Iberian players take the stage
05 July 2006, 11:27
When France played Portugal in the semifinals of Euro 2000, there was a bench-clearing melee. Portugal had started strongly and looked the better team at first. Nuno Gomes opened the scoring. After the half, though, the French came roaring back. Thierry Henry equalized and sent the match into overtime. Twenty-seven minutes into the extra period, the referee awarded a penalty to France for a questionable handball. The Portuguese erupted in anger. The game stopped for several minutes. Then Zidane scored. France went on to win the tournament.
They meet today in an even bigger semifinal. If you ask my cousin E.J., Portugal deserves to lose. He is an England fan, you see, and he can’t abide all that Iberian complaining and rolling around. He prefers red-faced balls-kicking Brits to the thespians with the slick hair and maroon shirts.
It’s true that Portugal has a lot of characters. Luis Figo may be called a ‘matinee idol’ for his dramatic dives, not for his looks. Deco seems to laugh and cry in succession. Cristiano Ronaldo, with his superfluous dribbling flair and his baby face, has a tragic air about him. My friend Steve calls him Paris.
Portugal has also played some excellent soccer. They will have Deco and Constinha returning from suspension. They hope to go to the finals of their second successive major tournament (They lost to Greece in Euro 2004) after many years of disappointment.
France, meanwhile, has undergone a sudden Renaissance. They were champions of the world and of Europe at the turn of the millennium. For the past few years, though, they’ve looked slow and old and bad. For the past two matches, they’ve been outstanding.
Carolita reports: ‘The French were beautiful!’ said Serge, from La Esquina. ‘They played just like Brazilians!’ said Michael, the photographer friend.
It’s true.
The French captain Zinedine Zidane, recently criticized as a has-been, has flourished. He has proved that he can still take over a match. He still provides unparalleled grace on the ball. He can still dance and dip. He has a mastery of space. He can take it apart and put it back together. His goal against Spain where he cut to his right and seemed to lean back and forward at the same time, finishing with ease, will be imprinted in my memory.
The 2000 semifinal between Portugal and France was billed as the battle of Figo and Zidane. If Figo is healthy, it may come down to these two old masters again.
It may be rough. The referees are the same ones that handled the U.S. – Italy farce. Expect some yellow cards.
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Aus, thanks for the press. Expect a call from my attorney, your father! Allez Les Bleus.
— EJ · 05 July 2006, 13:13 · #