Sayonara World cup

What a fantastic and dramatic final to end a great World Cup. It was a great game, a classic that will go down in soccer history, in my opinion. This world cup lacked the precitability that's scourged other world cups. The finale took a strange twist when the sentimental darling, veteran and the French captain lost his composure and aggressively head- butted an Italian player

What happened to Ziddane.. Zizouuuuu… ??

It started off being his defining moment, but the reasons changed after the headbutt. He had scored an audacious penalty. All was going well until the extra time and then the red mist descended. The officials seemed to miss the incident but the Italian players remonstrated loudly and Argentine referee ended Zidane's career nine minutes prematurely with a straight red card.

As described in this Sports Illustrated article about the final match, “the beautiful game turned vicious, even venomous on Sunday.” I mean what was on Zizou’s mind to make him flip out like that toward the end of such an important match? What did Italy’s Marco Matterazzi say to Zinédine Zidane to make him so angry?

Here, one of the greatest players in the history of the game pulls out the bonehead play of the tournement in the 110th minute. The champion who in front of two billion people, was putting the final touches on one of the most extraordinary sadas in soccer's history.Can’t imagine that a player of his caliber would let something that was said to get to him and then do something stupid on the last game of his career in the finals of the World Cup. He could definitely have been the next Beckenbauer or Pele......….. but at least he got ghe GOLDEN Ball Award.

Zidane is fallible. Zidane is a mere mortal. If he wasn't fallible, he wouldn't be human - he'd be God. Alas, no man is God. It was a storybook setting, but his dream ended in a nightmare. The parting image for Zizouuu will forever be him, the viliant knight rearing back in anger, lowering his bald head into the chest of the Italian defender.

WOW!! I could only sit and wait for the inevitable.

The enduring image of the World Cup for me was when Rooney got the Red card. It was one of a tensed game I had watched so far. Aside from the poor performances of various established stars there were very few surprises. World cup debutants like Ghana and Ukraine put up a fairly impressive performance that got them to the second round and quarter-final stage respectively, while England was knocked out again at the quarter finals via the dreaded penalty

And such was the 2006 World Cup....Congrats to all the team =)
Watching the game with the fans from both the team in the middle of Boston city Hall was indeed a phenomenal experience. Initially not knowing about this event we had headed to our usual place, of course, the Phoenix landing. The place did not look as crowded as we had expected. Upon starting the pre-show started, the ESPN showed the glimpse of the hall and without even having any second thought; we headed to the city hall.The place was CROWDED and we were very thrilled and Excited!!!

Prasanna had always wanted to buy the jersey. He wanted to get the Brazil one, they lost, then he thought of Germany, they were out, then finally Italy…. Both Pras and sano babu, my brother in law from DC bought he ITALIAN jersey. Somehow, Prasanna during the half time started doubting whether he should have actually bought the “les Bleus.” Well the extra time…. proved him all wrong! With a little Italian flag on his face along with the t-shirt chanting ITALLIIAAAA , he could not been any more loyal fan.

Congtratulation to the AZZURIIII =)

My weekend indeed was indeed a CARPE DIEM weekend! It was really nice with sano babu. We also had a chance to watch our wedding video, which was soooo nice and beautiful. All that just seems like yesterday.

What a Great month it had been.I am sad that the World cup is finished. My dad had predicted brazil,holland, france and italy to be on the final rounds. Well it was partially correct. Now that the Wcup is finished, back to regular life for me;this means back to the Economic and Statistic world!