I talked my wife into the logical extension of our trip. We're in Rome. (Just kidding; I'm actually dealing with serious jet-lag, a sick pet, and the reality of work after being gone for 24 days. :-(
I wanted to head for Rome, since I figured Italy would pull it out, but alas. I don't feel sorry for Zidane at all--a captain who let his team down--regardless of what was said to him. It's called trash talk. Pro athletes learn to ignore it. He wouldn't last one week in the NBA or NFL if that's how he reacts to trash talk.
He did almost score a great late header, which was exciting. And replays show the Italian goal in the second half (the one that was called back for offside) should not have been called back. A different player was offside, but it was hard for the ref to tell with so many players bursting from the line. It could have been a great one if those goals had happened, but as it was we got a good first half, a much choppier second half and then a defensive and strange overtime. Zidane's violent act marred the match, leaving an unhappy aftertaste.
>Stupidest end to a career ever!
Perfect way to put it, Gene.
>In front of 69,000 people
Add a few zeros.
>Although I was for Italy they sucked in the second half
I know it's what you DO with possession that counts, but Italy had 54% of the second-half possession, and they had two of the three best chances to score. France did look more dangerous overall after halftime, but Italy didn't suck until overtime, when they might have simply figured why take risks when they have the best goalkeeper in the world.
I'm glad we went. I'll never forget the unbelievable atmosphere in Munich and Frankfurt and Kaiserslautern before and during the matches, and in Paris after France won the semi-final. My wife and I had our honeymoon in Italy back in '83--too bad we couldn't have gone back before the final!
