It's over

No more World Cup. After what seemed like 700 games, countless teams and a whole month of the beautiful game, its all over with Italy winning over France via penalty kicks. It seems like a letdown to lose/win like that but penalty kicks are a soccer skill like any other and all part of the game.

The match itself was really exciting. A penalty kick by Zidane in the 7th minute made it 1-0 for France. Later Italy tied it up and it stayed that way. Now let me talk about Zidane for a bit. He was famously retiring after this game. He scores the first goal putting his team ahead. Then after a frustratingly long game, he does the most incredible thing. He head butts an Italian player from out of nowhere and gets red carded. At the end of the game. In fact after the game was technically over. Sent off like a disobedient child. Huh? What happened? What would make one of the best players, in the last game of his long, illustrious professional life, act like a spoiled baby? It's a question for the ages. He didn't even show up for the silver medal presentation. He should have never gotten the Golden Ball. Crappy sportsmanship. If my kids behaved like that they'd never hear the end of it.

Needless to say the air was sucked out of France's balloon, their focus was lost and they blew it. And because he was red carded, Zidane couldn't take a penalty kick and they lost by one. It never should have happened. Poor France. Thank goodness I had absolutely nothing invested in the game. I only wanted France to win because Scott took me to Paris 3 years ago for Valentine's Day. Entertainment value only. And to be honest, it was a very entertaining game. Full of highs and lows and that's all you can ask for in a game.

Now what am I going to do with myself this morning with no soccer to watch? D'uh, I'm going shopping. What else?

kxx