The final - to be decided in 90 mins, extra time or penalties - which do you think?

Answer 1

Difficult to predict. France will try to end it within 90-minutes. But,
if the match is decided in the extra-time or penalty-shoots, Italy will win. Italy has more young players and they are capable to play beyond 90 minutes at the same pace. Recall the last 10 minutes in the France-Portugal match - most of the French players lost their speed and alertness.

Answer 2

The current soccer or football rules are good enough. Why reduce to 90 mins. It wont be unfair. I love to see the penalty shootouts. So I wont vote for 90mins decision. Anyway, we are just the viewer not the players. So current rules and regulations are just nice.

Answer 3

In 90 minutes.

Answer 4

3 days to go and it already seems to me and endless waiting ;-)
Assuming at this stage both teams are at their best in willingness and team spirit, let's try a prevision:
1. France won last FIFA / UEFA matches (i FEAR stats, Italy never lose from Germany in WC and it happened again... so, I discovered Domenech lose against Italy in Under-21 championship... I feel better)
2. France has great experienced champions as Thuram, Vieira, Zidane, Henry, Trezeguet. They all play in or are Juventus former players, so they exactly know Italian player and tactics.
3. Ribery is definitively a great player. He could be deadly in fast break attacks. In the match change often field position, and this let him to be even more unpredictable.
On the other side:
1. Coach Lippi is a master of tactics. In preliminaries Italy plays with an impressive attacking 4-3-1-2. Now, in WC, Totti is at 70% of his fit, recovering from a broken leg (February) and Del Piero isn't at his top performance (as we seen against Australia), so Lippi switched at a 4-4-1-1, reaching the final without playing with the best formation. Since quarters, 21 players out of 23 were sent in the field, so many aren't too tired (as it happens in '94). Italy plays are highly unpredictable, by now 10 players have scored a goal (don't know if this is a record in WC)
2. Italian goalkeeper and defenders are so far the best in the tournament, having got only one goal against (an own goal). Nesta - rated as one of world best defenders - is injured since the 3st match, and this add more worth to defenders performance.
3. Italy seems in better fitness than France. Yesterday France had a great game control, and was unable to raise match tempo to attack and score a second goal to seal the win. It seems as they choose to hold a slow game, fearing to go tired. Italy had an enrgy-spending match against Germany, but they have 1 day more than France to recover.

So, this should be a 50% chances for each team match, but I'll go straight for Italy. Now De Rossi is again eligible to play, Lippi could choose his favorite 4-3-1-2 with the best line-up (De Rossi, Gattuso, Pirlo in midfield, Grosso and Zambrotta on the wings). I guess France has few chances against this team, and Italy is going to a square win.
Let's have a great match and good luck everyone!

Answer 5

90 mins, 3-1 Italia.

france is going down!

Answer 6

I don't think it will go to penalties,at least I hope not! It would be great if we could see two teams playing footy how its supposed to be played! No diving,falling,or whatever.Fouls will happen,its inevitable,I hope the game is won without controversy! May the best team win! Good luck to them both!

Answer 7

i prefer in the extra time because i really like to watch soccer/football... I really hate penalties, because sometimes its not fair how they really struggle 120 minutes to come and lose by penalties!

Answer 8

depends....if france can get through italys great defense and score, then 90 minutes will be enough....if they cant, i think extra time might be necessary. i highly doubt that it will go to penalties though.

Answer 9

Extra time

Answer 10

I think it will be decided in overtime because both France and Italy play a simalar type of soccer.