France are through! What a world cup final it's going to be!

Zinedine Zidane will finish his career on the greatest stage of all after his first-half penalty proved enough to take France past Portugal and into the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ Final as 1-0 semi-final winners in Munich on Wednesday, 5 July 2006.

Zidane scored two headers to help France beat Brazil in the 1998 Final and eight years later, in his final match before retiring, he has the chance to bow out with a second winner's medal in Sunday's Final against Italy in Berlin.

France's winning goal came when Thierry Henry went to ground under a Ricardo Carvalho challenge after 33 minutes and Zidane struck his spot-kick low to Ricardo's right. They defended their lead comfortably save for one heart-in-mouth moment in the second half when Fabien Barthez spilled Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick and Luis Figo headed the rebound over.

Portugal, semi-final losers here just as they were in 1966, will contest the play-off for third place with Germany in Stuttgart on Saturday.

The match:
1': Inside the opening 40 seconds of the match, there was a chance for France after William Gallas played a long ball over the top of the Portugal defence. Florent Malouda was the quickest to react, but with only Ricardo to beat, he screwed a right-foot shot wide of the target.

4': Ronaldo embarked on a mazy run on the left wing before slipping the ball to Deco in the centre of the pitch, who did well to create space. The Barcelona midfielder fired a low shot at goal,which Barthez almost palmed into the path of Pauleta, but the striker could not capitalise on the chance.

9': After more good work on the left, Ronaldo found Maniche. From 25 yards, the midfielder hit a rising shot, which whistled just inches over the top of the bar.

14': Zidane slipped the ball to Frank Ribery, who fed Eric Abidal marauding down the left flank. He hit a low centre into the box, but Thierry Henry could not find the decisive touch and the ball went agonisingly across the face of the goal.

16': It was Portugal who looked the brighter of the two teams in the opening stages and skipper Figo created a good chance for himself shortly after the quarter-hour mark when he had a low shot on target.

24': A quite breathtaking passage of play from Luiz Felipe Scolari’s team saw Deco interchanging passes with Deco, Ronaldo and Maniche. Eventually, Pauleta found himself in possession on the left, but his cross into the box was too high for Ronaldo.

28': Henry turned Miguel inside out with a series of body swerves and created a goalscoring opportunity. His shot, however, went straight into the arms of the grateful Ricardo.

33': France took the lead through a Zidane penalty, awarded after Henry was fouled in the area by Carvalho. The French captain hit the ball to the keeper’s right and although Ricardo dived the right way, he could not stop it from going into the back of the net. (0-1)

39': Ronaldo picked up the ball on the halfway line and dribbled deep into the French half, before unleashing a shot which was deflected wide for a corner.

 France keep Portugal at bay:
48': Portugal enjoyed a prolonged spell of possession after the restart, but it was France who created the first chance. From inside the area, Henry's low left-footed shot hit the wrist of the diving Ricardo. The ball somehow spun behind the keeper's body and out for a corner.

49':A minute later, Ribery forced Portugal's No.1 into a fine save from the edge of the box. The Marseille midfielder hit a drive from the edge of the box, which Ricardo palmed away to safety.

53': Pauleta had Portugal's first opportunity of the second half. He forced his way past Lilian Thuram to give himself a clear sight on goal but blasted his shot into the side-netting.

70': Following a quiet period in the match, Everton full-back Nuno Valente tried to test Barthez with a looping shot from the left but the experienced keeper picked the ball out of the air with ease.

76': Portugal went close to levelling matters when Valente's ball into the box almost found Ronaldo and substitute Helder Postiga, but fortunately for the French defence it squirmed clear of both of them.

78': Agony for Portugal and a real let-off for France. Ronaldo’s long-range free-kick was parried by Barthez and the ball ballooned into the air and was met by Figo, who headed over with the goal at his mercy.

90+2': As time ticked away and French nerves began to flutter, Thuram headed a high ball into the path of Fernando Meira who volleyed the ball high and wide of the goal. Although Portugal forced two late corners, they were dealt with extremely well by the French defence.

In conclusion:
Zidane’s 33rd-minute penalty proved to be the difference between the two sides in a FIFA World Cup semi-final, which was high on perspiration if not inspiration. Les Bleus defended well when it mattered, although they were not tested enough by a Portugal side lacking a distinct cutting edge.

