France defy their years
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ByEurosport
Published 06/07/2006 at 06:52 GMT
France find themselves one match away from an incredible comeback and their second World Cup triumph in eight years, and guess who they have to thank? The old guard of course.
Eurosport
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A Zinedine Zidane penalty proved to be the winner on Wednesday as les Bleus stormed into the final with a 1-0 victory over Portugal.
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FOOTBALL 2006 World Cup Portugal-France Zidane
Image credit: Reuters
But Zidane was not the only veteran to impress in Munich, with fellow comeback king Lilian Thuram bagging the official man-of-the-match award at the end of the match.
And let's not forget the other two finalists from 1998, Patrick Vieira, who had a solid if unspectacular game in the middle of the park, and Fabien Barthez who, one nearly disastrous fumble apart, kept his goal immaculately.
AGAINST THE ODDS
Who would have thought that this ageing side, on the verge of retirement, could have come this far?
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FOOTBALL 2006 World Cup Portugal-France Sagnol Barthez
Image credit: Reuters
Well, clearly not many, particularly those back home in France, who ridiculed coach Raymond Domenech and his selections and tactics pre-tournament, giving les Bleus no chance at all of succeeding in Germany.
Domenech and his side did not disappoint their detractors during the group stage after a series of lacklustre performances worthy of such a tired team, where the average age of the squad is 30 - by far the highest average of any team present in Germany.
But somehow, from somewhere, France have found the energy to lift themselves out of the realms of mediocrity, and onto the verge of glory.
WHERE NEXT?
On Wednesday, they overcame Portugal to edge closer to that glorious goal, and Domenech's side thoroughly deserve their chance to compete in the nation's second ever World Cup final.
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FOOTBALL 2006 World Cup Portugal-France Zidane Malouda
Image credit: Reuters
What next for this ever-youthful team?
Another glorious night to rival that one in the Stade de France, and later on the Champs Elysées, eight years ago is the obvious answer, but standing in their way will be on-form and determined Italian side.
Whatever happens in Berlin on July 9th, it will be Zidane's last game as a professional footballer, and despite one comeback from retirement already, there will not be a repeat this time round.
DOMENECH: "NOT ABOUT ZIDANE"
But coach Domenech was careful to avoid confusion over where his side's priorities lie.
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FOOTBALL World Cup 2006 Brazil France Domenech
Image credit: Imago
"Yes, it will be the last one for him, the end," said coach Domenech. "But it is not what he is thinking about. This is not all about Zinedine Zidane's last game - it is the World Cup final against Italy.
"We don't want things to be mixed up. Yes, it will be the end for Zidane, but so it will for some other players. But this is the World Cup and it will be special to play against Italy.
"That is what is on his mind. And we want to go there to win. It is the same for the others - for Thuram, for Makelele and for the rest. I said our objective was July 9th, but not just that - we want to win the cup."
Follow all the action from the match, right here LIVE on eurosport.com on Sunday from 20:00 cet!
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