Made France

Memories Of Italy VS France (Germany 2006)

An article about the match which gave Italy its fourth world cup title and me one of the greatest moments I ever experienced.

 

It was a hot Sunday in the month of July and what a week it had been. Italy had made it to the final of world cup for the 6th time in its history and this would be the 3rd time I would be watching Italy playing in a final. They had reached the final in 1970 yet I was too young at the time to watch them play though I had seen this final in its entirety many years later. Italy however would provide me with a wonderful memory just 12 years later when in Spain 82 they defeated Germany in the final to win their third world cup title. What a great day it was back then when I saw Italy become world champion. This being a joy like no other I had known before or had known since.

 

Naturally when saying this I am not referring to the joys in my private life such as my daughter being born or other events or moments which I participated in but those which were not directly linked with my life.

After winning the Spain 82 final, I saw Italy play in two more world cups before I got to see them in another final yet on that occasion; it was pure sadness which was delivered on to me as Italy lost to Brazil in a memorable final which was the first one settled by penalties. Italy had been so close yet like they say in America “close but no cigar” or in Italy’s case “no world cup trophy” yet that was in the past. Italy had made it to the final and did I ever feel the optimism of victory which had not been so strong in me back in USA 94. Italy had just beaten Germany to get to this final while France had beaten Portugal by 1-0 with a penalty which was controversial to say the least yet this mattered not for they too would be playing in the final.

 

I however did not put so much attention to how Italy and France had gotten to the final but on the history of their previous world cup matches. Italy having beaten France in their first world cup match back in France 38. Italy’s win over France coming in a quarterfinals encounter which made France the first team playing at home not to reach a world cup final. Italy and France however would have to wait till Argentina 78 to meet in another world cup. This in a match which Italy would win by 2-1 to go on to the quarterfinals while France was eliminated in the first round. France 98 saw another match between Italy and France which again would come in the quarterfinals though on that occasion it was the French who would win on penalties and go on to the semifinal yet that too was in the past.

 

As that game was from another world cup though the truth was that I could see that Italy wanted to get even for that lose which so easily could have been an Italian victory. A victory which could have sent them to the final as in my opinion they probably would have beaten Croatia just as France did which would have set up a third final between Italy and Brazil yet it was not to be. Italy was going to take on France that day in the final of the world cup and to me this was all that really mattered with the rest being academics which perhaps added to the intensity but were besides the point.

 

On that particular day, I remember arriving perhaps not late but just before the start of the game to see that my favorite place to watch Italy’s world cup matches; was filled to capacity with room available for only those like myself were either Italians or regulars. There was a certain madness on that day. It seeming as if everybody in Warsaw wanted to watch the final in some sort of Italian bar or restaurant. This requiring San Lorenzo to have to limit not only the amount of people they let in but who they let in. As it simply would not have been possible or even safe to let in all those customers who wanted to watch the final in San Lorenzo.

 

In all this, I even remember a lady friend of mine calling me to tell me they had not let her in yet I simply told her to mention my name at the door and that I would be joining her soon which did suffice for her to be allowed inside. I however did arrive before the start of the game to catch the Italian national anthem which I along with all my friends at San Lorenzo; stood up and sang. As in all truth it was in that very year that I had learnt the words to the Italian national anthem whose title is “Fratelli D’Italia” (Brother Of Italy). It being as we sang it that we felt the strength that we could win along with the support all of us were giving Italy with our minds for them capture their 4th world cup final.

 

This being a grand pre-game sight to look around San Lorenzo and see all those faces which had become so familiar to me during the previous 5 years. San Lorenzo, in a way serving as a club for Italians living in Warsaw who shared not only the same language but a common desire to see Italy win as well as demonstrate Italian culture through out the world. All of us being united as never before with the sole purpose of seeing an Italian victory which would take away some of the bitterness which we had felt four years earlier when we lost to South Korea.

 

After the anthems were completed, my friends and I saw sat down at our large table to our feast and to urge Italy on with our minds and desires though some would spend the whole match shouting at the screen for Italian goals. On this occasion there were two very long tables with all the Italian food which included pastas of all kinds along with wines and other drinks yet this time; this wonderful meal would be but a side show to the main event. This being what we had all come to see and this, I say not in speculation but with the full knowledge that all those whom I had known for so long wanted nothing other than to see Italy become champion for the 4th time.

