FRANKFURT, Germany - There's no better way for Zinedine Zidane to end his
career than winning another World Cup for France.
France's national
soccer team player Zinedine Zidane looks at the ball during a training
session in Hameln, northern Germany, Monday, July 3, 2006. France will
play Portugal in their semifinal soccer World Cup match in Munich on
Wednesday, July 5. [AP] |
Michael Ballack
and Francesco Totti are pushing Germany and Italy toward their fourth World Cup
crowns.
And in its bid for a first title, Portugal turns to Luis Figo.
Thankfully for the game's image, some of the biggest names in soccer are in
the semifinals.
Zidane faces Figo when France meets Portugal in Munich on Thursday. A day
earlier, Ballack and Totti will be opponents as Germany takes on Italy in
Dortmund.
There's been a tendency at this World Cup for comparative journeymen to
outshine the stars.
No disrespect to the likes of Owen Hargreaves, Brett Emerton and Tranquillo
Barnetta, but not many people paid money to watch them.
Star players such as Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry have failed to reach
anything like their true form. Wayne Rooney will best be remembered for being
sent off for stamping on an opponent's groin and then pushing Manchester United
teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.
Zidane, by contrast, appears to be playing as well as when he scored twice in
the 1998 World Cup final against Brazil and one of the all time greatest
Champions League final goals for Real Madrid against Bayer Leverkusen in 2002.
His performance in France's 1-0 quarterfinal victory over Brazil on Saturday
was arguably the best by anyone in the entire 32-team championship. Even
Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and the Brazilian stars had to admire the 34-year-old
attacking midfielder who announced a month ago that this would be his final
event.
Few expected Zidane to rise to the occasion.
His form for Real Madrid during the season that just ended wasn't great ¡ª
although he was hampered by injuries and, with France struggling through its
first two group games, there were fears that Zidane's last game would have been
against South Korea.
Thankfully for Zidane, who was suspended and watched the third group game
against Togo from the bench, his teammates won the game 2-0 to reach the
knockout phase. He effectively thanked them with standout performances in the
3-1 victory over Spain and the triumph over Brazil.
Zidane set up one goal and then scored another against the Spaniards and his
curling free kick found Henry to score with a close range volley against the
defending champion Brazilians.
But it was his general play that also caught the eye.
Zidane showed off his trademark spins as he twisted past defenders and
continually found teammates with expertly guided first-time passes. Soon those
dazzling moments will be gone, but Zidane hopes that won't be until after the
July 9 final in Berlin.
Figo, Zidane's one time teammate at Real Madrid, is out to make sure he
doesn't get there.
One of Portugal's all-time greats, the attacking midfielder is also close to
retirement although he hasn't set a date yet and still has another year on his
contract with Inter Milan.
The sight of Figo taking on defenders either on the flank or down the middle
is one of the best in the game and, although the speed is no longer there, he
still has the ability to dribble past them and head for goal or pass.
As well as being the German captain, Ballack has another reason to play in
the final ¡ª he missed the last one through suspension. Germany badly missed his
ability to command the midfield with his passing and tackling and lost 2-0 to
Brazil.
The tall midfielder, who completed a move from Bayern Munich to Chelsea a
month ago, wants to say farewell to the German soccer public by leaving with the
trophy. First there is the task of beating the Italians.
