France Gets a Bit of Revenge Against Italy

Thank god Barthez is club-less and couldn’t play in this match. Alles les bleus! And way to go Govou!

I think Italy losing is a good thing maybe they will change their attitudes and start showing some respect. I love Italy it’s in my blood but today I am ashamed at all the BS. Italy need to act like world champions. France have showed they are better than us today.

I will not make anymore excuses for Italy. They are on their own and I would advise ALL Italian fans to do the same. This team has to change their attitude. Things went their way in the world cup and what this should of done is change this team for the better instead it has made them soft and egocentrical. I have to admit that throughout the world cup I was disgusted with the way Italy conducted themselves half of the time. I do not condone people who like to bash other countries but I feel some of the comments made(except lazaro’s because I f**king hate that guy)have some truth to them. I have no doubt the Italian National team will be bashed thoroughly and relentlessly by Italians and the Italian media for next couple of days and rightfully so. Are we World Champions?? Is this how champions play?? I mean I don’t expect Italy to win but show some pride and put out a genuine effort in every game like France, Germany etc…Italy needs to find players that can score at will not these half-assed cocky wannabe strikers. I am still an Azzuri fan but I am FED UP with this crap. It is unacceptable and extreme measures are required. We need to gain some respect back in the footballing world and start playing like we matter. It’s no wonder everyone wants us to lose, look at us. I’m tired of looking at other teams and wondering why Italy doesn’t play like that. Can you f**king tell me why??? (not you lazaro because I hate you) I just can’t wrap my head around it.

The italy fans won’t believe my sincerity when I write this but really, they should chill out over this loss. I could understand them being upset if this were really a critical game but we’re still very much at the start of the qualifying rounds. Things change very fast in this sport. And France is still dependent on veteran players (some of whom can’t last much longer) while italy’s already breaking out with younger ones, and giving them a go at these early games. We got a long way to go here. I’m not feeling smug at all – tho I know the italy fans on this blog won’t believe that.

As Italian kids say when they get their revenge, “Adesso siamo pari.” Now, we are even.

Let’s look at the future.

me i think the italians are are very excellent team and we are the fknn champions of 2006 and u no wut i say italy had play just abit better against france and they would of won the only think tht i have to say is tht italyy is the fknn best and iam full blooded italian and nobody plays beter soccer than the italians and italians are the best in the world and u no wut FORZAA AZZURI CAMPIONE DEL MONDO 2006 and france u cud go fukurself and suck my dick cuz french ppl are lil fukerzz like zidane he goes and head butt materzzi hes a pure french a pure pise of shit tht wut french ppl are anways im out FORZAAA AZZURI

Lazero, I hear what you are saying, BUT to loose to France, come on if they didn’t win any other matches this should have been the one to win, if only to put all the sour puss to bed. Italy played as if they hadn’t slept for a week, they had 51% of the possession and couldn’t turn it around. I think it is time we started looking at the management skills, yeah he is giving younger players a run around but at what cost. I know it is early days but this is the ONE match they should not have lost, it would have silenced all those anti Italia mob once and for all. So sad to see them struggle like they did tonight, Mr. D still needs to play the experienced players, at least he didn’t leave Zambrotti on the bench, that was a big mistake in the last match.

Considering Euro Cup champions don’t do very well in the world cup, perhaps it is better if Italy doesn’t win or even make it to the tournament (if you are a fan of the Italian team) since the World Cup is the more prestigious of the tournaments. Regardless, people still seem fixated on demeaning and degrading Italy and its accomplishments in the world cup. Every elite football team has a measure of ego and pompousness to them, and sometimes, as in the case of Italy today and Brazil in the world cup, such attitudes work against you. Italy is no different in its approach to the game, it’s just that it has had more success than most other countries. Nonetheless, if the current manner of playing is indicative of what is to come from Italy, it is doubtful it will have a winning team for a while. Perhaps they need another scandal to enable them to focus on the game.

It is obvious, France is the better team.

Can somebody who saw the match tell me what happened with Cannavaro today? The live blog I was following said that the goal attributed to Henry was actually a Cannavaro own-goal? Anybody see it? What happened?

And it also said that he and Govou had an incident (during France’s third goal) that knocked them both off their feet, with Cannavaro needing to be carried off on a stretcher? But he was back on the field in a couple of minutes?

Somebody who saw the game please comment!!!

yeah, Henry’s shot deflected off Canavaro’s leg and did a little hop over a sprawled Buffon..was a flooky goal. The other guy, however, scored two nice goals. The second of them was a header where he flicked his head to direct the ball and nailed Cana in the head on the follow through.

Hello Laurie,

I saw the game, actually I just finished watching the replay.

The first French goal actually should have been disallowed as the play was offside. The second goal Henri kicked the ball in towards goal on a very tight angled shot which took a deflection off Carnavaro and beat Buffon. There’s nothing you can do. Regardless the French dominated the match and simply played keep away from Italy most of the second half. Gilardino’s goal was nice and so was Govou’s second goal which resulted in Carnavarro and Govou clashing heads.

