|
French soccer star Zinedine Zidane apologized for head-butting an Italian opponent during the World Cup final, saying Wednesday that he was provoked by insults about his mother and sister. "I apologize, to all the children" who watched the match Sunday, Zidane said in his first, highly-awaited comments about the act of violence that marked the end of his career. Zidane did not specify exactly what Italian defender Marco Materazzi said that enraged him, but that it was insulting to his sister and mother. "I would rather have taken a punch in the jaw than have heard that," Zidane said, stressing that Materazzi's language was "very harsh." Zidane and Materazzi exchanged words after Italy broke up a French attack in extra-time. Seconds later, Zidane lowered his head and rammed Materazzi in the chest, knocking him to the ground. Zidane was sent off, reducing France to 10 men. Italy went on to win in a penalty shootout. The France captain said he felt no regret for his act, "because that would mean (Materazzi) was right to say all that." At nearly the same moment Zidane was appearing on French TV, excerpts from an interview that Materazzi gave to Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport were posted on the newspaper's Web site. "I didn't say anything to him about racism, religion or politics," Materazzi told the Gazzetta. "I didn't talk about his mother either. I lost my mother when I was 15 and even now I still get emotional talking about her. Naturally, I didn't know his (mother) was in the hospital, I give her my best wishes." "He's always been my hero, I admire him a lot." For days, sports fans around the world have been riveted by the question: What could Materazzi have said to set Zidane off? Media from Brazil to Britain hired lip readers to try to figure it out, then came up with different answers. Materazzi has acknowledged he insulted Zidane, without giving specifics. Materazzi spoke to Zidane in Italian. Zidane, who played for several years at Turin club Turin, speaks Italian. Despite the head-butt, Zidane was awarded the Golden Ball award for best player at the World Cup _ though FIFA president Sepp Blatter has suggested Zidane could be stripped of the honor. "The winner of the award is not decided by FIFA, but by an international commission of journalists," Blatter said in Italian newspaper La Repubblica. "That said, FIFA's executive committee has the right, and the duty, to intervene when faced with behavior contrary to the ethics of the sport." In France, many have already pardoned Zidane, even without his explanation. A poll published Tuesday in Le Parisien newspaper showed that 61 percent of the 802 people questioned forgave Zidane. | |
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Zidane Explains Head Butt Incident
Thu, Jul 13, 2:55 AM
Sunday, July 09, 2006
And The Winner is ITALY
The Winner of fifa world cup 2006 in Germany is ITALY.they beaten up France in shootout 5 -3.
read the full.is full artikel :
ITALY 1-1 FRANCE a.e.t 5-3 PSO
9 July 2006by FIFAworldcup.com
Italy are world champions for the fourth time after beating ten-man France 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Berlin's Olympiastadion on Sunday, 9 July 2006.
Twelve years after losing to Brazil in the first shoot-out in a FIFA World Cup™ Final, Italy made up for that heartbreak as all five men in blue converted their kicks to claim world football's greatest prize for the first time since 1982. For France the pain of defeat was compounded by the sight of Zinedine Zidane, on his last appearance as a professional, leaving the field having been sent off in extra time for butting Marco Materazzi off the ball.
It was Italy's first successful shoot-out in a FIFA World Cup after previous failures in 1990, 1994 and 1998 and ironically it was a miss from France’s David Trezeguet – whose golden goal had defeated the Azzurri in the final of UEFA EURO 2000 – that opened the door for Fabio Grosso to fire the winning spot-kick past Fabien Barthez and spark celebrations all the way from Bergamo to Bari.
If penalties can resemble a lottery, there could have been no more deserving matchwinner than Grosso, such a positive influence for Italy throughout this tournament. He was one of several Italians prominent in a first period where the Italians played the more fluent football, although it was France who took an early lead.
Eight years after scoring twice in the FIFA World Cup Final in Paris, Zidane opened the scoring with a seventh-minute penalty after Materazzi’s trip on Florent Malouda. By the 19th minute, however, Materazzi had made amends, the big defender heading the equaliser from Andrea Pirlo’s corner.
Although both sides threatened to score a second – notably Italy’s Luca Toni, who headed against Fabien Barthez’s crossbar before the break - neither managed to add a second. Extra time brought a scare for Italy when Buffon had to tip over Zidane's header but soon afterwards the France captain was making the sad walk to the dressing rooms.
