France slay recent ghosts to recreate spirit of 98

By Ronald Freeman Jul 6, 2006, 11:33 GMT

Berlin - Many people still attribute France's 1998 World Cup triumph to something that happened in the night.

While Ronaldo's sleepy performance for Brazil would become the subject of mystery, two headed goals from Zinedine Zidane helped Les Bleus to their greatest day.

Eight years on and there is evidence that another visit in the early hours may be responsible for France's second coming to a World Cup final.

On a late summer's night last year, Zidane, who had retired from international football in 2004, was persuaded to return by a 'powerful presence'.

'It is really quite mysterious and unexplainable. One night about three o'clock in the morning I woke up suddenly and began speaking with someone,' he recounted at the time. 'It was like a revelation, and suddenly I realised I had to go back on my decision to retire.'

Zizou returned to Les Bleus as captain and, just as significantly, talked Lilian Thuram and Claude Makelele back into playing too.

France, of course, were in deep trouble, lying fourth in their group behind Republic of Ireland, Switzerland and Israel, but within a matter of weeks they had qualified for the finals in Germany.

On Wednesday night, Zidane, serenity personified, fired home the winning penalty in the semi-final against Portugal in a snatch-and- grab performance that has become typical of Les Bleus in Germany.

It is a tactic that has served coach Raymond Domenech increasingly well during the tournament. The previously under-fire coach has moulded a side around the enduring magnificence of Zidane with Thierry Henry, surely the best player in the world at present, deployed as the lethal weapon in attack.

The two combined like never before to knock out world champions Brazil in the quarter-finals when a floated free kick from Zizou, whose performance was described by Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira as 'his best in eight years', was side-footed home by Titi.

Henry's trickery in the box then won the first-half penalty against Portugal to take France to a mouthwatering final against Italy.

But France 2006 are far more than a two-man team. Behind them lie Patrick Vieira, who has rediscovered his best form for the finals, and Claude Makelele, who is held in such high esteem that many Real Madrid supporters attribute the club's recent decline to the player's departure.

And behind this busy midfield pair lie central defenders Thuram and William Gallas, whose impeccable displays have frustrated the world's best strikers.

As Les Bleus' success would testify, experience has proved king in Germany but Domenech's design would not be complete without the energy of wingers Florent Malouda and Franck Ribery, whose eagerness has complemented Zidane's vision.

Despite early hiccups against Switzerland (0-0), Korea Republic (1-1) before a 2-0 defeat of Togo to qualify for the second round, Domenech kept faith with the 4-2-3-1 formation.

But down against favoured Spain in the last 16, it was the emergence of Zidane, whose last-gasp goal capped a 3-1 win, that galvanised the side and appeared to recreate the providential spirit of 98.

'We're getting better with each match, just as in 1998,' said Vieira. 'We communicate a lot with each other and everyone puts themselves at the service of the team. We've improved throughout the competition and we can still improve a bit more.'

Domenech, who is hoping to lead France to a second world crown, said Sunday would be the culmination of a two-year plan: 'We aim to put the smile back on the faces of our supporters. Until now, we only had to get the day right. Now we have to make sure we get the time right.'

So France take on Italy in a repeat of the dramatic European Championship final of 2000, won by Les Bleus with a golden goal.

For lovers of defensive systems, it will be a dream final which could well be decided by the fascinating duel between Henry and Fabio Cannavaro.

Penalties, of course, are always a danger, but perhaps the real answer may well be in the words whispered to Zidane those many months ago.