FRANCE v ITALY : THE FINAL - Sunday 9th

[mrmuzeman]

MATCH ODDS

FRANCE - 3.30
DRAW - 2.88
ITALY - 2.75

TO LIFT THE CUP

FRANCE - 2.20
ITALY - 1.80

[Kiko]

That price on Italy for me is enormous i have to say

France for me haven't been all that convincing. In the group stages they were very poor and didn't look like doing anything in the tournament at all to be honest

Come the second round they were poor in th first half where Spain dominated the game but France got the goal and then the game played into their hands for the second half and they took control and won it, a slip from Spain i couldn'tsee happening from the Italians.

Against Brazil they were up against a side who weren't performing and weren't the best of units but i take my hats off to them, they were never under any pressure in that game and got what they deserved.

Today against Portugal they were up against a side really strugging to score and create and it showed up big time. France didn't look all that great to me and were playing similar to how they did in the early rounds.

Pluses for them have been their defence who have been immense. Zidane also has put in a god like shift this competition but elsewhere in the squad theyare hit and miss.

Henry is in and out of the games being more out than anything else. Ribery looks threatening but has gone missing more times than not.

Big worry for them has to be Barthez at he back. Everytime the ball comes inyou think he is going to flap everytime and he hasn't looked comfortable all tournament.

Then i look at Italy and whenyou look at them they have really grown in the tournament.

Bar the USA game i don't think they have really been troubled the whole tournament to be honest and its down to their shape and each player knowing their exact role.

They have been as solid as they come and they have the best backline and keeper in the tournament by a mile.

Cannavaro has just been absolutelyimmaculate and although i think he is a cnut (things he has done in CL) you can't fault his world cup. Especially when his partner Nesta got injured you thought that would leave im a bit exposed but it hasn't.

In midfield Pirlo is another stand out. Rarely see him losing the ball and he has dictated every game and attack for the Italians.

Gattuso is another superb player and he is crucial in the game and i think he has it in hm to keep Zidane from playing as if he can then on current form that would be the game half won for the Italians.

Still not convinced by Toni to be honest and i've made all my reasons clear why. Great workman like player but he hasn't been taken enough of his chances for me but its good to see they have players off the bench such as Del Piero, Gilardinho who can come on and change the game.

2.63 justnow. Can see that getting a smidge bigger for the final and im goingto be all over the Italians.

I think tis could be one of the most comfortable finals for a side to win that there ever has been with Italy coming through and i might try a sneaky handicap bet.

[mrmuzeman]

Best price is 7/4 at Paddypower for the Italians.

[christianu]

I personally cant see any value in either the Italians or French here, its all done about right. Italy favourties but not overwhelming.

Should be a good final though, everyone knows I love how the Italians are set up and play, to be honest they have been playing like they did against Germany in every other match I have seen them, the difference was that Germany were a decent attacking side. I wouldnt say they have grown as they were good against Ghana and Czech anyway.

I am actually away to buy an Italy shirt tommorrow would you believe

[Kiko]

Originally Posted by christianu

I am actually away to buy an Italy shirt tommorrow would you believe

Fucking glory hunters eh!

[EdgeSeek]

Accidentally posted this on another thread...! Apologies... Still getting used to the formats on this forum. Just a few quick thoughts ahead of the final.

Italians have been lucky too given the rub of the green vs Australia. They do seem to be more focussed since many of them will be playing to impress for new clubs if the trail for the big 4 go sour. High likelihood that, so the Italians will be up for it. Still, there are doubts when Lippi tries to be so very carefull only choosing to go for it in X-time. Probably dreading pens as 80% chance the Germans would nick that. I do have a niggling feeling that one or two of the Italian players will self-destruct on that day. Their defenders and midfield players do have a history of that. For those of you that follow Serie-A closely, I am a wee bit worried about the Palermo based players. Just one of those niggling tugs...

France... what can we say about them... Zizou and co have been brilliant. It was nice to see the "older" generation turn on the style one more time. A few more times actually. With Ribery and Malouda, they seem to have a balance between class and speed. Let's not forget Henry. All it takes is a few seconds of inspiration. Though I would also venture a guess on a very very tense first half and open game towards the last 30 minutes.