 

The game started and as it did my Polish lady friend and I took our seats along with everybody else as conversation centered around who was playing for Italy. The moment was tense yet none of us really were as it was excitement which went through us as we ate our pasta and watched the first few minutes of the final.

 

World cup finals for the most part are very conservative affairs in which teams are basically more concerned with not making a mistake which will loose them the game than they are in scoring goals. This due to the fact that world cup finals are only played once every four years with only 8 teams having won even one till this very day. All of which meaning that marking and defensive play is what is most applied as had been the case in basically every final since Mexico 86 in which Germany and Argentina had scored 5 goals.

 

In this final, it did not take but a few minutes for all of us to be out of our seats when France’s Henry crashed in to our captain Cannavaro; who was having a spectacular world cup on defense. Henry was clearly shaken up by this collision which though lacking in malice from either player, did see the game halted for Henry to be taken off the field till he got back his senses. This being a moment of worry perhaps more to the French as we saw right away that nothing had happened to our captain and the one player who had been so solid for us through out that entire world cup.

 

The game had a fast pace to it and it was but five minutes which went by though in actual playing time it was much less (given the time the game was delayed due to the collision between Cannavaro and Henry) when Italy got their first and last yellow card of the final. This coming when Zambrotta was following a ball he was trying to kick but ended up kicking a French player who got to the ball just a fraction of a second before he did. It really being a 50/50 ball which Vieira managed to beat Zambrotta to. It being Zambrotta’s momentum which took him in to Vieira whom he ended up taking down yet not really injuring in any serious way.

 

An Italian player however had been given a yellow card which started those about me shouting words of shall we say the kind which I will not use in this article at the referee. This being for what they along with myself saw as his incorrect decision. It at that point becoming clear to us that the referee was from Argentina which led to my friend Enrrico (sitting almost next to me) commenting that it had to be a South American referee. After which he looked at me with the knowledge that I am in part South American and said “no offense” as I simply smiled and replied “none taken”.

 

I must say that those about me were slightly aggravated by this decision however they became furious as did I on the next play. The play being one in which Henry headed the ball in to the Italian penalty box which saw Malouda run on to it yet not be able to control it. As the ball clearly bounced off him. Malouda then seeing that he was not going to get to the ball, took advantage of the fact that Meterazzi barely touched the side of his leg to dive forward. This making the Argentine referee believe that he had been fouled and that there had been a penalty yet this had not really been the case though at that point it was academic. A penalty had been given and though some Italian players did protest slightly or perhaps just ask if they had understood the referee’s decision correctly; a penalty was going to be taken by France. It being a great chance for France to take an early lead in the game. It perhaps would even have been the earliest goal in a final if it had not been for the time the game was delayed due to Henry’s being knocked down in the center of the field.

 

As can be expected even more hostility toward the referee was created by this decision which many of us felt was unfair. Some of those around me at this point screaming all the obscenities they could think of at the referee for the call he had just made yet despite this; the penalty would be taken. It was French captain Zidane, who stepped up to take it with all of us in San Lorenzo holding our breaths that he would miss yet this did not occur.

 

Zidane barely scoring with a weak yet well placed shot which barely managed to cross the goal line yet instant reply clear shows that all of the ball did in fact go over the goal line. So close did Zidane come to missing which would have led to huge roar from us but unfortunately for us a goal had been scored. It even seeming to me along with those about me that Zidane had missed though our joy was short lived as it did not take but a few seconds for the reply to show that our first impression had not been correct.

 

Italy was loosing yet this did not even worry us in the least. After all, we had not waited so long and been through so much just to give up after falling behind by a goal with 83 minutes still to play. Italy had been down before in other matches though not in this world cup and come back to win so why would this be any different? Germany had also conceded the first goal in the final of 74 to come back to win by 2-1 so why should we not be able to do likewise? It even being a coincidence that the goal scored against Germany in that final also came thanks to a penalty.

 

Shouts of Italia, Italia had become deafening to the point that it was even hard to hear the Italian commentator as we made it a habit of watching Italy’s football games on RAI 1. This being the biggest television station in Italy which for the most part broadcasted all of Italy’s matches. Italy at this point was not really playing badly but they were having some difficulties which they needed to ride out sort of like a ship doing the same in a storm.

