2087 replies to this topic

[MarkInLondon]

Matterazzi allegedly called Zidane the 'son of a terrorist whore'...

Maybe not Zidane, but possibly Mark Thatcher....

Not a nice thing to call a fellow player, but then 'sticks and stones' and all that - and you'd think Zidane has taken far worse abuse than that over the years.

Extraordinary that he blows up just ten minutes from the end of his career.

[Wave em in Wendall]

More speculation and all that, but Zidane's mother was hospitalized for illness the day of the game, maybe thats why he was quick(er) to snap at Materazzi:

But it remains unclear exactly what was said and the BBC has broadcast two different versions.

BBC Radio Five Live asked for help from a deaf lip reader, Jessica Rees, who read the words phonetically to an Italian translator.

She deciphered the insult as being "you're the son of a terrorist whore" - a translation also carried by many national newspapers in Britain on Tuesday.

The BBC's Ten O'Clock News also called in experts to study the television footage of the incident and determined the following:

Materazzi's first word to Zidane was "no" before he then told him to "calm down".

He then accused him of being a "liar" and wished "an ugly death to you and your family" on the day the Frenchman's mother had been taken to hospital ill. This was followed by "Go f*** yourself".

BBC link

[Doug Beerabelli]

"Hey Zidane, your mother was a hamster and you father smelled of elderberries!"

[Shelterdog]

So did Sven.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Quick question for the more knowledgable here. Do players like Darren Bent and Jermain Defoe just suck? I've seen Bent play a little and he scores a shitload of goals, but obviously not enough to get on the team.

[pk1627]

My 2 cents: all the talk about what the Italian player said has taken some of the gloss off the championship. The french guy comes out of this better than the italian ass.

[Vinho Tinto]

Do players like Darren Bent and Jermain Defoe just suck?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I like Defoe more than Bent, and thought he could have been on the team.

But neither one is the kind of goal scorer who can be counted on in massive world cup games. Bent can score against weaker EPL teams, but doing so in the pressure cooker of the world cup is another thing altogether. He was given a shot at playing for England a year ago and did little to impress.

Players of that caliber might get a chance when the national team lacks a great player at their position; but the time to play for the national team tends to be small because they are what they are: A good player who is peaking.

[Spacemans Bong]

My 2 cents:  all the talk about what the Italian player said has taken some of the gloss off the championship.  The french guy comes out of this better than the italian ass.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Mazzaretta will comfort himself with his World Cup medal. Trash talking's a part of sports. Don't be an idiot and react to it.

It's like diving. People complain that the Italians dive a lot, but the pygmy brained morons who brandish the cards fall for it constantly. So why not?

Quick question for the more knowledgable here.  Do players like Darren Bent and Jermain Defoe just suck? I've seen Bent play a little and he scores a shitload of goals, but obviously not enough to get on the team.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not very familiar with Bent, but Defoe clearly should have been on the team.

[JBill]

'I did not call him a terrorist. I am not a cultured person and I don't even know what as Islamist terrorist is.'

Brilliant! This is what he comes up with after having time to think up a story?

I don't really follow the sport, but I watched a lot of games and really enjoyed this World Cup. It seemed the ratings did pretty well in the U.S.

[Vinho Tinto]

US World Cup Final Ratings

I remain skeptical that soccer will amount to much of anything in the United States in my lifetime. However, it does appear that the World Cup has found itself a solid nitch. I don't know if it's due to the increased presence of Latinos in the United States; or people finding another sporting event to get into, but the ratings don't lie.

For all the criticism that ABC/ESPN has recieved for their announcer selections, they have to be lauded for the way they promoted and presented the tournament. The leadup commercials featuring Bono (As well as Dave O'Brien profiling a star player) were well done. Plus, making sure all of the games were shown live and in high def didn't hurt.

The '10 tournament will also be television friendly. According to http://www.worldtimezone.com/ the time difference between New York and Cape Town is 6 hours. So, we should once again see games played in the morning and early afternoon on the east coast.

[LateRally]

The Zidane-Materazzi spat reminds me of the Frankie Francisco chair-throwing incident in Oakland a couple years ago. If memory serves one of the fans had been taunting Doug Brocail about his recently stillborn child. Of course Francisco is a massive tool for going after the fan when he wasn't even the target of the heckling and he was coming from the dugout no less, but that's another issue. It begs the question at what point does the trash-talking cross the line where you cut the guy some slack for responding to it.

