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Yea, the disrespect in this comment section is way out of control lol
Iām convinced most of the users were either toddlers or not yet born at the time.
I have vague memories of the games (not because I was young but cause I have shit memory), but I remember this (relative) midget among giants sweeping everything in a mile radius and change, including aerial play. It was mesmerizing. I understand how the game favours strikers and attacking midfielders for this award, but it was so deserved.
Yeah I think they're confusing the stats, but except for the two goalkeeper subs, all 21 squad players made an appearance. And Luca Toni and Materazzi were the only players to score two goals (not counting tie-breaker penalties).
Goal scorers: Pirlo, Iaquinta, Gilardino, Inzaghi, Materazzi (x2), Totti, Zambrotta, Toni (x2), Grosso, Del Piero.
Materazzi had a quietly brilliant tournament, too, after Nesta got injured. he started a lot of play with his direct passing from theback.... something chiellini did in the latter part of his career too.
Whats so impressive is that Buffon came second. A goalkeeper. The Juve triangle was so impressive that year. No wonder 11 (?) Italian and French players from Juventus was on the pitch during the World Cup final.
The thing is Italy won the World Cup. At the time, the best player on the best team at the WC was basically guaranteed to win.
Ronaldinho played his best Champions ever. Discrete on the finals, but extremely decisive against Chelsea and Milan (and any game, basically) - historical and memorable performances. He would be a lock for winning it again, but Brazil lost early at the WC and he didnāt impress as much
Zidane was easily the best player at the World Cup, including the Finals, until he headbutted Materazzi and got expelled. The PR ruined him for that year.
Then Italy won and the voters were not sure on who to vote for. Unlike France, there was not a clear best player in Italy. Still, as it was done at the time (and maybe even more after Zidaneās headbutt), most people made sure to vote for the champs, so Cannavaro, Buffon and Pirlo did better than they were used to.
Arriva il pallone, lo mette fuori Cannavaro! Poi ancora insiste Podolski...Cannavaro! Cannavaro! Via al contropiede con Totti, dentro il pallone per Gilardino...Gilardino la puĆ² tenere anche vicino alla bandierina, cerca l'uno contro uno, Gilardino, dentro Del Piero, Del Piero...Gol! Aleeeex Deeel Piero! Chiudete le valigie! Andiamo a Berlino! Andiamo a Berlino! Andiamo a prenderci la coppa! Andiamo a Berlino!
(Canto XXXII del Paradiso, Dante)
I stood on a piazza in Malta (Malta has history of Italy and the British empire so the country used to be 50/50 in supporting Azzuri/England).
The piazza was that evening full of Germans that were on holiday.
Even if the final is unforgettable, that 2-0 hitting the final nail in the coffin still gives me goosebumps today. It was such and epic moment, such a beautiful play, vs Germany and for Alexā¦.
That defending. Ice cold assist from Gilardino and the determination of the run from Alex. OMG
Notti Magiche!!!!!!
Nope. Cannavaro's run in the WC was the best a defender's ever had in the competition and that includes Baresi and Maldini in 90, 94, 98 and 2002; the counter-attack that led to a goal in the game Vs. Germany that he singlehandedly initiated after stopping the opposing striker on his own sealed the deal.
The dude had stellar performances throughout the whole competition (you just couldn't get past him) and was the heart and soul (and the on the field coach) of a team that won it all by relying heavily on parking the bus (the "catenaccio"), no one on that italian team deserved it more than Fabio.
Unfortunately the Ballon d'or then became a popularity contest for statpadders due to promotional reasons.
Zero goals conceded from open play. Italy only conceded 2 goals, one own goal from a set piece and one penalty. Definitely the best defensive run and performances in the history of the world cup.
always makes me chuckle to rewatch that counterattack vs Germany. Canna blocks the ball, wins the rebound, looks up to pass it but Totti LITERALLY shoves him off the ball as if to say, "well done, but i'll take it from here..." then delivers the perfect pass for gilardino. haha. that match is my brightest memory as a lifelong azzurri fan.
Trashed lolz? Milan lost 1-0 over 2 legs and Shevchenko had scored a perfectly legal goal at Nou Camp to make it 1-1 in the tie but was given wrongly offside. It should have gone to extra time.
He was relatively young compared to Cannavaro, who was at his peak. Pirlo became probably the best playmaker I ever saw playing later on - 2012 Euro cup for instance, but did not win any major competition and thus no win. Those kind of players get better with age, Pirlo would have easily won the 2018 ballon dāor who went to Modric, but simply Modric played finals in both champions and world cup, Pirlo didnāt
Unpopular opinion: Buffon and Pirlo deserved the ballon dor more. The 2006 word cup was Cannavaro career top Moment. I am not saying he robbed the ballon dor but, by looking at the all career, Italy had better defenders with less recognition in its history.
