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Finale, Berlin

July 6th, 2006 | By: Chriso | 95 Comments »

It wasn’t the prettiest game but Les Bleus got the job done without any of the main players picking up a ban for the final, now they can really go for it and send Zidane out on the highest of highs.

The final has the makings of a great game if both teams come and play to their potential. I’d make Italy favourites, I was impressed with them after they beat Ghana in their opener and they were outstanding against Germany so France will need to get back to their quarterfinal form to have a chance.

The two have met four times in the World Cup before, Italy won in 1938 and 1978 and France knocked Italy out of the second round in 1986 and the quarterfinal in 1998. Add to that the final of Euro 2000 and Italy might have revenge high among their motivating factors.
They’ll be wearing their Azzurri blue as the home team in Berlin and France will be in their ‘lucky’ white strip so both team’s are peobably happy with that.

I guess one man who’s taking a lot of personal pleasure in France reaching the final is Raymond Domenech, who got a lot of criticism before the tournament, had to put up with stories about how the senior player’s picked the team and was given no chance of getting any success in this World Cup.
A lot more high profile, higher paid manager’s have got the early plane home but Domenech, who most of the world know’s little about, might turn out to be the biggest name in football management on Sunday night.

Tags: Group G

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 95 comments.

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By Vive La France | July 8th, 2006 at 2:36 pm

Italy has not beaten France in 28 years. Italy are seasoned chokers and will lose on Sunday. This French side could be the greatest team in history.

Posted from Canada

By shuai | July 8th, 2006 at 2:48 pm

Ic,

Impossible, you’re too biaised… Look at the game again.

For da PK, There is foul, no doubt. Your defender told it. It’s a fact. So what? Is he a lier?

Concerning diving, you deserved at least 5 yellows cards. Again, look at the video. 2 players Dove with no defender close to them…. shame! how can you open your mouth after that. unbelievable.
Ref was blind?? He just manage to give you a chance to finish the game with 11 players.

Even my portuguese friends watchin the game with me were shamed. Coz That’s not Portugal.

Last point, about portuguese living in france. We are talking about football. If I disagree with you that not means I don’t like portuguese…
Unfortunaltly, we can see on this worldcup blog a lot of racism, untolerance, hateness (hatred?)and antifrench!
That kind of man who can’t make the difference between football and real life. That kind of man who don’t PLAY football.

Posted from France

By Marcus | July 8th, 2006 at 3:51 pm

France got to the finals by getting Henry to dive…..HENRY is HORRIBLE PLAYER …

I’m sure France would have lost the semi-final had it not been for that penalty (which was not a penalty)…..Henry dived and France wins….

If france wins of Sunday it would mean Henry dived again…

BOO France …shame…shame….

Posted from Bermuda

By BERMUDA OUT! | July 8th, 2006 at 4:35 pm

Oh MARCUS!

So you go to every forum and post your same weak-ass little kid comment?

That really shows maturity.

Go cry to your mama you sissy ass girly.

France are in the finals!!! You hate that don’t you?

I thought so.

TOo bad…

Posted from United States

By Jenny | July 8th, 2006 at 6:54 pm

Hi everyone !

Nevermind what people say about the French team with bad faith… I just would like to say that I’m French and my origin is chinese.
And when I see in the street, in France, how much the french players make us happy and united, whatever our skin color, i’m just proud of them. Their path was not easy for them and they never give up ! Whatever it will happen in final, we’ll still be proud.

And I’d like to underline something… Zidane is not only a good player, he also has great qualities as an humain : high class, fair, generous and much humility.

Thanks Zizou for all the pleasure you give us.

( And sorry for my english.. lol )

Take care of you all !

Jenny

Posted from France

By Jonathan | July 8th, 2006 at 7:51 pm

It’s true there was some diving from France, but not nearly as much from Italy!

By Good Luck | July 8th, 2006 at 9:44 pm

Hey everyone. I am a big HOlland fan but my loyalty will be with the french on Sunday. I cheered you guys on in 2000 when you pulled off that amazing victory against Italy. Hopefully tomorrow it will not be as tight but I wish you the best. GOOOD LUCK.

P.S the Italians in my city have already planned a parade for tomorrow. Sounds like cocky to me.

Posted from Canada

By Good Luck | July 8th, 2006 at 10:40 pm

Hey Marcus.

The shame award goes to Portugal. IF in fact you beleive Henry dived then it was sweet sweet Karma.

Posted from Canada

By Jane | July 9th, 2006 at 9:20 am

Hi Guys, I am A England supporter but would like to wish you Good luck tonight (probably won’t need it) may the Best Team Win.

Stay safe, play well and be happy.

Posted from Japan

By micha | July 9th, 2006 at 9:46 am

I don’t see any reason for Italy being favoured tommorow, except the Buffon vs. Barthez situation. I mean Barthez is just awful and will single-handedly cost you the game.
Somebody needs to lock Domenech in a closet or something and start Coupet.
I believe France has better offence than Italy but Buffon and an 8 man defence will be tough to break, best chances will be on counter attack. I think France can win but are really handicaped by Barthez.

