World Cup Weary
Best bit of writing I've seen about the world cup, from the Scotsman:
Terrible call by the ref at the end. Don't get me wrong, Zidane deserved to be sent off. But in football/soccer, if the ref didn't see it, it didn't happen. Those are the rules. And they apply doubly (as in all sports) where superstars are involved (and NOBODY sees a foul AGAINST a superstar). A dark day for soccer.
in this assessment, I know I disagree with the professional commentators. I don't believe Zidane's legacy will be tarnished by this ugly incident. But the World Cup may never be the same. The officiating in this Cup was the only thing consistent: consistently awful. That's what will be remembered.
WHERE were you when Zizou applied that immaculately-tonsured bonce to Italian ribs? Did you feel a spiritual bonding with the African fans huddling round a battery-powered TV in Dakar, the Chinese millions, the entire nation of Thailand, those fourteen Californians, gathering round their sets for the world's greatest sporting event? Or were you wondering which French patriot had sold all the ad space on ITV, as Kronenbourg, Air France and Renault gave us the Gallic hard sell.
Terrible call by the ref at the end. Don't get me wrong, Zidane deserved to be sent off. But in football/soccer, if the ref didn't see it, it didn't happen. Those are the rules. And they apply doubly (as in all sports) where superstars are involved (and NOBODY sees a foul AGAINST a superstar). A dark day for soccer.
in this assessment, I know I disagree with the professional commentators. I don't believe Zidane's legacy will be tarnished by this ugly incident. But the World Cup may never be the same. The officiating in this Cup was the only thing consistent: consistently awful. That's what will be remembered.
posted by Anonymous at 5:16 PM
12 Comments:
DS takes offense at the Scotman's insinuation that only 14 Californian's watched the match. DS was in a North Beach bar with a bunch of crazy Italians who, when the final PK was scored, promptly ran into the streets all but closing Columbus Ave downtown. It was great fun.
Zidane was right to be sent off. The one thing the officiating got right this world cup was working together. That's why there are three or four officials out there. One person doesn't have to see everything. Also, futball should be no different from any other sport in the use of instant replay. DS thinks they should only use it, however, when the game is already stopped -- like in a penalty kick situation. There is nothing worse in sport, then watching a PK be awarded when on replay it is clear the player took a dive. The game is stopped already, simply have an official with replay control review the play quickly and see if it was an obvious dive (Italy vs. Australia) or a legitimate foul (France vs. Portugal).
But, alas, DS will have to wait another four years to see if FIFA happens to read this blog and implement his suggestions. He is depressed that the greatest sporting event in the world is over. This depression will last until the Cleveland Steamers retake the field.
the steamers shall rise again!
There were definitely cars blaring their horns trailing Italian flags in DC... it was beautiful. Maybe we'll get to do that for an American team in our lifetimes?
As for the game, that was unbelievable. Much much worse than Rooney's little nut stomp. I'm a little troubled about how the call may have been tainted by the replay, but the result was 100% correct.
Well put Tacitus! The ref and the linesman didn't see the 'butt. It was only after the whining of the Italian players, and possibly a lineman's watching the replay on the jumbotron in violation of the rules, that he showed Zidane the red card. It reminds me of how the complaining of the Portuguese players got Wayne Rooney sent off.
The World Cup is always great but it is sad when teams like Italy crawl out of the gutter and manage to take the trophy by cheating. See the dive in Australia game (a game in which Materazzi was sent off). See also what Materazzi said to Zidane (unfortunately, Zidane doesn't talk to the media but French players are suggesting it was a racial slur and, if this is true, Materazzi deserved the headbutt to the face and not the chest). Also, can anyone believe that de Rossi got to return for the final after his brutal and unprovoked elbow to Brian McBride in the US-Italy game?!
Why did the World Cup have to occur at the same time I'm trying to study for the bar? Does FIFA really want me to have to take the bar a second time? Can't you schedule games for after the bar? Why didn't they take into account the CA Bar Exam when deciding when to schedule the World Cup?
It has been interesting watching several students in my BarBri class @ Stanford watching streaming video of the games while trying to pay attention to a lecture on Civ Pro...
I was part of one of those huddled masses in Africa. Just in Kampala rather than Dakar.
Even with the generator blowing up. And mob justice being dished out to a cell phone thief...it was still better than trying to convince an American barkeep to switch the channel to the World Cup.
What do you think was said to Zidane to set him off? A dig at his Algerian roots?
Word is that Materazzi called Zidane a "terrorist." Pretty disgraceful. Imagine if someone called a black athlete the n word in the US to incite him. That person would be suspended for about a billion games if he didn't get killed first.
Also, it was noted above that this same referee red carded Rooney. Note that on both ocassions he didn't see the play and only produced the red card after whining from the other team. He should definitely be disciplined but it appears FIFA is trying to take care of him by contesting charges this was the first time instant replay has ever been used in the World Cup. On the other hand, it appears FIFA thinks Rooney's red card was excessive because he only got suspended the minimum of two games for a straight red card. By way of comparison, the US's Pablo Mastroeni got suspended three games for the BS red card in the US-Italy game (Italy's Daniele De Rossi got four games--not even the entire tournament--for nearly putting out Brian McBride's eye).
Give me a break! Even if Materazzi called Zizou a terrorist that that absolve his own actions?
Zizou lost it and ended his career with a well-deserved red card. And I say this as someone who was rooting for France through it all.
I think it will mar how he's remembered -- what would have happened if he hadn't been tossed out?
I fail to see why it's a problem that the refs probably saw the headbutt only on the stadium TV. Big deal. At least they got the call right! I know, I know, "It's not part of the rules. Refs should only watch the game, blah blah blah."
But I fail to see how the erratic and unfair nature of seeing something on the stadium TV is any worse than the erratic and unfair nature of...the rest of the refereeing. The former leads to good calls. The latter leads to entire countries getting fucked out of sheer incompetence.
PS -- I haven't liked Zidane the whole tournament. The only thing worse has been the pundits' desperate desire to award him the Bigger Than Jesus medal. It was cathartic to see my suspicions confirmed -- and the media's groupthink upended.
Anonymous 9:59:
"[E]ntire countries getting fucked out of sheer incompetence": you mean like when Australia was eliminated because the Italien player took a dive to get a penalty kick at the end of the Round of 16 game?
It sounds like you've never played soccer. And you definitely couldn't carry Zidane's garbage.
Aside from the Zizou brouhaha, it was a pretty good game. France spent much of the game pressing forward and had a ton of scoring chances. The Zidane header in extra time would have been an exclamation point for the ages for a WC final and a great career.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this whole tournament. I don't have cable so I almost never get to see any soccer. MLS looks slow and unskilled in comparison. At the World Cup level, soccer looks so awesome when it's played right. Italy's goal in the final was beautiful. Zidane's footwork and control of the midfield against Brazil was magnificent. And the US has a long way to go.
Good timing for me! South Africa 2010 won't interfere with any law school junk for me (unless I fail the bar and have to retake)!
ALL YOU HATERS STFU, we won , screw you
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