Zinedine Zidane knows the best
way to end his career will be by winning another World Cup.
Luis Figo bids to help Portugal win its first title while Michael Ballack and
Francesco Totti are pushing Germany and Italy to their fourth World Cup crowns.
France's Zinedine
Zidane controls the ball during a World Cup soccer training session in
Hameln near Hanover July 3, 2006.
[Reuters] |
Thankfully for the game's image, some
of the biggest names in soccer are competing against each other in the
semifinals.
Zidane faces Figo when France meets Portugal in Munich on Wednesday. A day
earlier, Ballack and Totti will be opponents when Germany takes on Italy in
Dortmund.
There's been a tendency at this World Cup that some of the players have been
outshone by the comparative journeymen in the game. No disrespect to the likes
of Owen Hargreaves, Brett Emerton and Tranquillo Barnetta, but not many people
paid money to watch them.
Players such as Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry have failed to reach anything
like their true form while Wayne Rooney will best be remembered for being sent
off for stomping on an opponent's groin and then pushing Manchester United
teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.
Zidane, by contrast, appears to be shining as brightly as when he scored
twice in the 1998 World Cup final against Brazil.
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 this past season wasn't great, although he was
hampered by injuries. 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 2-0 to reach the second round and
he effectively thanked them with standout performances in the 3-1 victory over
Spain and the triumph over Brazil.
He 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 passes. Soon those magical
moments will be gone, but Zidane hopes that won't be until after the July 9
final in Berlin.
Figo, Zidane's former 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 to a
teammate.
As well as being Germany's captain, Ballack has another reason to play in the
final,he missed the last one through suspension. Germany badly missed his
ability to command the midfield with his passing and tackling and lost to Brazil
2-0.
