<p>And I thought I was going to have a quiet birthday by Lake Como this year…I was in Paris when the French won a few years ago. Uh-oh. Somebody please feed the cats.</p>
<p>I think my sunday is spoken for. The owner of our local Italian restaurant said that Barthez was awful against Portugal. In the interest of peace, I decided not to contradict him.</p>
<p>A friend of mine told me today that the Italian team has been cheating, and that they’re about to be charged with fraud, bribing the World Cup officials, etc. </p>
<p>I cannot seem to find anything about this just causually looking around on <a href=“http://www.si.com%5B/url%5D”>www.si.com</a>. Does anyone know if there any truth to this? </p>
<p>I told my friend I thought he was making it up. (He’s german, and was very disappointed today…)</p>
<p>latetoschool, the Italian National Team was not involved in scandal, but their Professional League, Serie A, was involved in a match-fixing scandal.</p>
<p>See a description here: <a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serie_A_scandal_of_2006[/url]”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serie_A_scandal_of_2006</a></p>
<p>However, some would say the dive in the game against Australia to gain a PK and eventual win would be cheating…</p>
<p>LTS:</p>
<p>This was a case of German sour grapes. JMParent has it right about the match-fixing. I did not watch the match against Australia, so I cannot comment.</p>
<p>Thanks, that’s what I thought. In fact I told him, “sounds like someone’s upset that their team didn’t win”…so he said he refuses to eat pizza for the next four years. I said wow, that’ll really show 'em - and by the way maybe they won’t want to eat sauerkraut for the next four years lol.</p>
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<p>LOL, indeed. I have yet to meet a sauerkraut eating Italian, but my experience is limited. Pizza, however, is much harder to live without. Shall we take bets on how long this resolution lasts?</p>
<p>In the interest of peace and a good time, I am quite sure that we are going to order pizza and cheer loudly for the “blues” - go France and Zidane! He’s not over the hill yet - and while I am at it - go Real Madrid!</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.zidane.fr/homepage.html[/url]”>http://www.zidane.fr/homepage.html</a></p>
<p>There’s a recipe that calls for linguine, brie, tomatoes and basil. That should be fairly non-partisan. Allez les bleus!</p>
<p>For age reasons alone, a parents thead has to be on France’s side. You go, Zidane & co.!</p>
<p>Let us not forget Germany, who absolutely must take 3rd over the amazing, diving Portuguese.</p>
<p>I am rooting for the “blues” too, that is the Azzuri! Forsa Italia!</p>
<p>driver, you should rent yourself out to the high bidding country the next World Cup. Just think - a free vacation and soccer, too!</p>
<p>I do seem to be able to pick them by accident, don’t I?..I’ve not been to Portugal yet, but I hear it’s beautiful, and a bargain. Next year. Please send villa details.</p>
<p>I’m praying for an Italian victory; the thought of two French victories in the last three world cups is too much to bear.</p>
<p>I’m going completely Italian this weekend. My French cousins will devastated.</p>
<p>I am hoping for Italy as well- but first Portugal over Germany</p>
<p>Driver - We are together on this one!</p>
<p>Allez Zizou!</p>
<p>Italy 3:1 France</p>
<p>Zidane will score for france though!</p>
<p>I’m rooting for the old farts: France. But if Italy wins, it’ll be OK. You gotta love those Italians.</p>