C’est fou - part II !

The 2006 World Cup finally concluded with France falling to Italy in the final. While France’s defeat was disappointing, Italy’s victory seemed somewhat anticlimactic, as they largely relied on a penalty shootout to secure their win. Personally, I’ve always found Italian football to be a bit dull and uninspired. The Italian approach often makes matches less exciting, and with ongoing controversies surrounding match-fixing in the Italian league, the mood around Italian football has been less than enthusiastic. Despite the abundance of blogs and news on this topic, I felt compelled to share my own thoughts on the tournament.

One major point of contention is the format of the penalty shootout. FIFA should consider revising the rules to require a two-goal lead to win, similar to tennis tiebreakers. A single goal difference can feel as arbitrary as a coin toss in determining the winner of such a crucial game.

Living in Paris added a special touch to the World Cup experience, especially when the French team made it to the final. France, which had a rocky qualification process—including a draw against Israel—managed to advance to Group G as the top team, facing Switzerland once again. Although their performance in the initial matches left much to be desired, their strong showing in the knockout stages earned them a well-deserved place in the final.

Zinedine Zidane, with his stellar performances, achieved near-mythical status in France. However, the way his career ended was marred by controversy, reminiscent of the 1986 quarter-final between Argentina and England. In that match, Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” goal overshadowed the equally memorable “Goal of the Century,” where he dribbled past six English players to score a stunning goal.

Despite the high drama of the match, the mood in France on the Monday following the final was somber. The collective disappointment felt like a national tragedy, reflecting the deep emotional investment in the sport. In France, the aftermath of this World Cup will likely dominate media coverage until the national team achieves future victories that might overshadow this loss.