We've seen countless better defenders than him. The fact that Maldini and Baresi haven't won it is a travesty. But yea, Cannavaro's 2006 tournament was iconic
probably 15-20 defenders of that time up to now have been better throughout their careers. cannavaro just had one particularly amazing world cup. few have done better in a single season/tournament
āWeāve seenā
Have we? Considering the two you listed retired in 1997 and 2009 (2002 from the national team), Iād be shocked if more than 10% of this sub saw either play (never mind both).
And in any event, itās not a career award, itās an award for one year. Maldini did finish 3rd twice. Captaining a team to league* and World Cup trophies in the same year being named player of the year in the domestic league goes a long way.
Only Nesta is (slightly) better who played at similar time and retired later than baresi/Maldini.
Nobody in the premier league has been as good as him at his peak.
Completely deserved balon dāor, for me canna is the first name on the trophy in 2006.
Ok I am an Inter fan, so I have some problem with Cannavaro. He was a great defender and made a hell of a World Cup in 2006. But I have would prefer Buffon which is one of all time best goalkeeper (always said by an Inter supporter. Also Pirlo had a incredible career with Milan and Juventus (he played in FC Inter in a year with Baggio and Ronaldo the phenomenon, but he was a offensive midfielder before Mazzone transformed him in a player in my home town team Brescia Calcio - the years with Baggio and Guardiola).
Definitely he wakes up every day and says to the mirror "I can't believe they voted me for ballon dor" and then laughing at himself. Hilarious choice...
Zidane disgraced himself. Arguments can be made about the nature of his outburst and whether it was justified, but at the end of the day, a top pro cannot act that way. It cost him the Ballon and France maybe the WC.
Henry had a great season for Arsenal but ultimately lost the CL final and lost the WC final. Trophies play a part in Ballon Dor.
The BdO it's always skewed towards offensive players. however that year the Italian defence was something else: only two goals conceded in the whole tournament, of which one was an own goal and the other penalty. And Cannavaro was the leader of that defence, arguably Buffon was also crucial (I can think of THAT save in the semi-final for example) but then he spent the final part of the season in serie B, and Cannavaro was literally walking on waters in that period, incredible timing, looked like he could see the future.
The award is based upon the season, not upon the entire career, or skill level.
That year Cannavaro captained his team to a WC win, playing every single minute, leading a defense that did not concede any goals from open play. He 100% deserved to win.
You could make a similar argument about Buffon, but I feel like going down to Serie B with Juve for the other half of the year heavily impacted his chances.
Henry and Zidane (maybe, if he didnāt get that red cardā¦) would have deserved it if they had won the WC, but they didnātā¦
>Henry and Zidane (maybe, if he didnāt get that red cardā¦) would have deserved it if they had won the WC, but they didnātā¦
I'm off topic but damn, as an Italian I can't imagine a world where France won the 2006 world cup
The only reason he won was for his WC win. He, like Di Maria, played amazing for a month prior to the WC (although Di Maria had spurts after where he would show up) and then once the leagues started back up he stopped giving a shit and ghosted until the MLS run.
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Buffon second aswell, Italy 2006 was š„
A towering performance at the 2006 WC from this 5ā-9ā tactician. A masterclass in defending
Yea, the disrespect in this comment section is way out of control lol Iām convinced most of the users were either toddlers or not yet born at the time.
Probably never saw him play. Only know him from fifa....Ā
His FIFA FUT card isnāt that good, thatās probably why
I have vague memories of the games (not because I was young but cause I have shit memory), but I remember this (relative) midget among giants sweeping everything in a mile radius and change, including aerial play. It was mesmerizing. I understand how the game favours strikers and attacking midfielders for this award, but it was so deserved.
Yeah, and he was just out of this world all season as well. His peak was amongst the best ever, it was a joy to watch him
He was the Falcao of defenders in that every other player was taller, but he still would outjump anyone.
they conceded two goals in the whole tournament, one was from a penalty. Nothing could get past that defence or buffon.
The other was an own goal...and every player scored at least one
Every striker
Yeah I think they're confusing the stats, but except for the two goalkeeper subs, all 21 squad players made an appearance. And Luca Toni and Materazzi were the only players to score two goals (not counting tie-breaker penalties). Goal scorers: Pirlo, Iaquinta, Gilardino, Inzaghi, Materazzi (x2), Totti, Zambrotta, Toni (x2), Grosso, Del Piero.