The match:
6': This Final began with the most extraordinary of opening goals after Materazzi was adjudged to have illegally halted the progress of Malouda as he hurtled into the box. The resultant penalty saw two adidas Golden Ball candidates face off, and it was Zidane who prevailed, if only just, with an impudent chip that deceived Buffon, but rebounded off the underside of the bar and dropped down no more than a foot over the line. (0-1)
9': Materazzi, perhaps unsettled by his role in the French goal, came perilously close to doubling Les Bleus' advantage - and his own misery - when he glanced a Willy Sagnol cross into the side-netting with Buffon scrambling frantically across his line.
14': With Andrea Pirlo's set-pieces as dangerous as ever, Lilian Thuram showed admirable bravery to dive in and head one particular out-swinging free-kick behind for a corner, this from a position which could easily have seen the Juventus defender put through his own goal.
19': Italy hauled themselves level thanks to a potent combination of Pirlo’s dead-ball mastery and the aerial ability of Materazzi, as the latter gained spectacular redemption for his earlier blunder by towering above the French defence to bullet the former’s corner past Barthez. (1-1)
35': Some neat, one-touch interplay by the Azzurri on the edge of the French box gave Toni his first scent of goal, but Thuram slid in decisively to make a last-ditch saving tackle. France's defence again struggled to deal with Italy’s height and power from the resultant corner, however, and Toni headed yet another pinpoint Pirlo cross against the crossbar.
France assume control:
47': Henry started the second half in threatening mood, breaking into the Italy box but failing to trouble Buffon with his shot.
49': As in the first period, however, Italy looked threatening from a corner as Totti swung in the ball towards the head of Cannavaro but his effort was blocked by a defender and France survived.
50': Henry showed remarkable balance to carry the ball past three defenders but he could not pick out a white shirt with his low ball across goal, Zambrotta clearing the danger.
58': Despite the loss of Patrick Vieira with an apparent hamstring injury, replaced by Alou Diarra, France continued to take the game to the Azzurri. Lippi responded by sending on Daniele De Rossi and Vincenzo Iaquinta in place of Francesco Totti and Simone Perrotta.
62': France breathed a sigh of relief when Toni headed a Pirlo free-kick past Barthez only for the linesman to raise his flag for offside. Moments later at the other end, Henry, under pressure from Cannavaro, found the space to get in a shot but Buffon made the save.
72': Toni turned on the edge of the box and forced Barthez into a low save but the Italian had controlled the ball with his arm before letting fly.
78': As the clock ticked down, the game became increasingly scrappy with neither side enjoying any sustained possession. Pirlo was not far off target with a 25-yard free-kick, curling the ball narrowly wide of Barthez’s right-hand post.
90': Come the closing moments of the match, and despite the introduction of Alessandro Del Piero, it was Italy on the back foot but for all their probing, France were unable to open up the Azzurri back line.
Extra time:
100': Ribery created and then spurned the first opportunity of the extra period. He played a wall pass with Malouda on the edge of the Italy box and continued his run into the area before poking the ball just wide of the far post.
104': France were dominating and Zidane was denied a second goal only by the excellence of Buffon. The French No.10 slipped the ball out wide to Willy Sagnol and then met the ensuing cross with a firm header but Buffon tipped over.
111': Suddenly this Final took another twist as referee Horacio Elizondo brought play to a halt and marched to the other end of the field, where, after consulting with his linesman, he sent off Zidane for an off-the-ball incident in which Materazzi was butted in the chest. A sad way for the France captain to end his glorious career.
Penalties:
Pirlo, Materazzi, De Rossi and Del Piero all converted their spot-kicks for the Azzurri but although Sylvain Wiltord, Eric Abidal and Sagnol found the net for France, Trezeguet’s miss from France's second penalty let in Grosso to win the Trophy for Lippi’s side.
In conclusion:
Italy are deserved world champions after this narrowest of triumphs over France. In doing so, they buried the ghosts of USA 94 and climbed above Germany as the most successful European team in FIFA World Cup history with four wins. For France and Zidane there was no fairy-tale ending and instead they are left to reflect on a bitter ending to an unexpectedly long adventure.
