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'Zizou' rises above Zidane, France meet familiar foes in Euro 2000 final
Posted: Friday June 30, 2000 02:09 PM
GENVAL, Belgium (AP) -- Euro 2000 kicked off with talk of Raul Gonzalez or Luis Figo emerging as the most precious player in European soccer. It ended like the last World Cup, with Zinedine Zidane head and shoulders above the rest. The Juventus star's 117th-minute "golden goal" penalty against in the semifinal against Portugal Wednesday capped yet another inspirational performance from the French No. 10. Few would dispute that Zidane has been the top player at Euro 2000 and another vintage display in Sunday's final against Italy would surely steer France to the second European title in its history. Even the Italians seem to think that the final is in Zidane's hands. "Zidane is better than Napoleon and there is no Waterloo to stop him," exulted daily newspaper La Gazzetto Dello Sport. With his devastating passing, quick turns and incredible ball control, the 28-year-old has given a playmaker's masterclass at Euro 2000. Teams that have assigned man markers have found Zidane too mobile and physically powerful to be stopped. "Zizou" also showed he has nerves of steel on Wednesday by offering to take his the crucial penalty in the 2-1 win over Portugal. "Before the semifinal we planned to have Youri [Djorkaeff] take penalties but he wasn't on the pitch so it came down to me," he said. "It's true that I don't often taken penalties. That one was the hardest of my career." Zidane, successful from three out of three spot kicks for France in penalty shootouts, confidently slammed the ball past Portugal keeper Vitor Baia. "Even if we had problems on the pitch I was never nervous," he said. "I concentrated and applied myself to the full. I didn't want to have any regrets and it was extraordinary to score the goal that put us into the final." Zidane, who missed four months of the season with a knee injury, eclipsed Raul in the Euro 2000 quarterfinals and Figo in the semis and was voted man of the match in both games. Ironically, France had advanced to the last four after Real Madrid star Raul missed an 89th-minute penalty in the quarterfinals. "Raul made a mistake. But missing a penalty doesn't mean he is no longer a great player," the 1998 world player of the year said. "Lots of others have missed penalties and I could have bungled it as well." He also had some words of comfort for Figo. "It was tough on the Portuguese because like us they deserved to gothrough. I told that to two or three of their players after the match, including Figo." Raul and Figo end Euro 2000 with their reputations enhanced but Zidane has proved peerless. No one knows that better than French coach Roger Lemerre, who has built his team around the Juventus player. France usually employs three defensive midfielders, freeing the Marseille-born star from defensive responsibilities. Width is largely sacrificed in favor of the blistering pace up front of Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka, who thrive on Zidane's sharp passing to get behind opposing defenses. Zidane, scorer of two goals in the 1998 World Cup final, remains modest. On Thursday, he casually strolled outside the French team's hotel in Genval, happy to sign dozens of autograph for local youngsters. "I am no hero, just another player among 22 in the group," he said. "We haven't won anything at the Euro. There is still one step to climb and we want to go the whole way." French to meet old acquaintances in Euro 2000 final BRUSSELS, Belgium -- Neutrals had hoped for a France vs. Netherlands Euro 2000 final. Now, at least Serie A aficionados will be happy Sunday: no fewer than 13 players in the French squad have an Italian connection. Blink an eye and you could be forgiven for thinking that there's a Serie A clash being played in Rotterdam. All 22 players in the Azzurri squad line up for Italian clubs and four of their opponents currently earn their living in Italy, Laurent Blanc (Inter Milan), Lilan Thuram (Parma), Vincent Candela (Roma) and Zinedine Zidane (Juventus). Seven others have appeared in Serie A: Marcel Desailly (AC Milan); Didier Deschamps (Juventus); Youri Djorkaeff (Inter Milan); Christian Karembeu (Sampdoria); Patrick Vieira (AC Milan); Christophe Dugarry (AC Milan); and Thierry Henry (Juventus). Two more, Johan Micoud (Parma) and David Trezeguet (Juventus), have signed for Italian clubs in recent weeks. Desailly was one of several French players hoping to meet Italy before Dino Zoff's team beat the Netherlands on penalties on Thursday. "We have already played the Netherlands and know many of the Italian players so it would be nice to play them," Desailly said. Italy will be looking to avenge a 4-3 penalty shootout defeat against France in the quarterfinals of the 1998 World Cup. "After the World Cup quarterfinal the Italians will be very motivated," Petit said. Several fascinating battles will be in store during the final. In midfield, AC Milan's Demetrio Albertini will look to stifle his old sparring partner Zidane. Laurent Blanc, fresh from a convincing first season at Inter, will look to put the brakes on Alessandro Del Piero. Thuram, on one of his marauding runs up front, will come up against Fabio Cannavaro, his defensive partner at Parma. It's no surprise that so many of France's top players have made the move to Italy. The Azzurri might have struggled of late to live up to their historically high standards but France holds Italian soccer in awe. Serie A highlights still get top billing on French soccer programs. The French are amused at the cut and thrust of the Premiership and the pace and precision of the Primera Division but don't think a player has really "made it" until he succeeds in the rigors of the Italian league. Friday's front-page headline on French sports paper L'Equipe said it all: "Eternal Italy." What does that mean for the final? France, an overwhelming 8-15 favorite to win on Sunday according to British bookaker William Hill, might give Italy more respect than the Azzurri's previous opponents. And if anyone knows how to stop Zidane and Co., it's the Italians. A few though, kept dreaming about a Dutch encounter. Emmanuel Petit was counting on avenging France's 3-2 defeat in a Euro 2000 Group D match against the Netherlands. He also hoped to face his Dutch Arsenal teammates Dennis Bergkamp and Marc Overmars. "Everyone has been dreaming of a France-Netherlands final since France beat Brazil in the World Cup," Petit said. "It's a shame not to face the Netherlands in the final. I don't like to lose so I would have liked some revenge for our defeat at the ArenA."
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