It's finally upon us. The finals of the Weltmeisterschaft. Or World Cup final. (Go here, live blog on Deadspin.)
For nearly a month we've drunk in the joy of Joe Cole volleys, Aussie spirit, Big Phil's bearhugs, and of course, Apfelwein. (A heady brew indeed.)
Conversely we've suffered through Marcelo Balboa, the Serbs, Jorge Larrionda, and more diving than the Olympics.
So here it is for the title of true World Champion.
Italy vs. France. Azzurri vs. Les Bleus. Gattuso vs. Zidane. Buffon vs. Barthez. Ferrari vs. Peugot. Vino vs. Champagne. Roberto Begnini vs. Jerry Lewis. Leaning Tower vs. Eiffel Tower. Pinnihccio vs. Asterix. Italian Alps vs. French Alps. Sicily vs. Corsica. Gabibbo vs. .....? (Feel free to add, SAT Verbal Section scholars.)
Here's the basic information you need to know.
About Italy
Road to final: Won Group E (Beat Ghana 2-0; drew USA 1-1; beat Czech Republic 2-0); Beat Austraila 1-0; Beat Ukraine 3-0; Beat Germany 2-0 a.e.t;
Goals for: 11 (By 10 different players)
Goals against: 1 (Own goal vs. USA)
Previous World Cup wins: 1934, 1938, 1982 (Lost in 1970 and 1994 finals to Brasil)
Standouts: Fabio Cannavaro: Watch the Juventus defender spring into the air. If this were Madden his awareness would be 99; Andrea Pirlo: The funny thing is, mostly I read about Franceso Totti, but its Pirlo that truly drives this team.
Coming from afar: Midfielder Mauro Camoranesi was born in Argentina, while Simone Perrotta was born in England.
Thing to like: This Italian team has ditched 'catenaccio' in favor of fluid, attacking football.
Thing to loathe: I hate to bring it up AGAIN, but what other team would willingly pose, oiled-up no less, in a string of underwear ads.
Final thoughts: After the USA 1-1 draw in Kaierslautern I cursed out more than one Italian. In the process I hurt my back diving on the concrete ground imitating my favorite Italian floppers. But since they are playing France and since I did at one time proclaim to like this team, I'm back on the Azzurri bandwagon. And if you're an astute reader of this blog, I pipped the Azzurri as a good bet to win it all in March. (Now WHY didn't I throw a few ducets their way? Ratfarts.)
Italy owns enough talent to win with or without the ghost of Benito Mussolini paying off the refs.
About France
Road to final: Second in Group F: (drew Switzerland 0-0; Drew Korea 1-1; Beat Togo 2-0) Beat Spain 3-1; beat Brasil 1-0; beat Portugal 1-0.
Goals for: 8
Goals against: 2 (Korea and Spain have scored, Spain via a David Villa PK)
Previous World Cup wins: Les Bleus lifted the Jules Rimet trophy on home soil in 1998. Zizou with a brace in the final vs. Brasil.
Standouts: Obviously Zidane was masterful vs. Brasil in the quarterfinals. The press is all in a twitter over Franck Ribery, scars and all. Vieira and Makelele have held it down in the midfield. Yet, no one really jumps off the page with this French team. Not even TH14.
Coming from afar: Patrick Vieira born in Senegal; Claude Makelele born in DR Congo; Flourent Malouda born in French Guiana; Lilliam Thuram born in Guadeloupe. Techincally Guadeloupe and French Guiana are part of France through their overseas departments.
Thing to like: Les Bleus have certainly beaten some big names en route to the final. To be fair, Brasil played a game worthy of the USA, and France only managed to score on a set piece.
Thing to loathe: Fabian Barthez is about as contemptable an athlete as you'll find. He smokes. He spits on refs. He looks like a reject from a Jean Reno movie. Yet he managed to bag Linda Evangelista. ... Vieira is a guy you just can't root for unless he's on your team.
Final thoughts: Nobody, well except for SI writer Grant Wahl, had France getting this far. Everyone already had the dirt shoveled on them after opening the tournament with back-to-back uninspired draws.
