1. transcript
  2. Zidane est Merveilleux

Zidane est Merveilleux

By apalazzo on July 2, 2006.

Why did France beat Brazil? Because they have the greatest living soccer player.

... and then the winning goal (note how at the beginning of the play, Zidane flips the ball over Ronaldo's head):

Incredible, one of the best games of this World Cup.

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World Cup 2006

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ZZ is great. I'm glad to see him playing with style. I also like Henry and Viera. I still wanted them to lose. I'll be cheering for Portugal.

Zidane started the tournament poorly (well jsut like an ordinary human) but something seems to have removed eight years from him. I was cheering for Brazil but watching ZZ take them apart was a wonderful thing. What made France so dominant was that their best players played like the best players, Brazil's did not. Great game, great sport.

However like BTM I will be cheering for Portugal.

By CanuckRob (not verified) on 02 Jul 2006 #permalink

Zidane played probably the game of his career, and you are right he was downright mocking the Brazilians at their game. Ronaldinho looked like a child with his ineffectual shake-and-bake moves, by comparison.

France however won this game with their dominating defense, and with their great tactical midfield coverage play, dropping back players to cut off the rapid Brazilian game before it reached the box.

They played a cynical game and took perfect advantage of the Brazilians' amazing defensive blunder during that free kick (their defense regularly has one or two complete brainfarts during each game, so you just have to wait). Look at the goal action again: there are 5 Frenchmen and 3 Brazilians in the box, and five Brazilians lined up, immobile and alone, outside the box - including the guy who should have been following Henry's penetration. Unbelievable.

Portugal normally doesn't make similar mistakes, and they'll have Deco back and rested. It's a tough game to call, but I give a slight edge to Portugal. Regardless, I'd love for Italy to play either of them in the final. ;-)

Hooray for France!

I feel like the Portuguese are a bunch of hothead fakers, while the French rely on their brilliant strategies and quick intellect.

everyone talks about zidane, but ribery also had a great game-- how about that move along the baseline that almost led to a goal?

the guy is tearing up the tournament.

Ha! That was some pretty impressive acting. Guess the Portuguese are in for some pretty stiff competition tomorrow.