Sports/Olympics / Soccer
Zidane steers France to World Cup final
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-07-06 06:30
MUNICH, July 5 - Zinedine Zidane made sure the last match of his
glittering career would be a World Cup final when he presented France
with a 1-0 win over Portugal in a tense semi-final on Wednesday.
France's Zinedine Zidane shoots from the penalty spot to score against
Portugal during their World Cup 2006 semi-final soccer match in Munich
July 5, 2006. [Reuters]
Eight years after their Zidane-inspired home triumph, the ageing French
will feature in the title match of the showcase tournament for the second
time when they face Italy on Sunday in Berlin.
The 34-year-old Zidane, who retires after the finals, got the winner
after 33 minutes by calmly converting a penalty after Thierry Henry's
ankle was caught by Ricardo Carvalho.
"What matters now is to go all the way," said France coach Raymond
Domenech, who had kept naming the final as his objective even when his
team did little to suggest they could get there.
"We must give all we have in that final to make sure we have no regrets,"
he added.
Portugal, playing in their second semi-final after reaching the same
stage in 1966 with Eusebio, have to be content to meet hosts Germany for
third place on Saturday in Stuttgart.
The Euro 2004 runners-up kept trying but were repeatedly denied by a
watertight defence at the centre of which Thuram shone with calm
authority before being named Man of the Match.
"We defended like lions," said Henry. "The way we defended, everyone, you
could see that the team had desire and commitment and everything, plus a
lot of technique."
FIERCELY CONTESTED
It was the first loss in 13 World Cup finals matches for Portugal coach
Luiz Felipe Scolari, who won the title with Brazil in 2002, after 11 wins
and the draw against England in the quarter-finals that his team won on
penalties.
Portugal have a reputation for losing ill-tempered battles against the
French, whom they have not beaten since 1975.
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