ITALY vs. FRANCE at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final in Berlin, Germany
Nobody thought
Italy and France will be playing for the biggest prize in all of football at this 2006 FIFA World Cup tournament.After all, Italy was consumed by scandals and France is just having a tough time scoring in this 2006 FIFA World Cup tournament. After advancing to the 2006 FIFA World Cup final game, both countries can now put everything to rest and just focus on that big game on Sunday.
The 2006 FIFA World Cup tournament has been nothing but a time of torment away from the football field for the Italians. For days, allegations of bribery and favoritism just kept piling up against four topflight clubs for which 13 of the 23 Italy team members play.
As for France, the media saw them as a team over the hill and struggling to put the ball through the net in this 2006 FIFA World Cup tournament.
Both of these countries' trip to the 2006 FIFA World Cup final game have silenced all their critics and at the same time, proven them all wrong. So what will the 2006 FIFA World Cup final game have in store for both of these countries?
Italy are the grand masters of heart-breaking tragedy when it comes to major finals. In all three World Cups held in the 1990s, the Italians bowed out on penalties, including Roberto Baggio's infamous miss against Brazil in the 1994 final.
They don't fare a lot better in Europe either. With Euro 2000 in the bag, opponents France equalized four minutes into injury time and went on to win, while Euro 2004 saw Italy bow out in the group stage when Sweden and Denmark drew 2-2, the only result which would send both teams through at the Italians' expense.
As for France, the World Cup is something very familiar, entering the 1998 tournament as hosts and 2002 as Champions. They failed to reach the finals in 1990 and 1994 and will be desperate to avoid the humiliation they suffered four years ago in which they finished bottom of their group without a goal to their name.
France is an aging side with Thuram and Zidane at 34 in the finals while Makelele, and goalkeeper Gregory Coupet will be 33 and midfielder Sylvain Wiltord 32. The main problem manager Raymond Domenech has endured is the younger generation of players just don't look up to the task which has forced him to bring back the tried and trusted stars of yesteryear.
On Sunday in Berlin, Italy will play for its fourth FIFA World Cup championship and France will go for its second. Both teams have rich traditions, but neither entered the month-long 2006 FIFA World Cup tournament a favorite.
Here are some 2006 FIFA World Cup odds from NINE.com.
Bodog has all the odds on tap in the 2006 FIFA World Cup final game, between Italy and France.
Will France beat Italy to become 2006 FIFA World Cup Champions?
Will Italy destroy France and bag the 2006 FIFA World Cup title?
It's not just about France and Italy. Here are the odds on Saturday's 2006 FIFA World Cup match for third place between Germany and Portugal.
FINAL SCORE
posted by JEFFDSTUFF at 7:27 PM
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