Zidane wins Golden Ball

[wws]

Flea you and me would share a lot of the same view of this world cup. Ukraine/Australia and USA were fodder really so to deify anyone on the back of (less than convincing) performances (esp v USA and Australia) is typical of the rush to judge b0ll0cks that had people crowning Spain World Champs after one game. This isnt a wind up its cool headed examination of what actually happened rather than the myth that grows around ONE epic game (v Germany - a genuine great match between two teams playing brilliant football).

And it is a cast iron fact that France basically owned the ball after half time in the final and I agree strongly that Henry played very well - its hard to pick out one Italian player who played well in the final - and most didnt play at all after half time - they were practically dead on their feet.

One of the most disgusting things in the final was the two frees by Totti - he only touched the ball three times and two were frees he wasted by kicking it at the wall going for glory when a simple chip into the box yielded the goal as france back four just couldnt cope with the simple aerial ball. A selfish , useless player, Totti confirmed his rubbishness in this World Cup.


On Canavarro - unquestionably a great defender but not a great player in the pantheon of the games greats, we're talking a bar that has been raised higher than a few defensive tackles by a class defender, and he has to be measured against the poverty of three of the teams Italy faced in the World Cup - they struggled v two of those extremely modest opponents - USA and Australia and a third opponent Ukraine were very poor overall in my opinion (with the obvious exception of their skipper who was different class)

[Billsthoughts]

Couple of points....
Italy did have a much easier run to the final than France.
France totally outplayed them for the majority of the final
Italy only really impressed in the semi which seems to have coloured a few peoples views......

[Dodge]

Italy had Ghana and the Czechs in their group (and beat both convincingly). France had nobody in ther group and still finished 2nd. IMO Italy were the only team to perform throughout the tournament (bar the 2nd half v France) and deserved to win.

[nedder]

Couple of points....
Italy did have a much easier run to the final than France.
France totally outplayed them for the majority of the final
Italy only really impressed in the semi which seems to have coloured a few peoples views......

Cannavoro impressed in every game, no matter who was the opposition.
Italy's game is based on a solid defense and a hardworking midfield ( totti excluded). They were never going to win this world cup playing flamboyant football

[wws]

....and the first half, and the whole of extra time, and the australia game, and the usa game...


as i said a myth is born....

the same as 98 when zidane was banned for two games (for stamping on a saudi - who slagged his relgion no doubt) but was credited as 'winning the world cup' singlehandedly'


Maradona won a world cup on his own. Thats the bar.

[NeilMcD]

Italy won the world cup simple as that I dont think they care if France owned the ball in the final.

[Junior]

Match stats state Italy had 51% posession. I know this means nothing in the grand scheme of things, but it would suggest that France didn't have it all their own way. I would give the 1st half to ITaly, 2nd half to France and France probably shaded ET, but not much in it.

[Flea]

Match stats mean nothing, if anyone 'watched' the final would clearly say that France dominated everything from the second half onwards. Even in the first half, Italy only really threatened from set pieces. Cannavaro did not impress in the final(to the extent of putting him up with Beckenbauer and Moore) so maybe he should have got Golden Ball considering Kahn stuffed up the 2002 final. If Wiltord had to get the ball to Trez in the 2nd half of extra time (when down to ten) France would have been lauded. Italy won it, but it was by no means pretty. Delighted for Zambortta and Gattuso in particular though. Played great all tournament.