Lucky star shining on France: Zidane

BRUSSELS, JUNE 29. Zinedine Zidane, whose controversial golden- goal penalty propelled France into the Euro 2000 final, has admitted the world champion had needed a bit of fortune to oust Portugal 2-1.

``A lucky star is shining on us,'' the great playmaker said on Wednesday. ``Let's hope it will continue.''

Zidane shot home after furious protests from the Portuguese, angry at referee Guenter Benko for judging that Abel Xavier had handled a Sylvain Wiltord effort.

It lasted for several minutes and it was very difficult for me to concentrate,'' added France's No. 10, who decided a tense, close battle in the 117th minute.

``We had played for two hours or so and my legs were a bit sore but I knew I had to hit it hard. It was a great responsibility.'' Benko awarded the penalty only after consulting Slovakian linesman Igor Sramka, in what French coach Roger Lemerre called ``a great moment for refereeing.''

Zidane simply called the decision ``logical'' and said he felt sorry for the Portuguese, who fell on their knees after he sealed their fate. ``You can't say that Portugal did not deserve to be in the final as much as we did,'' he said.

But central defender Marcel Desailly had a different opinion. ``We were not lucky,'' he said. ``We did enough to show that we were the better team.''

France survived a scare in the quarterfinal as well, Spain missing a penalty and a great chance in stoppage time before bowing out 2-1.

``I expect our next match to be just as tough as the last two,'' said midfielder Patrick Vieira, looking forward to Sunday's final against Italy or the Netherlands. ``I don't care who we play,'' added the Arsenal player.

Zidane asserts hero status

Zinedine Zidane has confirmed his hero status for France after scoring the golden goal penalty winner to propel France into the Euro 2000 final.

Zidane is used to high acclaim and in January 1999 was given the `European and World Player of the Year' awards following his World Cup exploits in 1998.

Born on June 23, 1972 in Marseille as one of five children to Algerian parents, Zinedine supported Marseille Football Club - his first footballing hero was Marseille's Uruguayan star Enzo Francescoli after whom Zidane later named his first son.

He began his career at Cannes, more famous for launching cinema stars than footballing talent, but it was after moving to Bordeaux in 1992 that Zidane first started to make name for himself outside of France. He was part of the team which qualified through the Intertoto Cup before losing to Bayern Munich in the final of the 1996 UEFA Cup.

That same year Zidane went with Aime Jacquet's team to Euro 96 in England but a persistent thigh injury meant that he did not impress even though France reached the semifinals.

He had meanwhile agreed to move to Italian giant Juventus and later that year lifted the Intercontinental Cup (World Club Championship) and European Super Cup with the Turin side.

In 1997 and 1998 he pocketed the Italian Serie A title but in both those years he had to settle for runner-up spot in the Champions League, to Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid respectively.

But Zidane's hour was about to come in France 98 and his two headed goals in the first half put France on course for a 3-0 victory in the World Cup final.

He has been outstanding in Euro 2000 and his penalty confirms his appetite for the big occasion as world champion France now looks forward to a final.

Familiar scenario

The scenario of yesterday's drama was similar to the one of France's hard-fought match against unfancied Paraguay at the 1998 World Cup, which was a goalless draw until Laurent Blanc scored a golden goal in the 114th minute to send France into the last eight.

``There was never any question that I was going to take the penalty,'' said Blanc, who missed the 1998 final through suspension but will be on the Rotterdam pitch on Sunday for what will be the last match of his prolific international career.

``We suffered but you have to win that type of match,'' added the 34-year-old, who noted that Portugal did not display the fluent, attacking game which won them praise earlier in the tournament. ``They didn't play their own game,'' he said. ``They came here to defend and showed very little. So, I think it is only fair that we won.''

Lemerre was in confident mood before France's first final of a major tournament outside their country. ``I have a remarkable team of players who promised themselves they would go all the way,'' he said. ``They are strong enough to make sure that promise will not be broken.''

- Reuters, AFP

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Sport
Previous : Zidane's ;golden' strike puts France in final
Next     : Not a penalty