Golden Ball etc.

[sunshine]

Z Zindane is a great player and no one disputes that. What he did was sheer thuggery though(making Rooney's little kick to the groin look like child's play) and the media fallout has been so bad. First they blamed the Italian for egging him on--then so called lip readers said a racist/terrorist slur was used. Giving the impression that this mini terrorist act was justified. Not in my book--the guy went out a disgrace and as noted not the first time this big shot has lost his temper. What an A-hole. Couldn't stand his French team either.
It was FANTASTIC that the Italians prevailed. Why on earth central defender and captain Fabio Cannavaro didn't win the Golden Ball escapes me entirely. The guy is the greatest rock I have seen. His D was shutdown katie bar the door un believable. Italy allowed no goals during play--just an own goal and a penalty kick.
There is talk of stripping the thug of his award. lets hope so. Fabio deserves it.

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

for those who missed it, here's what Zidane did: link

the guys IS one of the best five players on the planet right now, however, even at the ripe old age of 36. it was an incredibly stupid move that may have been what prevented France from taking home the trophy. he's a truly great player, but what a dumbass.

here's a funny sketch on youtube that makes fun of him: youtube

 

[Charlie]

I really don't see the 'one of five best players'. He can't run. Can't defend. Has moderate passing skills. Very good on penalty kicks (though he almost missed one in final). Is now a liability (if he plays on) as a draw for penalties.

All reputation and fabrication. Largely due to his po' oppressed background and symbol of racial revenge.

One media drip said he was the player of his generation. God, what nonsense. Nothing but politics.

Italy won that game 2-0. Italy had at least three players better than Zizou. England has at least two. Brazil has at least four. The English Premier league has as least twenty. Ukraine has at least one.

"He's a great player but..." is really lame. Great players win on talent and drive. Zidane lost and is a loser. The best set piece player in the world is Beckham. Zidane is not even close. Not even remotely close.

Italy of 2006 is Celtic of 1969. Celtic having won the European Championship that year with an all Scottish team. No northern European team had won before then. No way Celtic should have won without foreign talent. No way Italy should have won without non-whites. (France holds the distinction of fielding the first Asian Indian player in a World Cup game. Just further proof France tried very hard to make a political statement so it's only fair Italy's victory is also made into a political statement.)

It is remotely possible FIFA will strip Italy of its championship. If the comments can be considered racial, then there are grounds. Frankly, I hope it happens. Then everyone can say '...Zidane is so great, and such a winner, and such a dear, and such a positive symbol for the children, and one of the five greatest human beings who ever lived...'

 

[white tornado]

It is remotely possible FIFA will strip Italy of its championship. If the comments can be considered racial, then there are grounds. Frankly, I hope it happens. Then everyone can say '...Zidane is so great, and such a winner, and such aZindane dear, and such a positive symbol for the children, and one of the five greatest human beings who ever lived...'

Why would you want that, I hope your being sarcastic.

Zindane played great if the incident did not happen and France won, the Golden ball would have been well deserved.

The Zindane headbutt has to be one of the weirdest incidents in sports history, what an Idiot.

 

[Charlie]

Something that is untrue ('they're just like us so any dissent from the zietgeist of globalism and egalitarianism is wrong and futile') must first be seen as absurd ('they're better than us and any shortcomings are solely the result of our evil and indifference') before it is dismissed. Zizou as the symbol of all that is good serves to sharpen the sense of farce. Chirac, that criminal, praising Zidane as the best of what soccer has to offer tends to make the point.

Cannavaro and the Italian defense shut out everyone. No goals during seven games of actual WC play. That's Koufax.

Zidane scoring a few lazy goals is little by comparison.

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

Charlie said: really don't see the 'one of five best players'. He can't run. Can't defend. Has moderate passing skills. Very good on penalty kicks (though he almost missed one in final). Is now a liability (if he plays on) as a draw for penalties.

hey man, you're entitled to your opinion, but you're crazy!

"moderate" passing skills? "almost missed"? come on...

Charlie wrote: Italy had at least three players better than Zizou. England has at least two. Brazil has at least four. The English Premier league has as least twenty. Ukraine has at least one.

sorry, man, but no way.

you are absolutely right about the Italian defense, though. they were phenomenal! but they were no better than the Swiss, who didn't allow a single goal in competition (becoming the first team in World Cup history to get knocked out after never having conceded a score). and i also felt Cannavaro should have won the Golden Ball.Edited by: Jimmy Chitwood