Near the end Italy were getting desparate and Gila and Inzaghi were diving in hopes of drawing a penalty or free kick. Gila recieved a yellow card for his trouble which I was happy about however, Malouda also dove in the area and he did not recieve a yellow. I like the fact that they are handing out yellow cards for this behavior but it would be nice if they were more impartial and consistent with their calls so as to eliminate ALL diving in the game. So when all was said and done Italy accepted defeat and now have a daunting task ahead of them as France and Scotland are flying high at the top of the group.

I can’t see both Italy and France making it out of the group. I would suspect France look more poised to advance than Italy at this time. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Italian soccer players are nothing but a bunch of thugs and losers. They got what they deserved.

Apparently Materazzi was not at his provoking best.

Thanks, Dan and Tony. Can I ask where you watched the game? You’re both from Canada — was it on TV there? Was it on TV anywhere here in the US? (I’m having Bleus withdrawals after World Cup!!)

And anybody have links to video for the Govou-Cannavaro head-smash?

i watched it on RAI, its an italian station I get through my sat provider.

Kruman. Materazzi didnt play, where you been? remember the headbut the suspension.

I think Juve should get a lot of the blame for Italies bad showing in Euro 2008 qualifying. Serie A wasn’t able to start on time because Juve was fighting their penalties in court. I suspect the Italien players were rusty and not match fit. Italy is sure starting the Euro 2008 in a big hole. Let’s see if they are good enough to climb out of it.

Laurie,
I watch the match on tvants, you can download the software from here
http://www.football4less.com/streams/tvants.html

This is a peer-2-peer broadcasting. On any game day, try the chanels that have the most peers. Hope this help! Enjoy soccer!

France played really well today. Italy played better than their last game but they are not fully fit yet. I think it is pre-mature to judge the World Champions at this early stage of the game: they just got a new coach, some key WC players are not playing and Series A has been delayed.

let us not debate the fact that iyaly deserved the world cup. and their tame loss to the french is an effect of the hangover the champion side is still under.

France deserved to win the game no doubts on this. Well done France!!!
But frankly speaking I prefer to lose this battle and have won the war (World Cup’06 Docet) amybe France as well (Isn’t??)
Further for all those people still arguing about Italy , WHAT FUCKING ATTITUDE ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT about???
How you can judge Italy based just one game? Are you forgetting that while France keept the base team of last WC (9 out of 11) Italy re-newed the majority of players? Did you forget about Tony, Totti, Camoranesi, Materazzi, Del Piero, Nesta?
To KRUMAN : MA VA A CAGHER!

Viva Francia, Viva Italia

e viva le sorelle dei francesi

Foxsoccer channel showed some footage of the game last night and showed the head clash between Cannavaro and Govou. Talk about headbutts – a double one! Whew! Both were pretty hurt. Looked nasty. They also showed footage of Vieira (now with Inter Milan) and Cannavaro (now with Real Madrid) talking as they came out on the pitch – they’re former Juve teammates.

Also pundit Bobby McMahon made the point that’s something often commented on by pundits and football history buffs like me: historically it’s very difficult for world cup winners and euro cup winners to stay on top. Only two countries have done it, winning both cups in succession: Germany and France. And even they went quickly downward after their uncommon extended successes.

He mentioned several examples, like Czechoslavakia winning the Euro cup in ‘76 but not even qualifying for the world cup in ‘74 and ‘78. Italy won the world cup in ‘82 but couldn’t qualify for the euro cup in ‘84 (France won that one).

McMahon also pointed out (again, something European pundits say all the time) that the Euro Cup is actually a tougher process to qualify for than the world cup.

And don’t underestimate the importance of the Euro Cup for Europeans. It’s huge. It comes close to rivalling the significance of the world cup to some European pundits and fans.

Anyway, nice to see France play so well but being Spanish, once again my heart was broken yesterday. We have the world’s best league in sheer number of quality players both Spanish and foreign (currently anyway) but on the international level, it’s just a perennial disappointment. Northern Ireland beat us 3-2. They have a helluva striker on their squad, why hasn’t he been snatched up by the EPL?

“Lazero, I hear what you are saying, BUT to loose to France, come on if they didn’t win any other matches this should have been the one to win, if only to put all the sour puss to bed. Italy played as if they hadn’t slept for a week, they had 51% of the possession and couldn’t turn it around.”

I honestly don’t know if their problem was complacency but if it was, then this is a good lesson. The biggest lesson to come out of the world cup was the pitfalls of arrogance and complacency, witness Brazil.

By the way, there are rumours flying around that Lippi might come back in some sort of advisory capacity.

Kruman,

actually the Italians showed they know how to loose. Nobody here or in Italy said they played better or that they deserved to win, like someone else on the other side did at the World Cup.

Like the Italians weren’t there to play and scored goals against them.

A French player even said the referee wasn’t the same guy for the second half.

I’m impressed by the depth the French team is showing, particularly in the midfielders and in scoring ability. Les Vieux (the old guys) had better watch out! (And this does not bode well for poor Trezeguet, whom I still kind of like. What happened to him, anyway?)

