I am about to watch the World Cup Final...and I have it on ABC, in English. American English. Have I decided, after a whole tournament of Spanish commentary, to abandon my Mexican freinds? Already I can see why I've preferred the Mexican - the commercials are not even remotely about footy on ABC. It's all about movies and scary news reports. The Mexican adverts are so much better (such as the one about the Mexican guy and his American friend watching the World Cup in a bar; the American - Smith - isn't as ecstatic about the events, so he gets substituted for a hispanic guy named gomez! Wicked!). Oh I don't like this. They had adverts right up to the Italian national anthem, missing the start. If they have adverts during the match, I will freak out. I'm only watching the first half in ingles anyway. I am taping the whole match in espanol. Who do I want to win? I suppose I should want France, having lived there. But I just want the team that dives the least. Unfortunately England are already out. I do have a soft spot for Zidane though - it's his last match ever, too. Allez les bleus? Well, Italy are wearing blue today. France are again in their away kit. My two least favourite shirts of the tournament - France's was designed in an 80s nightclub, Italy's looks like there are permanent sweat-stains beneath the armpits. The commentator keeps calling it "the Championship match". I wish he wouldn't, I really do. And we're off! Half-time: It's 1-1; the penalty looked liked a dive but didn't Zidane take it cheekily?! Mixing the 1976 European championship final Czechoslovakian kick with the temporary 'was it in?' drama of 66. and then the Italians score again with a header - yes, I had to turn it back to the Mexicans for the "gooooooollllllll!!!!!" - the Americans do not get anywhere near as crazy. It's been a good half, so far, with comments from the Americans about "the unpredictable, yes, unrpedictable Fay-bian Barthez" and the fact that Zidane is one of the all-time greats but keeps hitting the deck. 90 mins: I think it'll go to penalties, but it's been a wicked game so far. Zidane went down hurt, but got back on the pitch, yeah! Go team! as they'd say here. And Italy with an off-side disallowed goal, oh dear. 110 mins: WHOAH!!!!!!!! Zidane sent off in his last ever match!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a butt, too. Will he get to lift the trophy? What drama! what did the Italian guy say to him to make him turn? the Americans are all saying, "that was absolutely awful what he did, you don't expect that of him. A player of that stature, his side a man down in the second overtime of the championship game." 120 mins: That's it, 'penales'. No Zidane, no Ribery, no Henry... Italy are at least without Baggio (ahem!). "Eh Bobby," says Thierry, "what's ze French for 'ze only way'?" The End: And so it doesn't matter about Zidane; his stupid reaction may have cost the team the World Cup, what a finish, Italy finally expel the defeat of 94 (and of 2000, too), and despite not being the better team on the day, at least they weren't as dirty (in my opinion), and despite being embroiled in utter corruption back home, they are now World Champions. Four stars. Who would have thought it? Certainly not Mystic Pete.
the 'championship' match?
9.7.06 13:45
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