World Cup final
France play Italy Sunday in the World Cup final.
Italy have shown a championship-type of run. They came in with a lot of negativity from their media in that they lost in the last World Cup to an underdog, South Korea, and a star player got redcarded before that for diving. The other thing was that there is a match-fixing scandal in the Italian league, which is their crown and joy that they regard as the best in the world. But they have been superb, winning three games by 2-0 scores (equal to about a 20-point win in basketball), one by 3-0, one by 1-0, and a tie in the US. In other words, scoring two goals a game, which is superb for the Italians (known for their opportunism and defense when they get the lead) and handily beating the opponents. Their eleven goals have been scored by ten different people! That's a record. Fullbacks, midfielders, attackers. Subs and starters. What is most impressive to me was their skillful passing against Germany, who they beat in the semifinals. Their skillful backheels and flicks and creative passing - and always going forward (!), such a beloved trait to a spectator of soccer - are delightful. Whether they will have the ability to do it again is to be seen.
France please the US public in their story of advancing to the finals. The US doesn't know the game as well as other nations. So it tends to seize on the stories that entertain the public. France beat the odds by topping a Spanish team on top of their game, then knocking off favorites Brazil, and then handling the "whining" boys of Portugal. Their inspirational captain, Zinedine Zidane, cuts an intriguing figure with his intense glare and bald head and consumate skill. A World Cup champion with France in 1998, an oft-decorated hero in the game worldwide, a skillful magician with the ball - always seeming to score the big goals in the big games, Zidane is a major fan favorite. In the last game, sweat running down his forehead but with experience-bestowed poise, he stood a mere couple of steps behind the ball at the penalty spot, went up to it confidently, and just tucked it by the goalkeeper to give France the only goal it would need in the match. These are the kind of goals that please the American public: simple, direct, a dual, a man in the circle rising up to deliver the victory.
France has six players remaining from their World Cup championship team of 1998, and they all have played in so many matches, both for country and for their club (regular) teams that they are well known in their movements to all soccer fans. They are true veterans in every sense of the word. Most have played for their country over a hundred times, a mark of a seasoned career.
France is an interesting team in that they are almost totally regimented in the positional makeup of their individual players. The defenders defend deep, the defensive midfielders only defend and stop the opponents' attacks, the attacking midfielders play the ball to create opportunities, and the forwards remain up the field. Rarely will you see such a segreation of duties; they are almost totally devoted in their singlemindedness. Most teams will have guys that show up in different roles, at least to some degree. France has some players that are so refined in their niches, that's one of the reasons that makes them so effective. You have Lilian Thuram and William Gallas, staunch performers for their club teams, that are rocks in defense. You won't see them take many shots. Then in the midfield Claude Makelele is in place to stop the offenses' attacks. Zidane is the one to whom most balls are played; he orchestrates the play, directing his players. He is an absolute master at "dead ball" situations resulting from either a foul or a ball over the endline, when the defense cannot be in your face contending the kick. He can bend it like Beckham, either to score or more usually to find the head or foot of a teammate. You have a funny pairing in midfield with Zidance and Franck Riberry. If Zidane epitomizes control, Riberry epitomizes youthful effort. He is 21, new to the national team, and plays with an effort that mitigates his small frame. He alone outside of Zidane seems willing to start an attack for the French team. The French forward Thierry Henry is a superb performer, a little bit like a Vince Carter in basketball. He scores goals often and typically has a flourish about his goals. They usually look very trademark.
The World Cup is full of exciting diversity of styles, starting out with 32 teams of vastly different inputs into the game. The final is generally an interesting matchup and is touched by a few moments of clarity where the winner rises to get the trophy.
Italy have shown a championship-type of run. They came in with a lot of negativity from their media in that they lost in the last World Cup to an underdog, South Korea, and a star player got redcarded before that for diving. The other thing was that there is a match-fixing scandal in the Italian league, which is their crown and joy that they regard as the best in the world. But they have been superb, winning three games by 2-0 scores (equal to about a 20-point win in basketball), one by 3-0, one by 1-0, and a tie in the US. In other words, scoring two goals a game, which is superb for the Italians (known for their opportunism and defense when they get the lead) and handily beating the opponents. Their eleven goals have been scored by ten different people! That's a record. Fullbacks, midfielders, attackers. Subs and starters. What is most impressive to me was their skillful passing against Germany, who they beat in the semifinals. Their skillful backheels and flicks and creative passing - and always going forward (!), such a beloved trait to a spectator of soccer - are delightful. Whether they will have the ability to do it again is to be seen.
France please the US public in their story of advancing to the finals. The US doesn't know the game as well as other nations. So it tends to seize on the stories that entertain the public. France beat the odds by topping a Spanish team on top of their game, then knocking off favorites Brazil, and then handling the "whining" boys of Portugal. Their inspirational captain, Zinedine Zidane, cuts an intriguing figure with his intense glare and bald head and consumate skill. A World Cup champion with France in 1998, an oft-decorated hero in the game worldwide, a skillful magician with the ball - always seeming to score the big goals in the big games, Zidane is a major fan favorite. In the last game, sweat running down his forehead but with experience-bestowed poise, he stood a mere couple of steps behind the ball at the penalty spot, went up to it confidently, and just tucked it by the goalkeeper to give France the only goal it would need in the match. These are the kind of goals that please the American public: simple, direct, a dual, a man in the circle rising up to deliver the victory.
France has six players remaining from their World Cup championship team of 1998, and they all have played in so many matches, both for country and for their club (regular) teams that they are well known in their movements to all soccer fans. They are true veterans in every sense of the word. Most have played for their country over a hundred times, a mark of a seasoned career.
France is an interesting team in that they are almost totally regimented in the positional makeup of their individual players. The defenders defend deep, the defensive midfielders only defend and stop the opponents' attacks, the attacking midfielders play the ball to create opportunities, and the forwards remain up the field. Rarely will you see such a segreation of duties; they are almost totally devoted in their singlemindedness. Most teams will have guys that show up in different roles, at least to some degree. France has some players that are so refined in their niches, that's one of the reasons that makes them so effective. You have Lilian Thuram and William Gallas, staunch performers for their club teams, that are rocks in defense. You won't see them take many shots. Then in the midfield Claude Makelele is in place to stop the offenses' attacks. Zidane is the one to whom most balls are played; he orchestrates the play, directing his players. He is an absolute master at "dead ball" situations resulting from either a foul or a ball over the endline, when the defense cannot be in your face contending the kick. He can bend it like Beckham, either to score or more usually to find the head or foot of a teammate. You have a funny pairing in midfield with Zidance and Franck Riberry. If Zidane epitomizes control, Riberry epitomizes youthful effort. He is 21, new to the national team, and plays with an effort that mitigates his small frame. He alone outside of Zidane seems willing to start an attack for the French team. The French forward Thierry Henry is a superb performer, a little bit like a Vince Carter in basketball. He scores goals often and typically has a flourish about his goals. They usually look very trademark.
The World Cup is full of exciting diversity of styles, starting out with 32 teams of vastly different inputs into the game. The final is generally an interesting matchup and is touched by a few moments of clarity where the winner rises to get the trophy.
posted by David at 11:49 AM
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