Blue Sunday
World Cup Final
Les Bleu meet the Azzurri
VS

Sunday
July 9, 2006
2:00 p.m. EST
2006 World Cup Championship Game
Berlin, Germany
Olympiastadion

Fifa Announces World Cup Final Referee
Argentinian Horacio Elizondo

Neither team has played Argentina in this World Cup. Elizondo is the same official who dismissed England striker Wayne Rooney after his blatant groin stomp in a quarter-final game against Portugal. He also officiated Germanys 4-2 win over Costa Rica in the opening game of this tournament. It should be known that the greatest World Cup player of all time, Diego Maradano, while playing for Argentina was also part Italian and he has given Italy his full backing and support since the Argentinians were dismissed.

Worlds Greatest Defender To Miss Final

Enrico Castellacci, Italian team doctor gave the briefing that has been almost a tradition before every Italian game in this tournament.
"He's definitly not available"
Allesandro Nesta has missed all the knockout round games since his groin injury against the Czechs in the final Group Match. Not only has Marco Matterazzi stepped up to fill Nesta's role, but Fabio Cannavaro is now challenging Nesta's title as Worlds Best Defender.

Official Colors Announced

Les Blue will where Les White while the Azzurri will look just like that. Italians received the honor of being the home team and they chose the Blue uniforms.

Quotes
French Man of Match vs Portugal
Lilian Thuram
'I know these players and I know how strong they are. I know their quality and it will be a very hard game.
'It is probably the best team in the tournament. I could always see them going very far. The coach made a very good selection for this group and they have been playing together for a long time. They have a great solidarity.

Over Les Hill

Claude Makelele, Zinedine Zidane and Thuram all had be to coaxed out of retirement by French coach Raymond Domenech who had trouble developing the younger crew and needed the vetern stop gap in order to avoid an embarassment much like 2002.

FIFA Rankings Overhauled, France, Italy excepted to skyrocket

The last batch of old system Fifa rankings had France at No. 8 and Italy at No. 13. Behind such countries as No. 2 Czech Republic, No. 4 Mexico, No. 5 USA and No. 11 Nigeria. Brazil is expected to maintain No. 1 regardless with Italy expected to be at No. 2 if they can lay claim to being World Cup champions on Sunday.

The newever rankings will include stregth of schedule and wins will lose importance as the years go by. Results will be counted over a four-year period and caliber of tournaments played in will be accounted for. Even witht he new system Italy would still be No. 10 in the rankings before the World Cup started.

The Stadium
Olympiastadion
72,000
242 Million Euro Reconstruction



The stadium in Berlin has hosted many epoch-making events but they will all pale in comparsion to what will occur inside those hallowed walls on July 9, 2006. Well over a billion people outside and 72,000 inside will witness the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final.

Quotes

Allesandro Del Piero Calls France the favourites
"I think France are slight favourites because they are certainly going into this game with less stress than us. "
"In France there isn't the same chaso that we have in Italy that involved our club sides and th ere isnt the same coverage from the press and televison that we have.
"There aren't two teams better sutied for a final than these two"

Thierry Henry
Italy is a bit like a scorpion," "We need to be very wary."

Thuram, who calls Italy "probably the best team in the tournament" fears the worst.
"They are very strong," Thuram said. "It will be a very tough match. At the start of the competition, I thought they would go very far."

Defense Makes It To World Cup Finals

Much has been made about Italy's stifling defense and how Italy has yet to allow the opponent to score on them in six matchs during this tournament. France's defensive track record isn't too bad either. They are coming off consecutive shutouts of Brazil and Portugal. Anyone with half a soccer mind knows it has nothing to do with old goalkeeper Fabien Barthez and more to do with the wall they build around them.

The last goal they conceded was in the 28th minute of the second round match against Spain on a penalty kick. They have only given up two all tournament. The over under in the World Cup Final is set at 2 with plenty of action slamming the under.



A compilation of France tabloids proclaiming the good news of the French advancing to the World Cup finals Thursday morning after a 1-0 win over Portugal.


World Cup's Most Outstanding Player
Golden Ball Nominees

Michael Ballack, M, Germany

Gianluigi Buffon, GK, Italy

Fabio Cannavaro, D, Italy

Thierry Henry, F, France

Miroslav Klose, F, Germany

Maniche, M, Portugal

Andrea Pirlo, M, Italy

Patrick Vieira, M, France

Gianluca Zambrotta, D, Italy

Zinedine Zidane, M, France

npocs take
It comes down to the final. Only an Italian or Frenchmen has a chance of taking this home. If Italy wins in another shutout it goes to Gianluigi Buffon, because the numbers just do not lie although I think that Cannavaro deserves it more. If Pirlo tacks on another goal or a few assists he could be the darkhorse. Klose will get the golden boot and that is it. Ballack has no chance. If France wins the World Cup, it goes to Zidane regardless (unless Henry pulls a hat trick.) He is the sentimental favorite and will steal alot of votes from Vieira and Henry.
And who the fuck is Maniche?

