Germany 2006 showed what we are and what we have : a rich, incompetent FA, a clueless coach, dim WAGS, and a timid, compliant media who reported and screened Sven’s drivel for almost six years.

Zidane is the hero again ! That story would make the World Cup more memorable, make FIFA boss Sepp Blatter look like the impresario of the greatest show on earth, and also promote their anti-racism message.

It was nice of President Zidane to invite Jacques Chirac to Monday’s party at the Elysee Palace.But Cannavaro deserves the Golden Ball as best player of the tournament.And South Africa may be due for a bigger disappointment than Zidane.

Unfortunately, Zidane is bigger than France, bigger than coach Domenech. He is only 40% of the player he was in 1998 and he never showed for a throw-in.The coach who had begged him to come back was not strong enough to take Zizou off when his shoulder was injured.

Looking at the last six games France have played, it’s easy to see why Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry will never be on the same wavelength, and why coach Raymond Domenech had to devise this 4-2-3-1 system.

France had an extra day’s rest in Rotterdam. Italy have the extra day before Berlin.

A dull semi-final could have come alive if Luis Figo had equalised with a header.This 1-0 showed us the worst of Portugal but not the best of France.

Ribery is a big game player. He has played a role in the revival of Zidane and Vieira. His speed, energy and drive have helped to lift the old boys back to their heroic best.

With another penalty shoot-out only two minutes away, Grosso and Del Piero scored stylish goals to give the Azzurri a place in Sunday’s World Cup Final.

Italy are not a team I’ve followed closely.The stench of corruption puts me off. The defenestration of Pessotto, the sporting director of Juventus, puts me off.