It would be great if the likes of Zizuo, Thuram, Sagnol and Trezeguet ride off into the sunset with a bang.! Especially Zizuo... The events on and off the pitch seems to favour him these past few weeks.

As it stands now., I'm thinking HT/FT of X/2 or X/X. If extratime, I fancy the Italians more as they would still have the legs to push... IF it ends square after X-time, Penalties would favor the French again.

Whatever the case might be, Here's wishing for a clean and flowing final with both sides going for it...!!

[rcgills]

No worries about posting in the other thread, EdgeSeek, and welcome to TDP

I agree it would be nice to see France's older generation bow out in style. Can't believe I'm saying that to be honest, I used to live in France and hated seeing them do well when I was out there, but despite that, I've found myself wanting them to do well ever since they knocked Spain out (had to support Spain for that one, my girlfriend would've killed me otherwise ). Also pleased for Domenech, he's taken a hell of a lot of stick from players, fans and press in France over the past year or so, possibly not unreasonable at times given how badly France struggled in qualification and then in their opening group games in this tournament, but he'll now be able to stick 2 fingers up at those critics and say that maybe he did know what he was doing all along.

[christianu]

Fucking glory hunters eh!

I know im gutted that people are going to think that and it will look like it but only TDP knows the truth

[edtkh]

So the 9th of July is finally dawning upon us and football's finest hour(hopefully) is just a couple of hours away...

Quite frankly, how the Italians start this as favourites(albeit slight ones) at most books is beyond me as they have struggled to convince me bar their performance against Germany and the French have got more than a decent team to match, if not better, the Italians man-for-man. Granted, the French were far from convincing in the group stages, but their performances in the knockout games should have more than convinced even the most stoic doubter this lot has finally come good once more. For me, France's(and Zidane's in particular) performance against Brazil has been the finest at this World Cup thus far and if they could repeat a level of performance that matches that, I don't see how the Italians would win this one.

Defensively, there's very little seperating both sides IMO(although France has conceded one more than the Italians en route to the final, it's easy to overlook the fact the goal they conceded to Spain came from a penalty and they'd also kept Brazil at bay). That said, it's ultimately the midfield which holds the crux to this contest and I still see the French shading the Italians in that department - throw in the gulf in quality of the forwards between the sides and I'd find it even tougher to make a case for the Italians to start this as slight favourites when they shouldn't be more than 50-50 at best.

In essence, the Italians hold a 17-8-7(W-D-L) record against the French, but the French have yet to lose to the Italians since 1978 spanning 6 matches in that period(with the French winning 5 and drawing 1).

Lest the old heads in the French side go AWOL(and I doubt they would given the extra motivation for the likes of Zidane, Thuram and Makelele for well-publicised reasons) and the French revert to playing the horrible brand of football which characterised their qualifying campaign and games in the group stage at the WC, it would hardly surprise me if the much-derided astrology-smitten eccentric - Raymond Domenech - had one last laugh...and there can certainly be no more fitting tribute than for Zizou to call it a day with the ultimate prize in football in his grasp.

Good luck and enjoy the game...

Bets for me :
France to win in 90 minutes (3.45 @ Betfair)
France to win the World Cup (2.32 @ Betfair)

[elwico]

very close to call this . . .im going to take the draw at half time and full time

[Betfly]

All the sporting papers tip Italy in 90mins.(RP,SL & Sportsman)

Bit worrying this as I also fancy Italy :loon

Cue a France 3-0 win !


For the record I've taken HT Draw FT Italy @ 5.5 ppower.

[Kiko]

Originally Posted by seen

Interesting stat, lads....

Including friendlies, France have conceded just ONE first half goal in their last 22 matches.

Anyone backing Italy outright would be better off waiting until halftime to get better odds, on that evidence.

Very interesting that is and im going to have some of the draw ht, Italy full time myself betfly

[Swooperman]

I've got france on a decent priced outright bet taken after the 2nd group match, & I'be backed both sides on penalties on Betfair. I was going to cover Italy but I dont see them winning tbh so I'll chance it

[Beanie]

Correct score 0-0 at HT has fallen to 2.00 on Betfair - had fancied that bet but certainly not at that price.

[k33nan]

I think Italy will win in 90 mins but it will be close so i'm going to go for Italy 2-1 and i think they will take the lead so i will pick toni to score first he is due another.