[Forever Red 9]

Do players like Darren Bent and Jermain Defoe just suck? I've seen Bent play a little and he scores a shitload of goals, but obviously not enough to get on the team.

I seem to remember Bent starting out strong and then coming back to earth during the second half last year. With that being said, I saw him play four times last spring and wasn't impressed that much with him. He was totally overmatched against Arsenal and Manchester United, and was taking off at halftime in the ManU game. I'm not sure he would crack the starting lineup on either of those teams. Another game was against West Brom, no offense in a 0-0 tie. The last game was against Portsmouth when Portsmouth was storming out of the relegation zone. He did nothing for the first 75 minutes before scoring two goals to lead Charlton to a 3-2 victory. He seems to be a streaky player in general. So I agree with the perception that he would struggle against top teams.

[Spacemans Bong]

Klinsmann just turned down the Germany job.

I would put the odds at 5-3 he's getting the USA job, which would be absolutely a huge coup for Us soccer. maybe the first ever time a USA coach being hired would be that today's top sports story.

[Papi's Mango Salsa]

Klinsmann just turned down the Germany job.

I would put the odds at 5-3 he's getting the USA job, which would be absolutely a huge coup for Us soccer. maybe the first ever time a USA coach being hired would be that today's top sports story.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That really is too bad. I thought the German squad was exceptional this WC. It seems as though they have a good core group of players, very exciting. With Klinsmann leading them, I really thought they could have another good run in 4 years.

[Paul M]

Maybe he felt like he did his job to get some youth and excitement over there, and is willing to take the chance and try that over here in the US. It'd be quite a challenge. Plus, I imagine the travel took its toll.

I'm going to try to keep up with football much more consistently. Will I be able to watch many of the top Euro teams on cable at all w/o having to buy pay-per-view? Thanks in advance.

[gaelgirl]

Klinsmann just turned down the Germany job.

I would put the odds at 5-3 he's getting the USA job, which would be absolutely a huge coup for Us soccer. maybe the first ever time a USA coach being hired would be that today's top sports story.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Maybe if the US hired Beckham as coach, or Pele, or maybe even Zinedine Zidane (provided it happened within the week).

Jürgen Klinsmann becoming the US coach, however, would likely be sandwiched between MLB trade rumors and Tour de France highlights.

If ol' Jürgen does take the not-yet-vacant US job, maybe he'll teach the Americans how to take a dive. I don't know if that's a good thing, but my British buddy thinks it would be.

[Paul M]

I think it would get the lead box on ESPN if it happened, if only because soccer is still somewhat fresh on the minds of the US sporting public. There's really only baseball to compete with. They should do it on Wednesday and then nothing else could really compete.

[Vermonter At Large]

Will I be able to watch many of the top Euro teams on cable at all w/o having to buy pay-per-view? Thanks in advance.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Fox Sports coverage is pretty extensive, and they show Sky News every day, which is a really good way to keep up with European football if you don't have time to watch a lot of matches.

[BigA27]

I think this damn near guarantees Klinsmann takes the US job.
Coming on the heals of the World Cup it will also be very big news, not quite the top story but probably the front of the sports page.

As soon as the US was eliminated I wanted Klinsmann as the coach, he turned Germany into a exciting attacking side that actually played with some flair. I think he can do great things with the US side.

[Spacemans Bong]

Maybe if the US hired Beckham as coach, or Pele, or maybe even Zinedine Zidane (provided it happened within the week).

Jürgen Klinsmann becoming the US coach, however, would likely be sandwiched between MLB trade rumors and Tour de France highlights.

If ol' Jürgen does take the not-yet-vacant US job, maybe he'll teach the Americans how to take a dive. I don't know if that's a good thing, but my British buddy thinks it would be.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's a dead time of the sports year. Training camps don't even start for another two weeks. The big thing will be trying to avoid the British Open.

As long as the USSF doesn't wait until August to introduce Klinsmann, they could get a huge media bounce. The World Cup's still fresh in many people's minds, and Germany got a lot of attention from ABC/ESPN because they were hosts and because Klinsmann is a naturalized American. If ESPN knows Klinsmann will be hired, I bet the press conference will be covered live.

US hires superstar German coach during a slow news day will be quite tempting. It'll get people off the USA's back after that shitty World Cup as well.

