French connection

In 1998, you can thank Jean Marie Le Pen for that win, France won because France needed to be unified. The same story has come back to regale us. France needed this win. Soccer brings all of France together. Riots have riven French society into dangerous silos. This win will bring all of France back together. Contrary to popular belief, it's not just talent and sport that drives sport. It's not for nothing that people say sport is one of the greatest shows on earth. It's about what sport can do for TV ratings. It's about what sport can do for society. It's not just about sport. Good for France that France won the semi-final against Portugal. Portugal got what it needed from this World Cup. And so has France. What's left now is for Italy to do for Italian soccer what Rossi did for them in 1982. Rossi came through a match-fixing scandal with flying colours, and so will this Italian team. (Much like the Indian team did, when it ended Australia's dream run in cricket and made people forget the match-fixing scandal that threatened to turn cricket into a losing business proposition.) Italy will outclass France in the final. And it won't, only, be because they're a better team. Time now, for an Italian con job. Of course, not for a minute am I suggesting it's all 'managed'. Why spoil the fun? Why look for the truth, when spin is so much more fun to go with.