The Official Italy WC Thread (4 Viewers)

[Lilith]

why couldn't zidane be given a yellow in the semis like nedved in cl 2003 ?

Because to be the best you have to beat the best.

 

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[Lilith]

One word: dumbass.

Errr could you be more specific?

 

[swag]

Errr could you be more specific?

Errr...

"dumb", as in lacking intelligence or critical thought
+
"ass", as in speaking out of the wrong end of your gastro-intestinal tract

Where would it end with Moggi? Does the Italian team get relegated to World Cup B? If God forbid, Italy loses, do they still have to give up their second place status in this WC and get ranked somewhere below Serbia & Montenegro? Banned from the next WC?

Are Italian Olympic medals subject to stripping? Under-21 achievements? Does Sheva have to give back his Ballon D'Or?

Anybody in sane mind who thinks that the Italian club scandal equally implicates the management of the national team obviously cannot tell their left foot from their right. As they say, "it's a whole other league".

 

[Lilith]

That's what I meant, could you be more specific about who was wrong, me or him. Clearly it was know-it-all, him.

 

[Stephan]

.....

 

[Byrone]

What a fantastic game,Italy fullt deserved this WC & Lippi is a football God!

 

[JCK]

I am mostly happy for Lippi because he is the man.

I am happy for Cannavaro because he was the best player in the tournament.

I am happy for Del Piero for having an impact on lifting the cup.

I am happy for Zambrotta for his extreme class.

On another note, I am happy that France cannot win with Zidane absent.

 

[Byrone]

I am mostly happy for Lippi because he is the man.

I am happy for Cannavaro because he was the best player in the tournament.

I am happy for Del Piero for having an impact on lifting the cup.

I am happy for Zambrotta for his extreme class.

On another note, I am happy that France cannot win with Zidane absent.

Question Jack,will the French football federation come to the realisation that Domenech is a fraud & reasons like an 8yr old playing FM & fire him?

 

[JCK]

Question Jack,will the French football federation come to the realisation that Domenech is a fraud & reasons like an 8yr old playing FM & fire him?

I have no idea but someone out there must realize that Domenech did as much as Totti did in the whole tournament.

 

[Lilith]

Beautiful pic!

 

[ZhiXin]

Strange that Lippi let De Rossi and Grosso took penalties instead of Toni and Iaquinta

 

[Byrone]

What a way to celebrate ur 100th appearance for ur country!
I thought that Cannavaro should have taken the last penalty,it would have been a fitting sending off for Canna.

 

[Sadomin]

Zidane aimed too high.

 

[Hennes]

What a way to celebrate ur 100th appearance for ur country!
I thought that Cannavaro should have taken the last penalty,it would have been a fitting sending off for Canna.

Not the best idea, maybe...He hasn't shot a penalty since he missed one when he was....8 years old! True story...

 

[Stephan]

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[Badass J Elkann]

I have no idea but someone out there must realize that Domenech did as much as Totti did in the whole tournament.

i heard that the french did their own team talks at the break and that domenech just stood aside.

 

[Byrone]

i heard that the french did their own team talks at the break and that domenech just stood aside.

That wouldnt suprise me,the guy has no spine & rode on Zizou's form.

 

[Stephan]

Canna: We've been waiting for this Sunday 9 July, 2006

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Azzurri captain Fabio Cannavaro held the World Cup trophy aloft and admits it was a victory that Italy had wanted for many years.

“It’s a fantastic feeling. My son asked to sleep in my bed last night, but I told him he could share it with me and the trophy soon,” said the veteran. “Italy have wanted this for a long time and, coming after everything that has happened in the past few months, it was really needed.”


The Final with France ended 1-1 after extra time, but Italy shook off their penalty curse to maintain a 100 per cent record in the shoot-out.


“We struggled again today and went to penalties, which have been a taboo for us, so it was doubly emotional to win like this. I was the only one remaining from Rotterdam and it entered my mind, but it all went well.”


The Azzurri had previously lost all three previous shoot-outs in the World Cup and hadn’t beaten France since 1978.


“I was a little worried, but I had faith in my teammates. They all had a great desire to win and cool heads. Thankfully David Trezeguet’s miss made the difference.”


Cannavaro also praised Coach Marcello Lippi and the teamwork that took them to their fourth World Cup title.


“From the opening games you could see a balanced side that wanted to make its mark. We have a Coach who led us on the right path and the more we went on, the more we realised how strong we were and could still be.”


