Italy beat France in penalty shootout in final

Reuters ^ | 7/9/06 | Al Reuters

[Libloather]

...the World Cup...

That's some sort of video game - no?

[Churchillspirit]

Zidane was sent off. Therefore there was no substitute

Penalties can only be taken by players who were on the field at the end of over time.

[Tribune7]

The Phillies won today.

[Alberta's Child]

What the heck did the Italian player do to get that kind of reaction from Zidane?

[tfecw]

"I'd say the number of games that were ultimately determined by penalty shots had to be the most embarrassing aspect of this World Cup."

I wouldn't mind seeing them go with the Sudden death OT instead of the extra 30 minutes, or maybe let the teams add another sub. Those guys are just too tired. Around the 10th minute of OT or so you can tell everyone one is pretty much waiting for the PKs anyways.

[Churchillspirit]

I didn't really have a favorite in the final, but I enjoyed the game - all except the Zidane episode.

It was good to see non-Ayrians enjoying their sport in Hitler's Olympic Stadium.

The old fuhrer must have been turning in his grave.

[Blue Jays]

Hi All-

You're not kidding that Zidane's headbutt was the most absurd move in professional sports. He could have been a soccer legend for generations as the hero of two World Cup finals, one of the most influential players of the last decade, and team captain. He will instead always be famous for getting red-carded following that dirty foul. What a knucklehead and utter disgrace to his team.

~ Blue Jays ~

[Berlin_Freeper]

A little bit of holding, nothing out of the ordinary game that is played almost daily across Europe. The professional French commentator for the World Cup did not understand it either "...Why? Why? Why?".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1i_l0OeeMc

[Caipirabob]

Many of the games had the authenticity of a hollywood barroom brawl.

Hey, when I want to see violent felons, I watch the NFL! Heck, isn't that the same as a work-release program these days? At least off the field...

[Caipirabob]

He will instead always be famous for getting red-carded following that dirty foul. What a knucklehead and utter disgrace to his team.

Music to my ears.

[OldFriend]

Just saw video of Zidane getting the very glad hand from Chirac.

A special welcome and extra few words.

[gaspar]

He told Zidane that he had eaten a pork sandwich before the game.

[dfwgator]

I think FIFA has to look at how they do substitutions. France was robbed of her best players late.

Here is my proposal.

Double the number of substitutions to 6.
Allow a player to come out and return 1 time.

[dfwgator]

The old fuhrer must have been turning in his grave.

Aren't his remains somewhere in an old KGB warehouse?

[Churchillspirit]

France was robbed of her best players late

The survival of the fittest.