Things happen on the pitch. It's happened to me many times. But I could not stand it there. It is not an excuse. But my mother was ill. She was in hospital. More than once they insulted my mother and I never responded. And then, it happened. To apologise for this? No. If it was Kaká, a regular guy, a good guy, of course I would have apologised. But not to this one. If I ask him forgiveness, I lack respect for myself and for all those I hold dear with all my heart. I apologize to football, to the fans, to the team. But to him I cannot. Never, never. It would be to dishonour me. I'd rather die. There are evil people. And I don't even want to hear those guys speak. (x)

It's the same picture🥲

Zizou 2006

my ships opinion

While the 2022 World Cup’s actual football is being distracted from in the media by major political issues, the 2006 World Cup’s football was being distracted from by WAG culture in full force.

Here are Cheryl Tweedy and Victoria Beckham supporting their other halves Ashley Cole and David Beckham on the pitch in Germany, 2006.

A tabloid paparazzi’s dream captured on a classic 2000’s camera of undoubtedly Britain’s two most famous women in pop culture.

Just a couple of weeks after this photo was taken, Cheryl and Ashley would be married, in a ceremony that saw Cheryl’s Girls Aloud band mates as her bridesmaids.

My husband

Now that Karim Benzema has been awarded the 2022 Ballon d'Or, I wanted to point out that his victory marks the very first time a Ballon d'Or winner from 2000 onwards has not played in the 2006 World Cup. That is a rather remarkable streak, considering that we are talking about a World Cup who took place 16 years ago.

Of course, the fact that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominated it for more than a decade helped this streak stay afloat. I compare it to how, between 1984 and 2020, every NBA Final had at least one player who had been a teammate of Shaquille O'Neal at some point in his career, but it makes sense that, in the last portion, the streak was carried on thanks to LeBron James (who has briefly played with Shaq) making it to so many finals.

Indeed, when Modric won in 2018, he broke a 10 year streak of consecutive wins between Messi and Ronaldo, but he too was a young talented player in 2006, being featured in the last minutes of two games for Croatia.

And while many do believe that this streak could have ended in 2020 had the Ballon d'Or been awarded, now it is officially over.

Even if we extend it to the Top 3 (because the streak starts with 2000 only because 1999 winner Rivaldo wasn't there in Germany, but Ronaldo and Zidane, who had won it in '97 and '98, were there), this is the first time since 1995 to not see one player from Germany 2006 among the 3 best players of the year.

That says a lot about how elgendary that World Cup was. So many stars were featured there that they influenced and dominated the football scene for almost 3 decades, even now that the last stars left are on the twilight of their careers.

The London Community Gospel Choir performing before a screening of Trinidad & Tobago vs England game, World Cup 2006.

its 3:30am and im dying of laughter at marcelo’s reaction to his own goal during the wc14 and zidane’s headbutt

2006 FIFA WORLD CUP STICKERS (f1 edition)

(2002) (2010)

Then/Now

09.07.2006

09.07.2023

Luca Guadagnino, Call me by your name, 2017 VS Zinedine Zidane and Marco Materazzi, 2006 FIFA World Cup Final, Olympiastadion | Berlin, Germany, 9 July 2006

The 2006 World Cup was a different time!

The two tabloid power couples of Britain step out together for a photo opportunity (David & Victoria Beckham and Cheryl & Ashley Cole).

Below, Cheryl and Victoria are photographed in the crowd - red and white tops instead of glamorous dresses this time - while supporting David and Ashley on the pitch.