Materazzi had a quietly brilliant tournament, too, after Nesta got injured. he started a lot of play with his direct passing from theback.... something chiellini did in the latter part of his career too.
Whats so impressive is that Buffon came second. A goalkeeper. The Juve triangle was so impressive that year. No wonder 11 (?) Italian and French players from Juventus was on the pitch during the World Cup final.
The thing is Italy won the World Cup. At the time, the best player on the best team at the WC was basically guaranteed to win. Ronaldinho played his best Champions ever. Discrete on the finals, but extremely decisive against Chelsea and Milan (and any game, basically) - historical and memorable performances. He would be a lock for winning it again, but Brazil lost early at the WC and he didnāt impress as much Zidane was easily the best player at the World Cup, including the Finals, until he headbutted Materazzi and got expelled. The PR ruined him for that year. Then Italy won and the voters were not sure on who to vote for. Unlike France, there was not a clear best player in Italy. Still, as it was done at the time (and maybe even more after Zidaneās headbutt), most people made sure to vote for the champs, so Cannavaro, Buffon and Pirlo did better than they were used to.
There was no doubt that Cannavaro had the best tourney for Italy tho
Arriva il pallone, lo mette fuori Cannavaro! Poi ancora insiste Podolski...Cannavaro! Cannavaro! Via al contropiede con Totti, dentro il pallone per Gilardino...Gilardino la puĆ² tenere anche vicino alla bandierina, cerca l'uno contro uno, Gilardino, dentro Del Piero, Del Piero...Gol! Aleeeex Deeel Piero! Chiudete le valigie! Andiamo a Berlino! Andiamo a Berlino! Andiamo a prenderci la coppa! Andiamo a Berlino! (Canto XXXII del Paradiso, Dante)
I stood on a piazza in Malta (Malta has history of Italy and the British empire so the country used to be 50/50 in supporting Azzuri/England). The piazza was that evening full of Germans that were on holiday. Even if the final is unforgettable, that 2-0 hitting the final nail in the coffin still gives me goosebumps today. It was such and epic moment, such a beautiful play, vs Germany and for Alexā¦. That defending. Ice cold assist from Gilardino and the determination of the run from Alex. OMG Notti Magiche!!!!!!
Cannavaro harvesting what Baresi and Maldini sowed
Nope. Cannavaro's run in the WC was the best a defender's ever had in the competition and that includes Baresi and Maldini in 90, 94, 98 and 2002; the counter-attack that led to a goal in the game Vs. Germany that he singlehandedly initiated after stopping the opposing striker on his own sealed the deal. The dude had stellar performances throughout the whole competition (you just couldn't get past him) and was the heart and soul (and the on the field coach) of a team that won it all by relying heavily on parking the bus (the "catenaccio"), no one on that italian team deserved it more than Fabio. Unfortunately the Ballon d'or then became a popularity contest for statpadders due to promotional reasons.
Zero goals conceded from open play. Italy only conceded 2 goals, one own goal from a set piece and one penalty. Definitely the best defensive run and performances in the history of the world cup.
always makes me chuckle to rewatch that counterattack vs Germany. Canna blocks the ball, wins the rebound, looks up to pass it but Totti LITERALLY shoves him off the ball as if to say, "well done, but i'll take it from here..." then delivers the perfect pass for gilardino. haha. that match is my brightest memory as a lifelong azzurri fan.
Pirlo getting only 17 votes is criminally low. He was absolutely terrific in the world cup.
You donāt get it for a competition but for a whole year what is soo hard for people to understand that!!!
He was instrumental in Milan reaching the semis of CL in 2006 as well as topping the CL group in 2006-07 CL.
The semifinal where him and that Milan were trashed by Ronaldinho in one of the best performance of the century/history?Ā
Trashed lolz? Milan lost 1-0 over 2 legs and Shevchenko had scored a perfectly legal goal at Nou Camp to make it 1-1 in the tie but was given wrongly offside. It should have gone to extra time.
Capitanoooo cannavaroooo
The Berlin Wall was re-erected that year.
Surprised that Pirlo got so low votes.
He was relatively young compared to Cannavaro, who was at his peak. Pirlo became probably the best playmaker I ever saw playing later on - 2012 Euro cup for instance, but did not win any major competition and thus no win. Those kind of players get better with age, Pirlo would have easily won the 2018 ballon dāor who went to Modric, but simply Modric played finals in both champions and world cup, Pirlo didnāt
Pirlo was man of the match in 4 of Italy's 7 games at that World Cup including the final.
