JRod wrote:France played the better game, Zidane ejection while not 100% to blame for the loss pissed off the soccer gods. The Italians won an ugly game, and for the most part played a very uninspired win.
Before Zidane's red card, I would have said that France deserved to win. After no team deserves to win a game like that.
France had Italy on their heels..they were dying and praying for penalties.
Zidane loses his mind and takes away 20 minutes of attack...then takes away there best PK taker...
pigpen81 wrote:
F*** what the US thinks....I am tired of hearning about it.
You line a PK up with a billion people watching.
To each their own. I personally hate to see a champ crowned like that. It would be like playing 5 quarters of football and then having the placekickers do a best of 5 to see who wins the Super Bowl. I just don't think it makes any sense. Ah well.
Again, line up a PK with that pressure after playing 120 minutes of football and it makes sense.
Sorry Bill, but your NFL analogy doesn't stack up IMO... mega breaks...timeouts....etc....a 60 minute game that takes at a minimum...180 minutes to play?
I never said it wasn't a pressure filled thing to have to do. Of course it's intense. I just hate the fact that you play all that time and then decide who wins based on something that is unlike what you were doing for the last 90+ minutes. I freely admit to being a casual soccer fan. I just think to end the tourney on that note is just plain weird.
What a great match. I was on the edge of my seat the entire game, that is until the penalty kicks. Talk about anti-climatic. What a pathetic way to decide the World Cup after all these exciting weeks of play. There has to be a better way to decide the game than this.
I don't think it was a great match, mediocre at best, both sides with a strong defense just kept playing "who's going to make the 1st mistake" game. A header by Zidane (not the maddening one) that was brillantly saved by Buffon in OT and a close free kick by Pirlo in the 2nd half are the only scoring chances that I can recall in 120 minutes of play. Yeah, and a couple of close headers from corner kicks in the 1st half.
I agree with most that this is not the way to decide a winner in a WC final. But until something is done, it stands.
Now, I'll wait for the final stats sometimes this week, but this WC maybe the lowest in goal scoring since 1990. Fifa will make some changes after this final, you can be assured of that.
Last edited by 10spro on Sun Jul 09, 2006 5:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
You know, I know this is next to impossible but maybe they should strap up the boots again in 7 days to determine the winner of the WC. Two days of WC final football would surely make everyone happy except the plays and the clubs. But the world would surely tune in again.
This was a great game up until Zidane lost his head and it went into PKs. Certainly Italy didn't outplay France today. France even looked dangerous down to 10 men. The PKs dimenished that effort from France.
sportdan30 wrote:What a great match. I was on the edge of my seat the entire game, that is until the penalty kicks. Talk about anti-climatic. What a pathetic way to decide the World Cup after all these exciting weeks of play. There has to be a better way to decide the game than this.
Imagine ending the Stanley Cup after 2 7-minute periods then a shoot out. Totally unacceptable. I liked everything about this event, hell, I wished they played every 2 years instead of 4, but the ending leaves me cold.
34:
Well it was low scoring but blame that on the insanity of the 4-5-1 formation. The only team that could play this was France and even then they needed to send Riberi and Zidane forward to get chances. What does that tell you about this stupid tactic. Call me crazy but with the failures of England, and others using this we will see another tactic dominate Euro in two years.
Here's my proposal...
For the 1st overtime period (30 minutes) you reset the subs meaning that both teams can have 3 more subs.
For each additional overtime period you allow any player that hasn't been red carded allowed to be subbed. You still get three subs but say if Henry was subbed in the 110 minute he can come back in for the 2nd overtime.
After the 1st overtime, golden goal is used merely to encourage attacking football. My thinking is if you don't like golden goal you should have tried to end the game either in regulation or the 1st overtime period.
JRod wrote:
For the 1st overtime period (30 minutes) you reset the subs meaning that both teams can have 3 more subs.
For each additional overtime period you allow any player that hasn't been red carded allowed to be subbed. You still get three subs but say if Henry was subbed in the 110 minute he can come back in for the 2nd overtime.
After the 1st overtime, golden goal is used merely to encourage attacking football. My thinking is if you don't like golden goal you should have tried to end the game either in regulation or the 1st overtime period.
I agree with the subbing...Lets get a true winner...God I do hate penalties...Italy is the champ but it has to feel at least a bit hollow.
