Zidane Says France Has 'Lucky Star'
Copyright � 2000 Nando Media
Copyright � 2000 Agence France-Presse
BRUSSELS (June 28, 2000 8:46 p.m. EDT http://www.sportserver.com) - Zinedine Zidane, whose controversial golden-goal penalty propelled France into the Euro
2000 final, admitted the world champion had needed a bit of
fortune to oust Portugal 2-1 on Wednesday.
"A lucky star is shining on us," said the great playmaker. "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.
The scenario of Wednesday'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 to win that type of match," added the 34-year-old, who noted that Portugal did not display the fluent, attacking game that won it 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."
France, which had knocked out Portugal at the same stage
before winning the 1984 European championship on home soil, stays on course for becoming the first reigning world champion to win the European title.
Lemerre was in confident mood before France's first final of
a major tournament outside its 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."