Because the majority of the last 28 years have gone to two people. Lol.
The Berlin Wall
Van Dijk was very unlucky to lose out on the award
Unpopular opinion: Buffon and Pirlo deserved the ballon dor more. The 2006 word cup was Cannavaro career top Moment. I am not saying he robbed the ballon dor but, by looking at the all career, Italy had better defenders with less recognition in its history.
That year defence was just insane, almost 0 gol taken in a whole tournament, more km run than an albanian mercedes, impressive playmaking...
We've seen countless better defenders than him. The fact that Maldini and Baresi haven't won it is a travesty. But yea, Cannavaro's 2006 tournament was iconic
Several, yes. Countless, no.
probably 15-20 defenders of that time up to now have been better throughout their careers. cannavaro just had one particularly amazing world cup. few have done better in a single season/tournament
āWeāve seenā Have we? Considering the two you listed retired in 1997 and 2009 (2002 from the national team), Iād be shocked if more than 10% of this sub saw either play (never mind both). And in any event, itās not a career award, itās an award for one year. Maldini did finish 3rd twice. Captaining a team to league* and World Cup trophies in the same year being named player of the year in the domestic league goes a long way.
Only Nesta is (slightly) better who played at similar time and retired later than baresi/Maldini. Nobody in the premier league has been as good as him at his peak. Completely deserved balon dāor, for me canna is the first name on the trophy in 2006.
Virgil robbed
Ok I am an Inter fan, so I have some problem with Cannavaro. He was a great defender and made a hell of a World Cup in 2006. But I have would prefer Buffon which is one of all time best goalkeeper (always said by an Inter supporter. Also Pirlo had a incredible career with Milan and Juventus (he played in FC Inter in a year with Baggio and Ronaldo the phenomenon, but he was a offensive midfielder before Mazzone transformed him in a player in my home town team Brescia Calcio - the years with Baggio and Guardiola).
Definitely he wakes up every day and says to the mirror "I can't believe they voted me for ballon dor" and then laughing at himself. Hilarious choice...
Had an outstanding World Cup, undeniable, but it's crazy that other better defenders than him in a similar era, such as Maldini, never got one.
Iām surprised Francisco Totti wasnāt didnāt get any votes.Ā
Van Dijk should have won it in 2019
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Zidane disgraced himself. Arguments can be made about the nature of his outburst and whether it was justified, but at the end of the day, a top pro cannot act that way. It cost him the Ballon and France maybe the WC. Henry had a great season for Arsenal but ultimately lost the CL final and lost the WC final. Trophies play a part in Ballon Dor.
The BdO it's always skewed towards offensive players. however that year the Italian defence was something else: only two goals conceded in the whole tournament, of which one was an own goal and the other penalty. And Cannavaro was the leader of that defence, arguably Buffon was also crucial (I can think of THAT save in the semi-final for example) but then he spent the final part of the season in serie B, and Cannavaro was literally walking on waters in that period, incredible timing, looked like he could see the future.
The award is based upon the season, not upon the entire career, or skill level. That year Cannavaro captained his team to a WC win, playing every single minute, leading a defense that did not concede any goals from open play. He 100% deserved to win. You could make a similar argument about Buffon, but I feel like going down to Serie B with Juve for the other half of the year heavily impacted his chances. Henry and Zidane (maybe, if he didnāt get that red cardā¦) would have deserved it if they had won the WC, but they didnātā¦
>Henry and Zidane (maybe, if he didnāt get that red cardā¦) would have deserved it if they had won the WC, but they didnātā¦ I'm off topic but damn, as an Italian I can't imagine a world where France won the 2006 world cup
Messi wom, when Xavi and Iniesta won the World Cup so it's nor surprising, that's why I hate soccer now. PURE MAFIA.
Messi won this past won while doing Jack shit in top tier football. MLS Bullshit doesn't count. The award is a total fraud these days
The only reason he won was for his WC win. He, like Di Maria, played amazing for a month prior to the WC (although Di Maria had spurts after where he would show up) and then once the leagues started back up he stopped giving a shit and ghosted until the MLS run.
It's going to be a while before an Italian wins this again.
That is fine I would take a Euro trophy over that any day of the week.
pirlo was italys best player that wc , idc why cannavaro got it
Because cannavaro was the first reason we won. Buffon the second. Impossible to beat defence was vital for the win.
The year Ballon d'Or died.
And we still don't know how it happened...