WITHOUT Didier Deschamps?
Could France win this World Cup?
Could France win it without Blanc, Desailly, Deschamps, Lizarazu, Karembeu & Petit ?
Could they beat Brazil?
Yes !
Could France beat Argentina?
No.
But Argentina could beat themselves.
GHANA were a flop on Day 19 of the World Cup, allowing Ronaldo to score after 5 minutes, then counter-attack. Adriano’s goal for 2-0 was offside, and when the bored crowd began to jeer on 83 minutes, the jogging champions were stung and changed up two gears in 1.5 seconds and sent the immaculate Ze Roberto through for 3-0.
ZINEDINE ZIDANE is not finished.
I knew he wasn’t finished. He played the whole game against Spain and scored in the 92nd minute.
Before the kick-off I had to listen to ITV pundits and Sky’s Andy Gray and Richard Keys saying that the big question was whether France were better without Zidane in the team.
What poppycock !
What piffle !
What’s French for balderdash ?
A 30-year old France team gave a 25-year old Spain team a goal start and beat them 3-1 !
As I suspected yesterday, Thuram, Makelele, Vieira and Zidane knew too much for Spain, and the electric Franck Ribery exploded onto a global stage with a spectacular performance and a memorable goal.
IMAGINE THE SCENE in the Real Madrid dressing room last year.
Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos are talking about the World Cup. So are Raul and Casillas and young Ramos.
Zidane is thinking about the end of term, the last game, the last day of the season.
In his mind he sees Beckham shake hands with Ronnie and Roberto Carlos and say, “Cheerio guys, see you at the World Cup.”
Raul, Ramos and Casillas grin and say, “Goodbye David, see you at the World Cup.”
Salgado says to Cicinho, “You’ve nicked my right back spot, you rascal, but I’ll see you at the World Cup.”
Beckham says, “Bye Zizou, see you in Germany …oh, sorry mate….you’re not going, are you?”
IT WAS UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
Zidane knows that France coach Raymond Domenech wants him to come back, and, for him, the World Cup is unfinished business. He thinks, “I came on as on as crock in 2002 with my thigh strapped up, I don’t want the world to remember me finishing as a desperate cripple on one leg. I’m better than that.”
In 23, Henry’s cross from the right beat Ribery and Vieira by inches.
In 27, Thuram fouled centreback Pablo in the box, kicking his ankle, a stupid mistake by a very experienced defender against an opponent who was facing away from the goal and going nowhere.
In 28, DAVID VILLA hit the best-placed penalty of the tournament, aimed with pace just inside the post and beating the dive of Barthez.
In 41, France made it 1-1 and it had a slight element of luck early in the move.Vieira trod on the foot of Xabi Alonso in the centre circle and the ball rolled towards Raul and Makelele pinched it as perfectly as only he can and turned and hesitated, waiting for a whistle that did not come from Italian referee Roberto Rosetti, then slipped it to Ribery, who played a one-two with Vieira as Henry stood offside five yards beyond Ramos, and Ribery accelerated forward into the D and round Casillas to grab the sort of goal that only a really hot, sparky player can score.
Ribery is fiery, inventive, quick and deadly, everything that Freddie Ljungberg used to be, but a much better dribbler.
It was 1-1 at half-time and then, in 51, Zidane hooked the ball through for Malouda to beat the offside trap, but Casillas clawed away Malouda’s lob.
Joaquin and Luis Garcia came on for DavidVilla and Raul as Spain mirrored France’s 4-2-3-1 and Joaquin was fast and lively
Referee Rosetti had been a model of restraint, giving a penalty for a daft tackle right under his nose, but otherwise giving free-kicks. But now he booked Vieira for a foul on Fabregas, the first yellow card of the game in 67.
When Ribery won the ball off Fabregas he released Henry on a diagonal run behind Puyol, who blocked him off, with his elbow hitting Henry’s nipple. Henry went down holding his face.
Zidane hit the free-kick into the box, Xabi Alonso mistimed the header towards his own back post, where Ramos had gone AWOL, leaving Vieira unmarked to head in for 2-1 in 83 minutes.
THIERRY HENRY had a bad game and the coach reminded everyone of that by taking him off and putting on Wiltord in 87. Henry looked seriously pissed off.
So far we had seen three goals but only one in open play but now, in 92, Puyol made a short pass to Fabregas in the centre circle and Zidane challenged and the ball broke to Govou and went to Wiltord and he played in the majestic, cruising Zidane, who waltzed past Puyol on the inside and reversed his shot into the bottom corner past Casillas.
I knew Zidane wasn’t finished. Didn’t think he played badly in the two group games before his suspension
THE DESIRE on the faces of Gallas and Makelele was maximum, volcanic, intense, awesome, scary. These guys are 200% committed and concentrated. This is not the last hurrah for those two, it’s the first, and they are hungry beyond ravenous.
Vieira, Thuram and Zidane are giant warriors and so is Barthez. Malouda and Abidal can do a job.
If Vieira has a lackdaisical moment against Brazil on saturday, he will hear a volley of abuse from all sides.
WHAT HAS Louis Saha done to deserve being treated like Theo Walcott?
Is he a leper? Who doesn’t want him in the team?
On Saturday, if France were losing, would Domenech take off Thierry Henry and put on Louis Saha ?
ZE ROBERTO is 31 and having a phenomenal World Cup and he is available on a free transfer from Bayern Munich.
Tuesday’s Second Round heroes, in 4-4-1-1 formation, were : Barthez ; Sagnol Lucio Gallas Pernea ; Ribery Vieira Makelele Ze Roberto ; Zidane ; Torres.