Because that's the only way Scotland knows how to play. All they did was rely on tactical fouling, brutal tackles, long balls and set pieces. Scotland is one of those teams that go out on the pitch not to play football but to prevent the opposing team from playing football. France, like Brazil and Argentina, go out on the pitch to PLAY football. And Scotland is now #3 in the Euro 2008 qualifying table. France is #1. Scotland won't qualify for Euro 2008, so your gloating is futile. And France beat the world cup winners in September.

The author is exactly right about Zidane's calm and grace on the pitch. If you actually knew anything about Zidane's career as a player instead of just watching all the world cup hype, then you'd know that. Zidane was precisely known for his intense concentration and imperious unemotionality on the pitch. He was known for no wild celebrations when scoring, in fact he usually registered no emotions when scoring. If you'd seen this film, you'd know this. If you'd seen the film, you'd know exactly what the author knows about calm and grace. Ask anyone in Spain who actually watched the man play at Madrid for 5 years.

That is precisely why his sudden bursts of anger at provocation were so shocking -- precisely because he was so calm, unemotional, intensely concentrated, enigmatic, known for being isolated even from his own teammates. Educate yourself about the sport's most brilliant player in the post-Maradona era -- a genius and an artist on the pitch -- before pontificating about him.

In Spain, he is regarded as one of the greatest players to play in their country. He still lives there and is beloved even by fans of clubs who despise Real Madrid.

Yeah, 14 red cards blah blah blah. In an 18-year career, 14 red cards -- big freaking deal. Not once did he ever provoke, he (like all #10s in the sport) was always on the receiving end of provocation. Unfortunately, he never completely learned to ignore cheap, deliberate, cynical gamesmanship. Something he never engaged in, as the film will show you.

And the Mogwai soundtrack is superb, too bad the author couldn't do a longer review of it.

Zizou was a brilliant, but brutal player, so no idea where you get the 'grace and calm' idea. Softspoken in person maybe, but not 'calm' by any means on the pitch.

As for the music: typical scotch, heroin chic, jammy horseshit. To hell with that musak.

If you're interested, the band's debut -- "Young Team" -- is, I think, its strongest album. They don't have a bad one though.

This reminded me somewhat of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. Perhaps less suggestive of "psychedelia" than Floyd's masterpiece, but evoking the same swaying tranquility. Good stuff, in any case. Thanks for familiarizing me with this band.