I want to know what everyone's favourite PS2 game is. If you don't own a PS2 then maybe you've gone round to your friend's or something and played a PS2 game that you really like and that's your favourite? Come on vote!

My favourite PS2 game is Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty!

GERMANY-0 2-ITALY after extra time

Yes! Italy are through and what a final it's going to be!

German dreams of reaching the FIFA World Cup™ Final on home soil died in Dortmund as two goals in the final moments of extra time carried Italy into the Final as 2-0 semi-final winners on Tuesday, 4 July 2006.

With a penalty shoot-out looming, Fabio Grosso broke the deadlock in the 119th minute as he curled a left-footed shot past the despairing dive of Jens Lehmann from the right side of the penalty box. Substitute Alessandro Del Piero made sure of Italy's place in the Final when he beat Lehmann from close range in added time at the end of the extra period.

Italy now advance to their first FIFA World Cup Final since 1994 and their sixth overall. They will face the winners of Wednesday's Portugal-France semi-final in Berlin's Olympiastadion on Sunday, 24 hours after Germany have contested third place with the losers of that match in Stuttgart.

The match:
5': In a quick-paced, keenly-contested opening to this match, the first effort on goal came from the Italians, with Francesco Totti firing in a 30-yard free-kick that skipped up off the wall and, with Germans hearts in mouths, landed in the arms of a grateful Lehmann.

8': Terrific close control from Miroslav Klose helped create Germany's first chance of the match, with Lukas Podolski picking up the ball from his strike partner and teeing up Michael Ballack for a right-shooted shot that swerved wide of the post.

 12':With the atmosphere electric inside the stadium in Dortmund, Germany gave their fans yet more to cheer with a sharp attack that ended with Podolski rifling in a powerful shot well blocked by the ever-reliable Fabio Cannavaro.

16': Having played some neat possession football in the opening quarter-of-an-hour, Italy carved out their first opportunity of note when a defence-splitting Totti pass sent Simone Perrotta racing in on goal. The Roma midfielder’s touch was heavy enough, however, to allow Lehmann to race alertly from his goal and smother at the on-rushing Italian's feet.

34': A glorious opportunity went begging for the hosts after Klose threaded through Bernd Schneider, unmarked and bearing down on goal on the right-hand edge of the box. The in-form midfielder's shot did not lack power but it fizzed over the crossbar, albeit by no more than a few inches. The German fans responded by raising the decibel level yet further.

41': Italy, having weathered a storm of German attacks, began to create some half-chances of their own, the best of which saw Camoranesi head just over from an inviting, outswinging Andrea Pirlo free-kick.

Klose, but no cigar:
50': The hosts began the second half at a remarkable tempo and Klose, in typically positive fashion, bulldozed his way through the heart of Italy's defence only to be denied by the bravery of Buffon, who dived to save at the striker's feet.

51': Play immediately flowed to the other end, where an incisive through-ball from Perrotta picked out Grosso, who had run from deep to spring the German offside trap. However, the full-back then appeared to be caught in two minds as he found himself in unfamiliar territory, and with the goal at his mercy, he delayed pulling the trigger long enough to allow Lehmann to swoop in and make the save.

61': Podolski created a chance out of nothing, turning Marco Materazzi inside-out to leave himself with a clear sight of goal. His shot was well-struck, but for the umpteenth time at Germany 2006, Buffon came to Italy's rescue with a superb reflex save. From the rebound, Arne Friedrich blazed over, and another glorious chance had passed the hosts by.

73': Having watched his side dominate the second half, but appear to run out of ideas in the final third, Jurgen Klinsmann reversed the change he made to his starting line-up by bringing off Tim Borowski and putting on the more attack-minded Bastian Schweinsteiger.

78': A long period of inactivity for both goalkeepers ended when Lehmann was called on to deal with a speculative long-range effort from Pirlo, a task he performed with impressive self-assurance.

82': Michael Ballack wasted a promisingly-positioned free-kick, curling high and wide from the edge of the penalty area after Cannavaro was adjudged to have fouled Podolski. Seconds later, Klinsmann attempted to inject pace into his team’s attacking play by thrusting on David Odonkor in place of Schneider.