By Chelios | July 9th, 2006 at 10:27 am

I hope that France win today. France have so many good players Zidane, Thuram, Vieira, Gallas, Ribery…

France rulez

Posted from Finland

By Chelios | July 9th, 2006 at 10:27 am

I hope that France win today. France have so many good players Zidane, Thuram, Vieira, Gallas, Ribery…

France is the best.

Posted from Finland

By Francois | July 9th, 2006 at 4:28 pm

tascien,
1) Pls call Fifa and ask them to do the calculation for u. I said again so that u can understand : The swiss-korea match and the france-togo match was played on the same day and during the same time. There’s no way France knew that it was “going thru” no matter what the outcome of the other match results. I’m not gonna let u have an easy time and give u the answer straight away. Call Fifa and ask them to tell u the possibilities and outcomes.

2) Secondly i didnt intend to pick a dialogue with u. Yr’ one the one who started it. Keep yr opinion to yrself and on the blog. Dont single out ppl and u wont get this rebuttal.

Posted from Singapore

By James | July 9th, 2006 at 5:11 pm

im english but france is going to win this Zidane is still amazing no matter what people say he schooled the brazilians and they also got frank ribery whos still quite young and if he plays like he played against spain and brazil france has got this
ZIDANE IS GOD

Posted from Canada

By James | July 9th, 2006 at 5:16 pm

in that one match against portugal henry was caught no doubt it was a terrible tackle henry might have exagerated it a bit to get the refs attention but it deffinatly was a foul.

Portugese people can not complain about that the portugese team is the gayest team ever they dive all the time 9 out of 10 times when Ronaldo goes down and they show the replay in slowmo he doesnt even get touched fuk the portugese

Posted from Canada

By Zidane is a disgrace | July 10th, 2006 at 9:12 am

on the highest of highs? yes i think he was too high (on pot)

Posted from New Zealand

By IC | July 10th, 2006 at 2:04 pm

Shuai, yes , you was right I dont´n play football but i know what is wrong and not.
And I’m not racist, besides I have family in France. What I mean´t was that French fans in this blogue, do not private do criticize and push Portugal to the mud. Touch us.. and a person who likes your country, don´t like to read or ear this.The final game, teel me that french players didn´t divings, there is worse, the penalty that Zidane didn´t fail, was just!!
I´m not happy with the out of Zidane, wasn´t necessary to attack italian player. He deservs a big out of World Cup.
Congratulations for 2nd. place (it´s good too)

Posted from Portugal

By James | July 11th, 2006 at 8:56 pm

Even though Zidane hasnt said excatly what was said “2 reliable sourses” from some newzpaper said the whole game the italiens were trying to provoke him to doing stuff, since Zidane is Muslim people on the italian team were reported to calling him a “dirty terrorist” that is downright racism if i was zidane ide of lost my cool 2.

Doing in the finals in extra time made it worst he was the french captain and he let his team down.

Zidane was brought up in a poorer neighbourghood where there was a bit more violence as Thierry Henry said “You can take the man out of the rough neighborhood, but you can’t take the rough neighborhood out of the man”

Posted from Canada

By Dan | July 13th, 2006 at 4:07 am

U gotta check out this little movie of an italian soccer camp it’s pretty sweet lol

http://www.break.com/index/italian_football_training_program.html

Posted from Canada

By ITALIA RITA | July 13th, 2006 at 9:19 am

ZIDANE I WILL LET YOU DO ME ALL NIGHT………..
I’M SORRY GUYS BUT ZIDANE I LOVE YOU ALL NIGHT

Posted from United States

By Pallavi Barua | July 16th, 2006 at 11:38 am

Italian players have already broken the World Cup Trophy. Seems the Abstract Force called ‘God’ has given His Verdict.
More than the Champions, the Award for best fair play in World Cup 2006 (won by Brazil and Spain) is more prestigious. Italy might have won, but the Italian Team know in their heart of hearts that they don’t deserve the Golden Ball.

Posted from India

By Kruman | July 16th, 2006 at 12:12 pm

Football fields will cry with Zidane no more to bring grace and elegance to the sport
Football fields cried when foul words were the crowning glory of the champions

So reads the epitaph of the “Beautiful Game” which was laid to rest in Berlin on July 9th, 2006

Posted from United States

By Pallavi Barua | July 16th, 2006 at 9:19 pm

Kruman, thats very true !

By resorting to the trickery of Provocation, an undeserving soccer team from Italy won the WC Trophy. Sunday, July 9, 2006 will go down as the Black Day for World Cup Soccer.

Posted from India

By bob | September 9th, 2006 at 1:41 am

go france not ! i would rather berlin win

Posted from Australia

By bob | September 9th, 2006 at 1:43 am

hay its was a joke france is heps cool i am glad they one this game gggggggggoooooooooooooo FFFFFFFFFFRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCCCCCEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!! replay if you have a problem to: bobby@yahoo.com

Posted from Australia

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