http://www.chelseafc.com/article.asp?hlid=400717 Ballack drops out; Carvalho must tread with care Wednesday, Jul 05, 2006 Any Chelsea representation in the 2006 World Cup Final will come from Wednesday's second semi-final alone after Michael Ballack's dream of taking Germany all the way died in Dortmund. Two Italian strikes in the final two minutes of extra-time on Tuesday brought an end to the best game of the tournament so far by some distance. Up until that climax, two enterprising sides looked set for another penalty shoot-out with the contest goalless. Italy had twice struck woodwork at the start of extra-time. For Ballack, it was one of his less prominent displays of the World Cup, against an opposition midfield playing at the top of its form. The small injury problems that have impinged on his training appeared to take their toil. After a start that saw one shot fly wide on eight minutes, the Chelsea midfielder took up an increasingly deep role as the game progressed. He struck a free-kick off-target with eight minutes of normal time remaining but powerless to do anything about the winning goals by Fabio Grosso and Alessandro Del Piero. http://www.chelseafc.com/Images/-NEWS/BallackItaly.jpg Robert Huth, still officially a Chelsea player, remained on the bench. His World Cup ends having played a single game against Ecuador. The second semi-final in Munich matches William Gallas and Claude Makelele against Ricardo Carvalho as regular starters for France and Portugal. Paulo Ferreira will be hoping for an appearance from the bench. A booking during the game would rule Carvalho out of the Final, as it would former Chelsea midfielder Maniche. Gallas and Makelele have clean disciplinary slates. Marcel Desailly and Frank Leboeuf in1998 were the most recent to have played in a World Cup Final whilst Chelsea players. by Paul Mason -------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.chelseafc.com/article.asp?hlid=400832 Gallas in dreamland as another France final beckons Wednesday, Jul 05, 2006 William Gallas was the player selected by France for their pre-World Cup semi-final press conference. During it he compared the current side with the world champions of 1998. The 28 year-old defender is revelling in doing so well at his first World Cup. He has formed a strong centre-back partnership with Lilian Thuram, one of a handful of survivors from the France squad that lifted the trophy eight years ago. The reborn Zinedine Zidane plus Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and David Trezeguet are others. “We have the same style of play as the 1998 team, which is so much the better - France always has its special style of play," the Chelsea man said. “Personally, this is the sort of thing I dreamt of as a kid and I knew I always wanted to play in a World Cup. Now I am playing in a semi-final. “With the France team I am determined to try to go all the way. We were criticised but we have always known what we want to do, although first we must beat Portugal.” France defeated Portugal at the semi-final stage during the last major tournament they won — Euro 2000. There was a fractious ending to that game when Zidane scored a ‘golden goal’ penalty three minutes from the end of extra-time. Several Portuguese players received lengthy bans for their subsequent protests. The reported thoughts of Gallas ahead of the re-match emphasise a difficult task for the France team that will also include Claude Makelele. “Portugal have people who have the capacity to destabilise other players. They have some tricks that they are very good at. Luiz Felipe Scolari is a great coach. “Just look at his record and the way they overcame England. Portugal are a very passionate team, very fierce. We have to subdue them.” France coach Raymond Domenech added at the press conference: “Portugal can play well, they will cause us problems technically, tactically and physically.” The match that will decide whether Gallas and Makelele, or Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira will be present at the World Cup Final kicks-off in Munich at 8pm UK time. by Paul Mason -- 當我漫遊在斯坦弗森林時，我看見了雀爾西，米爾斯的女兒，在傍晚初升的明月中， 在泰晤士河旁一處林地空間上翩然舞蹈。所有痛苦的記憶都離開了我，我像落入迷離 幻境中一般，因為雀爾西是伊露維塔兒女中最美的一位。她身上那襲藍色的衣裳宛如 萬里無雲的晴空，她灰色的眼睛像是傍晚群星閃爍的天空；她的斗篷上繡著金色的花 朵，她的頭髮漆黑如暮色中的陰影。她的榮光與美好，就像樹葉上的光芒，像是潺潺 流水，像是這迷離世界上方閃爍的繁星；她臉上有閃亮的光輝。 --

※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 220.129.121.25