85': Perrotta looked to have broken clear of the German defence with a perfectly-timed run, but Lehmann was smartly off his line and confidently fisted the ball to safety.

 Extra time:
91': Alberto Gilardino came closer than anyone before to breaking the deadlock. Bursting in from the right, he made his way to the byline before jinking back on to his left foot and squeezing in a shot that beat Lehmann only to come back off the inside of the keeper's left-hand post. Germany breathed again.

92': Less than 60 seconds later, a corner was only half-cleared and Italy rattled the woodwork for the second time in a minute, with Zambrotta smacking in a sweetly-struck 20-yard drive that left the crossbar shuddering on its way over.

105': With the last touch of the first period of extra time, Podolski spurned a glorious opportunity, heading wide substitute Odonkor's cross from a terrific position, unmarked some ten yards from goal.

111': An incredible moment of tension appeared to pass in slow motion as another Italy substitute, Del Piero, found himself faced with Lehmann but just could not find the angle to squeeze the ball home. Germany then swept immediately to the other end, where Podolski, on the left-hand edge of the penalty box, forced a magnificent one-handed tip-over from Buffon.

114': With the action now more entertaining that at any stage of the match, some neat built-up play in and around the German box ended with Del Piero hooking a disappointing right-foot shot wide of the far post from 20 yards.

118': Pirlo drifted in from the right and forced a superb save from Lehmann with a ferocious left-foot shot from 25 yards.

119': The German keeper could only divert the ball round the post, however, and from the resultant corner, Pirlo gathered possession at the edge of the box and teed up Grosso for a superb first-time left-foot shot that curled just inside the far post. (0-1)

120+1': As the hosts pushed desperately for an equaliser, a slick and speedy Italian breakaway ended with Gilardino playing a sublime reverse pass into the path of Del Piero. Opening out his body, the Juventus striker’s finish was nothing short of perfect, with the ball sent arcing into the postage stamp corner. Italy were through.(0-2)

In conclusion:
Only a couple of superbly-executed Italian goals could separate these two very evenly-matched teams on a night of high drama in Dortmund. Once again, Marcello Lippi’s side defended magnificently and the superb Buffon has still to concede a goal at Germany 2006 to an opposition player. However, while it is the Azzurri who march on to the Final, Germany - beaten in Dortmund for the first time ever - can reflect on their FIFA World Cup campaign with pride, having played throughout with spirit and skill in abundance.

Edge won the WWE Championship on the 3rd July edition of RAW in a Triple Threat match for the title between John Cena, Edge and Rob Van Dam.

 

D Generation X is the absolute greatest! I think they are the most funny guys ever! They're also really good so they have the right to be cocky! If you agree with me post a comment or not!

  

Please join the GFU! In the GFU we fix Gamespot's problems through exciting missions. If you want a perfect Gamespot, join the GFU!

www.gamespot.com/pages/unions/home.php?union_id=GFU

It happened so fast and yet so slowly... England are out of the world cup.

Portugal march on to a semi-final date with either Brazil or France after defeating England 3-1 on penalties following a last eight clash that ended goalless in Gelsenkirchen on Saturday, 1 July.

Neither of these sides could find a way through during 120 minutes of entertaining and closely-contested action, with Portugal unable to translate into goals a numerical advantage they had held for almost an hour thanks to Wayne Rooney’s 62nd-minute dismissal.

The match therefore became the second 2006 FIFA World Cup™ quarter-final to be settled on penalty kicks and, just as Jens Lehmann was Germany’s hero yesterday, so Ricardo was Portugal’s today, saving from Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher to leave Cristiano Ronaldo to stroke home the decisive kick.

The match:
2' A slip by Ricardo Carvalho gave Rooney had an early sight of goal but his shot was charged down.

7' Portugal failed to clear fully a David Beckham free-kick and Steven Gerrard worked his way into a crossing position on the right side of the Portugal box but overhit his far-post delivery.

9' A bright start revived echoes of these rivals' exciting UEFA EURO 2004 quarter-final. There were chances at both ends as Rooney fired a half-volley at Ricardo from 20 metres and Cristiano Ronaldo latched onto a poor John Terry pass and tested Paul Robinson with a low drive from a similar range.

