What a cup

It wasn't the most exciting game of this World Cup. For me, it wasn't the most enthralling. But it was the final. Italy win the World Cup.

Tomorrow many of Italy's team may be signed to 3rd division teams as their clubs may be penalised with relegation in the wake of matchfixing scandals at home. But tonight they don't care.

Zinedine Zidane that beautiful, graceful player who played in his last tournament, captained France for the last time and played his last world class game - leaves football in disgrace. Sent off during extra time for head butting Materazzi in a bizarre onfield attack. I have to wonder if this is going to affect his post-career endorsement earnings. If France had won, then I guess he could gallic-shrug it off with a 'boof' and a 'c'est la vie' and happily march off to bank. Since they didn't (ha) then I guess, his idiocy will hurt his wallet and not just France's chance to lift the cup.

______

Neither France nor Italy were slated get this far - let alone to win. In the opening games, France certainly seemed no better than England and Italy struggled against the US during the group stage.

Italy won on penalties, but after a long and tragic history of going out of major tournaments for failing to score from the spot.

Let this be a lesson to England who have a similar record. It can be done. Practice, practice, practice. Believe.