I can report that no matter what happens tonight, Italy is already a winner. Not for redeeming the image of Italian football following the corruption scandal that’s now tearing apart its domestic league, not for providing hope and confidence to a nation mired in economic stagnation, not for any of that.

Italy has accomplished something much more significant and moving. In short Italy is the winner of the World Cup 2006 Bikini Shootout. And NO ONE can take that away from them. Here’s a short clip of the opening round, originally broadcast on Veronica, Holland’s classiest television network.

Post script: The Bikini Shootout proved to be prophetic, and I’m more upset about it than I ever thought I’d be.

There’ll be a lot of hang wringing and expressions of outrage over the next few weeks, but my hunch is Zidane made more friends than enemies tonight….

UPDATE:

Let the crazy .gif games begin….

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