It was also kind of good to see Buffon take his lumps yesterday. He was so cocky during and after World Cup. Yes, he’s an extremely good keeper, but I never mind seeing people like that taken down a peg. It’s not like he stopped any more PKs than Barthez in the final!

I read all these comments and don’t see any perspective based on the facts. First of all, this is not the same Italian team that won the World Cup. 9 of the 23 members of that team have not been there, including a number of key players, for various reasons from pulling out because they weren’t fit (Totti), to suspension (Materazzi),to retirement (Perotta). Secondly, Marello Lippi haas retired as well and there’s a new coach who is experimenting with new players and trying out new tactics; he doesn’t have it together yet. Thirdly, the Italians have been vacationing and celebrating since the World Cup, not preparing for the European Cup qualifying. They are out of form, unlike the French who have been waiting fanatically for the rematch with Italy to prove they are the better team. Lastly, Seria A has not started (delayed apparently because by Juventus)and Italy and its national team players are not back in a football groove. By the time of the next qaulifiers, expect to see a very different Italian team, closer to one that won the cup in Germany. They’ll be fit and key players will be back; Coach Donadoni will have worked out a lot of kinks and they’ll be focused. And they will start winning again. Italy will join France in advancing from Group B. But from there, who knows. Historically, World Cup winners don’t do well in the tournaments that follow.

Italy played horrible period. Allowing a goal so early in the match is inexcusable offides or not.

Donadoni needs to go, bring in Capello for WC 2010.

Ed, you could not of summed it up any better! Forza Azzurri!!!!

i cannot except the excuse that Italy are still suffering from World Cup hangover. They are professionals and they should have been ready for this game. Let’s give credit where credit is due. France came into this game with 100% and didn’t let up for 90+ minutes, you have to respect that. I agree with lazaro 100% but I don’t agree with Kruman, I think certain players have that “win at all costs” mentality but hopefully that will change. It’s not the worst thing in the world to lose. Sometimes it can be an advantage to re-examine your game plan.

Dear Gianni: Donadoni deserves to be given a chance to formulate his own Azzurri. He came into a difficult situation, having to fill the shoes of a coach who just won the World Cup and with players focused on what they had just accommplished rather than looking ahead. Remember that Marcello Lippi – the master himself – stumbled when he first took over the Azzurri, losing several games.

1) THE FIRST FRENCH GOAL WAS OFFSIDE!!!!

2) THE SECOND FRENCH GOAL WAS A FLUKE

3) Serie A hasnt even started yet, alot of those players havent played many competitive games yet and their fitness levels are around 75%

Im not concerned about these first two games, the first game we played very well, we miss Nesta and Materazzi and of course Totti….
do not worry my brothers, we will qualify I am sure of it, and I think we are still the best team in the world

there we go now who are the sore loseres?
what a fantastic sight to see the team that we all know should have won the WC beat the greaseballs.just beautiful to watch.thierry is a god and the best player on the planet by a mile.just goes to show what a fluke it was for the itiai’s to win the WC was.doubt very much if they will qualify.very very average side.

Congratulations France on winning a Euro Cup Qualifying game against the Champions of the World.

I wasn’t very happy with Donadoni, but he has to give some playing time to the younger players.

It was an entertaining game.

allez francais

Where can I watch these matches on TV in the US?

just proves that les bleus are still the best and should easily have won the WC but for the cheating itlalians.far more stylish much more technical better fluid attacking play and very pleasing on the eye which is more than can be said of the boring italians who were just lucky to win a dour WC cause nobody else bothered to play as they should have.if the final was tommorrow france would thrash them.looks like bye bye itai maybe 2010….if your lucky.you WILL NOT BE MISSED.

“1) THE FIRST FRENCH GOAL WAS OFFSIDE!!!!
2) THE SECOND FRENCH GOAL WAS A FLUKE
3) Serie A hasnt even started yet, alot of those players havent played many competitive games yet and their fitness levels are around 75%”

And they call the French sore losers…

The excuses roll on…the second goal a “fluke” – I just love these convenient rationalizations. You don’t even have the good grace and intelligence to say “good job, France, you played better than us.” You’re totally incapable of giving your opponents credit. Grow the hell up.

The fact remains that the pattern continues: Since the mid-90s, Italy continues to be unable to beat France other than with penalties. Italy still has not beaten France with open play goals during the 90 minutes or overtime.

That said, we do have a very long way to go. Looks like Donadoni’s desperately trying to get Totti back. And at the moment, it is absolutely necessary for Italy to have a clear win in at least one of the next two games in order to stay in the euro ‘08 game.

good game france..but this is far from over.
We’ll be back.
AND THEN BEWARE…STILL THE BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD.
JUST A LITTLE HANGOVER.YOU JUST DON’T EXPECT SCOTLAND OR UCRAINE TO QUALIFIE OVER ITALY, DO YOU?

No we dont, we expect our Italian brothers to qualify second to us ;-)

Italy will do better, Im sure, the last game with france was just to give them some hope for the future after a stunning lost!!!!

Italy played well but France played better and deserved to win the world cup.

LOL all u people r just hatin’ ’cause Italia got the gold!! This is why i love 2 be Italiano!