The Fan

From: BBC - Capello’s optimism masks reality on England’s lacklustre performance against France:

As one Italian observer remarked, perhaps cruelly: “England do not just need an Italian coach - they need an Italian team.”

 

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Rangers are set to sign French striker Daniel Cousin for $1.5 million. Cousin is so unpopular with his current club Lens’ fans that he now only plays in away games.

The first signs that he might get the move he craves came when Lens agreed he would no longer have to play in their home matches.

Cousin has been given a torrid time by Lens fans and insists fears over his own safety sparked an unusual request to be used in away games only.

 

From: The Daily Record

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Ronaldinho heads FIFPro poll of 40,000 players

Italians and French dominate best eleven

Barcelona and Brazil’s Ronaldinho has been named the world’s top player for the second time in succession in FIFPro’s poll of over 40,000 players worldwide.

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France coach Raymond Domenech has warned Chelsea’s Claude Makelele he risks a two-game club ban if he fails to report for the Euro 2008 qualifiers.

The 33-year-old is in France’s squad for games against Georgia and Italy, despite announcing his retirement after the World Cup final loss to Italy.

From: BBC

 

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Materazzi banned for Zidane insult

FIFA set dangerous precedent

FIFA have announced that Italy defender Materazzi will receive a £2,170 fine and 2 game suspension, and Zidane a £3,260 fine and 3 game ban.

In choosing to punishing the ‘victim’ nearly as strongly as the perpetrator, FIFA have given players a who commit serious foul play a dangerous ‘get out’ by allowiing provocation to be blamed.

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After an exhaustive study of the match video, and with the help of an Italian translator, Rees claimed that Materazzi called Zidane “the son of a terrorist whore” before adding “so just f*** off” for good measure.

From: The Times

 

Seems to be corroborated here: The Daily Mail

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Fifa says video replays played no part in France captain Zinedine Zidane’s dismissal in Sunday’s World Cup final.

 

Referee Horacio Elizondo acted similarly with Wayne Rooney’s sending off earlier in the tournament. He appeared to be taking no action for some time against Rooney before pulling him aside and showing the red card.

Zidane seemed in no doubt he was guilty. He could be seen taking off his captain’s armband some time before being dismissed, but put it back on after the thinking the officials had missed the incident.

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Zinedine Zidane has been awarded the Golden Ball as the best player at the World Cup, despite his sending-off in the final last night.

 

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Zidane red card overshadows Italian triumph

Italy 1 - France 1 (Italy win on penalties)

Zinedine Zidane’s career came to a staggering end as he saw red for his brutal head butt on Italian Materrazi.

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Zidane penalty ends Portugal cup run

France 1 - Portugal 0

After a first half penalty from Zinedine Zidane, France closed down the game with ease to qualify for the second World Cup final.

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