The lads who really got them through in 2006 were the unheralded players like Materazzi, Grosso and Camoranesi. But these lads were no world beaters as players, even though technically they were, I guess. But you know what I mean.
And Cannavaro.
But the 1994 and 1998 Italian squads were loaded in way the 2006 one wasnât.
2002 one might have been the best in terms of squad depth. But 2006 was the best team. And Cannavaro walked on water in that tournament
The best moments in World Cups are when a team stinks it out in the first round but somehow survives, then suddenly clicks.
Italy 1982 the poster child of the genre. England in 1986 and 1990. Italy 1994. France 2006.
Tyrone 2008 and Kerry 2009 did it as well in Gaelic football.
The Ballyhale Shamrocks Club Hurling team of 2019/20 are another classic of this genre.
Lost all 5 Group games in Kilkenny, but turned it round to win the All Ireland.
A quirk of tournament football, or sport in general, which makes it far superior to league sport
Teams tend to grow in to world cups tbf.
Thereâs a grand oulâ record of teams losing first round group games and making it to World Cup finals.
West Germany 1974
Argentina 1978
Holland 1978
West Germany 1982
West Germany 1986
Argentina 1990
Italy 1994
Spain 2010
Itâs a marathon not a sprint. Neymar crocked now by the sounds of it.
Gary Kirby is the most overrated forward of the 1990s.
Jurgen Sparwasser
Zidane got them to the final. He was exceptional vs Brazil iiirc. Cost them in final. With messi and Ronaldo over the last 15 years people forgot how good Zidane was. What a player
Didnât Brazil start with kaka, Ronaldinho, Adriano and ronaldo in that game. Too much attacking talent.
Karen is up for the craic.
Theyâll have a better chance of winning without that jakey.
If Ronan Lynch was brought on for an out of sorts Declan Hannon during the first half of the 2019 AI Semi Final, Limerick would have won.
Thatâs a flaking French side
Unreal its a travesty they didnt win the competition.
malouda looks very out of place there.
He wasnât a bad player but most national teams carrying one or two lads. Thatâs a hell of a midfield thatâll dictate a game for you.