Goal of the Tournament
Relive all the best goals of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™. Rate them at any time during the tournament. See how fans from around the world rated their favourite goals. Find out which is selected Goal of the Tournament.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH ALL THE BEST GOALS
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Beautiful Sexy girls soccer fans of worldcup 2006 germany
Dutch Cup fever turns into wuppie mania
Dutch Cup fever turns into wuppie mania
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-06-22 09:25
Wuppies, little tufts of synthetic orange fur with eyes, are becoming a national craze with Dutch backing for their World Cup team reaching fever pitch.
The supermarket chain Albert Heijn launched a campaign two weeks ago to support the country's soccer heroes and said they had run out of 16 million wuppies in two weeks after giving them to customers who spent more than 15 euros (US$18.94) on groceries.
An element of the campaign included changing the name of the traditional song chanted by Dutch soccer fans from 'Hup Holland Hup' (go Holland go) into 'Wup Holland Wup'.
"Part of the success is the parents of today were the kids who bought the wuppies 25 years ago," said a spokeswoman for the supermarket chain.
A larger version of the wuppie, the 'mega wuppie', has also been snapped up.
The chain quickly ran out of mega wuppies, which are now being traded on eBay for as much as 28 euros, about four times their original price.
A woman was fined 130 euros this week for having four on her car dashboard. Police said the wuppies were a hazard because they blocked her view, Dutch NOS news reported.
taken from : http://chinadaily.com.cn/sports/2006-06/22/content_623235.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuppie :
In June 2006 the Dutch supermarket chain Albert Heijn reintroduced the Wuppies in a new
campaign connected to the Soccer World Cup 2006 under the motto Wup Holland Wup, a variation of Hup Holland Hup (Go Holland Go), a Dutch patriotic song). They are used as a kind of saving stamp. A customer receives one Wuppie for each 15 euros spent at an Albert Heijn store. There are orange, red, blue and white Wuppies (orange being the national Dutch colour and red, white and blue the colours of the Dutch flag). Each Wuppie comes with a saving stamp and three saving stamps can be exchanged together with 2,49 euros for one Mega Wup. Albert Heijn's Wuppie campaign with the World Cup Wuppie Song (With a Wup we will win the World Cup) proved to be immensely popular. On June 16th the Mega Wups were virtually sold out.
David Beckham Goal of the Day
Goal of the DayDavid Beckham – another sublime free-kick
The FIFA World Cup has witnessed the England captain's prowess on free-kicks before. Beckham's first goal for his country came at France 98 where a curving set-piece put the ball out of the reach of Colombia's goalkeeper. At Korea/Japan 2002 it was his penalty that brought England sweet revenge over Argentina and enabled them to advance to the quarter-final stage.
Beckham stepped up to the stationary ball. Up and over the wall it went and then down, a deadly mix of power and accuracy to find the only corner of the goal that Cristian Mora couldn't get his fingers to with sufficient strength to tip the ball aside. It was a fatal blow for the South Americans who had been one of the surprise stories of this FIFA World Cup but who couldn’t find the attacking combinations and fluency that served them so well in their first two games.
England’s problems were often of their own making. After ten minutes John Terry misplaced a header and that opened the way for Carlos Tenorio but Ashley Cole timed his last-gasp challenge to perfection and the ball deflected onto the crossbar.
England had their moments – chiefly involving Wayne Rooney who led the line on his own and, considering his lack of football over the last two months, did wonderfully well to complete a 90-minute shift. One turn and spin past a defender was Rooney at his best but Frank Lampard’s attempt to give it the conclusion it deserved was wayward.
Soon after his goal Beckham was physically sick out on the pitch, and later admitted that he hadn't been feeling well before the game. He did not finish it, making way for Aaron Lennon near the end but his best work had ensured that England advanced.
taken from : http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/060625/1/89qe.html
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Herbert Gronemeyer - Celebrate The Day Lyrics
The Official FIFA 2006 World Cup Anthem
Gronemeyer, Silva, Bagayoko, Doumbia
To win again
To never stop finding
Moving as one
Is the word for home
Begin to place
Yourself in the big frame
When you dream
When you dream
Away...away
verse 1:
En avant pour la victoire
En avant pour la victoire
C'est le moment de l'espoir
C'est le moment de l'espoir
Let the sweet air
Fill our hearts
Walk on and celebrate the...
