Comments on: France Fans: Where Were You a Year Ago Today?

By: Francois

Francois — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:25:37 +0000

No it didn’t. I would agree with you had costa rica won. I don’t really know many people who actually root for Germany to win. They are as dirty a team as they come. That is my opinion after watching them for so many years.

By: skillz

skillz — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 19:20:15 +0000

the first game between germany and costa rica destroyed the final game.

By: sandrahn

sandrahn — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 21:28:28 +0000

Francois, I liked your evenhanded, reasonable post.

I remember many things, several already listed.

I remember Cannavaro’s typically brutal tackle against Henry (and I do think it was deliberate, there’s a youtube video of it from a close-up angle that I’ve watched several times and it looks very deliberate — Henry was looking the other way) 5 minutes into the game. Right then and there I thought “ah, here we go, of course.” It was an opening signature for the Italian approach to the game — a reliance on brutal stuff from them (tho I know France got in some of theirs too).

I remember Zidane heroically staying on the pitch even tho he was injured, and had asked to be subbed. I remember seeing Henry, Vieira, Thuram, Ribery all leave the pitch, leaving only him.

I remember Henry’s intense hand gestures to himself after his incredible run.

I remember feeling incredibly frustrated at Domenech’s refusal to take a risk and change his approach to break down Italy — Lippi had done just that against Germany. I still say the 06 tournament was all about the managers and Lippi was by far the better one.

I remember thinking “well, this Italian victory matches the trend in this tournament’s final games: they were nearly all revenge matches.” Germany v. Italy, Brazil v. France, France v. Italy — and that for the first time in years, Italy finally beat France. Tho, it must be said, Italy still hasn’t beaten France in open play.

I too remember how the great, faultless Buffon was actually pretty poor during the penalty kicks and that Barthez was actually better in his dives for the ball.

And of course I remember zizou and how I–along with 3 of my friends–felt the tournament ended right there as he walked off the pitch. Nothing else mattered.

For me, the game ended right there. There was nothing after that. There was no victory — the 2006 wc ended with zizou walking off.

And skillz, it’s laughable for you to say that the 2006 wc was great except the final. The 2006 wc is considered by many fans and pundits to be mediocre, with only a few memorable games and individual performances. It wasn’t a very good tournament at all for those of us who’ve watched these things for years.

And azzuro, this is a discussion for France fans. You seem to be one of these obsesseive France haters who’s more motivated by your hatred of one team more than your love for your own.

By: Francois

Francois — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 02:36:52 +0000

Didn’t deserve to be there..that’s hilarious. It has nothing to do with deserving anything. You use your strengths and expoit your characteristics to overcome adversity. The team that does this best gets to the final..I’m tired of this deserving bullshit. Take Germany as an example every year they made it to the final they weren’t the best team in the tournament but they were able to use their strength (penalty kicks) and tactics to gain the advantage, they do it best. It’s not about who deserves it, it’s about who wants it more…There will always be bad officiating, it’s part of the drama. I always said if you can’t handle bad officiating you shouldn’t watch this sport or any sport for that matter.

By: skillz

skillz — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 23:16:37 +0000

I remember being so dissapointed with such a shitty final after such a good tournament. Honestly the final game was the worst of all the games last world cup. France barely made it out of their qualifying group and some how made it to the final. thanks to henry and his theatrics against spain. and no one wants italy to do well, unless you’re itailian. so that sucked too. two teams that didnt deserve to be there. and the only reason they were there was because of retarted officiating in games previous.

By: Laurie

Laurie — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 18:12:47 +0000

“Laurie, the tickets for France Ecosse are on now sell on ticketnet.”

I know!!! I still need to work out details, but I think I’m going!!

By: Francois

Francois — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 11:42:08 +0000

i remember it quite differently wushugene. Even though I’m a true France fan I’m not blind.
I remember Henry running into Carnavarro, it didn’t look like there was intent there at all.
I remember Malouda being awarded a penalty in the first half that shouldn’t have been and not being awarded a penalty in the second half (so we’re even). I remember Zidane almost missed that penalty (not gutsy, just stupid in my eyes) I remember we didn’t have many chances in the first half and we were lucky that Toni hit the post and that his goal was called offside in the beginning of the second half. I remember France really started playing in the second half and the best chances we had were the Ribery shot and the Zidane header. The Zidane headbutt I chose to forget because the whole thng is soooo played. Finally, I remember losing in a penalty shoot-out which I guess in a way evens things out because let us not forget that We beat Italy in the exact same way in 1998 (DiBiaggio hits the post and France wins) Stop being gay about it and accept that France just wasn’t meant to win this one. When I watch the game now I think it was well played and exciting with all the elements of a good final except that the outcome wasn’t in our favour. The italians exploited our weakneses and roughed us up a little, who cares, that’s part of the game, it’s football not ballet. I love les bleus but I don’t make stupid excuses for losing because that’s just childish. There is still alot of Talent on this team, let us look toward the Euros. Allez!

By: Jo

Jo — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 08:40:43 +0000

I was in Lille, for my godson’s baptism. I was so sad that was the same days, a little bit like you and your wedding, Laurie. I had to go home, in Lyon. My reckoning was done, I should arrive in Lyon 15 minutes before the beginning of the match… And because I’m “mister unluck”, the train had problems before departure… 1 hour late !!! I had to listen the beginning of the match with my walkman, hearing two words every 2 minutes because of the difficulties to get radio in such a speed train… I didn’t see the two goals (I’m still crying about that), just heard the first, for France. I told it to other passagers in the train !
And then, after (AT LAST) arriving in Lyon, I went to place Bellecour (bigger place in Lyon), to see the match with all lyonnais. I think we were 15 000. That was such an ambiance… until the point you know.
I remember felling like U, Laurie, when I see Zizou doing that to Evil-Materazzi. I was my self knock out !
I guess Zizou had an angel on his right shoulder, and a devil on the other one… But too much people in Arena Stadium this evening. The little voice of the angel wasn’t loud enough…
When Grosso shot the last goal, I went home. Alone. I didn’t speak to anybody during two hours, just thinking of what happenned, with the sadness of a kid which didn’t have the christmas present he was so hoping for…
Sad day in our life. But that’s football’s rule. We have to accept that.

No link with the subject : Laurie, the tickets for France Ecosse are on now sell on ticketnet

By: azzurro

azzurro — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 06:32:28 +0000

I remember that the sky over Berlin was “azzurro”

By: Inara

Inara — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 03:44:16 +0000

Didn't know where else to post this, but Materazzi is waiting to meet up with the EDF this September.