How to prepare a Kiwi

Campione!

And so we have it. The new champions of the world, Italy! It was only the second Final in the history of the World Cup to be decided on penalties, and it was a match filled with drama and excitement, a fitting way to end a wonderful World Cup. It will also be remembered for a dramatic and inglorious end to Zidane's career.

France started the match in the best way possible, scoring in the 7th minute through a penalty taken by none other than Zidane. Italy did well to fight back and equalise, then went on to dominate the first half. The second half and extra time was by large dominated by France, but they failed to break down the resolute Italian defence.

Moments after almost scoring for France in extra time with a great leaping header, Zidane showed again just what a great header he was by headbutting Materazzi. Utter stupidity by Zidane. Granted, Materazzi did grab him and then said something to him, but Zidane as a great professional should have known better than to do that. Adding to the fact it was his last game and a World Cup Final at that with his team tied at 1 - 1, he surely has won the stupid moment of the year award.

Italy did well to win the penalty shootout by scoring all 5 penalties, considering their bad record at penalties. I disagree with people who say that penalty shootouts are a lottery. They aren't. Penalty shootouts are a skill and discipline of football, a test of your mental ability. So although I said I hoped it wouldn't come to penalties, it isn't because I think penalties aren't a good way to solve a game due to their lottery nature. It's because I'd rather see a game settled the normal way, despite my disagreeing that penalties are a lottery.

So congratulations to Italy, who I think are worthy champions, for winning the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

2006 FIFA World Cup Final

So here we are, after a month of football and 63 matches, it all boils down to this. The FIFA World Cup Final, the most important match in football that decides the champion of the world for the next four years.

Italy have played efficiently to progress to the Final despite facing a corruption scandal back home and the apparent suicide attempt of Gianluca Pessotto. This could have turned out to be a blessing in disguise by uniting the Italian players. Italy have also managed to maintain their run of appearing in the World Cup Final every twelve years beginning from 1970. With only one goal conceded (and an own goal at that) and with 11 goals scored by 10 different players, Italy are looking real good to win the cup. They have shaken off to a certain extent, their catenaccio system.

France meanwhile, started the World Cup in sluggish form with their top players looking as if they've reached their expiry date, only for them to burst into life in the knockout rounds. It seems that they've reserved their best football for the top teams. Most romantics will probably be hoping for a French win as Zidane will be playing his last match in professional football (though so will Totti, who has so often failed to deliver in the international stage, though his last match will only be on the international stage). Zidane gained worldwide fame and top footballer status only after the final of the 1998 World Cup while before that, he was relatively unknown and as such, will be looking to turn full circle in his career by winning the World Cup in his last match.

Though I'm predicting a very close, low scoring game, hopefully it will be a good one to end the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Let's also hope it won't go into penalties. Personally, I'll be supporting Italy.

Go Italy!

Germany 3 - 1 Portugal

Exciting match with both teams not holding back and going for goal. Portugal never really played badly but Germany deserved the victory more than them. Schweinsteiger scoring two identical beauties and helping to set another one up. He really is the hero of the moment. Kahn having an impressive game marred only by a consolation goal for Portugal.

Happy to see Portugal lose. They can play good football, but never made any friends with their dives and theatricals (especially by a certain Mr. Ronaldo).

Germany have silenced all the critics and surprised their nation and the world at large by playing attractive, attacking football and it has been a joy to watch them play.

Let's hope that the final will be as good as this match if not better.

Love

Love.

Have you ever been in love? Horrible isn't it?

It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens your heart and it means someone can get inside you and mess you up.

You build up all these defenses. You build up this whole armor, for years, so nothing can hurt you, then one stupid person, no different from any other stupid person, wanders into your stupid life.

You give them a piece of you. They don't ask for it. They do something dumb one day like kiss you, or smile at you, and then your life isn't your own anymore.

Love takes hostages. It gets inside you. It eats you out and leaves you crying in the darkness, so a simple phrase like 'Maybe we should just be friends" or "How very perceptive" turns into a glass splinter working its way into your heart.

It hurts. Not just in the imagination. Not just in the mind. It's a soul-hurt, a body-hurt, a real gets-inside-you-and-rips-you-apart pain.

Nothing should be able to do that.

Especially not love.

I hate love.

England 0 - 0 Portugal (Penalties 1 - 3)

England out yet again on penalties. An exciting match at times despite producing no goals. England did superbly well to hold on with 10 men. Cristiano Ronaldo will certainly be vilified by English fans and it remains to be seen whether he will stay on in England. The referee got it all wrong, it should have been a yellow card at the most. If anyone had to be sent off, it should have been Ronaldo for being such a busybody.

Rio Ferdinand was a rock in defence for England. I never thought Gary Neville had a good game. Owen Hargreaves is the man of the match for me, he really earned my respect for his tireless performance, he seemed to be everywhere, defending and attacking well. Lampard had a complete and utterly rubbish World Cup. I thought Gerrard done well without really excelling. Lennon was good and was way better than Beckham who did next to nothing in the first half. I was surprised that Eriksson took off Joe Cole, Gerrard would have been more effective in the center than on the left. Crouch did well but he could never do much playing alone in attack, he plays better with a striking partner.

Eriksson really is bullshit. Why the hell does he bring Walcott to the World Cup when he does not have any intention to play him at all, especially considering the fact that he only brought a total of four forwards to the World Cup, with one barely fit, one injured and one unproven striker at the start of the World Cup.