thegreat

The shortlist has been drawn up by the FIFA Technical Study Group (TSG) and, with only players who reached the last four considered eligible for selection, representatives of the media will now pick from a field comprising three Frenchmen, two Germans, four Italians and a solitary Portuguese.

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Cormack

Pirlo has been outstanding. Given the Italians on the panel, though, Cannavaro. The story sways it and might (like the young player) give this world cup some verisimilitude.

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There is no Devil; just God when he drinks.

davidti

Hmmmmm,

If it's been decided beforehand, Zidane wins it.

If not, Pirlo must have a massive chance having won three Man of the Matches although Cannavaro (lifting trophy, 100th cap, generally outstanding) is the only other choice. Have backed both so am keeping my fingers crossed.

If it has been decided beforehand but the result not revealed, would FIFA change their mind? Because they'll look ridiculous giving it to Zidane now. Then again they looked ridiculous giving it to Ronaldo in 98 and Kahn in 2002 after both messed up in the final. FIFA are more than capable of looking ridiculous yet again.

Will await this one with interest!

Cormack

Electronic voting says Buffon in various languages...

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There is no Devil; just God when he drinks.

Smokin Joe

ZZ is 20s on Betfair now.

davidti

Have taken 16 on Betfair and had a small bet on Buffon so have all bases covered now.

Cheers for info chaps

davidti

Then again....

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In a break with tradition, voting by journalists covering the tournament will remain open until midnight Sunday, with the winner announced at 10 a.m. local time the next morning.

In 2002, voting closed at halftime in the final, with the winner announced after the match. In previous tournaments, voting closed after the third-place game.

FIFA communications director Markus Siegler said organizers decided to keep the voting open to ensure the entire tournament was reflected in the outcome, instead of just 63½ matches.

keyser soze

buffon................

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"Napoleon was advancing unopposed through the low countries until his army was engaged by Team GB."

thegreat

zidane just went to 1.5 then back out to 6 now into odds on

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davidti

Cheers Smokin Joe.

If you hadn't alerted me to Zidane's price on Betfair, would have just gone to bed.

Now a nice winner

thegreat

not bad for a mornings trading

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keyser soze

sorry that was the keeper award

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"Napoleon was advancing unopposed through the low countries until his army was engaged by Team GB."

Smokin Joe

It's a pity I didn't have your foresight

I didn't think there was any way they could give it to him after his headbutt.

davidti

Let's think about the practicalities of this.

As it's a journalists vote, when are you going to ask them to vote? After the final when they're manically filing copy, ringing editors and meeting deadlines. I don't think so. And they're not exactly going to be bothered to vote the following day when they're checking out of hotels.

So when is the last possible time? Half-time I guess although many will want to have got it out of the way by then and voted before the match.

Just wish I'd asked a few journos I know who were out there covering it and then I could have got really greedy!