France - Italy (World Cup Final) Preview
Final: France v. Italy
When: 20.00 local, Sunday, July 9, 2006
Where: Berlin
Whether the 18th FIFA World Cup will be recalled with fondness or ambivalence largely depends on its defining match. Tonight’s final between European powers France and Italy offers a mediocre tournament a last chance of redemption.
Optimistically, the last major clash between the sides produced the best European Championship final in 24 years. France’s eventual and emotional 2-1 defeat of the Italians in Rotterdam won Euro 2000 in dramatic fashion and capped what remains international football’s best ever tournament.
While the football in Belgium and the Netherlands six years ago sparkled from first day to last, these World Cup finals have flattered to deceive. Even the French, the revelation of the knockout stages, have been hit and miss and have struggled at various junctures. While their supporters prefer to recall the glorious effervescent displays that beat Spain and Brazil, memories of Switzerland, South Korea, and Portugal are hard to shake.
That semi-final victory over the latter owed more to Portuguese fallibility than to French flair. The argument that France saved themselves for the final doesn’t wash. On the ropes awaiting a knockout blow, France were spared by Luis Felipe Scolari’s rejection of Nuno Gomes, the one player who could have added bite to a toothless Portuguese attack. Playing just one up front, Portugal had no cut to add to the undoubted thrust of their excellent midfield.
The talk too has all been about Zinedine Zidane’s impact on the tournament. Yet, he had less to say in the semi-final than fellow great Luis Figo. His well-dispatched penalty masked an ineffectual performance that was the lot of most French performers on the night. The question now is whether successive efforts against Spain and Brazil have taken too much from an ageing side.
The Italians, on the other hand, have been the most consistent side of these finals. An excellent opening performance took care of the lively Ghana, and while the Americans made a battle of their clash in Kaiserslautern, Italy recovered to see off the Czechs and Australia. All three of those games were blighted by red cards, artificially changing the dynamics at play, but clean victories over Ukraine and Germany add to the impression that the Azzurri are the best balanced side in world football.
In goal, Gianluigi Buffon has reached his peak and can now be acclaimed best goalkeeper in the world. Unlike the solid Jens Lehmann of Germany, Buffon has actually been called upon to make critical saves in preserving his run of clean sheets. Of course, it helps to have the tournament’s best defence in front of you.
Fabio Cannavaro has been the World Cup’s outstanding player, but has bad memories of his last meeting with France. With the clock ticking down to victory in Rotterdam, Cannavaro misread a high ball and inadvertently played Silvain Wiltord in for the heartbreaking equaliser. Minutes later he over-hit a pass to Demetrio Albertini, Robert Pires took advantage, and David Trezeguet buried the cross to snatch the trophy for France.
The absence of Alessandro Nesta is significant. His replacement, Marco Materazzi, has played well. However, his temperament is questionable and Italy are sure to miss the cooler Nesta when France turn up the heat. Thierry Henry, France’s lauded winger-cum-striker, has been known to maximise the impact of even fair challenges in this World Cup and will profit from any Materazzi uncertainty here.
For all their solidity in the centre, Italy’s defence is brilliantly marshalled down the flanks by this tournament’s outstanding full-back combination. While Germany’s Philipp Lahm rightly earned plaudits for his attacking swashbuckling displays, Fabio Grosso and Gianluca Zambrotta have been equally positive in attack and, in my view, superior defensively. That both scored critical goals in the last two knockout games says all anybody needs to know about Italian adventure.
Positive substitutions from coach Marcello Lippi helped overcome hosts Germany and signalled an adventurous intent lacking for six years. It’s no coincidence that Italy’s best displays of the last 30 years coincided with their most progressive and courageous football. Forced into attack in the second round of the 1982 World Cup, Italy found their feet in Spain and departed champions. Euro 2000 was the most recent example of the trend, though this summer’s exploits have continued it.
2006 FORM GUIDE:
France
v. Portugal (1-0)
v. Brazil (1-0)
v. Spain (3-1)
v. Togo (2-0)
v. South Korea (1-1)
v. Switzerland (0-0)
Italy
v. Germany (2-0, aet)
v. Ukraine (3-0)
v. Australia (1-0)
v. Czech Republic (2-0)
v. USA (1-1)
v. Ghana (2-0)
TEAM NEWS:
France (Possible): Barthez; Sagnol, Thuram, Gallas, Abidal; Vieira, Makelele; Ribéry, Zidane, Malouda; Henry
Also in Squad: Landreau, Coupet, Boumsong, Givet, Chimbonda, Silvestre, A. Diarra, Dhorasoo, Govou, Trezeguet, Wiltord
Italy (Possible): Buffon; Zambrotta, F. Cannavaro, Materazzi, F. Grosso; Pirlo, Gattuso; Camoranesi, Perrotta; Totti; Toni
Also in Squad: Peruzzi, Amelia, Zaccardo, Barzagli, Oddo, Barone, De Rossi, F. Inzaghi, Del Piero, Iaquinta, Gilardino
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Zinedine Zidane (France)
Whether he plays in the manner we’ve been accustomed to over the years or not, all eyes will be on the French master as he plays his final game in club or international football. To go out with two World Cup titles is scarcely comprehensible, but that’s the prize for Zizou if France prevail. The Italians know all about him from his sojourn at Juventus, but then he knows all about them too. A great player no matter the outcome, football will be all the poorer for his retirement. Zidane embodied individuality in the context of teamwork. A genius.
Francesco Totti (Italy)
Italy have progressed in spite of, rather than because of, Totti. For all his talent, Totti has rarely produced when it mattered. Temperamentally suspect, the Italians cannot afford a reappearance of the demons if they are to win tonight. The Roma man has a lot to prove and tonight will be the game that defines him.
PREDICTION:
France have the mentality of proven winners. Italy have the talent and verve. If the Azzurri turn up and approach the game as they have in recent rounds, their perfect blend of youth and experience will give them the critical edge. Any stereotypical bottling, however, and France will be in raptures tonight. Having said that, the evidence suggests a fourth crown for Italy. 10 players have scored their 11 goals in this tournament, and with a coach emphasising the need to attack at the expense of cowering conservatism, I expert a refulgent Italy to win the 18th FIFA World Cup in a manner reminiscent of their third triumph in Madrid 24 years ago. Italy 3-1 France.
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