13' From a Luis Figo free-kick into the box, England were left looking vulnerable as the ball ricocheted off a couple of white shirts but Tiago was unable to react quickly enough. Moments later Maniche let fly but his shot was blocked by a defender.

17' With England enjoying a spell of pressure, Rooney played in Gerrard inside the penalty area but his ball across the six-yard box was met by Miguel's boot.

19' The action switched to the other end where Ronaldo ran at Manchester United team-mate Gary Neville, jinking this way and that before firing a shot high over the bar.

39' Attacking down the inside-left channel, Figo stepped inside Frank Lampard and curled the ball just past the far post.

44’ Petit conceded a free-kick in David Beckham territory – earning a booking for his lunge at Joe Cole that means he will miss the semi-final – but the England captain failed to clear the wall. Lampard then drove a fierce shot at Ricardo as half-time approached.

Beckham limps off, Rooney sent off:
52':Beckham struck the ball at Nuno Valente's hand inside the Portugal box but referee Horacio Elizondo waved play on. It was the injured Beckham's last contribution before making way for Aaron Lennon.

53': The first opportunity of the second period fell Lampard’s way but with a clear shooting opportunity from Gerrard’s corner, the Chelsea midfielder shot into the ground and over.

59': England substitute Lennon burst past Nuno Valente and Carvalho, pushing the ball onto Rooney. He kicked thin air and Joe Cole fired the loose ball over the bar.

62': As at EURO 2004, Rooney's quarter-final ended early. Then it was injury, this time a red card for catching Ricardo Carvalho with a careless boot and shoving Cristiano Ronaldo in front of the referee.

68': Portugal finally put England’s goal under some pressure as Maniche’s strike was charged down and Figo blazed the rebound over from a tight angle.

78': After a patient build-up around the England penalty box, Miguel teed up Figo for a strike and the Portugal captain drew a diving save from Robinson. 82': Both goalkeepers were now being tested. Substitute Hugo Viana shot low at Robinson, then Ricardo parried a Lampard free-kick but Lennon's follow-up lacked the pace to trouble him.

 90': England's ten men had Portugal's defence creaking and Terry shot just over.

Extra time:
99': England threatened as Gerrard drove into the area and crossed towards substitute Peter Crouch but Miguel got there just in front of the striker to head clear. At the other end Simao drew a fingertip save from Robinson.

107': Lennon skipped into the penalty area and went down under Valente’s challenge but Elizondo waved play on. Postiga had the ball in the net moments later but his header was ruled out for offside.

120': With Portugal pushing for a late winner, Miguel pulled the ball back to Maniche but he shot high over the top.

 Penalties: Ricardo was the hero for Portugal with saves from Lampard, Gerrard and Carragher before Ronaldo tucked away the winning spot-kick.

In conclusion:
A familiar tale for England, who once again exit a major tournament on penalties following a brave display. Portugal lacked the incisiveness to profit from their numerical advantage following Rooney’s red card but, as at EURO 2004, were more clinical in the shoot-out.

Italy beat Ukraine 3-0 YES!

Italy cruised into the semi-finals of Germany 2006 with a convincing 3-0 victory over Ukraine in Dortmund on Friday, 30 June 2006.

A sixth-minute strike from Gianluca Zambrotta set the tone for the evening and a second-half brace from Luca Toni merely compounded the misery for Oleg Blokhin’s side. Oleg Gusev, Andriy Gusin and Maksym Kalinichenko all went close for Ukraine, but were denied by a combination of the woodwork and some excellent goalkeeping by Gianluigi Buffon.

Italy now turn their attentions to a semi-final tie with the hosts in Dortmund on Tuesday, 4 July, while FIFA World Cup™ debutants Ukraine will return home justifiably proud of their efforts.

The match:
4': Italy began brightly, with a positive, driving run from Mauro Camoranesi ending with the Juventus midfielder going for goal with a right-foot shot that curled just wide of the left-hand post from 20 yards.

6': Within the space of two minutes, the Azzurri had stormed into the lead, Zambrotta gathering possession at right-back, racing down the wing, cutting in on his left foot and lashing the ball low and hard into the back of the net from just outside the box. The unsighted Olexsandr Shovkovskyi will have been disappointed to be beaten at his near post, but the power in the Juventus defender's shot left the keeper with little chance. (1-0)

17': Francesco Totti, back in the starting line-up after his penalty heroics against Australia, tried his luck with a free-kick from 30 yards, but the ball skidded low along the turf and safely into the arms of Shovkovskyi.