France, not Italy, has played the boring, 1-0 brand of football that Americans loathe. Yes, they have been tacitcally astute on defense and managed to hold Spain, Brasil and Portugal to a single goal -- a penalty at that.
Zidane winning in his final match would be a nice story, but thats about it.
In reality this aged bunch has proven more like fine wine, than rotten old cheese.
The last word:
Chances are if you read your morning newspaper, you've read the Associated Press advance of the game, figuring for it to be a defensive struggle. While all signs point to that being the case, I don't think it going to play out like in a 0-0, PK scenario.
First off both teams are too good for either coach entering the game with a 0-0, 1-1 mindset, letting it be settled by kicks.
Second, for as good as France's defense has been they've yet to encounter an attack as versitile as the Azzurri's. Italy can beat the defense in many ways, and has done just that during the WM. Breakaways, set pieces, crosses, headers, long range blasts. Pretty much everyone save Buffon is a threat to put the ball past Barthez.
Meanwhile, the French shouldn't be able to just sit back in clear it on Sunday since Italy is likely going to come out and attack. If they have to come out of their shell, they could be in for some trouble. How have Les Blues scored in their last two wins -- a nice set piece where Brasil somehow forgot to cover Thierry Henry and a PK.
Gattuso should be able to bottle up Zindane somewhat, and if Henry is left all by his lonesome, Cannavaro and whomever Lippi decides to play alongside him should have a field day.
Conversely, Italy has a clear advantage with Grosso and Zambrotta going forward against Sagnol and Abidal.
Lippi also has a lot of weapons on the bench, while Domenech basically has Trezeguet. The Argentine-rooted player is a weapon, no doubt, but has yet to show up at this Cup. Sylvian Witord, Sidney Gouvou? You're not lining up against AC Ajaccio on Sunday guys.
Watch for Lippi to press early and go for the early goal to break France out from behin its Maigot Line defense. If that happens, unless Zizou is touched from above, the floodgates will be open for the Garibaldi brigrade to claim Rimet trophy No. 4.
Revenge is had for the disaster that was the Euro 2000 final.
The Pick: Italy 2, France 0 (I really wanted to go 3-1, but my main man Bobby McMahon beat me to it.)
Ciao
For nearly a month we've drunk in the joy of Joe Cole volleys, Aussie spirit, Big Phil's bearhugs, and of course, Apfelwein. (A heady brew indeed.)
Conversely we've suffered through Marcelo Balboa, the Serbs, Jorge Larrionda, and more diving than the Olympics.
So here it is for the title of true World Champion.
Italy vs. France. Azzurri vs. Les Bleus. Gattuso vs. Zidane. Buffon vs. Barthez. Ferrari vs. Peugot. Vino vs. Champagne. Roberto Begnini vs. Jerry Lewis. Leaning Tower vs. Eiffel Tower. Pinnihccio vs. Asterix. Italian Alps vs. French Alps. Sicily vs. Corsica. Gabibbo vs. .....? (Feel free to add, SAT Verbal Section scholars.)
Here's the basic information you need to know.
About Italy
Road to final: Won Group E (Beat Ghana 2-0; drew USA 1-1; beat Czech Republic 2-0); Beat Austraila 1-0; Beat Ukraine 3-0; Beat Germany 2-0 a.e.t;
Goals for: 11 (By 10 different players)
Goals against: 1 (Own goal vs. USA)
Previous World Cup wins: 1934, 1938, 1982 (Lost in 1970 and 1994 finals to Brasil)
Standouts: Fabio Cannavaro: Watch the Juventus defender spring into the air. If this were Madden his awareness would be 99; Andrea Pirlo: The funny thing is, mostly I read about Franceso Totti, but its Pirlo that truly drives this team.
Coming from afar: Midfielder Mauro Camoranesi was born in Argentina, while Simone Perrotta was born in England.
Thing to like: This Italian team has ditched 'catenaccio' in favor of fluid, attacking football.
Thing to loathe: I hate to bring it up AGAIN, but what other team would willingly pose, oiled-up no less, in a string of underwear ads.