 

A pass however came which Camoranesi managed to get a corner from. Andrea Pirlo being the one who was left with the task of taking this corner kick as Italy was starting to go forward while the French after a flying start were being pushed back in to their own half. All of which reminding me of how it had been back in Argentina 78 when France had also taken a very early 1-0 lead only to loose by 2-1. Pirlo took the corner which he sent high in to the penalty box and who should it be but Meterazzi to get up over France’s Vieira to give Italy the equalizer. Materazzi seeming as if he were climbing a ladder to get to that ball which he sent in to the back of the net. Matterazzi’s header almost sailing over the head of French goalkeeper Barthez to give  Italy their first goal of the match.

 

Italy had scored and what a moment it was for us as we shouted it as loudly as we could that Italy had scored. This perhaps being hard for someone who is not a football fan to fully know what it is like to see one’s team score a goal in a world cup final. First because in football goals are not scored that often and second because finals are only played once every four years with so few countries ever having even reached a final. Of course none of this mattered at the time for we had scored and as any football fan will attest to there are few emotions in life which compare to scoring a goal in a world cup final. Seeing one’s child for the first time can be something similar yet that is but one moment amongst the many our children will bring us while this is just one sudden moment which is magical.

 

Italy was playing well and looking like they could take the lead as the minutes of the first half went by and did we ever come close when 35′ in to the game Toni hit the post of a corner taken by Pirlo. It being on a play which was almost identical to the one on which Materazzi scored on yet this time no goal came as a result of Toni’s fine effort which was in a way typical of the man who so often comes close to scoring yet some how manages not to. I could see that those about me could taste the goal which we had come so close to scoring with some of us evening shouting “goal” only to see the ball hit the bar. The first half ended at one with talk naturally centering around the game with some taking time to reminisce about past encounters while others sent SMS to their friends and relatives back in Italy about what had taken place during the first half.

 

The second half got under way and were we ever ready though in all honesty we felt that we should have been already wining by either 2-1 or perhaps 1-0. This given the way we felt that the penalty France had been giving was but an error by the referee. As for the second half this was played at a slower tempo than the first half with Italy perhaps feeling the effects of their previous 120 minute match against Germany. This leading to France controlling the game or at least possession of the ball as they took over the midfield with Henry making runs at goal which though dangerous did not lead to clear score opportunities.

 

A moment of slight fear however did come over Italy when Malouda went down in the box upon collision with Zambrotta yet it was clearly not a penalty. This also being the way the referee saw the play, who simply waved for Malouda to get up and the match to continue. It however was not long after this play that a free kick came Italy’s way which Pirlo took in to the penalty box. It being in the penalty box where his long ball was met by Toni’s header which ended up going in to the back of the net for what all of us were shouting as Italy’s second goal. It being a great sensation which was taken away from us when Toni’s goal was ruled to have been scored from an off-sides position. Again so close, as it had really been off-sides by centimeters and nothing more which in and of itself was sad but perhaps what made it worse was that so many drinks were thrown in to air for an effort which had not even counted.

 

This was what world cup finals were all about and we were living it moment by moment. As if seeing hope come with every play only to have it disappear again while every time France got close to our goal; our fears were returned to us that we might loose. Henry testing Buffon on one clear occasion yet our goalkeeper being up to the task of keeping the score tied at 1 a piece.

 

The atmosphere was tense at this point as the chance of overtime was now increasing as the score remained tied at 1 all. A free kick by Pirlo brought us close to a goal yet his shot went barely wide as Barthez dove for it. It being shortly after it that the regulation 90 minutes came to an end with overtime being necessary to settle the issue regarding who would be crowned world champion. France had been perhaps better in the second half but despite this scoring chances or clear ones had been about even yet again this mattered little as neither team had managed to win the game.

 

Overtime started with the first scoring chance being for France yet it was the hard trying Ribéry who sent his shot just wide of the Italian goal. This much to our relief that we had not been scored upon so early in the overtime session. France however would get a better chance at a second goal when Sagnol sent a high cross in to the Italian penalty box which Zidane managed to latch on to with a powerful header yet his efforts were met by those of Buffon. It being our goalkeeper who was every bit as alert as he needed to be to send this very dangerous shout over the cross bar and out for a corner kick. So close had France and Zidane come and who knows what would have been had he scored as perhaps France would have won the world cup and he also would have become the first player to score two goals in two world cup finals. It however was not to be as Buffon justified why so many called him the world’s finest goalkeeper just like many years before Dino Zoff had been the world’s best.