27': The oft-isolated Andriy Shevchenko found space inside the box for the first time in the match, but though he rose well, his header was wayward and Buffon remained untroubled.

33': Frustrated by the lack of success of those ahead of him, Ukraine’s midfield dynamo Anatoliy Tymoschuk seized the initiative, bursting forward from deep and unleashing a ferocious 30-yard drive that flew no more than a couple of feet wide of Buffon’s right-hand post.

41': As Ukraine grew in confidence, Shevchenko again drifted away from his marker on the edge of the box, but on this occasion Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro closed in quickly and took the sting out of the Chelsea striker’s left-foot shot, which bounced safely through to the alert Buffon.

45+1': With half-time approaching, Ukraine coach Blokhin was forced into his second substitution of the opening half, replacing the injured Andriy Rusol with Vladyslav Vashchuk.

Toni at the double
46': Italy started the second half as they had the first, attacking. Toni led the charge, bulldozing his way down the inside-right channel and into a good shooting position only to scuff his effort into the side-netting.

50’: Ukraine enjoyed their best spell of the match, forcing Andrea Barzagli into a near-disastrous sliced clearance and then calling Buffon into his first save of note. Gusin must have thought that he had done enough by directing a powerful downward header just inside the left-hand post, but Buffon has rescued the Azzurri on countless occasions and he did so again, diving to tip the ball on to the post and wide.

58': Italy survived, but only just, after Buffon produced another remarkable save to deny Gusev at point-blank range. In truth, the Ukraine midfielder should have scored, and so too should Gusin on the follow-up, but his shot was straight enough to allow Zambrotta to make a desperate goal-line clearance.

59': Ukraine were made to pay for their profligacy inside a minute. With play having flowed to the other end, Totti flighted in an inswinging cross so inviting that Toni, stooping low, only needed to get his head to the ball to send it flashing beyond the statuesque Shovkovskyi from seven yards. (2-0)

62': If they had not already realised that this was not to be their night, Ukraine saw this confirmed when the luckless Gusin saw his looping header come crashing back off the face of the crossbar with Buffon, for once, beaten.

69’: Any lingering doubts about the outcome of this match were removed altogether when Zambrotta, this time popping up on the left, sprung the Ukraine offside trap and slid the ball across for Toni to score the simplest of second goals, tapping into the empty net from all of three yards. (3-0)

79': Shevchenko attempted to make his mark on proceedings with a powerfully-struck 30-yard free-kick, but Buffon was always behind it and comfortably fisted the ball to safety.

86': Ukraine substitute Oleksiy Belik found space inside the area to divert Gusev’s cross goalwards, but Italy's ice-cool keeper simply reached up to his left and plucked the ball coolly out of the air.

90': Toni was presented with a golden opportunity to complete his hat-trick, but after breaking clear of the Ukraine defence, his attempt to flick the ball beyond Shovkovskyi was unconvincing and the keeper was able to gather comfortably.

In conclusion:
Italy produced, arguably, their most accomplished all-round performance at Germany 2006 to date, firing a timely warning to the hosts ahead of their semi-final meeting in Dortmund on 4 July. From the very offset, Marcello Lippi's side always looked the more menacing and potent of the two, and though a only a combination of ill luck, Buffon’s brilliance and poor finishing prevented Ukraine pulling a goal back in the second half, there can be no doubt that the best side march on to the semis.

Germany beat Argentina 4-2 on penalties! I feel so SAD...

 Germany advanced to the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ semi-finals after triumphing 4-2 over Argentina in a penalty shoot-out following a tight, tense 1-1 draw at Berlin’s Olympiastadion on Friday, 30 July 2006.

It proved impossible to separate these sides, with 120 minutes only able to conjure up a couple of goals, Miroslav Klose’s 80th-minute equaliser cancelling out a 49th-minute opening strike from Roberto Ayala.

That left the match to be settled by penalties, and it was Jens Lehmann who proved the hosts' hero, saving from both Ayala and Esteban Cambiasso, while Oliver Neuville, Michael Ballack, Lukas Podolski and Tim Borowski all successfully dispatched their spot kicks past Argentina’s substitute goalkeeper, Leo Franco.