French and Italian Leaders
Minutes
Fabio Cannavaro 570 *
William Gallas 540 *
Claude Makelele 540 *
Willy Sagnol 540 *
Lilian Thuram 540 *
Patrick Vierira 530
Thierry Henry 526
Fabio Grosso 480

* denotes they have yet to miss a minute of their teams action

Goals
Henry 3
Vieira 2
Zidane 2
Toni 2
10 Italians tied with 1

Assists
Totti 3
Pirlo 2
Vieira 2

Shots on Goal
Henry 11
Totti 11
Toni 9
Gilardino 6
Ribery 4
Del Piero 3

Offsides
Henry 17
Toni 8
Ianquinta 5
Gilardino 4

Team Goals a Game
Italy 1.83
France 1.33

Assists
Italy 8
France 5

Shots on Goal
Italy 45
France 30

Offsides
Italy 30
France 27

Corner Kicks
Italy 39
France 34

Crosses
France 133
Italy 124

Goals Against
Italy 0.17
France 0.33

Cards
France 13 Yellow
Italy 10 Yellow
Italy 2 Red
France 0 Red

Tackles
Gattuso 31
Vieira 31
Cannavaro 24
Pirlo 20
Thuram 14
Zambrotta 14

Goalkeeping
Buffon 570 Minutes 1 GA 23 Saves
Barthez 540 Minutes 2 GA 13 Saves

Captains
Italy
Fabio Cannavaro

France
Zinedine Zidane


Closing Ceremony
Following the World Cup Final a 10-minute closing ceremony will take place featuring Shakira and 400 performers. Placido Domingo will sing at halftime in the final. German officials are putting alot of time effort and money into the World Cup final. With well over a billion people viewing the game, Germany has a chance to shine a new light on a country usually viewed as outdated.



Festive Training Session
Associated Press
Duisburg, Germany (AP) - Italy held a festive training session Thursday, attended by nearly 3,000 fans blowing air horns and waving the country's "tricolorer" flags.
The Azzurri trained with the special golden "Teamgeist" ball that will be used for Sunday's World Cup final against France.


Gennaro Gattuso jogs ahead of Pipo Inzaghi during a training session Thursday in anticpation of the 2006 World Cup Final against France Sunday in Berlin. This is Italy's first trip to the World Cup final since 1994 and they have not won a title since 1982.

On a humid and overcast afternoon, the most excitement came when a 3-year old boy got past security and ran onto the field. Forward Alberto Gilardino traded passed with teh child, who was dressed in Italy's blue jersey.

The practice session concluded witha bicycle kick display by Del Piero. Italy will travel to Berlin on Saturday and train in the Olympic Stadium on the eve of the final.

ESPN Page 2 Excerpt
By Bill Simmons
Why I Love the World Cup

Reason No. 2. These games feel like life or death. No, really. When the Colombian defender was murdered after 1994's World Cup, the stakes were set: Screw up and you may die. You can see it on everyone's face. After Argentina's OT goal, the shell-shocked coach of Mexico looked as if he'd gotten a terminal diagnosis from his doctor. I half expected him to start hastily scribbling a will.

For most of the countries involved, soccer is the equivalent of baseball + football + basketball here, if those sports came around only one month every four years. You can feel the tension. It's suffocating. The winners are relieved, the losers decimated. There's no in-between.

Streaks, Records, Etc...
Buffon has kept his goal intact for 453 minutes, good enough for fifth on the all-time ranking for unbeaten goalkeepers in the World Cup. The only goal he has allowed was an own goal by Cristian Zaccardo in the US game. If Buffon pitches another clean sheet he will establish a new FIFA World Cup record.
He would be breaking Italian Walter Zengas record of 517 minutes of shutout ball.

The run through this year's World Cup in Germany has extended the run of FIFA World Cup matches without defeat on European soil (excluding penalty shoot-outs) to 25. Their last reverse came in 1974 in Germany.

Fabio Cannavaro, Golden Ball candidate will make his 100th cap on Sunday for Italy. He will be third on the all-time list for Italians behind Paolo Maldini (125) and Dino Zoff ( 112).

Del Piero's game clinching goal against Germany was his 24th international goal, tying him for fourth on the Italian all-time list with Roberto Baggio.

Italy is unbeaten in its last 24 international games dating to a 1-0 setback agaisnt Slovenia in October of 2004.


Italian team portrait taken shortly before the Germany game in the 2006 World Cup seminfinals. Italy would score two goals in the 118th and 120+ minute to shock the host nation and advance to the finals.

Head to Head
Italy 17-7-8 advantage over France. Last Italian win was in 1978 in Argentina.

1938 World Cup
Quarterfinal
Italy 3-1

1978 World Cup
Group Stage
Italy 2-1

1986 World Cup
Round of 16
France 2-0

1998 World Cup
Quarterfinal
Italy 0-0 France
France (4-3 on penalties)

2000 Euro Final
France 2-1 (extra time)

Average Starting 11 Age
Italy 29.6
France 30.3

Italians eligible to play for other countries
Mauro Camoranesi (Argentina)
Simone Perrotta (England)

Frenchman eligible to play for other countries
Thuram
Henry
Gallas
Vieira
Zidane
Makalele
Malouda
Abidal

That says alot about the two teams. Italy is nearly all italian, France is just slaves imported from France's African colonies.

Position by Position
Goalkeepers
Buffon is widely regarded as best in the world and Barthez has had spells of stupidity in this tournament. However he has always been there for France in the big games.

Midfield
Gattuso vs Zidane is the best matchup of this game. Also Vieira will have to deal with Pirlo and Italy has the ever dangerous Totti lurking just behind the attack.

Defenders and strikers
Cannavaro vs Henry will be a repeat on Henrys win in last season's Champion League and Thuram will keep an eye on Luca Toni. They have met many times in Serie A.

A Golden Ball will be used during the World Cup final.

Poll Results
Who will win the World Cup
ESPN.com
Italy 64%
France 36%

CBSportsline.com
Italy 69%
France 31%

FOXsportsworld.com
Italy 67%
France 33%

Toronto Sun
Italy 56%
France 44%

Post-Gazette
Italy 79%
France 21%

Betting Lines
To advance
Italy -132
France +126

Italy to win before PK +150
France to win before PK +200
Penalty Kicks +180

-n