Who will be the Winner? Holland or Espania (FIFA WORLD CUP 2010)

[Aravind Mohan Krishnan]

Italy hold their nerve to claim fourth crown
9 July 2006
by FIFAworldcup.com

THE FINAL DAY REPLAYED: Fabio Cannavaro, a player who has belied his diminutive stature with some giant performances this past month, fittingly closed the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ by holding the biggest prize in football aloft. Fireworks proclaiming a fourth FIFA World Cup for Italy exploded into the black skies above the Olympiastadion as the Azzurri party began, leaving France – and a disconsolate Zinedine Zidane – to their own thoughts.
What an occasion the 18th Final produced with excitement at the start and incredible drama at the end as Zidane, on his farewell to the game he has graced for so long with his graceful skill, was shown the red card. On it went to a penalty showdown and five unerring Italian spot-kicks delivered them the title of world champions, with David Trezeguet the luckless player to miss. With Fabio Grosso converting, his country edged one Trophy behind Brazil in the pantheon of FIFA World Cup winners.

Zidane will remember this night for as long as he lives. France had promised to repeat their success of 1998 for their retiring captain and only he will know what possessed him when he thrust his forehead into the chest of Marco Materazzi. Zidane had to go, accompanied down the tunnel by the glare of thousands and thousands of flash bulbs and the tears of the legions of French supporters.

“Allez les Blues” they had chorused again and again. The Blues came through all right but it was the blue of Italy that held sway. France were wearing white but what colour they added to the occasion with their stirring comeback after Marcello Lippi’s side had threatened to put a stranglehold on the game.

Moment of the Day
Mauro Camoranesi consoles David Trezeguet

There was irony in the failure of Trezeguet whose penalty – France's second - crashed against the crossbar and refused to cross the line. It was Trezeguet who struck the Golden Goal when the sides met in the final of UEFA EURO 2000 and left a scar that Italy had waited six long years to heal.
Trezeguet's pain now mirrored that of the famed Italians, Franco Baresi and Roberto Baggio, who had missed in 1994 and handed the FIFA World Cup to Brazil in the first, and hitherto only, penalty shoot-out in the Final. At the end his Juventus team-mate Mauro Camoranesi went to him and hugged him in sympathy.

What a start we had with Thierry Henry’s first touch resulting in a heavy collision with Cannavaro. As he lay prostrate France wondered if their hopes were about to be stilled as well. The stretcher was called but their three-goal marksman was able to continue.

Henry’s next involvement was to head on Fabien Barthez’s long kick, prompting Florent Malouda to accelerate into the heart of the Italian rearguard where Materazzi brought him down. Zidane’s seventh-minute penalty was nonchalant, a featherweight chip coming down off the underside bar and only just over the line.

At a stroke Zidane joined the list of players to have scored in more than one FIFA World Cup Final - a list that also includes Pele, Vava and Paul Breitner.




Enlarge Photo
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Player of the Day
Andrea Pirlo - such cultured skills emanating from midfield
It caused barely a ripple in Italy’s assured stride. Their passes were sticking, their tackles hitting home. Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso had established command of midfield while down the right Gianluca Zambrotta and Camoranesi combined impressively.

It was Camoranesi’s persistence and tight control near the touchline that forced the corner that yielded the 19th-minute equaliser. Pirlo’s delivery was inch-perfect and Materazzi powered his header home.

Just at that moment the sun had reappeared from behind a cloud to throw light on Italy’s spirited recovery and stoke up the temperatures inside the arena. Henry began to emerge as a key performer, seemingly impossible to shrug off the ball, and that also brought the best out of the dynamic newcomer Frank Ribery.

France came close on several occasions and in extra time Zidane would have scored with a header had Buffon not denied him. The night was soon to take an even more devastating turn for Zizou, a moment of madness ensuring that his retirement began at least nine minutes earlier than it should have done.

Fabio Grosso - such coolness under pressure
Trezeguet’s miss meant that as Grosso stepped up for the long walk from the half-way line the world was in his hands. A no-nonsense left-foot strike into the right-hand corner of the net underlined the contribution the Palermo defender has made to the Italian cause this past month. After a gap of 24 years they were world champions once more

[Aravind Mohan Krishnan]

Germany 2006 - 32 teams, 32 stories
9 July 2006
by FIFAworldcup.com

Germany 2006 will no doubt be remembered as the fans’ FIFA World Cup™. With millions of people attending public screenings of the event, the atmosphere in the host country was incredible, as people from all over the world took the official motto: ‘A time to make friends’ to heart.
On the pitch, 32 teams battled it out for football’s ultimate prize. Some bowed out after just three games, while France fell at the final hurdle as Italy claimed the crown of ‘world champions’, a description that will be used against their name for the next four years.

Here, FIFAworldcup.com reviews the performance of each individual team, according to how the competition ended.

Relive the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ Germany

The Winners:

Italy
The Azzurri won the FIFA World Cup for the fourth time after holding their nerves in a dramatic penalty shoot-out. For their performances in the group stages, Round of 16, quarter-finals and semis, football fans all over the world would agree that Marcello Lippi's side were worthy winners of the competition.

The Runners-Up:
France
Inspired by Zinedine Zidane, until his dramatic sending off in the Final, Les Bleus surprised everyone to reach the showdown in Berlin on 9 July. Although they looked shaky in the group stages, it was in the knockout stages when they really came into their own, defeating Spain, Brazil and Portugal with relative ease.
Third place:
Germany
The highest scorers at the tournament captured the imagination of the public with a combination of fine football and a never-say-die attitude.
Fourth place:
Portugal
Luis Felipe Scolari’s outfit were arguably the surprise package of Germany 2006, overcoming Mexico, the Netherlands and England en route to the semi-finals.

