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DEL.ICIO.USTaking no prisoners
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Perhaps to show that it’s willing to take hard-line action even against the host nation, FIFA handed down a very late suspension for Germany’s Torsten Frings, ruling him out of today’s semifinal against Italy.
That it took several days for the verdict to be rendered, and certainly after Germany had devised its tactics with Frings in mind, is just another take-no-prisoners decision at this World Cup. Footage of the fracas between Frings and Argentina’s Julio Cruz was amply beamed back home by an Italian television station, which has made the German camp rather agitated, to say the least.
With or without Herr Handball, this one of the game’s best rivalries that hasn’t played out at the World Cup since Italy won the thing in ‘82.
This Italian team is showing much of the resilience of that title squad, given all the adversity behind the scenes with match-fixing, a suicide attempt, etc. Here’s another twist to the saga with the sudden resignation of coach Fabio Capello from the sinking ship that is Juventus. Is Real Madrid in his future?
Will be back after Italy vs. Germany. Any predix? I say Italy wins 2-1, maybe in extra time.
Comments
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By Chop Chop
July 4, 2006 5:42 PM | Link to this
Well, if the only goal you’ve allowed is an own goal, you deserve to be in the World Cup final. Italy looked like they might not have fate on their side with shots off the near post and crossbar early in the first half of extra time, but Grosso scored a magical strike late and Del Piero calmly iced it with a deft touch. Not the greatest game, but Italy earned it.
Klinsmann for U.S. coach, I say.