Grand Finale
Early this morning, at about 1 a.m., me and my wife went to watch the World Cup Final "live" at her bro’s restaurant in Kota Damansara. We were so excited as this game only happened once in four years. We joined our cousins who had arrived earlier in the restaurant. We sat right in front of the big screen. The game was between France and Italy. I rooted for Italy while my wife was for France. All the cousins were for Italy.
The game started at 2 a.m. but the crowds were not as big as the previous nights as it was too early in the morning, most football fans might had to work at 8 a.m. Maybe they preferred to watch it at home, but I heard there was a big blast party in Bukit Bintang, KL at the same time. I could not make it to Bukit Bintang as it was not good for my pregnant wife to be pushed around in the unruly crowds there.
The final game started with a fast pace game, the ball was kicked around mostly in the midfield, but after 7 minutes the referee suddenly awarded a penalty to France after one of its players was fouled and brought down in the penalty box. To me, the penalty was unfair and too harsh as the player seemed to exaggerate the foul and there was only a slight contact. I called it “overacting” or “big drama”. But well, that was football, full of dramas and politics.
Anyway, after zizou converted the controversial penalty and the game continued, I believed that Italy would equalize in a matter of time, Italy doubled up their attacks and dominated the game for a while. As expected, not too long after that, Italy scored through one of its defenders, materazzi, he powerfully headed the ball into the goal after a sharp curling corner. I was jubilated and screamed in pure satisfaction. I knew it, I knew it.
After the equalizer, the game became more even and robust, both teams tried to score again but to no avail. It had to go to the extra time, all the players looked tired and no impressive individual effort from any forward player was made. Both henry and toni looked exhausted. Then zizou did something stupid, he literally headed the chest of materazzi after an abusive oral provocation from the latter, zizou was sent off by the referee. So he ended his international career with a red card. What a show!
After the extra time, there was still no winner, so it had to be decided by penalty kicks. I knew Italy would have a better chance here, because its players were all sharp shooter. France was without henry, zizou and vierra, so it was no surprise that trezeguet missed the penalty. Italy won the World Cup after cannavaro scored the last penalty. Italy proved that they were a better team.
Congratulations Italy, you deserve it. See you in South Africa in 2010.
The game started at 2 a.m. but the crowds were not as big as the previous nights as it was too early in the morning, most football fans might had to work at 8 a.m. Maybe they preferred to watch it at home, but I heard there was a big blast party in Bukit Bintang, KL at the same time. I could not make it to Bukit Bintang as it was not good for my pregnant wife to be pushed around in the unruly crowds there.
The final game started with a fast pace game, the ball was kicked around mostly in the midfield, but after 7 minutes the referee suddenly awarded a penalty to France after one of its players was fouled and brought down in the penalty box. To me, the penalty was unfair and too harsh as the player seemed to exaggerate the foul and there was only a slight contact. I called it “overacting” or “big drama”. But well, that was football, full of dramas and politics.
Anyway, after zizou converted the controversial penalty and the game continued, I believed that Italy would equalize in a matter of time, Italy doubled up their attacks and dominated the game for a while. As expected, not too long after that, Italy scored through one of its defenders, materazzi, he powerfully headed the ball into the goal after a sharp curling corner. I was jubilated and screamed in pure satisfaction. I knew it, I knew it.
After the equalizer, the game became more even and robust, both teams tried to score again but to no avail. It had to go to the extra time, all the players looked tired and no impressive individual effort from any forward player was made. Both henry and toni looked exhausted. Then zizou did something stupid, he literally headed the chest of materazzi after an abusive oral provocation from the latter, zizou was sent off by the referee. So he ended his international career with a red card. What a show!
After the extra time, there was still no winner, so it had to be decided by penalty kicks. I knew Italy would have a better chance here, because its players were all sharp shooter. France was without henry, zizou and vierra, so it was no surprise that trezeguet missed the penalty. Italy won the World Cup after cannavaro scored the last penalty. Italy proved that they were a better team.
Congratulations Italy, you deserve it. See you in South Africa in 2010.
posted by Hisyam at 5:04 PM
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