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Wednesday 27 September, 2006

FIFA President Sepp Blatter said it was “a tragedy” that Italy won the 2006 World Cup on penalties and that the system will be changed.

The Final ended 1-1 with France after extra time and the Azzurri buried all five of their spot-kicks to lift the trophy in Berlin on July 9.

"When it comes to the World Cup final it is passion, and when it goes to extra time it is a drama,” said Blatter.

"But when it comes to penalty kicks it is a tragedy. Football is a team sport and penalties is not a team, it is the individual."

The FIFA chief suggested a replay – which would cause massive organisational problems – or gradually taking players off the field in extra time until a Golden Goal is scored.

"We have four years or so before South Africa 2010, so I think we have time," he told a Swiss Chamber of Commerce event in Zurich.

The World Cup Final has been decided twice on penalties – both involving Italy.

In 1994 the match ended 0-0 before Brazil emerged victorious. In 2006 the Azzurri saw off France from the spot.

Blatter has already courted controversy from Italian football after he failed to hand over the World Cup trophy in Berlin this summer. UEFA President Lennart Johannson took charge of the ceremony while Blatter watched from the stands.


Football Italia
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The guy's a complete idiot ... but since he's so certain ... what do you suggest should be done ???

Since we're talking about new rules I'd like to say that the use of the monitor is something that MUST be allowed into the game ... it has already began with how the ref was informed of Zidane's headbutt on Materazzi in the "tragic" WC Final...

The headline is indeed stupid

this is stupid!

i guess we would not be even talking about this if France won the world cup on penalties

and what's up with "gradually taking players off the field in extra time until a Golden Goal is scored" plan

8 against 8? that's not even football..

That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard from Blatter's mouth. He's a total idiot, in the very meaning of the word.

Blatter is an idiot.

I think this guy has something against Italy ...

Ofcourse we wouldn't ...

And that "thought" of his ... it would certainly kill the players !!


You think ... ???

I agree with Blatter, that italy won is a tragedy....but by other reasons...WE SHOULD HAVE WON IT....but I guess it's like Lukas Podolski said "It's football, sometimes the better team wins..."

He-he still not over it ... Sorry !!!

Well they could cancel out the penalties and add a fourth sub; thats for Inzaghi to come on and score the winner close to extra time

Still, the cup is in Italy now, so hard luck Blatter

I'll only be over it if it's 2010 and we beat Italy for the first time in history...beating them in the EURO 2008 would also be OK, but it just wouldn't be the same...
Anyway Blatter is the biggest most stupid idiot in the world...

well a 4th sub would help but the again what ... they would play like forever .. till death?? The last to stand on his feet wins !!

Sarcasim dst .. It was sarcasim .. Yeah, I agree the penalties are the last resort when the players r exhausted

Well if dst's very cool idea would be used we would have beaten Liverfool last year...

well I agree ... it's not really fair ... but it's always a classic when it ends that way !!

Arghh .. That cup was ours !!!!!!

How so ?

I know...they were so f@cking exhausted during the extra time...juts two or five more minutes...

We would have lost it for sure that way I think ...

Of course .. But why didnt that son of a b!tch comment on the Brazil - Italia final '94 ?! It ended on penalties too; and if Zidane was the cause for Frances downfall in '06 .. Well so was Baggio in '94

No no no....

"To miss a penalty you need to have the balls to take it in the first place"

I think we should have scored another one ... but it was tiredness that prevented us from doing so ...

Haha...this reminds a little bit Lothar Matthäus in the WC final 94' when we got that penalty in the 80ies minute or so. Matthäus was the captain and was always responsible for the penalties, but when it came to that penalty he didn't want to do it...best excuse of all all times "I wear different shoes today..."...

So there were three teams in the '94 WC final ... Seriously now that's a great quote !!

Lol...I meant the final in 1990... sorry guys...
Oh and concerning the quote do you mean what Matthäus said or the stupid thing I said...

what Matthäus said ...