The French couldn't possibly score in open play, but at least went for it, and edged it overall. The Italians' performance grew consistently laclustre as the game went on, so I feel slightly disappointed for the Frogs. And let's face, a world cup won on penalties isn't really a win.
And that was never a penalty, although Malouda's fall in the second half on almost certainly qualified: which make's you wonder if the referee saw footage of his error at half-time and wasn't prepared to make the same mistake twice.
Extra time was merely half an hour of the Italians running the clock down.
A turning point in football history:
Interestingly, the Zidane sending-off wouldn't have happened if it was left to the refereeing staff on the pitch. None of them noticed it (and why should they, the ball was elsewhere)l, but clearly FIFA stepped in, and aware that the biggest global audience ever had witnessed what had happened, realised that they couldn't let it go. We still don't have refereeing by camera in football, but that was clearly the first unofficial decision from off-field.
Henry's not up to much is he? Just an Andy Cole with flair? Flash against the crap defences, nothing against the best.
However, the fact that Coco the Barthez had nothing to cock up in goal said too much about Italy's failure to turn up.
Shame the French couldn't grab it in extra time, I doubt if a French side will reach a final again.
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