The match:
7’: After a nervy, niggly opening to the game, punctuated regularly by the shrill blast of referee Lubos Michel's whistle, the first chance fell to the hosts, with Roberto Abbondanzieri spilling a 25-yard Podolski free-kick only to gather nervously at the second attempt.

16’: Ballack passed up a superb chance to give Germany the lead, heading wide of the right-hand post from 16 yards after timing his run to perfection to meet a beautifully-weighted cross from Bernd Schneider.

19’: Argentina, for whom Carlos Tevez was making a lively contribution to his second start of Germany 2006, forced their first and only half-chance of the opening 45 when marauding left-back Juan Pablo Sorin burst through on to a Tevez nutmeg and was only prevented from teeing up Hernan Crespo for the opener by a timely interception from Per Mertesacker.

45': With the action fast, furious but all too often lacking in quality, the teams went into the half-time break without either goalkeeper having been called into any meaningful action for the best part of 30 minutes. The fans’ muted response to the half-time whistle betrayed their disappointment with the first-half fare, which had fallen some way short of expectations.

Ayala’s opener
49’: Fortunately, the game was finally brought to life within four minutes of the restart as Argentina broke the deadlock. Riquelme swung in a corner from the right, Ayala got in front of Klose and met the ball with a header, which evaded the dive of Lehmann and Philipp Lahm on the near post.

64’: Germany won two corners in quick succession, with the second leading to a genuine scoring chance for Ballack after Abbondanzieri failed to claim the ball. Ballack’s shot was blocked and then a follow-up header by the Germany captain was claimed gratefully by the goalkeeper.

71’: Abbondanzieri was replaced by Franco in the Argentina goal. Seven minutes earlier, the Boca Juniors goalkeeper had received a blow to his hip from Klose and despite extensive treatment from the Argentina physio, the change had to be made.

73’: Argentina came close to doubling their advantage when Lahm’s misplaced pass was intercepted by Tevez. After the diminutive forward dribbled past the German defence, he slid the ball to Maxi Rodriguez, who fired the ball into the side-netting.

80’: With the Albiceleste looking good to protect their single-goal lead, Germany equalised. Ballack’s ball from the left was flicked on by Borowski and Klose headed home his fifth of the tournament.

89’: Argentina threatened when Luis Gonzalez’s header arrowed towards the right-hand corner of the net. Lehmann made a fine one-handed save at full-stretch, but a goal would not have counted as Tevez, lurking in the hope of a rebound, was adjudged to be offside.

Extra-time
105’: In the final action of the first half of extra time, Gonzalez hit a volley just wide of the target in a 15-minute period without an shot on goal.

106’: Straight from the restart, Tevez long-range effort was gathered the ball comfortably by Lehmann.

113’: Another shot from distance, this time from Fabricio Coloccini, but his drive finished well wide of the Germany goal. Two minutes later, the defender threatened again, but his right-footed cross-shot clipped the top of the crossbar.

Penalties:
Lehmann was the hero for Germany as his saves from Ayala and Cambiasso were crucial in the Nationalmannschaft’s progression to the semi-finals. The hosts had a 100 per cent success rate from the penalty spot, with Neuville, Ballack, Podolski and Borowski all converting.

In conclusion:
Jurgen Klinsmann’s decision to elect Lehmann as his number one for this FIFA World Cup appears to be justified by this result alone. His two saves have given Germany a place in the semi-finals, where they will meet Italy or Ukraine. For Argentina, who took the lead in this game, it will be a long journey home for a team which performed so well in the early stages of this tournament.

I'm mainly focusing on the England vs Portugal because England are playing and they've got a strong rivalry!

C'MON ENGLAND!!!!!

I think England are going to win because they've got a fully fit squad and Portugal have they're best player(Deco) has been sent off and will miss the quarter finals! Also the morale of Portugal isn't that high at the moment so hopefully England will win and go onto the semi finals!

Post a comment on the match and also the other matches in the quater finals.

Batista is returning on July 7th! He is going to win the World Heavyweight Championship! Batista is the ANIMAL!!! He is going to be unleashed and beat everyone on Smackdown! Apart from the Undertaker of course! He's got the power and agility to take on anyone!