Day the day the day celebrate the day etc.
Grab your drums
Paint your soul
Feel the roar and celebrate the...
To win again
To never stop climbing
The rising road
Of ultimate faith
Unity
The world in a heartbeat
When you dream
When you dream
Away...away
Sunday, June 18, 2006
The Official Album Of The 2006 FIFA World Cup
World cup fever is here and we're counting down for the games to kick off!
The FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 begins in Munich on Saturday, June 9 and SONY BMG is thrilled to present the Official World Cup album, 'Voices'.
Featuring the official theme song, 'Time Of Our Lives' by Il Divo and Toni Braxton, this 2CD album (presented in a limited edition slipcase for Australia) also contains smash hits from superstars Westlife, Mariah Carey, Barbra Streisand, Ricky Martin, Shakira, Kelly Clarkson and Billy Joel, as well as scorchers from Shannon Noll, Delta Goodrem, Rogue Traders, and Kane Alexander with a brand new track, 'Here's To The Heroes', recorded especially for the big event!
The FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 commences on June 9, with the final match to take place on July 9.
TRACKLISTING:
DISC 1
1. IL DIVO WITH TONI BRAXTON - THE TIME OF OUR LIVES - THE OFFICIAL SONG FOR THE FIFA WORLD CUP GERMANY 2006
2. SHAKIRA FEAT WYCLEF JEAN - HIPS DON'T LIE - BAMBOO (2006 FIFA World Cup Mix)
3. MARIAH CAREY - HERO
4. DELTA GOODREM - BORN TO TRY
5. KANE ALEXANDER - HERE'S TO THE HEROES
6. KELLY CLARKSON -BECAUSE OF YOU
7. ANASTACIA - ONE DAY IN YOUR LIFE
8. ROGUE TRADERS - BELIEVER
9. SHANNON NOLL - LEARN TO FLY
10. OASIS - WONDERWALL
11. ELTON JOHN - YOUR SONG
12. ROD STEWART - EVERYTIME WE SAY GOODBYE
13. GEORGE MICHAEL - PRAYING FOR TIME
14. ELVIS PRESLEY - ALWAYS ON MY MIND
15. R KELLY - I BELIEVE I CAN FLY
16. SAVAGE GARDEN - TRULY MADLY DEEPLY
17. RICKY MARTIN - PRIVATE EMOTIONS
18. SANTANA FEAT THE PRODUCT G&B - MARIA MARIA
19. HERBERT GRONEMEYER - CELEBRATE THE DAY (Zeit, Dass Sich Was Dreht) FIFA WORLD CUP 2006 ANTHEM
DISC 2
1. WESTLIFE - YOU RAISE ME UP
2. IL DIVO AND CELINE DION - I BELIEVE IN YOU (Je Crois En Toi)
3. AMICI FOREVER - NESSUN DORMA
4. EROS RAMAZOTTI - PIU BELLA COSA
5. WHITNEY HOUSTON - ONE MOMENT IN TIME
6. ALICIA KEYS - IF I AIN'T GOT YOU
7. DIDO - THANK YOU
8. MICHAEL JACKSON - EARTH SONG
9. ANNIE LENNOX - WHY
10. SIMPLY RED - SUNRISE
11. YOUSSOU N DOUR FEAT NENEH CHERRY - 7 SECONDS
12. BARBRA STREISAND - WOMAN IN LOVE
13. BILLY JOEL - JUST THE WAY YOU ARE
14. SIMON & GARFUNKEL - BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER
15. KATIE MELUA - THE CLOSEST THING TO CRAZY
16. DES'REE - LIFE
17. TONI BRAXTON - UN-BREAK MY HEART
18. NATALIE IMBRUGLIA - SHIVER
19. WILL YOUNG - YOUR GAME
SHAKIRA FEAT WYCLEF JEAN - HIPS DON'T LIE - BAMBOO (2006 FIFA World Cup Mix)
"Hips Don't Lie"
(feat. Wyclef Jean)
Ladies up in here tonight
No fighting, no fighting
We got the refugees up in here
No fighting, no fighting
Shakira, Shakira
I never really knew that she could dance like this
She makes a man wants to speak Spanish
Como se llama (si), bonita (si), mi casa (si, Shakira Shakira), su casa
Shakira, Shakira
Oh baby when you talk like that
You make a woman go mad
So be wise and keep on
Reading the signs of my body
And I'm on tonight
You know my hips don't lie
And I'm starting to feel it's right
All the attraction, the tension
Don't you see baby, this is perfection
Hey Girl, I can see your body moving
And it's driving me crazy
And I didn't have the slightest idea
Until I saw you dancing
And when you walk up on the dance floor
Nobody cannot ignore the way you move your body, girl
And everything so unexpected - the way you right and left it
So you can keep on shaking it
