Zidane earns France World Cup final spot

By Patrick Vignal

MUNICH (Reuters) – The great Zinedine Zidane gave France a
1-0 win over Portugal on Wednesday with a penalty that handed
them a place in the World Cup final.

Eight years after their Zidane-inspired home triumph, Les
Bleus 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 and
will play the last game of a glittering career at the Olympic
stadium, got the winner after 33 minutes by converting a
penalty after Thierry Henry’s ankle was caught by Ricardo
Carvalho.

Portugal, playing in their second semi-final after a 1966
appearance with the great Eusebio, have to be content with
meeting hosts Germany for third place on Saturday in Stuttgart.

“What matters now is to go all the way,” said France coach
Raymond Domenech. “We can’t be content with that. We have to
recuperate and start focusing. We must give all we have in that
final to make sure we have no regrets.”

Henry added: “I think the thing that made the difference is
that after the penalty we defended amazingly. We defended like
lions. We were not in much in danger.

“You could see that that team has desire and commitment and
everything, plus a lot of technique. I’m trying to shine with
the team. Today I got my reward.”

It was the first loss in 13 World Cup matches for Portugal
coach Luiz Felipe Scolari after 11 wins and the draw against
England in the quarter-finals that his team won on penalties.

Portugal, the Euro 2004 runners-up, have a reputation for
losing ill-tempered battles against the French, whom they have
not beaten since 1975.

Wednesday’s clash on a warm, still night at the high-tech
Allianz Arena was tense, as expected, but largely free of ugly
scenes though Scolari remonstrated with officials at the end.

DIFFICULT MATCH

“There are situations that are difficult,” he said. “We did
everything we could, we did our best. Congratulations to
France. We have to accept this. We knew it would be a difficult
match. We had a few chances but unfortunately didn’t do it and
lost.”

France, relying on a bunch of gifted thirty-somethings,
started the tournament in sluggish fashion before stepping up a
few gears to recapture their winning ways, dumping out
champions Brazil in the previous round.

The sides traded early chances in a lively opening in
Munich on Wednesday when Portugal had a great opportunity after
nine minutes, Maniche firing just over the bar from the edge of
the box after a clever back-heeled Cristiano Ronaldo pass.

Ronaldo, booed by large sections of the crowd every time he
touched the ball, was a permanent danger and came close to
scoring after a fine move punctuated by a deflected shot
shortly before the break.

France, however, looked in control for large spells and
deserved their halftime lead, which they nearly doubled early
in the second half with attempts by Henry and Franck Ribery.

Portugal kept trying but were repeatedly denied by a
watertight French defense at the center of which Thuram, 34
like Zidane, shone with calm authority.

France did survive a scare in a relatively uneventful
second half after 78 minutes when a Luis Figo header flew over
the bar after Fabien Barthez scooped a Ronaldo free kick into
the air.

Four of the French team which won the World Cup in Paris in
1998, France’s only previous final, were playing against
Portugal including Lilian Thuram who was Man of the Match.

“Living moments like this is simply extraordinary. I’m 34
and I feel like the 10-year-old boy who watched the World Cup
and found it beautiful,” said the defender.

“The final had been our objective from the start. Being
there is a dream. Missing it would have been a nightmare.”