Guardian and Observer Editorial
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4 The Guardian | Monday July 10 2006 World Cup final Italy v France C l o¨ g g e r My boys wanted it really strongly tonight Jon Brodkin Berlin said. “This is the most satisfying moment A sideways glance at the World Cup of my life. We are very happy. I dedicate the victory to my family. The players Amarillo Sven Marcello Lippi picked out his captain have unlimited heart, character and Fabio Cannavaro and goalkeeper Gianluigi personality.” Buffon for special praise as he rejoiced in Asked how he felt, the 58-year-old The world’s greatest gambler his team’s World Cup victory last night. replied: “The greatest satisfaction that any The Italy coach hailed those two as the coach or footballer can feel. I’ve had the Sometimes I lie awake at night, tournament’s outstanding players, which fortune to win the Champions League — a scratching my head. Sometimes I do many will agree with, and claimed Buffon kind of world title for clubs — and lots of this even when I don’t have nits. It unsettled his Juventus club-mate David Serie A titles but I’ve never felt anything happens when I am thinking very Trezeguet in the penalty shoot-out. like this.” deeply about serious subjects. Like, for The Two Ronnies Trezeguet hit the bar, the only one of the The success comes against the back- example, what we should do with nine takers to miss. drop of the match-fixing crisis that has Zinedine Zidane. If last night was his “This World Cup has given opportuni- gripped Italian domestic football. The final game, we need some creative Ronnienho ties to two people who have suffered,” Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso said thinking. We cannot be allowed to Unbelievable drama Ronnie, would Lippi said. “One is Cannavaro; he is the that the affair had played a significant part forget his magisterial talents, but you believe it? greatest defender in the world. He is just in the team’s performances. “If the equally he cannot get away with his Ronniealdo the best but Buffon comes close. Buffon scandal hadn’t happened I think we terrible behaviour without Well as I showed in 2002, great players did not make the save from the penalties wouldn’t have won the World Cup,” the punishment. A footballing suspension make their mark on great occasions but he influenced Trezeguet’s mistake.” midfielder said. “It has given us more means nothing if he is never to play Ronnienho Italy had a miserable record in World strength.” again anyway, so we must find another Are you referring to Zidane, Ronnie? Cup shoot-outs before this game. They Lippi paid tribute to Italy’s fans, saying kind of suspension for him. I suggest Ronniealdo had lost every one in which they had been their support had “filled us with hope and that he is suspended from the top of a I am. Zidane is like me in a great involved, including to France in the 1998 pride and joy at a time when we really very large Christmas tree, for he will number of ways, my friend quarter-final and to Brazil in the 1994 needed it” and to his players. “I don’t always be associated with great gifts, Ronnienho final, but their penalties were unerringly know if it was a penalty to France but and now also with a bit of needle. It’s But you are a striker and he plays in dispatched to claim this trophy. there was a wonderful reaction from my not logical, but I have an instinct. midfield “I have seen matches end up in penalty team,” he said. “We always hoped we Ronniealdo shoot-outs and the ones I have lost are the Straight after the match had finished could make it. We were dangerous all over I must admit that is true ones where the players didn’t want to and before the medals had been the pitch but we were playing against a Ronnienho shoot,” Lippi said. “My boys wanted it presented, Italy’s Mauro Camoranesi good team.” And he plays for France while you really strongly tonight and that’s why we was beckoned to the above chair to This was almost certainly the final act in come from distant Brazil scored all five.” have his hair cut. The Argentina-born Francesco Totti’s international career. The Ronniealdo This triumph adds to Lippi’s already midfielder, who had worn his hair Roma playmaker had a poor game and was I can’t deny that either impressive collection of honours. He has pinned up in a top knot throughout the taken off just after the hour but departs a Ronnienho won domestic and European trophies competition, was taken to the chair by winner. “He paid the price of 120 minutes So precisely how are you similar? with Juventus but described this as