|
 |   |
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
Fantastic finish Blanc ends international career as a true winner
Posted: Sunday July 02, 2000 08:35 PM
ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) -- Laurent Blanc missed out on the World Cup final triumph two years ago. Thanks to an amazing French fightback at Sunday's Euro 2000 final, he finished his international career as a true winner. The 34-year-old centerback, who has played for eight different clubs and won the European Under 21 title back in 1988, was suspended when France beat Brazil in the 1998 World Cup final in Paris. He still got his winner's medal, even if he sat on the bench. He made it to this final in Rotterdam and played a big part in the 2-1 extra time victory over Italy, his 95th game for Les Bleus. "It is with regret that I leave this team," said Blanc, who had made his mind up that he was stepping down after the Euros. "There was a lot of emotion to come out of it. But in modern soccer have to know when to leave. "After all, we almost lost." With 30 seconds to go, the French were a goal down and the Italians fans were celebrating. But Sylvain Wiltord netted an equalizer to force the game into extra time and David Trezeguet fired in a Robert Pires cross for the "golden goal" sudden death winner to make sure Blanc finished his career on the winning team. French coach Roger Lemerre said that Blanc could easily have retired after the World Cup triumph but wanted to stay around for the Euros. "He leaves larger than life," Lemerre said after his team's dramatic win at the De Kuip stadium. "He continued after the World Cup. He made it a point of honor. What a beautiful way to go." Lemerre said there was no reason why the centerback, who has played for Montpellier, Napoli, Nimes, Saint-Etienne, Auxerre, Barcelona, Olympique Marseille and now is with Inter Milan, shouldn't carry on defending for France. "He is still competitive and don't think why he should quit," Lemerre said. "The team needs a great general."
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
