What does your Crystal Ball say about this match? My crystal ball has not changed its opinion, although it has been wrong just recently, i.e., it still favors France over Italia. Will I need to buy a new crystal ball?

yes

My crystal ball says Italy will definately win 2--1 --- a sure thing!!

This is a cop out- but it's too close to call. I watched both of them in several games and they are both very strong. It really could go either way. That said, I hope Italy pummels France!

A difficult call indeed. The French team are beautiful to watch - so light on their feet and graceful, and I love the dignified way they continue play after scoring a goal.

About 5 minutes into the Italy v. Germany game I realised they were going to win. They were playing with a passion and energy that in my opinion, they didn't really have in the previous games. Presumably, it being the final, they will have be twice as on fire on Sunday.

This will all make for a very exciting match and I think it will be wonderful to watch because the two teams have such different styles.

Someone local here says the team that sings the national anthem better wins. Based on that it's definitely Italy!
How can the French team not know "The Marsellaise?" I even used to know it!

quote:

How can the French team not know "The Marsellaise?" I even used to know it!

Allons enfants de la patrie, le jour de gloire est arrivé!

uhm... can't say that I know a single word to the Italian anthem.

Fratelli d'Italia
l'Italia s'è desta
dell'elmo di Scipio
s'è cinta la testa
dov'è la vittoria
le porga la chioma
ché schiava di Roma
Iddio la creò

Stringiamci a coorte
siam pronti alla morte
siam pronti alla morte
l'Italia chiamò

Noi siamo da secoli
Calpesti, derisi,
Perché non siam popolo,
Perché siam divisi.
Raccolgaci un'unica
Bandiera, una speme:
Di fonderci insieme
Già l'ora suonò.
Stringiamci a coorte
Siam pronti alla morte
L'Italia chiamò.

Uniamoci, amiamoci,
l'Unione, e l'amore
Rivelano ai Popoli
Le vie del Signore;
Giuriamo far libero
Il suolo natìo:
Uniti per Dio
Chi vincer ci può?
Stringiamci a coorte
Siam pronti alla morte
L'Italia chiamò.

Dall'Alpi a Sicilia
Dovunque è Legnano,
Ogn'uom di Ferruccio
Ha il core, ha la mano,
I bimbi d'Italia
Si chiaman Balilla,
Il suon d'ogni squilla
I Vespri suonò.
Stringiamci a coorte
Siam pronti alla morte
L'Italia chiamò.

Son giunchi che piegano
Le spade vendute:
Già l'Aquila d'Austria
Le penne ha perdute.
Il sangue d'Italia,
Il sangue Polacco,
Bevé, col cosacco,
Ma il cor le bruciò.
Stringiamci a coorte
Siam pronti alla morte
L'Italia chiamò

SI'!!!!!!

Ciao
Chia

quote:

Originally posted by Annika:

quote:

How can the French team not know "The Marsellaise?" I even used to know it!

Allons enfants de la patrie, le jour de gloire est arrivé!

uhm... can't say that I know a single word to the Italian anthem.

I think the French win for "best national anthem" - such a great song and so inspiring even to a non-French person like me!

I also love the American national anthem but I LOATHE "Advance Australia Fair" the Australian one - it's truly horrible.

I can't say Ive ever heard the Italian national anthem. I must have missed the anthem singing part of the Italy matches. I guess I must have heard it sometime during almost a year of living here and would recognise it if I heard it but I dont know what the tune is...

Fratelli d'Italia, l'Italia s'è desta, dell'elmo di Scipio s'è cinta la testa. Dov'è la vittoria? Le porga la chioma, che schiava di Roma Iddio la creò.

Stringiamoci a coorte, siam pronti alla morte. Siam pronti alla morte, l'Italia chiamò. Stringiamoci a coorte, siam pronti alla morte. Siam pronti alla morte, l'Italia chiamò, sì!

Noi fummo da secoli calpesti, derisi, perché non siam popoli, perché siam divisi. Raccolgaci un'unica bandiera, una speme: di fonderci insieme già l'ora suonò.

Uniamoci, uniamoci, l'unione e l'amore rivelano ai popoli le vie del Signore. Giuriamo far libero il suolo natio: uniti, per Dio, chi vincer ci può?

here it is, even if the first half is the more known one.

quote:

Originally posted by rtpm:

quote:

Originally posted by Annika:
[QUOTE]How can the French team not know "The Marsellaise?" I even used to know it!

Allons enfants de la patrie, le jour de gloire est arrivé!

uhm... can't say that I know a single word to the Italian anthem.

As a soccef fan we used to sing it also

"Lotteremo fino alla morte, inneggiando ai nostri color, la canzone che viene dal cuor..
Alè, Alè Alè Italia Alè
Alè, Alè Alè!!!"

Thanks Ale and Chia, now I just have to memorize it so I can sing along on Sunday!

It's a 'close call' for sure, and I shall of course be shouting my head off for Italy....

But I'm not too sure what we've got that will match up to the magic of 'ZZ' and Henry?
Maybe Totti and a little bit of those tired legs of Del Piero, but in that 'magical class'? Sorry I don't think so.

One thing I am 100% sure of though is that when we win it will be 90% down to Buffon!!! Now there IS real 'magic'. He's up there in the same World Class bracket of Zoff, Yashin and Shilton!

Carole B.

quote:

I also love the American national anthem but I LOATHE "Advance Australia Fair" the Australian one - it's truly horrible.

It's not Waltzing Matilda?

quote:

Originally posted by mani doro:

quote:

I also love the American national anthem but I LOATHE "Advance Australia Fair" the Australian one - it's truly horrible.

It's not Waltzing Matilda?

I wish it was! I guess a song about stealing sheep was not deemed appropriate as a national anthem.

Francis, I think your crystal ball worked too hard in the quarter finals, and now it is badly need of repair. Italy takes it!!!

Listen to our anthem here, clicking "ascolta l'inno". The files start all together so stop them all before thay start and listen only to the one you want to listen

http://www.quirinale.it/simboli/inno/inno.htm#