Official World Cup Spoiler Thread

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 6:13 pm

Congrats to Italy for playing some amazing defense throughout the whole tournament. I thought they played with passion and deserved the trophy.

Back to the PK issue:

While it's a shame that it had to end that way, I don't really think it's as horrible as some make it out to be. Tonnes of drama and immense pressue on the players to perform.

I would think that the Henry sub and Zidane's ejection both helped Italy win the PK's. Both acts were mistakes made by the French team and should be considered when analyzing the PK situation.

Still, there's a better way to end the game- I just don't know what it is.

Programmed2Kill · Post by **Programmed2Kill** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 6:14 pm

XXXIV wrote:
Programmed2Kill wrote:
XXXIV wrote: Ever been head butted?...its alot more powerful than a fist...or is the word damaging?

IT DON'T TAKE YOUR LEGS OUT! lmao!
really?

Did you see the .gif I posted? If Zidane huffed and puffed and ran a few feet into Materazzi, then I can see your point. But that didn't happen. Matterazzi went down with his arm going out automatically. He knew what he was doing. Taking his own legs out made the flop beautiful

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 6:16 pm

Programmed2Kill wrote: 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.......

We have the same talk show assholes here in Chicago...closed minded clueless twits...They actually think their own ignorance is funny...

Must be nice to be born stupid...afterall...no brain no pain.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 6:17 pm

pigpen81 wrote:
Bill_Abner wrote:
ScoopBrady wrote:ITALIA ITALIA ITALIA ITALIA

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.

Yeah Bill, I'm not mad. I put that line in a new paragraph because it wasn't directed towards you. It was more directed towards people who say things like "That's why I don't watch soccer." It's that type of mentality that makes American soccer fans feel like they have to defend their sport. You can't listen to a sports radio broadcast, at least here in Chicago, where they give the scores of the World Cup matches without tagging it with something along the lines of "Italy beat France in the World Cup Final today 1-1 on penalty kicks ... if anybody cares."

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 6:18 pm

Programmed2Kill wrote: Matterazzi went down with his arm going out automatically. He knew what he was doing. Taking his own legs out made the flop beautiful

Smiles....well...Ill leave it this way...he was hit 100,000 times harder than the French player that was awarded a penalty and didnt fly half as far...

Programmed2Kill · Post by **Programmed2Kill** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 6:34 pm

Watching this World Cup was an acting lesson.

Next time I go outside and a mosquito touches me, I'm going to flop, holding my leg.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 6:42 pm

Programmed2Kill wrote:Watching this World Cup was an acting lesson.

Next time I go outside and a mosquito touches me, I'm going to flop, holding my leg.

The acting was pathetic yes...but your gif says Red every time.

billharris44 · Post by **billharris44** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 7:05 pm

That wasn't a love tap. He drew his head back and drove it hard into his chest. It was vicious. Try just tapping your chest with your fist--high up on the chest, just below the throat, it hurts with even a minimal amount of force. Skull on chest would be pretty damn painful.

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 7:43 pm

We still don't know what, if anything, precipitated Zidane butting the guy in the chest with his head. But if you recall a little earlier in extra time Zidane hurt his shoulder when one of the Italian defenders went high into his back. It looked at the time like Zidane was in quite a bit of pain - I remember his reaction when he was getting the anesthetic spray on the sideline and immediately after he ran back on.

Now I can't quite recall but I think it might have been his right shoulder. Just before Zidane and and Materazzi exchanged words, which was right before Zidane turned and butted him in the chest, Materazzi had his arm around Zidane's right side - I wonder if he might have deliberately pressed on his shoulder and that is what led to the flareup?

Best wishes,

Doug

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 7:46 pm

dougb wrote: I wonder if he might have deliberately pressed on his shoulder and that is what led to the flareup?

Best wishes,

Doug

Maybe but this still doesnt explain the same type action in 98 vs a Saudi that was red carded or the same type vs Spain that was missed...

He has a history...its there...

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 8:20 pm

Overall good WC, but I did get sick of the flopping by the end.

Does flopping like this happen all the time in the English leagues and other leagues? and is scoring this low too in those leagues?

That's enough soccer for me until 2010 WC.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 8:36 pm

Inuyasha wrote:Overall good WC, but I did get sick of the flopping by the end.

Does flopping like this happen all the time in the English leagues and other leagues? and is scoring this low too in those leagues?

That's enough soccer for me until 2010 WC.

Less flopping, more scoring in the Premiership. That's why it's the most entertaining league in the world, IMO!

