They wildly exceeded expectations ...

... Nobody was talking about them as potential winners at all, as far as I could remember (even less so Italy), and I thought the general consensus was that Barthez, Thuram and Zidane in particular were past it and playing on reputation alone.

Yes, Brazil were poor in the QF, but I thought France's performance in that game was fantastic, and they played very well against a Spanish team that had looked like potential champions in the group games.

I thought France were the better team last night, too, after a far harder route to the final than Italy's. So yes, I do think they over-performed.

Posted By: Ottosson Foxtrot on July 10th 2006 at 11:08:59

Message Thread

FWIW, my Team of the World Cup. (Other Football) - Ottosson Foxtrot, Jul 10, 10:34:10
- Riquelme was nothing special in this WC in my opinion... (Other Football) - Brom, Jul 10, 11:01:16
  - Looked good first game or two, then looked lost (n/m) (Other Football) - Steve in Holland, Jul 10, 11:02:57
- Wot no Chris Birchall ? (Other Football) - Steve in Holland, Jul 10, 10:52:43
- I'd agree with most of that... (Other Football) - Swiss Yellow, Jul 10, 10:47:28
  - had to have a swiss player in the defence really... (Other Football) - Brandonio, Jul 10, 10:50:36
    - I thought Senderos was good but... (Other Football) - Swiss Yellow, Jul 10, 10:56:26
      - I thought Senderos could have easily have been in contention (Other Football) - pants, Jul 10, 11:00:42
        
        True...but as I said they were put under no real pressure (Other Football) - Swiss Yellow, Jul 10, 11:08:43
    - Or scoring one (n/m) (Other Football) - Steve in Holland, Jul 10, 10:55:45
      - agreed hence why I put a GK and Defender in (n/m) (Other Football) - Brandonio, Jul 10, 10:58:18
- team of the tournament (Other Football) - francesco, Jul 10, 10:44:06
  - Lehmann shades it over Buffon for me ... (Other Football) - Ottosson Foxtrot, Jul 10, 10:48:16
    - yes but he's still a cunt! (n/m) (Other Football) - Sperminator, Jul 10, 10:57:28
      - Wasn't disputing that! (n/m) (Other Football) - Ottosson Foxtrot, Jul 10, 11:01:21
- gattuso would be the man of the tournament (Other Football) - pants, Jul 10, 10:39:03
  - Yeah, probably a bit harsh to leave Pirlo out really. (Other Football) - Ottosson Foxtrot, Jul 10, 10:46:53
    - Zidane performed for 2 games in my opinion... (Other Football) - Brandonio, Jul 10, 10:49:33
      - Yes, but Zidane ended up carrying a really unfancied team all the way to the final. (Other Football) - Ottosson Foxtrot, Jul 10, 10:51:29
        
        Sycophant! (Other Football) - Brandonio, Jul 10, 10:54:59
        
        Yeah, Grosso was fantastic too ... (Other Football) - Ottosson Foxtrot, Jul 10, 11:03:30
        
        You think France over-performed ? (Other Football) - Steve in Holland, Jul 10, 11:06:45
        
        They wildly exceeded expectations ... (Other Football) - Ottosson Foxtrot, Jul 10, 11:08:59
        
        Actually Thuram and Zidane (and Makelele) changed France's fortunes when (Other Football) - Steve in Holland, Jul 10, 11:15:18
        
        The French bossed that game last night... (Other Football) - Brom, Jul 10, 11:11:58
        
        Can we say the same about the England team? (Other Football) - Brandonio, Jul 10, 11:18:34
        
        seria A is dire - as well as corrupt (n/m) (Other Football) - phrankin, Jul 10, 11:17:57
        
        italy had an easy route - apart from Germany as Hosts (n/m) (Other Football) - phrankin, Jul 10, 11:07:56
  - Mine...Player of the Tournament - Pirlo - never rated him really before this world cup (Other Football) - Brandonio, Jul 10, 10:44:33
    - Please not.... Zuberbuhler (Other Football) - Swiss Yellow, Jul 10, 10:55:15
      - he impressed me (n/m) (Other Football) - Brandonio, Jul 10, 10:58:36
      - Ricardo and Shaka Hislop were better (n/m) (Other Football) - Steve in Holland, Jul 10, 10:56:37
        
        Actually Dida was probably Brazil's best performer (n/m) (Other Football) - Steve in Holland, Jul 10, 10:59:43

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