2006 HWCI World Cup
Pool Update |
|
2006 HWCI World Cup
Pool Update |
![[Welcome back NASA! Incredible video from right Space Shuttle booster on 7/4/06]](images/NASA_STS121.jpg)
Sunday, July 9, 2006 Issue # 18.5.3 "Revenge of the Azzurri" [ Home | Standings | Results ]
TORRANCE / CERRITOS, CA (smt) -- Having lost all three WC matches in the penalty kick shootout (PSO), you would think 1E-Italy (5-0-2) would do as they did v GER and try to score in overtime. But ITA held on to the 1-1 tie against 2G-France (4-0-3) forcing PKs. ITA then converted all five while FRA's David TREZEGUET hit the crossbar on FRA's second kick giving the Italians a 5-3 win in PKs. Fabio GROSSO sent the game-winning kick past the GK and the celebrations began. The last two encounters have gone FRA's way with FRA defeating ITA in PKs in WC '98 and via the Golden Goal in Euro 2000.
FRA controlled most of the match and had most of the offensive opportunities, but ITA picked and chose when to move forward resulting in their tying goal and nearly the game-winner (called back due to offsides). Zinedine ZIDANE did not disappear in his last international match but instead created several moments, most of the bad. He had the PK goal in the 7th minute when he chipped the GK hitting the crossbar with the ball fell down in the goal before coming out. Then a shoulder injury nearly took him out of the game late in regulation. In the overtime, Zizou's hard header was just saved preventing a storybook ending. Then the storybook ending turned into a nightmare.
In the middle of the second OT, ZZ and ITA goon Marco MATERAZZI (who had an eventful day as well by taking down a FRA player for a controversial PK, scoring the equalizer, and hitting his PK in the shootout) exchanged words leading to a very bizarre and violent head butt by ZZ into MATERAZZI's chest. The ref missed the incident but in a rare case of common sense and cooperation, the ref conferred with the sideline ref who saw the play and ZZ was then red-carded, although allegedly the sideline ref really saw the video replay and not the actual play itself. Regardless, ZZ deserved to be red-carded based on the replay itself and there was no excuse for the violent move although it will be interesting to see what MATERAZZI said to prompt ZZ to lose his composure. ZZ's moment of madness took the unsportsmanlike trophy away from POR's Luis FIGO, who head butted NED's Mar VAN BROMMEL when no one was looking (he was not carded nor reprimanded later by FIFA).
Watching at the National Sports Grill in Torrance was great (in atmosphere) but poor in TVs (no HD TVs, a blurry big screen, and lots of small $49 TVs). There was conflict watching the game on ABC while some had the game on Univision, providing the Spanish speakers with a "live" feed while ABC was on a six-second delay. Sam N (MR. WONDERFUL FC), Lisa M (SNOWINLA), David C (PELE), and myself (FUTBAL FABONE) were able to enjoy the match, with nearly everyone pulling for Italia while my wife and I pulled for France.
Congrats to Marco R (NICO, 120 pts) who roared back from 21st after the Quarterfinals to ride ITA to the $110 2nd Place prize. That pushed David F (THE MIGHTY MOBELFAKTA, 118) down to 3rd ($70) and Scott T (FUTBAL FABONE, 117) to 4th ($40) and nudged Albert H (HOFBRAL FUTBAL, 116) off the podium. Just three picked ITA with Cynthia R (ELASTIGIRL, 140) winning the pool with the largest margin in HWCI history, 20 points. Warner L (AS VAFFANCULA, 113) was the other one to pick ITA but finished in 7th, prompting him to think what might have been, picking just 11 of 16 R16 teams and just 4 of 8 quarterfinalists. Lisa M (MIREAL, 33) will likely keep the worst-record ever (bottoming 2002's CRESTIFELD WAX PAPER's 58 pts).
WC STATS:
------
Why Zizou, why?...
Scott