two losers

Night has fallen over Grenoble. It is eerily quiet, and smoke is wafting through the streets. Just one hour ago, large crowds were gathered around bars. Only a minority had found chairs, the rest was standing. From time to time, the Marseillaise lit up and wild Allez la France shouts made the round. France played Italy in the 2006 World Cup final, the games was going overtime and everyone was anxious to see the Blue win.

After an exhilarating first twenty minutes, the game slowed down noticeably towards the end of the first half. French supporters deemed the gold trophy within reach when their team crushingly dominated the Italians in the second half. Was it that the Italians were tired, or were they waiting for the last five minutes to score? In any case, nothing happened before the ref's whistle sent the game to overtime.

Here it was the same picture as before: France attacking vigorously but ultimately haplessly and Italy defending smartly but near collective physical collapse. At this point, no team really deserved a win.

Ten minutes before the end of overtime, Zidane, in an inexplicable fit of brutality and idiocy, headbutted Matterazzi's sternum into a bony pulp. This ugliest moment of the World Cup made France the team that deserved to lose. And so it happened in the penalty shootout where the Italians didn't miss and Zidane couldn't help the team after his expulsion. Fabio Grosso killed the last hope when he put the golden ball into the net, and an entire country fell into deep sadness around me.

Walking home I was hoping the smoke around me was only from fire crackers that were lit copiously during the game, and not from vehicles and trash can set on fire. May the French not take after Zidane and let their anger out in violence. Cars burn easily around here.