 

The game naturally continued and just as play was going on at one end of the field, there was a break in the action that none of us at San Lorenzo knew about. Something had happened but what had not been shown. Materazzi was down yet we had not seen what had caused this however it was the replay which showed that he had been taken down by head butt from Zidane. This prompting all of my friends at San Lorenzo to pour down upon Zidane with all the insults Italian has to offer which did not exclude calling him an S.O.B. among other things. I, for my part was worried that Materazzi might not be able to continue and that Italy would also be forced to play with ten men since they had already used up their three substitutions. I also being out raged at such a blatant attack on our player and though later it was claimed that Materazzi said something about Zidane’s mother which he totally denied; I believe that verbal violence is always that which can be ignored. It in fact being common for players to provoke each other during the game while the referee is not where he might hear such comments yet never the less; Zidane had deliberately tried to injury Materazzi away from the ball. This leading to his immediate ejection from the game, once the referee was made aware by his linesmen what had taken place.

 

It in way is strange how football can be. One minute Zidane was so close to winning the final for France yet a few minutes later he had disgraced himself by committing an act of violence which saw his world cup as well as his career end with a red card. This in fact being the last game Zidane would ever play.

 

As for Materazzi, he would later claim that he never said anything about Zidane’s mother nor would he ever say anything about anybody’s mother; given the way he lost his when he was 15 years old. This being why Materazzi pointed at the sky when he scored his goal. It being his way of telling his mother that the goal he had just scored had been for her. Materazzi however would also claim that when Zidane told him he could have his shirt at the end of the match; he answered that he rather have the whore who was his sister. This perhaps hurting Zidane dearly as his sister does have a bad reputation though Materazzi also declared that not only was he not aware of this factor but that he even had a sister.

 

The game ended 10 minutes after Zidane’s being sent of with a score of 1-1 which naturally required penalties to be taken. This perhaps that which worried us most as Italy had never won in a world cup on penalties while France had won 2 out of their three penalty shot outs. In fact their last win over Italy had come in a penalty shot out yet that was then and this was now. I, in all honesty felt this was Italy’s day to win on penalties which was something I had never really felt before. This sensation giving me hope that we might win.

 

As for those about me they naturally suffered through this game as I did with all their dreams and hopes being pinned on Italy winning and becoming world champion. Moments were nerve-racking as penalty kicker after penalty kicker came with sighs of relieve being felt when ever an Italian scored while disappoint was about when a French player managed to score. Materazzi scoring Italy’s second penalty which made all see that he had recovered from Zidane’s head but.

 

A huge roar however came when Trezeguet’s shot violently hit off the crossbar yet unlike Zidane’s effort earlier that evening; his did not cross the goal line. “Niente gol” (no goal) was heard from the Italian TV commentator. At this point we knew we would be world champions if our remaining kickers could just manage to score. This not even requiring Buffon to save any more penalties not that he had really save Trezeguet’s shot but then again this was but academic anyway since he had not scored.

 

After Materazzi, it was De Rossi followed by Del Piero. All of which managing to convert their spot kick which left Grosso as Italy’s final kicker. It being in a sense all up to him to convert Italy’s fifth penalty and give them the title of world champion. It seeming as if all those years and matches came down to this one kick. Grosso against Barthez and all Grosso had to do was just put the ball in the net past him and the title would be ours. Many had missed in moments like this but we felt that Grosso would score and as he walked up to the ball; all our hopes were with him. It seeming as if time had stopped along with the rest of the world for this spot kick.

 

Grosso came up and scored which sent all of us at San Lorenzo in to a wild frenzy of celebration. It seeming as if all our expectations have been met and as if we ourselves have triumphed yet words can only provide one with an idea that is vague; for the emotion is one that must be felt to really get a full idea of what it is about.

 

Italian sparkling wine was passed out on the house. As this was a special occasion which needless to say could not be celebrated with French champagne. After all we had just defeated France, therefore it would have been inappropriate to celebrate such a win with their beverage instead of our own. My friends about jumped up and down, shouted and screamed while I was just so overwhelmed with passion that I really did not know how to express it in any other way than simply feeling internal joy and piece. It being as if all was inside me yet this was my way of celebrating and though not as obvious as those around me was just as significant to me as theirs was to them. I would later find out that Italy’s coach, Marcelo Lippi celebrated the win by watching the game and smoking a cigarette; which just goes to show that everybody celebrates in a different way.

About the Author

My name is Gianni Truvianni, author of many an article to be found on the internet along with the book “New York’s Opera Society”. My works also include the books “What Should Not Matter”, “Love Your Sister” and several others which still remain unpublished though I am presently looking to change this.

 

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