By Peter Auf der Heyde Jul 9, 2006, 22:18 GMT
Berlin - French coach Raymond Domenech is bound to be criticised by some parts of the French media for insisting throughout the World Cup to stick with 1998 winner Fabien Barthez in goal.
In the build-up to the tournament the question about whom Domenech will play in goal was one of the most eagerly awaited decisions.
While veteran keeper Barthez had his fair share of supporters, the majority of French football fans thought that in-form Gregory Coupet should be entrusted with the task wearing the number one jersey.
Not so, thought Domenech and played Barthez in all matches in Germany, even though the Olympique Marseille goalkeeper showed some weaknesses.
In Sunday's final the 35-year-old was at least partly to blame for Italy's goal as he hesitated after starting to come off his line for Andrea Pirlo's corner. Barthez was left stranded in no-man's land as Marco Materazzi headed in the equalizer.
Surprisingly he had little else to do throughout the remaining 70 minutes regular time and in extra time.
His Italian counterpart Gianluigi Buffon, on the other hand, kept his side in the game with a terrific save in the second half from a close-range Thierry Henry effort.
In the first half of extra time Buffon denied former three-time World Footballer of the Year Zinedine Zidane the crowning glory to his illustrious career with a world-class save from a header.
Going into the tournament Buffon had been under pressure after being implicated in a betting scandal. He had to leave the training camp to give evidence in the case.
The mere implication in a scandal just before the World Cup would probably have cost many other keepers at least their place between the poles, but Buffon's position in the team was never questioned.
He even received backing from Italy's second choice keeper Angelo Peruzzi, who said that Buffon was simply the best goalkeeper in the world.
And although Buffon failed to save any of the French spot kicks in the penalty shoot out he did not need to do so after David Trezeguet's shot hit the crossbar and bounced down in front of the line.
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