Quarter-Finalists:

Argentina
After some great performances in the group stages and a victory over Mexico in the Round of 16, the Albiceleste were unlucky to lose to the hosts in a dramatic shoot-out.
Brazil
The world champions’ attempt to secure their sixth FIFA World Cup success ended after a lacklustre showing against France. A tournament to forget for the Selecao.
England
Unlucky with injuries, unlucky from the spot. Once again, penalties proved to be the undoing of England, who failed to live up to their high expectations at this event.
Ukraine
Coached by Oleg Blokhin, the FIFA World Cup first-timers did extremely well in reaching the last eight, but found Italy too tough an opponent in Hamburg.
Round of 16:
Australia
Not expected to get past a group which included Brazil, Croatia and Japan, Dutch coach Guus Hiddink masterminded a magnificent showing by the Socceroos.
Ecuador
Before the tournament began, it was claimed that the South Americans could not play well away from their home country. La Tricolor proved their doubters wrong.
Ghana
As the only side from the continent to qualify for the Round of 16, Ghana were rightly described as the ‘Pride of Africa.’ Victories over the USA and the Czech Republic cemented this claim.
Mexico
El Tri will be disappointed with their exit in the Round of 16, but the match against Argentina which saw them lose 2-1, will surely be remembered as one of the tournament’s best.
Netherlands
After qualifying from what was thought to be the tournament’s toughest group, Marco van Basten’s men came up short against a well-organised Portugal side.
Spain
Tipped by many to go far in the competition after disposing of Ukraine, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia with relative ease at the group stages, Spain fell at the very next hurdle.
Sweden
Conceding two early goals in the first 12 minutes to Germany effectively ended the Swede’s hopes of progressing into the quarter-finals.
Switzerland
The winners of Group G failed to convert any of their three penalties against Ukraine to see them exit the competition with an unwanted new FIFA World Cup record.

Group Stages

Angola
While not altogether unexpected, Angola's first-round elimination was down to a combination of inexperience and tactical limitations.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica were hoping for big things in Germany, but the team which was considered to be one of the best in the country’s history, failed to get past the group stage.
Cote d’Ivoire
The Elephants came with a lot of promise and although they fell at the first hurdle, they won many friends and admirers in their all-too-brief visit to Germany.
Croatia
Soaring expectations back home thought that a clash with Italy in the Round of 16 was the team’s destiny. However, failure to take chances put paid to Croatia’s hopes.
Czech Republic
They entered the FIFA World Cup as one of the highest ranked teams and got off to an impressive start. But the journey home came all too soon for the Czech Republic.
Iran
Defeats to Mexico and Portugal in their opening games left Iran with no chance of advancing. The subsequent point claimed against Angola was no consolation at all.
Japan
Two goals and a solitary point were all Japan had to show for their efforts at Germany 2006, the tournament which brought to an end Zico’s reign as coach.
Korea Republic
Victory against Togo gave the Taeguk Warriors their first FIFA World Cup success on European soil, but it was not enough to book the team a place in the Round of 16.
Paraguay
Paraguay returned home having picked up just three points from their three Group B encounters. Their hopes were ended by narrow defeats in their opening two matches.
Poland
Poland and their fans are unlikely to harbour fond memories of Germany 2006, but a 2-1 win over Costa Rica in their final match did provide some consolation.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia for their fourth consecutive appearance at the FIFA World Cup finals, and once again Sami Al Jaber weighed in with a goal.
Serbia and Montenegro
The team that only conceded one goal in qualifying, to finish ahead of Spain, somehow ended up on the receiving end of ten in as many days in Germany.
Togo
Having suffered three defeats in as many games, Togo bade farewell to Germany as the bottom team in Group G, with off-field issues contributing to their downfall.
Trinidad and Tobago
Showing great determination and resolve to make up for their inexperience and lack of resources, T&T will look back on their two weeks in Germany as a success.
Tunisia
Tunisia made history by becoming the first African side to record a win at Argentina 1978. Twenty-eight years on and three campaigns later they have yet to repeat the feat.
USA
For a team that earned only a single point, thanks to a 1-1 draw with Italy, there is no shortage of things that could have gone better for this US squad.

[kannan]

ZIDANE done the mistake....... He shouldn't behave like this...... Really Shocking incident

[moovybuf]

Y is that many of the gr8s have to end it like that?? Its a real irony..

The game was a entertaining one but not a classic.. France were dominant in the second half but Italy's defence was rock solid..

Anyways the best teamof the tournament won..

[Aravind Mohan Krishnan]

But when Figo headbutted someone in the game against Holland, it was ignored by the referee. And there are suggestions that Matteratzi deliberately provoked Zidane into headbutting him, so that France would be without Zidane. Knowing Italy well (they dived to get a penalty against Aus), that is also possible.

Anyway, according to media reports, the French are standing by Zidane. And he was voted "Best Player of The World Cup"

[Aravind Mohan Krishnan]

Anyway thanks Thaskaran for a wonderful topic. Its all over now, and the Italians are celebrating with pomp and splendour. Congratulations to Italy-and till Euro 2008, thats it for now.

[mash]

At last the much awaited answer is out.


Do u know what made Zidane Headbutt Matterazzi ???????

( The answer came to picture when a Brazilian news team lip synced on what matterazzi said )

Its because, Matterazzi asked Zidane (while playing)

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HUM CHLOROMINT KYUN KHATE HAIN????????????? :D
Hehehe … Dobara Mat Puchna :D

[roshanpeter]

Spaim Cup nedum...
suvarna paadukam...
David villakkaayirikkum...

[roshanpeter]

Neerali ude pravachanam sheriyaayi Spain vijayichu Germany purathaayi...

[maryland]

Ee thread kuthippokkiyathinu roshapeter-nu infraction kittumo???