Italy Vs. France to Face Off for the World Cup

Few teams faced more questions heading into the World Cup than Italy and France. The French were over the hill - they couldn't even score. The Italians were consumed by the biggest soccer scandal in the nation's history. No teams have answered their doubters more emphatically.

"We were not listening to it when they were giving us a lot of stick," French forward Thierry Henry said, "and we're not listening to it now."

On Sunday in Berlin, the Italians play for their fourth world soccer championship and the French go for their second.

Both teams have rich traditions, but neither entered the monthlong tournament a favorite.

The Italians came to Germany as a match-fixing scandal built at home. Day after day, allegations of bribes and favoritism piled up against four topflight clubs for which 13 of the 23 Italy team members play.

The players were silent about the probe, but their performances were boisterous.

"Yes, the confusion of the past two months has given us all the desire to respond in an appropriate way," coach Marcello Lippi said. "It's brought this group of guys together. We wanted to show what Italian soccer really means."

Italy won the World Cup in 1934, 1938 and 1982. This time it has allowed only an own-goal in six games, and now its offense is rising to the same level. After beating Germany with two goals in the final minutes of extra time, Italy headed to its first final since losing to Brazil in 1994.

That run has required a determination no team has matched in this event.

Except, perhaps, for France.

Four years ago, the French became the first defending champion to exit in the opening round of the next World Cup. They didn't even score a goal in 2002.

July 6, 2006
Posted By Terry Goodwin
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