Cannavaro was arguably the Player of the Tournament after a faultless performance with the captain’s armband, especially as he played alongside three difference central defenders.


“I am happy, as it was important to do well in this tournament and I tried to give my teammates a calming influence in the many difficult moments. I recovered from a serious tibia injury a few years ago and to play seven games at this level is obviously reassuring. Now we can all celebrate this great achievement.”

 

[Stephan]

Lippi always believed in Italy Sunday 9 July, 2006

Marcello Lippi admits France played well in the Final, but that Italy deserved to be crowned World Champions.

“It’s true that France had a little more quality than us and impressed more once the tempo dropped, but life is swings and roundabouts. They won Euro 2000 against us without deserving it and this was the correct conclusion to our tournament,” said the Coach.


“I have been world champion at club level with Juventus, but this is a feeling beyond anything I’ve had before.”


The game ended 1-1 with Zinedine Zidane’s penalty and a Marco Materazzi header before the Azzurri won out on the shoot-out.


“The decisive moment to raise our belief of going forward and taking this chance was when we realised that topping Group E would set up some less difficult knockout rounds. Confidence grows with each passing win and that victory against hosts Germany in front of 60,000 fans was another crucial turning point. We always said that if we reached the semi-finals, then anything could happen.”


Zidane had given France the lead, but Italy became only the second side to come back from a goal down to win the World Cup Final after West Germany saw off Holland – also following an early penalty – in 1974.


“I don’t know if it was a penalty or not, but we had the character to get back into it with Marco Materazzi’s goal. I admit France grew in the second half, but luck has been both for and against us in this competition. Due to injuries and suspensions, we could only rotate the squad in certain areas and our legs gave way at the end.”


“We were nonetheless dangerous throughout the Final, especially from set-pieces, and were facing some extremely strong opponents of great quality. We legitimised our victory by taking the penalty shoot-out with cool heads. It’s not easy to convert all of them, but life sets up these gifts sometimes to people who have suffered in recent times. Fabio Cannavaro has had problems, but has been crowned as the best defender in the world, and I expected Gigi Buffon to overcome his issues to make the saves in the shoot-out. As it turns out, his presence was enough to put David Trezeguet off.”


This is not an entirely new experience for Lippi, who oversaw different penalty shoot-outs in his years at Juventus for the Champions League Final.


“I’ve finished a few games on shoot-outs. In Rome against Ajax with Juventus, I turned round and everyone was asking to take one. In Manchester against Milan, I turned round and they all suddenly disappeared. You have to want to take these things and it’s not really as much of a lottery as people think.”


This showdown was painted as the match between Zidane and his Juventus mentor Lippi, but the Frenchman disgraced his final appearance with a red card for head-butting Materazzi.


“I’m certainly sorry Zidane ended his career that way, as he knows I am a great admirer of his. If this is the end, and I hope it’s not, then it’s a shame. I can assure you that it was the fourth and fifth official who called the attention of the referee, not Materazzi and not us. Tomorrow the fans who were in the stadium will see the footage and realise what happened.”


“When you’re facing such strong opponents, of course there’s always the fear they’d come up with a moment of class to win it. On the other hand, we had exactly the same hope that we would create something out of nothing, so I believed.”


Lippi has made some brave substitutions throughout the competition and removed Francesco Totti from the field.


“Totti paid for the 120 minutes he played against Germany and is still not 100 per cent fit. We were struggling, so we needed fresh legs.”


Lippi has been fractious with the Press in the lead-up to this World Cup, but won the respect of the players and revealed his pre-match preparations.


“I did what I’ve done in 30 years of my career. On the day of the match I get up early and go for a walk by myself to be alone with my thoughts. When you work on the field and prepare a game in its detail, everyone needs to charge themselves up in the final hours their own way.”


The celebrations in the streets of the peninsula are set to go on throughout the night. “The fans are thanking us for giving them this great emotion, but we thank them for bringing this enthusiasm that filled us with pride and confidence. They were there when we really needed that support.”


However, Lippi continued to refuse to answer questions on his future on the Azzurri bench and the Calciopoli scandal. “Let us enjoy this celebration. It won’t be difficult to return home. Why would it be? We are World Champions, the only difficulties will be with the other nations who’ll have to try and beat us.”

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[ZhiXin]

Cannavaro is one of the most flawless players in the tournament, helping the heart of the Italian defence and making crucial tackles at times. A great player that demonstrates his class and leadership on the pitch. Very realiable as a centre back, and what a way to earn your 100th cap for Italy. Definitely deserve to win the Player of the Tournament Award.