Who Will Win The Golden Ball?

**DanB** · 07-10-2006, 05:50 PM

He certainly went out with a bang.

**manker** · 07-10-2006, 05:52 PM

I don't understand why the votes were cast at half time.

Admittedly, I was a bit pished but I didn't notice any ceremony at the end of the game to present ZZ with the award and judging by the time of the article on the BBC website, it wasn't announced til this morning anyhow.

Shirley, in South Africa next time around, they won't be doing that again.

**BawA** · 07-10-2006, 05:53 PM

Glad Zidane won it, he deserved it more then anyone and stop about all these Headbutting Bullshit, anyone would lose his temper in such sensetive match and on top of that somebody shittalks you, i would break his teeths aways.

**Biggles** · 07-10-2006, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by BawA

Glad Zidane won it, he deserved it more then anyone and stop about all these Headbutting Bullshit, anyone would lose his temper in such sensetive match and on top of that somebody shittalks you, i would break his teeths aways.

I am also happy that Zidane won it but it would have been better if he had kept his cool and helped his team win the game (although it would have probably gone to penalties anyway and they might still be taking them)

**manker** · 07-10-2006, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by BawA

Glad Zidane won it, he deserved it more then anyone and stop about all these Headbutting Bullshit, anyone would lose his temper in such sensetive match and on top of that somebody shittalks you, i would break his teeths aways.

This is the first time that anyone has ever head-butted anyone in a World Cup final - but I bet it's not the first time that a player said something insulting to an opponant during a World Cup final.

More like the 1001st.

As usual, you're full of shit. The award isn't just for technical ability, it's also for sportsmanship. The head-butt alone means that Zidane didn't deserve it. Just like all the general gittery precluded Christiano Ronaldo from getting the young player award.

**BawA** · 07-10-2006, 06:05 PM

Zidane has always been cool in the games, never heared or saw him involving in Troubles in the match and just one case doesnt make him what ur preffering to.
FIFA knows better then u or do you think that everything should've be done your way and as u like.

**manker** · 07-10-2006, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by BawA

Zidane has always been cool in the games, never heared or saw him involving in Troubles in the match and just one case doesnt make him what ur preffering to.
FIFA knows better then or do you guess that everything should've be done your way and as u like.

Zidane has been sent off for head-butting before, he's got a pretty volitile temperament, you're excused from not being aware of this because you don't watch much football.

As for FIFA knowing better than I do, journalists voted for this award, so what's your point.

My own was that Ronaldo wasn't considered for the young player award because of his unsportsmanlike behaviour - if the votes had been cast after the final, Zidane would not have won. There's little doubt about that.

**Biggles** · 07-10-2006, 06:26 PM

The thing is who else really put in 3 or 4 good shifts? He played well against Brazil, Spain and Portugal and had a pretty good game against Italy for 110 minutes. I can't think of anybody else that was really that consistent other than a couple of defenders Miguel of Portugal was good as was the Italian Cavanarro(sp?). I dare say that if the Argentinians had gone all the way then one of their players might have got it.

However, they chose at half time and at that point they made the right choice. Even if they had waited till half time in extra time it would have still been the right choice (cracking header saved by Buffon). So does 10 seconds of mild red mist really negate the choice. If he had really delivered a Glasgow Kiss to the bridge of the nose then maybe

but the thump to the chest was little more than a bog standard rugby tackle. The chap was up in much quicker time than most of the ordinary tackles in that extra time.

**manker** · 07-10-2006, 06:37 PM

Originally Posted by Biggles

The thing is who else really put in 3 or 4 good shifts? He played well against Brazil, Spain and Portugal and had a pretty good game against Italy for 110 minutes. I can't think of anybody else that was really that consistent other than a couple of defenders Miguel of Portugal was good as was the Italian Cavanarro(sp?). I dare say that if the Argentinians had gone all the way then one of their players might have got it.

However, they chose at half time and at that point they made the right choice. Even if they had waited till half time in extra time it would have still been the right choice (cracking header saved by Buffon). So does 10 seconds of mild red mist really negate the choice. If he had really delivered a Glasgow Kiss to the bridge of the nose then maybe

but the thump to the chest was little more than a bog standard rugby tackle. The chap was up in much quicker time than most of the ordinary tackles in that extra time.

Well, Miguel is a full back and had a fairly okayish tournament but he come nowhere near the level of Cannavaro - or if you want to compare like for like, hasn't been as effective as either of the Italian full backs. Maybe you're thinking of Carvalho, who had an outstanding time in Germany.

Pirlo has been at the centre of everything good for the Italians and has put himself forward as one of the top four midfielders in the world. His performances have been top notch without reaching the heights Zidane did occasionally.

The reason I say Cannavaro should have won it is because he hasn't had a regular partner in the centre of defence yet has marshalled it superbly. He started with Nesta, who got injured, then steps in Materazzi, who has been fairly inconsistent throughout his career - but was a colossus alongside Cannavaro. He got suspended and then Barzaghli filled in. All the while, Cannavaro has played superbly and organised the other defenders fantastically well.

Zidane has done some good things, obviously, but, as I said, sportsmanship is a big part of the award, therefore the head-butt should preclude him from winning it because he wasn't that much better than his peers to compensate for it.