CatalinR10
Senior Member
lessthanjake
New member
Just as a sidenote, while Zidane is on the table, can anyone explain to me why people insist his headbutt cost France the World Cup. I just don't see it. There were only 10 minutes left in the match. Italy did not score when France went a man down, and given that they had only scored one goal, on a penalty, in the previous 110 minutes, it's fairly unlikely France would have scored in those last 10 minutes had Zidane been there. It's POSSIBLE they would've scored if Zidane hadn't been sent off, but that chance is WAY too remote to say he cost them the match.
Then you get to penalties. Zidane surely would have taken a penalty in the shootout, and likely would have made it. But look who missed his penalty: Trezeguet. Trezeguet would have absolutely taken a penalty no matter what. Zidane would simply have displaced someone who made theirs anyways.
The headbutt was obviously stupid and absurd, but i can't see how it cost them the match.
Then you get to penalties. Zidane surely would have taken a penalty in the shootout, and likely would have made it. But look who missed his penalty: Trezeguet. Trezeguet would have absolutely taken a penalty no matter what. Zidane would simply have displaced someone who made theirs anyways.
The headbutt was obviously stupid and absurd, but i can't see how it cost them the match.
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Cule4life
The Culest
I sorta see your point. It was unlikely that France would have scored even if he stayed. at that moment both teams were too scared to take a risk and were playing conservatively. And people always need someone to blame
But another point is that he was their captain and best penalty taker. He would have provided inspiration and a calming presence.Without him their best penalty taker was Trezeguet (I think?). Maybe Trezeguet thought that since he's the best penalty taker remaining he has to convert his and the pressure got to him?
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Malappapper
Guest
Xavi did not reach his peak before he became 28. He was not a superstar before than. Great player, but not a superstar like he's been ever since.
Why a Barca fan who knows what Iniesta has done, and can do, is so bullish over Zidane because he was hyped to the heavens by the media for some iconic moments? Yet you leave behind the countless games he was little more than a passenger with the occasional pass and step-over. I said in 2008 that Iniesta would surpass Zidane, and lo and behold it has come to pass. Those neutrals you are alluding to, have even started to shift recently. Some years ago, only Barca fans would dare compare the two. But now, it is done by neutrals as well, which on its own says a lot. From these "neutrals", surely a 60 to 70% would go for Zidane (maybe I am being a bit too generous on Zidane here) but that is only to be expected since Zidane has finished his career, his bad or average games have been lost like tears in the rain (going a bit poetic here) and all that remains are his glorious moments (the 2 headers in 98 final, the volley in the CL final, his good moments with France 2000 and 2006 etc) Iniesta has not yet been immortalized because he is still playing, still being scrutinized for every minute he runs on a pitch. If he goes off the boil for 25mns in the 2nd half against Betis away, we will notice it, and register it. If he was average against France in the Euro QF, we still remember it. Even if he were to stop tomorrow, Iniesta has practically eclipsed Zidane, and that is a fact. But guess what, he has at least 4 good years in him, and that may mean 1 or maybe even 2 more CLs, and maybe even one more International trophy, and surely some more iconic moments.
When that comes to be, even the most "kamikaze" of his fanboys will have to conceit defeat.
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lessthanjake
New member
I mean, there's certainly a butterfly effect thing where maybe if Zidane hadn't been sent off, the situation would have been different and Trezeguet might have made his. But it's such a speculative point with no grounding in fact. You can argue the other way. Maybe Zidane would have cracked and missed his penalty. Maybe players like Abidal, who made theirs, would have missed for some reason if Zidane had been there. You can speculate both ways on what the effect would be, and in the end, since penalties are mostly random, there's no reason that not having one player for a shootout really decreases your chances of winning it significantly. I see no legitimate causal link between Zidane being sent off and France losing.
X
xaviniesta
Guest
mine too, i love the reaction of kevin keatings as well. good that commentators appreciate these things as well.
that similar skill vs gago in the 2-6 game was nasty as well.
btw, look at the video from 0:18-0:23. he doesn't even look the ball, he has eyes only for looking another pass. unbelivable. he is one of the few players who can dribble with his head up.
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raskolnikov
Well-known member
Dribbling with your head up is definitely a skill that is pretty rare even among great players.
Xavi excels at it, it lead to the Jordi Alba goal vs Italy for example.
Xavi excels at it, it lead to the Jordi Alba goal vs Italy for example.
hemakesmemessi
New member
He is just my favourite footballer. Whereas Messi is pure domintion and god-like abiity, which makes him a marvel to behold ; Iniesta is pure art. He makes you love football for the sake of loving football!
Anyway, is it just me or does Tito rest Andres ALOT? Does anyone have the figures foor how many games the Don has started on the bench this year compared to last?
Anyway, is it just me or does Tito rest Andres ALOT? Does anyone have the figures foor how many games the Don has started on the bench this year compared to last?
misterplatin
New member
There is surely some playing plan for Iniesta this year to keep him fit for business end of the season.He is being played in the important matches and is subbed when the team is winning comfortably.In some home matches he is being rested .He is not the type of footballer who can play non-stop whole year.
it seems u r right he started in:8/15 for la liga.3/6 for ch.l1/3 for cdr and 2/4 for spain.altough neither last year had many participations to first 11 due to injuries.
Semi-Neutral
Sir Alupp Heynrguson
Tito is being a lot more cautious with his players, and I agree with him completely. The only players who he's playing more than they used to under Pep are Pedro and Sanchez, and that's so they can find their form again when results don't matter as much. Messi has also been much more relaxed, not going full out every game but still managing to score dozens of goals.
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Flavia
Guest
Nothing, this week Messi and other players did the same. It was probably some recovery work in the gym.
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