FIFA World Cup 2006!!

Only 40 days to the start of the new English Premiership season.

It looks a foregone conclusion if the bookmakers are to be believed:

1/2   Chelsea
9/2   Man Utd
5/1   Liverpool
11/2 Arsenal
50/1 Spurs
150/1 Newcastle
200/1 Bolton

Italy played the more attractive football en route to the final than France - France ground out 1-0 wins over Brazil and Portugal and might have done the same in the final.

No matter what was said to Zidane it does NOT excuse his actions. Players put up with physical abuse and verbal abuse is designed to upset those who allow themselves to be upset. Professionals should set examples and be above actions such as those displayed by Zidane - and giving him the player of the tournament award was a serious mistake in retrospect.

I like Zidane and have long admired him as a player. Unfortunately he blemished his career with 11 minutes left to play. What a tragedy.    

may sound absurd: but: zidane was fine, also with his headbutt... that was a right message also to fifa etc

horza wrote: Italy played the more attractive football en route to the final than France - France ground out 1-0 wins over Brazil and Portugal and might have done the same in the final. No matter what was said to Zidane it does NOT excuse his actions. Players put up with physical abuse and verbal abuse is designed to upset those who allow themselves to be upset. Professionals should set examples and be above actions such as those displayed by Zidane - and giving him the player of the tournament award was a serious mistake in retrospect. I like Zidane and have long admired him as a player. Unfortunately he blemished his career with 11 minutes left to play. What a tragedy.

ANDREW wrote: Italy deserved it, no contest!!!!!!

One day and Zidane is getting quite a lot of parodies:

http://francefighter.ytmnd.com (I think it works on firefox)

Pretty funny with the Street Fighter reference and quite well done, yet sad at the same time.

It's sad that such a legendary player used violence just before his retirement. Everyone will remember him as the guy who headbutted an Italian.

Zitro wrote: Everyone will remember him as the guy who headbutted an Italian.

Rockin' Chair wrote: Fede wrote: ANDREW wrote: Italy deserved it, no contest!!!!!!   eeeeeeeeeeemmmmm......... I don't think so [IMG]height=17 alt=Sleepy src="http://www.progarchives.com/forum/smileys/smiley12.gif" width=17 align=absMiddle>   NO    and do you think Zidane deserved the FIFA Golden Ball, after his headbutt?   If he deserved it,... ...Italy deserved the World Cup.

I think he did, as Italy deserved it
    

erik neuteboom wrote: I just read that in Brazil some lip-readers told in the programm Globo that Matarazi has insulted Zidane his sister by calling her a whore.. I don't know or this is true but Zidane will tell within a few days what made him reacting so badly, he already revealed that it were very mean words...