Anyway, in another piece of good news, Sunil Gulati (the new head of the USSF, and a real soccer guy) is considering sending the USA to Copa America, which would be huge.

Edited by Spacemans Bong, 11 July 2006 - 08:49 PM.

[Spacemans Bong]

Maybe he felt like he did his job to get some youth and excitement over there, and is willing to take the chance and try that over here in the US. It'd be quite a challenge. Plus, I imagine the travel took its toll.

I'm going to try to keep up with football much more consistently. Will I be able to watch many of the top Euro teams on cable at all w/o having to buy pay-per-view? Thanks in advance.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Depends what you want, Paul.

In terms of just top European clubs, the Champions League is the place to go. It's the elite European competition, where only the top 2-3 clubs in each major European league along with the champions of the lesser leagues play. The plumb group fixtures (last year Liverpool v. Chelsea, Arsenal v. Ajax) and the knockouts have incredible playoff-style atmospheres, and the soccer is cagey, determined and sometimes stunning.

Fortunately, the rightsholders are ESPN, and 2006/2007 will see one plumb match per day with a highlights show as well. Derek Rae and Tommy Smyth are light years ahead of O'Brien and 'Celo.

The leagues are spread among different channels. Fox Soccer Channel has one league, but it's the most popular league - the Premiership. They may also get the Dutch Eredivisie, which is Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV. GOL TV has La Liga (Spain), which includes the European champions Barcelona and Real Madrid. They also have most of the teams in Serie A, including AC Milan, Internazionale, Juventus and Roma.

No one has the Bundesliga yet.

Fox Soccer Channel should be on most digital cable systems, and GOL TV should be on most as well, if only in the Espanol package. I may also become acquitanted with your local Univision station - I think they used to show some La Liga a few years ago and had highlights of European soccer on.

[Vinho Tinto]

Will I be able to watch many of the top Euro teams on cable at all w/o having to buy pay-per-view? Thanks in advance.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

All of the big English Premier league PPV games (Matchups involving ManU, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool) are played on Fox Soccer channel on a three day delay.

I began typing a long winded summary on what channel broadcast which leagues, but then I remembered where I go for this information: www.soccertv.com

That is one of the first websties I found on the web. It is updated dillegently. I am amazed how accurate they are. My ability to find Portuguese league info is near impossible without the site.

[Nick Kaufman]

Maybe he felt like he did his job to get some youth and excitement over there, and is willing to take the chance and try that over here in the US. It'd be quite a challenge. Plus, I imagine the travel took its toll.

I'm going to try to keep up with football much more consistently. Will I be able to watch many of the top Euro teams on cable at all w/o having to buy pay-per-view? Thanks in advance.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well, you can't watch a game of Champions league on ESPN and some premiership on FoX.

I am sure you can get internet streams for virtually anything. And you have Summers Restaurant in Clarendon which is a good hangout for DC soccer fans .

Edited by Nick Kaufman, 11 July 2006 - 11:39 PM.

[Nick Kaufman]

Also let me insist on sopcast.org.

I watched the ch.l. final over there from the international ESPN broadcast. And I sure they have more CH.L. games than ESPN.

This is where I watch Greek championship games and that's not the most widespread product.

Many teams sell individual streams as well.

[Paul M]

Thanks, guys.

Nick, I like Summers but I used to go to watch baseball before I had the package and I go there for college basketball. I think I don't quite have the football chops yet to go to the other side of the bar with the soccer fans.

Is Champions League schedule determined based on the last few years?

Who has the rights to the Euro championship in '08?

I'll do some research to avoid asking even more basic questions like what is a fixture, and use the international football thread and not this one

[Vinho Tinto]

Is Champions League schedule determined based on the last few years?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Pretty much. The way it's set up now, even if you win a league title in Ubakodsjfksdfstan- you'll have a chance to get in. They use a points system to determine the extra spots a league gets. For example, Porto winning the CL in '03 is a big reason why the Portuguese league can have as many as three teams in the CL.

Who has the rights to the Euro championship in '08?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Great question.

It has bounced around since I've been watching. The last two have seen the games on PPV in the States (I think Canada has had it shown on regular cable). But in '96, most of the games were shown on ESPN. I haven't read anything saying how the '08 will be shown.

