20060709 KDDC Italy wins the World Cup

Italy wins the World Cup
July 10th, 2006

For all the rabid soccer fanatics out there. Italy has won the World Cup. I’m just happy it wasn’t the French.

MSNBC has posted an Associated Press story:

Italy beats France for title on penalty kicks

Italians hit all 5 shots, claim 4th World Cup; Zidane ejected for head-butt

BERLIN - Italy let France do nearly anything it wanted Sunday, except win the World Cup. That belongs to the Azzurri, 5-3 in a shootout after a 1-1 draw.

Outplayed for an hour and into extra time, the Italians won it after French captain Zinedine Zidane was ejected in the 107th minute for a vicious butt to the chest of Marco Materazzi. It was the ugliest act of a tournament that set records for yellow and red cards, diving and, at times, outright brutality.

Read the rest of the story here and: Italy-France box score; Zidane ejected from final for head-butt and Sound off on soccer discussion boards.

Also:

• Italy beats France on PKs for 4th title

• Zidane gets red card, ejected | His legacy?

• Best XI: top players, your picks for World Cup

• From the Fan: What a long, strange trip it was

• Slide shows: Hairdos | Damsels | Beckham

• Today's scores | Schedule | Discuss | Vote

• Images: Highlights, more | MORE COVERAGE

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20060708 KDDC An analysis from AP on the current Gaza standoff

An analysis from AP on the current Gaza standoff

Updated: 3:48 p.m. ET July 8, 2006

MSNBC is carrying an analysis of the current standoff between Isreal and the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip over the recent capture of 19-year-old Israeli Cpl. Gilad Shalit:

Gaza: A tale of lost opportunity, angry reprisals

Already troubled area to suffer far-reaching setbacks from abducted soldier

It is worth the read. As much as I support the Isreali response... the analysis puts some things into perspective that I had not considered. For example:

"Shalit was seized June 25 in a cross-border raid by Hamas-linked militants, who have demanded the release of some of the 9,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

That demand has widespread support among ordinary Palestinians, which cuts to the heart of the stalemate. Hamas could be finished politically if it gives up Shalit without a prisoner swap, and Israel fears that caving into militant demands would only encourage more attacks."

The analysis begins by saying:

"JERUSALEM - Gaza’s transformation into a battlefield is a tale of lost opportunity and ill-fated visions.

The capture of a young Israeli soldier and Israel’s tough response have threatened Israeli support for withdrawal from the West Bank, exposed rifts among the Islamic militants of Hamas and rendered the Palestinians’ moderate president irrelevant.

Expectations that Palestinians would begin building their own state following Israel’s historic withdrawal from the impoverished Gaza Strip last year have given way to despair and escalating bloodshed."

Read the rest of the analysis here.

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20060708 KDDC Contact

"Contact"

(c) Kevin Dayhoff
July 8th, 2006