4-5-1 is not at all insane, you just need to have the correct personnel to use it. Here's what you need
1. A striker who can hold the ball up (France - No, Italy - yes)
2. Speedy midfielders who can collect the ball from the strikers (France - no, Italy - possibly)
3. Wide midfielders who can collect the second ball, then deliver (France - half a one, Italy - no).
Zidane is too past it to do it often (but don't forget, he nearly scored in ET), Ribery isn't experienced enough and the no 7 didn't play too well. On the Italian side, Pirlo was poor and the substitutions left Iaquinta and Del Piero wide, which seemed to suit neither of them...Iaquinta was awful.
What cancelled out the 2 4-5-1s was the excellence of the holding midfielders on both sides, and the strong central defensive pairings.
As for it being stupid, 3 of the top 4 EPL teams use it, as do Barcelona most of the time (albeit usually modified to 4-2-3-1), so someone can obviously get it to work.
"The players come from all over the world, the money from deep underneath the Persian Gulf, but, as another, older City poster campaign put it, this is their city. They may now exist in the global spotlight, but they intend to keep it that way."
Here's another thought (not strictly WC related, but I think that starting another soccer thread might propel db's blood pressure into the stratosphere..)
The verdict in the Italian league match-fixing investigation is tomorrow...can anyone else smell a fix in the wind in the post WC euphoria ?
Here's what was asked for by the prosecutor
- Juventus relegated two divisions (to Serie C)
- Lazio, Fiorentina and AC Milan down one (to Serie B)
Here's what will happen tomorrow
- Juventus relegated one, appeal and win back place in Serie A on 'safety' grounds.
- rest let off with a fine.
Italian domestic football is as crooked as a boomerang.
"The players come from all over the world, the money from deep underneath the Persian Gulf, but, as another, older City poster campaign put it, this is their city. They may now exist in the global spotlight, but they intend to keep it that way."
Words can't explain how happy I am right now. It doesn't feel hollow at all 34. After all it's how they lost in 94.
French fans, I know all too well the pain of losing on penalties. I feel your pain at the same time mine is finally being alleviated.
Abner, I agree with Piggy. That was a bad analogy. You say they decide the game doing something they haven't been doing the entire game. Remind me how France scored their only goal today would you? Penalties are a part of the game and I'd rather see scheduled penalties decide the game rather than that horseshit penalty they awarded France at the beginning of the match.
The sport is what it is, if you don't like it don't watch it. As for me, I think it's one of the most beautiful sports in the world. Would you rather they flip a coin to decide the winner?
Last edited by ScoopBrady on Sun Jul 09, 2006 5:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I am a patient boy.
I wait, I wait, I wait, I wait.
My time is water down a drain.
The sport is what it is, if you don't like it don't watch it.
Well, I do like it and I did watch it. WTF do some of you guys get so mad at someone for not agreeing with you when it comes to every aspect of this sport? I enjoyed the match immensely until the ending.
I love football (American) but there are rules I don't like and I wish were changed. Doesn't mean I don't like the sport. Sheesh.
The sport is what it is, if you don't like it don't watch it.
Well, I do like it and I did watch it. WTF do some of you guys get so mad at someone for not agreeing with you when it comes to every aspect of this sport? I enjoyed the match immensely until the ending.
I love football (American) but there are rules I don't like and I wish were changed. Doesn't mean I don't like the sport. Sheesh.
you know whats really cool as a fan???...all the reactions, responses and thoughts.
Nice to see there are some really good fans in this country that really appreciate the sport...
I agree with you on penalties...crappy way to finish...
The sport is what it is, if you don't like it don't watch it.
Well, I do like it and I did watch it. WTF do some of you guys get so mad at someone for not agreeing with you when it comes to every aspect of this sport? I enjoyed the match immensely until the ending.
I love football (American) but there are rules I don't like and I wish were changed. Doesn't mean I don't like the sport. Sheesh.
Nobody is mad Bill... ....just disagreed with your opinion and your analogy of which you are entitled to...and many agree with.
The sport is what it is, if you don't like it don't watch it. As for me, I think it's one of the most beautiful sports in the world. Would you rather they flip a coin to decide the winner?
Don't tell that to people in Philly. There's a couple hosts on sportsradio here that will talk you down like you are an idiot because you like soccer. Some people, I swear.......
