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DEL.ICIO.USA second chance for France
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Zinedine Zidane converted the spot kick that sent France back to the World Cup finals Tuesday in a 1-0 victory over Portugal, and he rightly deserves ample credit for his inspirational play in this tournament.
He is the “talisman,” as the Brit papers like to call icons — a term once wasted on the disgraced Wayne Rooney. But this French team, pulling itself not just from the oblivion of early elimination in Germany but also in ‘02, is about so much more than that. It’s about the young, energetic midfielder Ribery, the sure-footed defensive player of a backline led by the aging Lilian Thuram and Willy Sagnol that was so dreadful four years ago, and by the emergence of Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira as influential players. They have struggled so often for France, and for them to come through now is nearly as important as Zidane’s last-ditch heroics. And as dodgy as he always is, keeper Fabien Barthez came up with a huge save as France nearly gave the game away in stoppage time.
The chance to erase the mostly sour memories since ‘98 will come in Berlin Sunday against a sturdy Italian team that will have its hands full controlling Zidane. But he’s far from the only concern as France can now savor its maturity as a global soccer power. It wasn’t a fluke that netted Les Bleus the Cup on home soil eight years ago, and it was hardly a fluke in setting down Spain, Brazil and Portugal in order.
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By Henry
July 6, 2006 8:02 AM | Link to this
And then there were none and I can enjoy the rest of the World Cup in peace. Great game getween Italy and Germany, but after 2 tough quality games (Argentina and Italy)that could have been a great final each, the German defence finaly broke (tired mentaly and phisically). The German offence was rendered useless with only a couple of chances created by them (typical Italian defence). Italian politics entered the dirty part of the game again, but the Italian players gave us a great performans (thanks to the players). In Baseball term a great pitchers game in football terms a great defencive performance was given by bothe teams. Got it you soccer haters. After complaining about the Reffs, the Mexican referee had the best offical performance in this World Cup.
As I predicted previously FIFA revarded the Uruguaian refereee with one of the choice games. Only in FIFA disgrace, incompetence and bigotry is revarded. This guy, also much better that in the US vs Italy game, was one sided. He probably hates Brasiliens. You know we are not the only one hated in South America. Now will the other FIFA favorite referee from the Portugal vs Neatherlands get the final?
FIFA this is how a game is to be officiated. Unfortunayly the Mexican referee will not be considered for the final.
As this tournament ends, we will be priviledged to see two great final games on the weekend even the one for third place will be very entertaining. One item nobody commented on is the vidio performance of the games. Second to none and always on target and unsensored. Unlike in the MLS were management and referees are protected by contract.