Italy-France in the Final

With humility, I refer you back to my prediction post here. As I was pouring over scouting reports making my picks, Ms. AR said that she probably could do as well using darts or picking by uniform color. No doubt about that! (Ukraine-Czech Rep in the knock-out stage? Not even close. WHAT was I thinking?? Or smoking?!?!?!)

The Italy-Germany game was great fun to watch. Good, attacking soccer. Both teams played aggressively, with the Italians clearly the better team overall. The old story-line, which gets repeated current evidence notwithstanding, that Italy only plays defense and waits for the counterattack simply does not mirror what has become a more interesting approach to the game. Italy's late subs, adding more up-front firepower, not only was intended to put better spot-kickers into the game just in case it went to penalties, but also added to the offensive pressure Italy placed on Germany. I also have to say that I was pleased to see, finally, goals scored sort of during the run of play. (While the first goal followed a corner kick, it did not come directly off the kick, so I count that as during the run of play.) I've not kept track, but it seems to me that a high percentage of goals have come from set pieces, which only underscores the importance of drawing that foul (or as meanbaldguy laments, diving) near your opponent's goal.

The France-Portugal game was less thrilling. Choppy play. As far as I am concerned, the better team won and I'm not disappointed Portugal is out. Of all the games and teams I watched over the past several weeks, Portugal, it seemed to me, spent more time diving and simulating fouls than any of its competitors. I say this with disappointment, too, because there are players on the team who I like and who are genuinely great at what they do (their day jobs as footballers and not as thespians): Figo, Deco, Maniche, Ronaldo, Ricardo, and so forth. But for whatever reason, as the WC went on, the team seemed less interested in play and more interested in attempting to draw fouls and cards. As for France, it's been improving from game to game. While this performance wasn't as compelling as its victory over Brazil (a victory foreshadowed by the way Ghana, without all of France's weapons, outplayed Brazil for all but a few brief but critical moments), this is a team on a mission: not only to reach the final but to will the WC outright and send Zizou, the best player of his generation, into retirement with a second cup.

Both Italy and France have been playing good offensive soccer. Who will win? I'll ask my wife and get back to you.