Foe memorial

France, Cameroon play Cup final under cloud

CLAIREFONTAINE, France (AP) -- Defending champion France and Cameroon play for the Confederations Cup on Sunday in a final that most likely will be remembered as a memorial to Marc-Vivien Foe.

Foe's death after collapsing during Cameroon's 1-0 defeat of Colombia in the semifinals, darkened the eight-nation tournament held in France over the past two weeks.

"Whoever wins, the match will be for [Foe], especially since Cameroon is in the final," France and Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre said.

"We will all need a lot of courage. If Cameroon decides to play and finds the force to play then we will have to find that force, too."

Players, officials and fans were in no mood to celebrate the final.

FIFA dropped plans for pre-match entertainment. The Cameroon players were expected to wear Foe's name on their jerseys at the Stade de France.

The moment of silence at the start of the game is likely to evoke tears on the field and in the bleachers.

Yet the Cameroon team said it would do whatever it takes to make Foe proud.

"It will be a celebration of soccer, and a celebration of Marco, the friend who left us, after which we will bring back his body to Cameroon," said team captain Rigobert Song. "We, the players, will bury him."

FIFA president Sepp Blatter complimented the Cameroon players on their decision to play the final despite the traumatic loss of Foe.

Blatter described it as "proof that soccer brings hope."

The question is whether Sunday's game can survive such an emotional burden.

"It's really difficult, really hard," Song said. "Soccer's only a game."

France, playing on home turf, was a strong favorite as European champion to win the Cup from the outset. Its odds increased after Brazil's first-round exit, and it has won all four of its games so far.

Stade de France is in Saint-Denis, a suburb of Paris -- the same venue where France lifted the World Cup trophy in 1998.

Even so, the emotionally charged atmosphere could take a toll on the players' performance.

"I don't know what the mood will be like, how my players will react against a team which is obviously fragile, who will start, who is mentally prepared to play, how those who were close to Marco will react," French coach Jacques Santini said.

Another hurdle Les Bleus will have to overcome is the African champion's tough defense.

Cameroon, the first African nation to reach the final of the Confederations Cup, hasn't conceded a single goal in the tournament. That's 475 minutes without getting scored on, a championship record. Brazil had the previous best record with 472.

Ever since their 2-0 loss to host Japan at the 2001 edition, Cameroon's goalkeepers Alioum, Songo'o, Kameni and Kwekeu, have been unbeaten.

Never before has an African team been beaten by a European one in Confederations Cup action. In 1997, South Africa and Czech Republic drew 2-2, this year Cameroon beat Turkey 1-0.

"Cameroon is definitely a tall order," Santini said. "We have to fear its power."

Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o, who scored the winner against Brazil last week, was still uncertain to return from Spain, where he plays the cup final with his club Real Mallorca, to play in Confederations Cup final.

France can rely on all its forwards, and they have proved their ability to crack the most stubborn backlines.

The team's Arsenal trio of Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and Sylvain Wiltord each got on the scoresheet in France's 3-2 semifinal win against Turkey.

Even without Zinadine Zidane, who skipped the tournament, France is formidable.

With their win over Turkey, the hosts notched their seventh straight win to equalize Brazil's Confederations Cup record.

However, Cameroon's hard-nosed power triumphed over delicate ball skills in earlier games, including against world champion Brazil and South American champion Colombia.

Cameroon's brawny defense and tireless midfield choked the flair of the South American teams while its opportunist counterattacks gave it an edge.

The only question is by how much Foe's death dampened its fire.

 

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Confederations Cup 2003 Index Player dies in Cameroon's Confed Cup victory Tributes pour in from West Ham, Man City, FA Midfielder Foe an unsung hero for Cameroon Cameroon: 'Foe's death has flattened us' Cameroon to play Cup final in Foe's honor Foe, the latest name on soccer's tragic list Now more than ever FIFA must curtail expansion

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