Zidane earns France World Cup final place

By Patrick Vignal

MUNICH (Reuters) – 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.

Eight years after their Zidane-inspired home triumph, the
aging 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 defense at the center 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.

Wednesday’s clash on a warm, still night at the high-tech
Allianz Arena was fiercely contested, as expected, but largely
free of ugly scenes although a clearly frustrated Scolari did
remonstrate with the match officials at the end.

“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.

Their semi-final kicked off at a high tempo and Portugal
had the first clear 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.

IN CONTROL

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.

The French 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.

Fernando Meira then wasted another excellent chance for
Portugal deep in added time, firing wildly over the bar from a
good position.

Nothing, however, stopped France’s golden generation from
booking the ultimate farewell party.

“I’m 34 and I feel like the 10-year-old boy who watched the
World Cup and found it beautiful,” said Thuram, one of several
French players expected to retire from the international game
after the final.