It's only fitting that the major talking point of this final was a red card on a play that may have been slightly simulated. Cards and dives/flops are my prevailing memory of WC 2006, unfortunately.

Can't wait for the third weekend in August when the Prem starts again.

Take care,
PK

Post by **Jared** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 8:47 pm

IIRC, the Saudi player that was stomped in 98 said something about Zidane's Algerian/North African ancestry, and that's what led to the stomp. My guess is something similar happened this time.

And a head butt like that can easily knock you off your feet (Materazzi was walking forward and on one leg when he got head-butted...he didn't really brace for the impact). Definitely no dive there.

Programmed2Kill · Post by **Programmed2Kill** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 9:30 pm

Jared wrote:
And a head butt like that can easily knock you off your feet (Materazzi was walking forward and on one leg when he got head-butted...he didn't really brace for the impact). Definitely no dive there.

Disagree. Materazzi was ready to fall out as soon as he saw Zidane lower his head. Especially since Materazzi was walking slowly. If Materazzi didn't flop down like he did, everyone from his teammates to the coaches would've gotten on him.

But that's not the point. The point is the act was sickening and Zizou deserved his red card.

Programmed2Kill · Post by **Programmed2Kill** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 9:56 pm

lol good stuff...

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:06 pm

oh my god...South Africa is going to be hell to get to

Way too tough to get to. Fly to London then South Africa or to Dubai then Johannsburg. Fun Fun. I want to go though!!!

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:13 pm

Programmed2Kill wrote:

lol good stuff...

Thats a dive ? All i can say if he had landed it on his nose were it should have been they would still be wiping blood of the camera.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:44 pm

I'm not saying it's a dive. I'm saying it was embellished a bit. Hell, I've seen guys get hit in the NHL when a player leaves his skates on a check and not go down like that. Materazzi went down harder than R.J. Umbarger against Buffalo in the first round of the NHL playoffs this year, and I thought Umbarger was nearly beheaded.

Plus it's not like Materazzi was stationary and Zidane had a running start. Zidane took two steps and didn't even plant both feet to launch into him -- only his left foot. I don't doubt that the man has a lot of power and that a shot to the solar plexus is effective, but Lee Harvey Oswald went down more slowly when Jack Ruby blasted a bullet into his abdomen.

Would the head butt have dropped Materazzi? Almost certainly. But swept his feet out from under him? Materazzi is 6-4, 181; Zidane is 6-1, 172. We're not talking about a giant nailing a little guy here.

Let's just say I'm a bit suspicious considering Italy's propensity to dive this entire tournament.

The head butt deserved an instant red, either way, though. No question.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:45 pm

It was a dirty head butt period. No excuses, no flopping, no diving. Zizou lost it.

It's ironic that Trezeguet missed his penalty shot, as he scored the "Golden Goal" back in the finals of Euro 2000 that left a scar in the Italian team.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 11:13 pm

Amazing how we all see what we want to see...self included...

I for on am sorry its over...Loved it will miss it ...I will be watching the premiership though...

Edit: I need a favorite team though...preferably one no one else here claims

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 11:17 pm

XXXIV wrote:Amazing how we all see what we want to see...self included...

I for on am sorry its over...Loved it will miss it ...I will be watching the premiership though...

Edit: I need a favorite team though...preferably one no one else here claims

Take Reading.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 11:18 pm

fsquid wrote:
XXXIV wrote:Amazing how we all see what we want to see...self included...

I for on am sorry its over...Loved it will miss it ...I will be watching the premiership though...

Edit: I need a favorite team though...preferably one no one else here claims
Take Reading.

Do they have pretty colors?

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 11:59 pm

Apparaently Zidane thinks stomping and head butting players is part of the game...yet another incident...

"Playing for Juventus five years ago, Zidane butted Jochen Kientz of Hamburger SV in a Champions League match, also earning himself a red card."

Picked the wrong time this time....

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 12:18 am

fsquid wrote:
XXXIV wrote:Amazing how we all see what we want to see...self included...

I for on am sorry its over...Loved it will miss it ...I will be watching the premiership though...

Edit: I need a favorite team though...preferably one no one else here claims
Take Reading.

Convey and Hannamann are both on that team IIRC!!! Both USA National Team Members!!!

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 12:54 am

In his 18 years as a Pro, Zidane was a Golden Boot winner three times, won championships with Real and Juventus, the Euro final, of course the WC in 98 but was also kicked out a total of 14 times during his career with "La carton Rouge", of which eleven of them were straight Red cards for direct aggresion to the opponent.

It'll be interesting to see what Materazzi said to him, and what Zizou will say but a sad way to retire nevertheless.