Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Match report: Italy 3 - Ukraine 0 (Quarterfinal 2006 World Cup)

  • Goals scored: Zambrotta 6', Toni 59', Toni 69'
  • What happened: Italy defeated Ukraine in the quarterfinals of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. They advanced to the semifinals against Germany.
  • Players who appeared in the match and who had played at AC Milan during the previous season: Gattuso, Pirlo, Shevchenko
  • Players who appeared in the match and who would later play for AC Milan: Zambrotta, Oddo
  • Players who were on the bench for this match and who had played at AC Milan during the previous season: Inzaghi, Gilardino, Nesta
  • Players who were on the bench for this match and who would later play for AC Milan: None
  • Players who played in the match and who I wish played for Milan: Fabio Cannavaro
  • Players whose brothers played in this match and who I wish played for Milan: Paolo Cannavaro
  • Questions raised by this match: Was this Gianluca Zambrotta's greatest career moment?
  • Who did I root for the first time I saw this match? Ukraine
  • Things the ESPN announcers did that were annoying: Mispronounce many names ( "Zambratto," "Purrlo," "Cam-rone-a-nay-see," probably almost all of the Ukraine players' names)
  • Injured former players/Juventus staff members whose recent scandal-related suicide attempts were frequently mentioned during the broadcast: Gianluca Pessotto
  • Relatively amusing injuries to Italy players: Gattuso 14' (kneed in back), Gattuso 26' (wrist stomped on), Cannavaro 47' (hit in groin by ball after Ukraine player missed header), Buffon 50' (bumped head on goalpost making save)
  • Words to describe most of the Ukraine players' hair: long, blond, stringy, Owen Wilson-like
  • What this match teaches us: Why AC Milan insisted on acquiring Zambrotta (pictured at top) from Barcelona
Below: Ukraine captain and former Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko

Video highlights are below:

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Reminds us to have more respect for some formerly good players?

And this reader is in agreement about the Cannavaro Brothers!

"Hockey ought to be sternly forbidden, as it is not only annoying but dangerous." Halifax Morning Sun, quoted in Michael McKinley's Hockey - A People's History