A big day for the two teams who were in last tournament’s final. France refused to train in solidarity of Anelka’s sending home (after calling Domenech a “son-of-a-bitch” when taken off during the 2-0 loss to Mexico). Italy looked lifeless today against the All-Whites, until they were scored upon and need to level. They dove, wow did they dive, their way back to a 1-1 scoreline, then sat back and relaxed again, never really threatening for the whole 3 points.

What can you say other than, WTF? We’ve all seen the players on both these teams at club level, and they are fantastic week after week. They play beautiful team ball and are punished if they don’t. Then they throw on the national team jersey and everything goes to hell.

This is where a strong manager comes to play. National team coaches can’t simply pick the best players in the country, they need to pick the best players for the team (let’s all take a look at what Dunga has done for Brazil, who have started as a well-organized squad that looks a lot like a European side, but who will surely find their flair as the tournament proceeds.)

Domenech and Lippi have squadfulls of egos to manage, and only cutting difficult or entrenched-in-their-ways players before the tournament would have made the proper impact. Another example? Hiddink with the South Koreans four years ago, cutting the most senior players on the team to relieve the stress of Confucian hierarchy on younger talented players. He reinstituted some senior players later, but his point was made before the tournament.

I’d like to see Italy continue on, but France is done. At this point they should bench all the senior players and play the second squad. then again, I’d love to see them fall to the hosts…