I never really knew that she could dance like this
She makes a man want to speak Spanish
Como se llama (si), bonita (si), mi casa (si, Shakira Shakira), su casa
Shakira, Shakira
Oh baby when you talk like that
You make a woman go mad
So be wise and keep on
Reading the signs of my body
And I'm on tonight
You know my hips don't lie
And I am starting to feel you boy
Come on lets go, real slow
Don't you see baby asi es perfecto
Oh I know I am on tonight my hips don't lie
And I am starting to feel it's right
All the attraction, the tension
Don't you see baby, this is perfection
Shakira, Shakira
Oh boy, I can see your body moving
Half animal, half man
I don't, don't really know what I'm doing
But you seem to have a plan
My will and self restraint
Have come to fail now, fail now
See, I am doing what I can, but I can't so you know
That's a bit too hard to explain
Baila en la calle de noche
Baila en la calle de día
Baila en la calle de noche
Baila en la calle de día
I never really knew that she could dance like this
She makes a man want to speak Spanish
Como se llama (si), bonita (si), mi casa (si, Shakira Shakira), su casa
Shakira, Shakira
Oh baby when you talk like that
You know you got me hypnotized
So be wise and keep on
Reading the signs of my body
Senorita, feel the conga, let me see you move like you come from Colombia
Mira en Barranquilla se baila así, say it!
Mira en Barranquilla se baila así
Yeah
She's so sexy every man's fantasy a refugee like me back with the Fugees from a 3rd world country
I go back like when 'pac carried crates for Humpty Humpty
I need a whole club dizzy
Why the CIA wanna watch us?
Colombians and Haitians
I ain't guilty, it's a musical transaction
No more do we snatch ropes
Refugees run the seas 'cause we own our own boats
I'm on tonight, my hips don't lie
And I'm starting to feel you boy
Come on let's go, real slow
Baby, like this is perfecto
Oh, you know I am on tonight and my hips don't lie
And I am starting to feel it's right
The attraction, the tension
Baby, like this is perfection
No fighting
No fighting
SHAKIRA FEAT WYCLEF JEAN - HIPS DON'T LIE - BAMBOO (2006 FIFA World Cup Mix)
Thursday, June 15, 2006
FIFA World Cup Predictor Game
Can Brazil successfully defend the title and become champions for a sixth time? Will the backing of a partisan crowd spur Germany on to victory? And how will the chilling encounters in Group C between Argentina, Côte d'Ivoire, Serbia and Montenegro and the Netherlands be resolved?By playing the Predictor Game, you can forecast the results of each match at the FIFA World Cup in Germany. And to make things simpler for you, the group standings will automatically be calculated.
To play, simply type the results into the boxes on the Predictor Game page, based on how you think each match will be decided, e.g. if you think that Germany’s opening game against Costa Rica will end in a 1-1 draw, type 1 into the box next to Germany and do likewise in the box next to Costa Rica.
Complete the results for all of the matches in each of the eight groups and the group standings – together with the two qualifiers from each section - will automatically appear, without the need for you to do any arithmetic. Plot the path of each team right the way through to the Final – then hazard a guess as to who will end up being crowned world champions on 9 July in Berlin.
Compare your predictions with friends or work colleagues, send them a copy of your results sheet and see who guessed correctly. You can play the Predictor Game at either the group stage and then the knockout stage, or chance your arm by attempting to guess the outcome of the whole tournament in just one attempt. You can also print out the entire game and put your predictions on the wall.
