Zidane's greatness has been kind of deceptive, you really don't realize how great he is until you look back @ his career. I'm picking France to win today b/c the French are playing like they did in 98 when they won the cup.....but once again all my picks have been wrong so Italy will win.

They really do.

wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! for italy!

Italy played a good game.........what happened w/ Zidane he just flipped out.

France outplayed Italy all game. What Zindane did cost histeam the game. No matter what the personal affront, you CANNOT LOSE your DISCIPLINE in that situation.

It always galls me when people put PERSONAL differences before the TEAM.

Yeah, it's a sad ending to Zidane's career and to France's World Cup run. Even though they controlled the game, I knew that if it went to PKs, they would lose. Even if Zidane's actions marred his swan song(and proved disastrous to the team!), we still have to give him his props. Nothing can take that away from him!

Zidane will speak on French T.V about what the Italian player said to him that triggered his response. (the head butt) I know from experience the Italians (some) can say some rather nasty things concerning their opponents race or ethincity.

Zidane stated the reason for the head butt was that the Italian player made constant slurs against him as well as his mother & sister.

One thing that bothers me is the "ign'ant," jingoistic blabber by some American commentators how soccer(football) is un-American and not worth watching and consideration as a professional sport.

It 's shows how self-absorbed we are. (An arrogance reflected in our politics and foreign policy.) I think an infusion of critical mass of African American athletes with proper coaching could do wonders for the sport in the U.S. We have some good young talent in the likes of DeMarcus Beasley,Eddie Johnson, and Freddie Adu(who needs to be in Europe!)but we need to have more outreach activites to a broader swatch of African American youth. The situation of the MSL is another ball of wax that I'm not competant t pontificate on.

Hey Bruh looks like you got your wish Freddy Adu is set to work out w/ Manchester United it's only for two weeks but it's a start.

Axeam-
That's great news. I feel as thought he was just a sacrificial lamb for the MSL, who wanted to "develop" him for the league to draw crowds. But he will never develop to his full potential here.