Matrix Games Forums

And Zidane isn't new to these things...remember Juventus- Hamburg 5 years ago?

Diving and cheating?!?!
I do not agree. Everybody dives and cheats. Look at the penalty given to France!

Anyway, we are happy and that's enough for us

ORIGINAL: Marc Schwanebeck

Congrats to Italy for diving, cheating and acting their way right through in the finals and winning the cup [:'(]. I would love to know what Marco Materazzi said to Zidane before he lost it. I'm very sure it was something really nice, you could see Zidane steaming, I saw this coming when he went into position. As a funny sidenote that was really something where an italian player was actually hit hard and fall [;)]

Now bring justice to the european football and sent Juve to "Seria C" and the rest of the pack to "Seria B".[8|]

ORIGINAL: Pkunzipper

ORIGINAL: Marc Schwanebeck

Congrats to Italy for diving, cheating and acting their way right through in the finals and winning the cup [:'(]. I would love to know what Marco Materazzi said to Zidane before he lost it. I'm very sure it was something really nice, you could see Zidane steaming, I saw this coming when he went into position. As a funny sidenote that was really something where an italian player was actually hit hard and fall [;)]

Verbal insults are part of any sport, players have to learn to not overreact... Zidane behaved as a noob 17 years old child... Nice way to end his career... bye bye Zinedine [8|]

Now bring justice to the european football and sent Juve to "Seria C" and the rest of the pack to "Seria B".[8|]

I hope it too! No amensty for the teams who cheated, that will be the best way to celebrate the deserved World Championship victory! [;)]

ORIGINAL: pauk
next, how can you say who would play for Senegal,Guadelope or France? Australian Croats also are divided - couple of them playing for Croatia, several of them for Australia...[;)]

ORIGINAL: Marc Schwanebeck

When will they announce the conviction in the manipulation scandal, is that still today?

ORIGINAL: Neilster

I couldn't work out how Henry was nearly knocked unconscious by such an innocuous bump. I've had worse trying to get to the bar at the pub.

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

However it seems that Materazzi said to Zizou something like "You, Islamic Terrorist"...
Something very stupid to say, but nothing incredibly offending imho.

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

However it seems that Materazzi said to Zizou something like "You, Islamic Terrorist"...
Something very stupid to say, but nothing incredibly offending imho.

Anyway, the penalty could be given or not imho. Probably it was more penalty the takle Cannavaro made on "Malouda" ( i think) during the second half...

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

Diving and cheating?!?!
..remember Juventus- Hamburg 5 years ago?

ORIGINAL: Marc Schwanebeck

Materazzi has just stated that he did not insult Zidane at all. He did not say "terrorist" to him, arguing that he does not even know the meaning of the word, LOL, yeah right [;)][8|].

Zidane has mentioned that he will talk about the whole thing in a few days, while some lip reading interpreters have stated that Materazzi has named Zidane's sister a prostitute, twice.

ORIGINAL: pauk
I found that extremely offending....

ORIGINAL: Neilster

I couldn't work out how Henry was nearly knocked unconscious by such an innocuous bump. I've had worse trying to get to the bar at the pub.

And it was amazing how Zidane's head-butt to the chest managed to knock Marco Materazzi completely off his feet, like he'd been hit by an elephant gun from 20 paces. Materazzi was the chief wounded-look, shrugged shoulders, wild gesticulation, annoying bastard in the Italian team and I'm surprised Zidane didn't give it to him right on the shnoz. The head-butt to the chest didn't do any damage, except to French hopes.

Every World Cup is the same. Most of the interesting games are in the early rounds where there is positive football and plenty of scoring, especially from long range. But then the teams with attacking flair, often African, are mostly bundled out by a combination of professionalism, solid defence and "big team" decisions by the referees. Thus, the finals are packed with highly disciplined teams with excellent defences, often leading to "thrilling" 0-0 results after 120 minutes. Don't get me wrong, these games are often very tactically interesting but some actual goals would help the spectacle. On top of this, the entire affair is lousy with diving cheats who often scam victory, despite endless FIFA assurances about stamping out simulation.

I watched a game of Australian Rules football between two bottom teams after really enjoying the first week of the World Cup and I was struck by what a great game I was seeing. Both sides were absolutely desperate, there was a relentless pace, it was physical, athletic and there was regular scoring. An international version of this would be incredible.

Football (soccer) fans in Australia often denigrate Aussie Rules by saying "Who cares? No other countries play it". Well, there's a reason for that. It was invented here and no-one else had much exposure to it. Also it is beginning to be played in other countries anyway. Its lack of international profile doesn't mean it isn't a wonderful game. Australians have had over a century of exposure to soccer but have overwhelmingly preferred to watch Aussie Rules and both forms of Rugby.

High class International Rugby is a phenomenal thing to watch. No simulation there: just strength, toughness, speed and skill. It must attract a different breed of Frenchman and Argentinean because they have national teams with proud records. In Rugby Union, Rugby League and Aussie Rules, athletes regularly play on with broken bones, punctured lungs etc. It's just part of the culture and when you are used to seeing that, a footballer who flings himself metres through the air before rolling half a dozen times and writhing around in apparent agony for several minutes, only to subsequently run off like nothing happened, is extremely hard to take.

I do enjoy "the beautiful game" but I just wish there was a little more stoicism, tempo and scoring and less Academy Award performances and useless chipping around of the ball at the back. Of course by the time the next World Cup rolls around, I'll have forgotten much of this and will be looking forward to it again. Although everyone's going to get mugged in South Africa. My ex girlfriend had been there for ten minutes before she was nearly raped by two black guys. Nice joint. I think I'll watch it on telly.

Cheers, Neilster

ORIGINAL: Vyshka
How could one not like a game (Aussie Rules) where the referees where those lovely hats.