World Cup

[Woodstock]

I'm on holiday in Italy which we booked well before the world cup, however our timing couldn't have been better.

Last night I left my family at the hotel and ventured out alone (didn't want to risk dragging kids along, and wife, while growing up a huge football(soccer) fan in UK, has had enough of it), and joined 100,000+ screaming Italian fans at the circus maximus (where they used to hold chariot races) and watched the final match on one of two giant outdoor screens. What an amazing experience! Surpasses anything the USA can muster for sports. Wow! Looking over a huge sea of red/white/green was incredible, bonfires, fireworks, flares provided a sureal light to the evening (well after dark by the time the match ended). Then joining the entire city of Rome (and it's 1,000,000 scooters - no ATGATT here ;-), beeping and honking well into the morning.

Oh, well, I just had to share, and the scotter angle had a small amount of motorcycle content ;-)

 

[Groo]

Cool beans Woodstock... wondered what happened to ya...

Did you make it out with your wallet still in your pocket?

 

[fjrchik]

nice headbutt by that french dude. sore loser.

 

[twowheelnut]

Wadya expect chik, he's French and the Eyetalian feller is supposed to have made comment about his momma not bathing. Or sumpin'.

 

[Woodstock]

The Italian defender certianly got to him somehow, but that head-but was inescusable (esp. if you were French). The Italian crowd was going absolutely crazy when it looked like the ref had missed it, the red card was very late after confering with a linesman. It wasn't "sore loser", because they were tight in the 2nd (of 2) overtimes in a 1-1 match. That one act very likely cost France the cup (since Zindane wouldn't have missed a PK if he'd been on the pitch at the end to take one).

France must be just going absolutely nuts. I'd love to read the french papers (anyone got an english translation of L'Monde? ;-)

Anyway, I'm just about keeping up with the WFO threads during my limited online time, but I thought I'd drop you all a "what am I up to" note. We have one more day in Rome, then get on a train for Venice where we spend a few days (and meet up with some friends) before going on a med cruise.

 

[FJRMGM]

first a Frenchman wins a stage of the Tour de France on that day and then says: "I am rooting for Italy in the World Cup" - and then they lose the World Cup.. Life is rough for the French.

Zidane helped them lose it by getting himself thrown out in a tight game for a stupid and vicious foul. One of their best strikers and he's not there for a penalty kick shoot-out? The French must be villifying him now. What a way to end a great-until-then career.

 

[teerex51]

comment about his momma not bathing. Or sumpin'.

I did not watch the game (must have been 5 of us all over Italy who did not give a sh*t), but I can tell you that, according to an instant urban legend, the Italian guy asked Zidane: "by the way, how's your wife and my kids?"

Stef