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| Columns |
| Gracian Tukula’s SPORT ON |
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by
Gracian Tukula, 15 July 2006
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05:13:58
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The number is increasing
What a wonderful weekend I had! Those who read this column last week will have known that I was rooting for Italy in the World Cup final on Sunday against France but everything else went my way as well. Actually, I can’t remember the last time that happened to me.
I also happen to be a tennis fan and the concurrent staging of Wimbledon and the World Cup was not good for me as I had to forgo some football action at times just to watch my man Roger Federer and a few of my other favourites displaying their skills at SW19.
So, Saturday started with the women’s final and I was behind Amelie Mauresmo. When she lost the first set I feared for the rest of my weekend but she came back strongly to defeat Justine Henin-Hardenne. The good evening was capped with Germany’s defeat of Portugal.
Come Sunday, Federer, who has had a bad run against Rafael Nadal this year, made his intentions clear when coasted through the first set, winning 6-0. His overall victory of three sets to one was, therefore, the perfect preparation for that night’s events at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Germany.
It was very ironic that the stars of France’s last two international triumphs became villains on the day. Legendary Zinedine Zidane was the star of France ‘98 when he headed in two goals that led to their sole World Cup triumph. On Sunday, he headed his way out to a shameful bow.
David Trezeguet was the man of the show at Euro 2000 when his golden goal broke Italian hearts in the final. This time it was his miss that proved France’s undoing in the penalty shoot-out. It just typifies life and its unpredictable nature.
It was also interesting that Marco Materazzi — who only found himself in the starting line-up due to Allessandro Nesta’s injury — was involved in all the key moments of the match. He was adjudged to have felled Florent Malouda for the penalty, got the equaliser and was head-butted. My man of the match by far!
I got several reactions to my assessment of the English national side but I am happy that the number of England fans thinking the way I do is growing. Here is another entry from the BBC 606 message board: “I want to discuss how useless our English football team is;
“How the media manages to brainwash an entire nation into thinking that our country has a chance of winning the World Cup; how overrated, overpaid and over-hyped our players are; how Rooney isn’t actually world class and hasn’t scored for England since Euro 2004;
“How Beckham managed to stay in the side despite being absolutely pants (Madrid only keep him to sell shirts); how we play the most boring, negative and frustrating football I have ever seen, yet in four years time how the media will again brainwash us into thinking that, now, after 44 years of hurt, we will bring the cup home.
I finally feel compelled to congratulate my very good friend Sam Gondwe at Area 49 and Sam Mnthambala at Nkhoma, both in Lilongwe in Italy’s victory. I know these guys were behind the Azzurri from the beginning and their faith was handsomely repaid. Mwakhwana!
––Feedback: gtukula@yahoo.co.uk or atukula@hotmail.com
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