Tit for tat with Teklak earlier than Spain – France: “For the primary time within the match, the French protection shall be below extra stress”
Sufficient to set the powder alight in a match the place the Spanish and French had been fired up.
Think about the beginning eleven, every with extra legendary names than the final. Raul, Puyol, Ramos, Iniesta, Xavi, Fabregas, David Villa on one facet; Zidane, Thuram, Makélélé, Vieira, Barthez, Henry and Trezeguet on the opposite. The Iberian choice will journey on its abilities to win a historic treble within the subsequent three competitions, whereas the Blues attempt to win a remaining success for some of the proficient generations of their historical past.
“We’ll retire Zidane,” Marca had declared a couple of days earlier than the France-Spain conflict. ©Marca
“Go on, my baby!”
An air of revenge hangs over this match that has induced a number of ink to move earlier than its kick-off. The Spanish have above all a spirit of revenge, six years after their defeat within the quarter-finals of Euro 2000 (2-1). The Iberian media are making their new golden era the primary argument for overcoming an ageing French crew. These identical Blues who collapsed on the 2002 World Cup (defeat within the first spherical) and at Euro 2004 (defeat within the quarter-finals).
La Roja then confirmed up assured in Hannover, as they approached the primary decisive match of this era. The followers even went as far as to whistle Zizou throughout the warm-up, he who was a Actual Madrid participant on the time.
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Luis Aragones’ younger gamers took the lead early within the recreation. Within the twenty eighth minute, Thuram introduced down Pablo within the field, Villa transformed the penalty. The toughest half gave the impression to be over for La Roja.
Some folks could also be nostalgic for the feedback of Thierry Gilardi, a long-standing commentator on TF1, who exclaimed concerning the equaliser by the younger Franck Ribéry, who was surprisingly introduced into the beginning line-up by Raymond Domenech: “Go for it, my boy! Ribéry’s first objective with the French crew! The child is sensible!”
The debates turned within the 83rd minute when Vieira, who was clearly in all the fitting locations, scored with a header after a free kick lifted by Zidane following a gross foul by Puyol on Henry. France took the lead (2-1, 82nd minute) and would safe qualification in a insanity.
As an emblem, it was the quantity 10 of the Blues who got here to crucify all Spanish hopes on the finish of the match (3-1, 91st). “El magnifico” the late journalist nonetheless shouts. France eradicated Spain on the finish of a managed match, and it was not but time for any retirement for Zizou. “It was not but my jubilee. I wish to inform the Spanish, as a result of they’ve teased us sufficient about it, that it’s not for this time. The journey continues”, he then let slip in entrance of the journalists. It was Brazil’s flip to pay the worth…
