Zinedine Zidane’s Infamous Head Butt and it’s link to New War events.

There is a funny series of animations about Zinedine Zidane’s Infamous Head Butt during the World Cup Finals. It can be found at this blog site: http://www.nikfletcher.com/

At this time in World Events I’ve also taken it as a profound metaphor of how different people (differ sides in a war or a game) all see the events from their side. Once again Sports is a metaphor for war; and war a metaphore for sports.

World Cup 2006

Since this is the most popular sporting event in the world it deserves some mention, esp. if you’re a USA America who hasn’t yet caught the “fever.”

It was surprising how two of the games in the quarter-finals came down to the goalie — between Germany & Argentina, and England v. Portugal.
Both games came down to penalty kicks

Germany goalie Jens Lehmann stopped TWO (2!) of the penalty kicks. Germany won.
Portugal goalkeeper Ricardo stopped THREE (3!) of the penalty kicks. Portugal won.

Stopping a penalty kick is almost impossible. Or at least it use to be.

Instant replays showed that Jens Lehmann had some ’scouting notes,’ written down and he kept tucked in his sock; checking them before each Argentina’s player’s shot — plus he made some incredible leaps, was jumping up and down and waving his arms like a madman and giving stern looks to anyone who came within 10-feet, pointing his finger at people and saying: “no…no…”

They say Portugal goalkeeper Ricardo is really good at judging where the player is going to shoot by the way they move their hips.

In the semi-finals the name Zinedine Zidane truly defined Qhat Awesome Means — (in sports and in personal story). He’s worth a ‘Google,’ for sure.

After that semi-final:
The Brazilian front-page news said:
“The executioner Zidane makes Brazil cry for a second time,”

The French front-page news is:
Well….too many superlative words to print…’Magic. Monumental. Fantastic,’ but the one that struck me as being ‘most French’ was: ‘formidable,’ — but it doesn’t translate with all it’s French Grandeur attached…..you have to say it like: for-ma-dab-leur!

German plays Brazil for the thrid-place winner.

The Big Game, the final, is between France and Italy. Although ‘Old Zidane,’ (he’s 34) is a sentimental favorite for most — and he retires after this final world-class game, the smart money is probably on skillful Italy.

The USA did themselves proud in their game against Italy. Goalie made some good saves. Due to red cards the TeamUSA had to play with only nine (9!) players for half the game, and players hung tough during rough physical play.

It was great to see USA TV finally give the games the coverage they deserve and certain more than ever before. Plus, now, the Internet gives anyone access to news
and info and video anytime they want; so the word and popularity of the game of World Football should spread: Watch out World Cup 2010 — The Yanks are coming!

And it was cool to see England’s David Beckham do his David Beckham thing (“bend it like Beckham), Germany’s Klose do one of his ‘flying diving headers.’ an Argentinean sending Mexico to it’s grave with an upside down blasting bicycle kick, and Brazil’s Ronaldo do his Ronaldo thing (set the new world’s record for number of all time goals in World Cup history, by dribbling the ball between his own two feet like he was playing ping-pong, plowing between two defenders, faking out the last defender, leaving him in the dust, and sending the ball confidently it into the back of the net).

And it amazes me how these guys have to do these things with only a split-second of opportunity and advantage. Any hesitation and the moment is lost.

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It’s been quite enjoyable to have the opportunity to see many of these games and great that now USA TV is covering them much more. So many great players, each skilled in their own way and nice to see them “do their thing.” There have been many moments of such personal (and team) brilliance.

Semi-finals were good: Tuesday, 4th July, Germany v. Italy and Wednesday, Portugal v. France.

Germany made 3rd Place, which seemed enough to please the home crowd/ World Cup Host.

France plays Italy – Sunday, July 9th, 2006 ==