I don't know what Fox's budget for FSC is; but if they really want to be "America's Soccer Channel", then grabbing the rights to that would be mandatory IMO.

[biollante]

Klinsman as head of the U.S. team....that is like WWII gone bad. I'm all for it. Arena has outlived his usefulness. I don't want a team that dives; I prefer a team that knows how to head butt...and not get caught. The German team this year really, really elevated its play.

[trekfan55]

Just read this interesting article on cnnsi:

Zidane could be stripped of award

Interesting take on Zidane, but can FIFA really do that?

[Wave em in Wendall]

Zidane is giving his first interview since the incident later today for a French TV show. He will comment on the incident, don't know if he will divulge what Materazzi said to him. BBC says the interview is at 1840 BST so that's 340 EST (right?). Should be interesting.

I highly doubt that FIFA will actually strip him of the award.

[Forever Red 9]

I don't know what Fox's budget for FSC is; but if they really want to be "America's Soccer Channel", then grabbing the rights to that would be mandatory IMO.

I would prefer the games to be picked up by ESPN/ABC for different reasons. I'm all for FSC picking up as many games as possible and expanding well beyond the Murdoch owned Sky Sports broadcasts, but for big games such as the Euro, those need to be on basic cable or network television. The casual fan won't watch FSC, but they will watch the Euro on ESPN if they market the games well. With the new Fifa rankings now correctly showing that Europe has most of the best teams (Americans love rankings), I'm sure there could be a big amount of hype built up. This will enable the sport to grow among Americans, which I don't think will happen on FSC.

[Vinho Tinto]

I would prefer the games to be picked up by ESPN/ABC for different reasons.  I'm all for FSC picking up as many games as possible and expanding well beyond the Murdoch owned Sky Sports broadcasts, but for big games such as the Euro, those need to be on basic cable or network television.  The casual fan won't watch FSC, but they will watch the Euro on ESPN if they market the games well.  With the new Fifa rankings now correctly showing that Europe has most of the best teams (Americans love rankings), I'm sure there could be a big amount of hype built up.  This will enable the sport to grow among Americans, which I don't think will happen on FSC.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You write as if the last two tournaments haven't been on PPV.

[Wave em in Wendall]

He Speaks...

Zinedine Zidane has apologised for the headbutt on Italy's Marco Materazzi which earned him a red card in Sunday's World Cup final penalty shoot-out loss.

But the France legend did not reveal what Materazzi said, only confirming that it was "very personal" and concerned his mother and his sister.

In a French TV interview, Zidane, 34, said: "I want to ask for forgiveness from all the children who watched that.

"There was no excuse for it. I want to be open and honest about it."

But he refused to say sorry to Materazzi and said he did not regret what he did.

"You hear those things once and you try to walk away," said Zidane, who retired from football after the final in Berlin.

"That's what I wanted to do because I am retiring. You hear it a second time and then a third time...

"This was not something to do. I want to make it clear because it was watched by two billion people and by millions of kids.

"I want to apologise to them but I can't regret what I did because it would mean that he (Materazzi) was right to say what he said."

Edited by Wave em in Wendall, 12 July 2006 - 01:35 PM.

[dirtynine]

http://neszidane.ytmnd.com/

[FredLynnsGlove]

A simple "I fucked up" would do.

[Nick Kaufman]

Zidane with the non-apology apology...

Enough already. I don't care either way.

[CJChap]

Bruce Arena's contract will not be renewed at the end of the year...
http://www.ussoccer....jsp_281153.html

[splendid splinter]

I was in Ireland for the WC Final, and a couple of days later one of the local papers solicited reader opinions on what Materazzi said to Zidane. Probably the best submission was...

"Do you know an instant cure for the hiccups?"

[IU Sox Fan5]

Bump--on in 4 years

[Wave em in Wendall]

Zidane gets a 3 match symbolic ban and is fined £3260 (7500 Swiss Francs). He has offered to serve 3 days worth of community service instead.

Materazzi found guilty of insulting Zidane's Family Honour and gets a 2 match ban from international play and is fined £2170 (5000 Swiss Francs). Note: in both Zidane and Materazzi's statements there was no mention of racism in the remarks.

Rob Smyth of the Guardian slams Materazzi's punishment pretty hard as setting a dangerous precedent for on field actions.

Edited by Wave em in Wendall, 20 July 2006 - 02:45 PM.