Final thoughts: After the USA 1-1 draw in Kaierslautern I cursed out more than one Italian. In the process I hurt my back diving on the concrete ground imitating my favorite Italian floppers. But since they are playing France and since I did at one time proclaim to like this team, I'm back on the Azzurri bandwagon. And if you're an astute reader of this blog, I pipped the Azzurri as a good bet to win it all in March. (Now WHY didn't I throw a few ducets their way? Ratfarts.)
Italy owns enough talent to win with or without the ghost of Benito Mussolini paying off the refs.
About France
Road to final: Second in Group F: (drew Switzerland 0-0; Drew Korea 1-1; Beat Togo 2-0) Beat Spain 3-1; beat Brasil 1-0; beat Portugal 1-0.
Goals for: 8
Goals against: 2 (Korea and Spain have scored, Spain via a David Villa PK)
Previous World Cup wins: Les Bleus lifted the Jules Rimet trophy on home soil in 1998. Zizou with a brace in the final vs. Brasil.
Standouts: Obviously Zidane was masterful vs. Brasil in the quarterfinals. The press is all in a twitter over Franck Ribery, scars and all. Vieira and Makelele have held it down in the midfield. Yet, no one really jumps off the page with this French team. Not even TH14.
Coming from afar: Patrick Vieira born in Senegal; Claude Makelele born in DR Congo; Flourent Malouda born in French Guiana; Lilliam Thuram born in Guadeloupe. Techincally Guadeloupe and French Guiana are part of France through their overseas departments.
Thing to like: Les Bleus have certainly beaten some big names en route to the final. To be fair, Brasil played a game worthy of the USA, and France only managed to score on a set piece.
Thing to loathe: Fabian Barthez is about as contemptable an athlete as you'll find. He smokes. He spits on refs. He looks like a reject from a Jean Reno movie. Yet he managed to bag Linda Evangelista. ... Vieira is a guy you just can't root for unless he's on your team.
Final thoughts: Nobody, well except for SI writer Grant Wahl, had France getting this far. Everyone already had the dirt shoveled on them after opening the tournament with back-to-back uninspired draws.
France, not Italy, has played the boring, 1-0 brand of football that Americans loathe. Yes, they have been tacitcally astute on defense and managed to hold Spain, Brasil and Portugal to a single goal -- a penalty at that.
Zidane winning in his final match would be a nice story, but thats about it.
In reality this aged bunch has proven more like fine wine, than rotten old cheese.
Chances are if you read your morning newspaper, you've read the Associated Press advance of the game, figuring for it to be a defensive struggle. While all signs point to that being the case, I don't think it going to play out like in a 0-0, PK scenario.
First off both teams are too good for either coach entering the game with a 0-0, 1-1 mindset, letting it be settled by kicks.
Second, for as good as France's defense has been they've yet to encounter an attack as versitile as the Azzurri's. Italy can beat the defense in many ways, and has done just that during the WM. Breakaways, set pieces, crosses, headers, long range blasts. Pretty much everyone save Buffon is a threat to put the ball past Barthez.
Meanwhile, the French shouldn't be able to just sit back in clear it on Sunday since Italy is likely going to come out and attack. If they have to come out of their shell, they could be in for some trouble. How have Les Blues scored in their last two wins -- a nice set piece where Brasil somehow forgot to cover Thierry Henry and a PK.
Gattuso should be able to bottle up Zindane somewhat, and if Henry is left all by his lonesome, Cannavaro and whomever Lippi decides to play alongside him should have a field day.
Conversely, Italy has a clear advantage with Grosso and Zambrotta going forward against Sagnol and Abidal.
Lippi also has a lot of weapons on the bench, while Domenech basically has Trezeguet. The Argentine-rooted player is a weapon, no doubt, but has yet to show up at this Cup. Sylvian Witord, Sidney Gouvou? You're not lining up against AC Ajaccio on Sunday guys.
Watch for Lippi to press early and go for the early goal to break France out from behin its Maigot Line defense. If that happens, unless Zizou is touched from above, the floodgates will be open for the Garibaldi brigrade to claim Rimet trophy No. 4.
Revenge is had for the disaster that was the Euro 2000 final.
The Pick: Italy 2, France 0 (I really wanted to go 3-1, but my main man Bobby McMahon beat me to it.)
Ciao
Avignon Papacy vs. the Vatican ?
Wow. Gold star for that one.