World Cup Semifinals Country Profile: France
Twelfth appearance. Best performance: Winner in 1998.
First-Round Results: Tied Switzerland 0-0, tied South Korea 1-1, beat Togo 2-0.
Second-Round Result: Beat Spain 3-1.
Quarterfinal Result: Beat Brazil 1-0.
Stars: Zinedine Zidane was masterful against Brazil. He set up Thierry Henry's goal with a perfect free kick and looked like the Zizou of old with dazzling speed and footwork, and impeccable ball control. Patrick Vieira scored the winning goal against Spain and has sparked an offense that previously was dormant. Goalkeeper Fabien Barthez has made some big saves, including a couple of nice ones late against Brazil.
Outlook: France is playing better and better with each game. After squeezing into the second round and coming from behind to upset Spain, Les Bleus shocked Brazil. It wasn't the final score as much as the way they dominated the entire night, beating the Brazilians at their own beautiful game. If Zidane can recapture his youth for one more game, France could find itself back in the final.
On the brink of giving up the game for good, Zinedine Zidane has recaptured some of his best form and Patrick Vieira has recovered from an abysmal start to take command of midfield.
Thierry Henry's form has been hot and cold but he still scored the winner from Zidane's cross to knock out the Brazilians in Frankfurt on Saturday. Franck Ribery has shown several flashes of his dribbling talent, Lilian Thuram and William Gallas have worked well as a defensive partnership, and Willy Sagnol has been consistently good at right back.
First-Round Results: Tied Switzerland 0-0, tied South Korea 1-1, beat Togo 2-0.
Second-Round Result: Beat Spain 3-1.
Quarterfinal Result: Beat Brazil 1-0.
Stars: Zinedine Zidane was masterful against Brazil. He set up Thierry Henry's goal with a perfect free kick and looked like the Zizou of old with dazzling speed and footwork, and impeccable ball control. Patrick Vieira scored the winning goal against Spain and has sparked an offense that previously was dormant. Goalkeeper Fabien Barthez has made some big saves, including a couple of nice ones late against Brazil.
Outlook: France is playing better and better with each game. After squeezing into the second round and coming from behind to upset Spain, Les Bleus shocked Brazil. It wasn't the final score as much as the way they dominated the entire night, beating the Brazilians at their own beautiful game. If Zidane can recapture his youth for one more game, France could find itself back in the final.
On the brink of giving up the game for good, Zinedine Zidane has recaptured some of his best form and Patrick Vieira has recovered from an abysmal start to take command of midfield.
Thierry Henry's form has been hot and cold but he still scored the winner from Zidane's cross to knock out the Brazilians in Frankfurt on Saturday. Franck Ribery has shown several flashes of his dribbling talent, Lilian Thuram and William Gallas have worked well as a defensive partnership, and Willy Sagnol has been consistently good at right back.
World Cup Semifinals Prediction: France to win against Portugal, 1-0.
posted by 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany at 2:12 AM
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