. France, 1998 World Cup champion, will meet three-time winner Italy on Sunday in Berlin.

Portugal gets host Germany in the third-place game on Saturday.

This contest lacked flavor, save for the bickering between the sides, and hopes for a duel between Zidane and his former Real Madrid teammate, Luis Figo, went unfulfilled, as neither was at his best.

Portugal, looking for its first title, went meekly, failing to score in 210 minutes of play over its past two games. The Portuguese players also engendered criticism from the international media for a perceived tendency to flop and flail, a central theme in its quarterfinal win over England (on penalties) and again Wednesday.

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who spends most of the match mere feet from the field, yelling constant instructions to his players as if trying to maneuver them with a joystick, became incensed early on when he believed Henry and Zidane went looking for calls.

France coach Raymond Domenech darted from his seat to get closer to Portugal midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo after he fell, making the universal, hands-forward gesture for diving. Scolari then directed his anger at Domenech as he inched toward the French sideline. After the game, Domenech dodged questions about the Portuguese and Scolari.

"I do not like to comment on the team of another coach," he said through an interpreter. "I don't like other coaches to make comments on my team, so I'm not going to do it."

Scolari, through a interpreter, said, "They made some absurd comments in relation to our country, saying words which can't be repeated here in the press conference."

Zidane and Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho nearly tussled after it appeared Zidane had fallen to the turf untouched. Ronaldo, at the center of several controversial decisions in this tournament and booed lustily whenever he touched the ball Wednesday night, drew the ire of French defender Willy Sagnol late in the half; Sagnol put a hand on the youngster's back while they rose to meet a cross in the penalty area, and Ronaldo looked for a call as Sagnol restrained himself from lashing out.

"That was a penalty, too," Scolari said. "That should be a penalty for us."

Portugal maintained Larrionda missed a hand ball in the first half as well — another surge of players and coaches came off the bench to reinforce the point — and its greatest indignation came after France was awarded a penalty kick in the 33rd minute. Henry glided inside the penalty area, and Carvalho swung his right leg at the ball and missed, falling awkwardly.

In replays, Carvalho seemed to clip Henry's shin with his left foot, and the forward tumbled down. Larrionda immediately pointed to the penalty spot.

Zidane, whom some had said should not start for France as Les Bleus struggled through the group stage, stepped up and coolly deposited the ball in the left corner. Goalkeeper Ricardo dove the right way, but still did not prevent the goal.

After the game, some media reported that Ronaldo was critical of the referee, but Scolari was not.

"I don't want to talk about referees," he said. "I believe that he's an excellent referee. He knows what he wants to do."

Even with midfield stalwart Deco back from a suspension, Portugal's attack was largely pushed to the perimeter for the second straight game and wound up testing erratic French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez only from long range. Ronaldo was Portugal's most assertive player, but the squad continued to employ a lone striker, Pauleta, and struggled to generate any attack.

Barthez, an expert at turning the mundane shot into an adventure, nearly gifted Portugal a goal in the 78th minute.

Ronaldo's free kick went straight to the keeper, yet somehow he got under the chest-high shot, "digging" it like a volleyball player. Figo sent the unexpected rebound over the crossbar. Shortly, his World Cup dream would be over; France's lived on.

"We were the dark horses," Scolari said, "the team nobody bet to be one of the four final teams. But I think we have done everything that we could have done. I'm very proud of my players."

wow... third place game is very good so far!! germany playing very well.... German 3-1 Portugal....

go germany!! teach those cheating portuguese a lesson.

germany wins third place!!

that was a good goal for portugal... good on figo... go out with at least a goal...

fantasyislander said:

Figo didn't score, he assisted. A beautiful assist though.....

abierman said:

i was watching the game numbnuts. figo crossed it over (beautifully) and gomes headed it into the net. i meant, figo did a wonderful job on that assist. sorry, i assumed people who had seen the game would know what i meant.

fantasyislander said:

'numbnuts'.....I wonder where that is coming from.....it's funny to see a midwest-girl using this word.

abierman said:

why is that funny? i've used that word my whole life!

And the final has begun!

France with a already! 1-0

Italy comesback! 1-1

1-1 Halftime.

this is a great game!! c'mon italy!!

he was not offside!! he was level with the defender!! it's so obvious on the replay... is that ref blind!?!?!

Still tied at 1-1 The excitement and atmosphere in the stadium is stellar. This is

Zidane's glory was near. Italy blocks it over the net.

wow!! after a month of wondering, watching (at times on the edge of my seat), to think that we are moments from the end of it... i'm almost sad..

OH MY GOD!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE ZIDANE DID THAT!!!


what a shame to let your anger get the best of you... and it gets him sent off the game. that was just dirty.

Zidane can now rest in soccer hell, as far as I'm concerned.

calldapplwondery83 said:

he let's that be the end of his international career... what an idiot. he may be a world class player, but that was classless.

POW BITCH!

ZIDANE: THE MAN HAS BALLS

GaryTheNoTrashCougar said:

-----

Its a shame he lost the place in his final game

Marco Materazzi performed the old defenders trick of twisting Zinedine,s nipple
just a few seconds before, but thats no excuse for that head-butt

CONGRATULATIONS TO ITALY

youngyosh said:

It's good in a way that Italy won, now my Boss' PA, who is Italian, will be on a high for weeks, my chance to move in

YEEEEAH ITALIA!

Congrats to Italy!!!

fucking italians...

SammiJ said:

That's what my brother said, although we ain't French I have a feeling my brother was for France on the basis they had more brothers on the team