the Filippo Inzaghi where Massimo Oddo against Germany,” Lippi said. “That took Ronniealdo finest triumph of his career. and a pair of scissors were waiting for it’s toll. He had not recovered his Neither of us can resist a chip, and “I have to say thanks to the players,” he him Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters optimum form.” now we’re famous for our big butts Ronnienho On that note it’s boa noite de mim... David Pleat’s chalkboard Ronniealdo ...And it’s boa noite dele. Boa noite! HDTV What they see but you can’t French found their second gear too late The first act of this drama was an Player move with ball began to believe in themselves. It was as exaggerated dive from Florent Malouda Player move without ball though Raymond Domenech had which perhaps looked as if he got caught Ball movement/pass employed a half-time psychologist. in a sandwich but Marco Materazzi Alou Diarra coming on for Vieira did definitely showed an intention to pull not unduly handicap France as Italy his leg away at the last moment. The Makelele tried desperately to regain their rhythm. Italian was to become a central figure in Vieira The events that followed were some of the match. At that moment the luck was Gattuso Malouda the most tragic in football. A rush of with the “Wizard of Was” Zinédine Ribery blood, a mad moment maybe, but Pirlo Zidane who made a monkey out of Zidane Zambrotta Zidane’s was an act of lunacy. Gianluigi Buffon with his penalty and But France gathered, Makelele was Henry the eagle-eyed assistant was spot on splendid and William Gallas and Lilian that it crossed the line. Grosso Thuram were rocks at the back. Allez Les Zidane Powerful full-back play by Gianluca Cannavaro Bleus rang out around the stadium and Zambrotta and Fabio Grosso kept the Materazzi the 10 men never withered, with the initiative with Italy despite conceding crowd unaware of Zidane’s crime. the goal. With Claude Makelele and Fig A. After half-time France’s back players pushed David Trezeguet’s penalty miss was 15 yards further forward, their engine room closer to … Never mind scaring crows, he can still frighten Italians … Patrick Vieira a little too deep to affect Italy’s, which affected their passing. Zidane moved up unfortunate but eight of the nine Andreas Pirlo, Simone Perrotta and closer to Henry, with both facing towards play to pick penalties were easily dispatched — Gennaro Gattuso, the Italians were able up passes and turn to run at Italy’s defence were England watching? Both sets of to take clean possession off their own tired players were under the utmost Match of the day What Graeme back four. France needed Zidane to have pressure but stayed focused to shoot World Cup dating would have said the ball more but, with Gattuso on his forward as they lost their rhythm in fast and true. shoulder, he did not seek nor command midfield when France pushed tighter No one who saw France v Switzerland play. Strangely Francesco Totti was once against them. Zidane and Thierry Henry early on and Italy v USA could have Aidy Boothroyd ªI know exactly how again a peripheral figure with Makelele came off their markers to receive the ball imagined a final between these two Watford as his warder. and turned to run at the defence (Fig A). nations but they steadily improved as Zambrotta and Grosso continued their France changed gear and Zidane got the tournament progressed. Florent Malouda Italy are feeling this surges of the other evening because hold of the ball; Italy responded by Unfortunately they did not give us the France morning, because I was France gave the Italian midfield too making changes and their confidence great final we prayed for but it was Manager of relegation favourites once involved in a much respect. But in the second half floundered. The less impressive French dramatic and became a battle of wills WLTM footballer who can lead the Italy could not get their full-backs left side of Eric Abidal and Malouda and fitness. team with his natural ability to roll penalty shoot-out over under little or no pressure. History of rising from pre-tournament victory over Ipswich in then, but had evidently conducted a eree was reluctant to grant a second for an pessimism to reach unexpected the League Cupº Italy strike gold measured examination of the France back offence on the same player. heights a bonus, but from there must four beforehand. The changes of personnel made by a have shown great skill at going down How Le Saux might have prefaced as Zidane sees red Materazzi equalised by overpowering perturbed Lippi were nearly followed by without much of a fight.