Berlin: Former US President Bill Clinton, who watched his first live game when Italy and France played the final at Berlin Olympic Stadium, said sometimes defence was more important than offence in the game. “I’ve watched a lot of the games, on TV of course ? this is the first one live... You have to play strategically when you are in an elimination situation; you can’t make it as exciting all the time. You have to play with discipline, and sometimes defence is more important than offence,” the 59-year-old was quoted as saying by the Fifa website.
Algerian village saddened
Aguemoune: In the Algerian mountains where Zinedine Zidane’s parents grew up, fans gathered in the “Cafe Zizo” to watch the French star’s farewell show. It wasn’t what they expected. “We are very disappointed,” he said. “He should have kept his cool,” said one of them. “Because of him we love France,” Zidane’s cousin Rabah said outside the family home, a new, modest structure.
Campioni del Mondo!
Rome: Delirious Italians poured into streets and piazzas on Sunday night to dance, sing and hug each other as they screamed three words: Campioni del Mondo! Within seconds of the fifth successful penalty-kick going in, fireworks were shooting into the sky, foghorns were being blasted and even police were sounding their sirens. In Rome’s Circus Maximus, where a flag-waving crowd of about 200,000 gathered to witness the match, the air was thick with red smoke from flares. “We did it! We did it!” they said.
Beetle takes a plunge
Berlin: The bidding price for the 39-year-old Volkswagen Beetle that once belonged to Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann has plunged after the seller introduced strict controls to exclude non-genuine bids. The top bidding price for the 1967 VW convertible fell from a quoted 300,050 euros on Saturday to 5,605 euros on Monday ahead of Tuesday’s close of bidding after interested parties were required to register and prove they were serious.
Scolari wants to stay
Lisbon: Portugal’s Brazilian-born coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said on Sunday he wanted to stay in the job, Portuguese news agency Lusa reported. “I want to stay, yes,” Scolari said after the return of the Portugal side from Germany on Sunday. “I have a marvellous squad, it is a situation to be studied. As of Wednesday or Thursday we will talk,” Scolari said.
