In the End, There can be only one. Viva Italia!
Posted by lordpinoy on July 9, 2006
63 games and several days later, the greatest show on earth ends with all the shades of blue on the pitch fighting amidst the sea of the green field.
Gweilo’s (yet again).
For France’s Les Bleus and Italy’s Azzurri (both referring to one end of the blue spectrum), it would be an unforgettable night for the victor and hell for the eventual loser.
At the precise moment Zinedine Zidane — ‘Zizou’, entered the pitch, French fans must have felt it was 1998 all over again, after a sluggish start in the group stages, they went on giant-killing-sprees. First, it was Spain to feel the sword, followed by the Samba Kings — The Selecao – Brazil (arguably the favourites to retain the title), and finally Portugal who had just knocked out England (again) on three occasions. Morale was high as they entered the Theatre of Dreams.
If it was a dream run for France, the same can be said about Italy. Prior to the start of the tournament, investigations regarding the match-fixing scandal rocked the entire nation. Many players, especially Gianluigi ‘Gigi’ Buffon, the Italian Keeper, were linked to the issue.
It is as they say: what doesn’t kill you will make you strong. And Italy looked every bit as determined as France.
7 minutes into the game and the crowd erupts as Zizou, conjuring another piece of magic, puts the ball into the back of the net from the spot. The call for penalty was dubius as the French Malouda appeared to have fallen from minimal (if not invisible) contact with the Italian defender Marco Materazzi, as he cut his way into the box.
It’s going to take everything to win against and inspired side.
But come the hour, cometh the man and it was none other than Materazzi, who gave away the penalty to France. Andrea Pirlo swings the ball into the box from the corner and Marco (known for his prowess in the air) fired home Italy’s equalizer, above the defender, rising to the occasion to head home an unstoppable header: The perfect reply to a disappointing start.
Once more my friends, unto the breach.
The second half produced scares and blanks. Italy could have won in normal time had Toni been onside, Henry with his perfectly timed runs. But as the commentator says, it’s like chess. Or to paraphrase it (as in the movie Dragonheart): In mortal combat bound … whose false step shall be made, whose tears shall stain the ground?"
And the game dragged on to extra time… not before French players take a fall … Patrick Viera, Thiery Henry, Frank Ribery — through injury or a tactical switch by their coaches. Italy used up it’s substitute slots to give way to Del Piero, Jaquinta, and Perrotta.
When those French players left the pitch, it had looked like Italy would finally have the edge. But another flash of brilliance from Zidane almost gave them victory. Buffon had to make a great save from his header. Thankfully, he did.
It was in the final moments that the mood becomes dark. There were numerous signs that portend to the coming of the greatest Fall. Zidane, smarting from a shoulder injury picked up in normal time, lost his cool. Ironically, with the entire hopes of the nation resting on his shoulders, the same was already crying in pain.
Perhaps he may have been pushed to the edge by Materazzi. Whatever happened, Zidane retaliated. After appearing to let go of the issue with the Italian, he turned about and fired a header into the chest of the defender.
Zidane was the next to fall. With the finals in Berlin looking to be his last professional game (for club and country), he went out disgraced. The referee gave him his marching orders. The same head that gave him
the victory over Brazil eight years ago was used to a signal an
unspectacular and unheroic end to a glittering career.
As he walked off alone and past the world cup, the question remains: what went on inside his mind? What, if not tears, will follow him to the dressing room — and in the future?
But, even with 10 men remaining, the French defense held out.
Afterwards, it was down to the gruelling penalty shootout. Apparently, the Italians did their job, yet again. With the weight of history against them (for losing three out of four shootouts), they stepped up to banish the only demon haunting their game: Missing from the Spot.
David Trezeguet was the next to fall. The man who scored the winning goal against the Italians six years ago (Euro 2000 Finals) unluckily hit the crossbar. Afterwards, it was Grosso who finally delivered the killer blow.
Joy for the Italians and their Fans. Disappointment for France — The Magic of Zidane lost its charms.
Les Bleus were left singing the blues, losing out to the deeper shade of blue.
5:00 am and another quick ride back to UP. I didn’t make it back to the boarding house as drowsiness has overtaken me back at the lab. So I laid out some flattened carton boxes on the floor.
What dreams may come when you return home a champion…
(All pictures courtesy of www.fifaworldcup.com)
