Tuesday , July 14, 1998
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S P O R T | Tuesday , July 14, 1998 |
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Zinedine
Zidane 'floored Brazil' ALGIERS, July 13 — Algerian newspapers crowned Zinedine Zidane "King of France" on Monday after his two goals helped France to victory in the World Cup final. "Zidane was dazzling," said Daily El Watan, joining in the columns of praise in the press of the former French colony for the player whose parents came from the Kabylie region, 200 kms east of Algiers... Paes beats Godwin, wins ATP title NEWPORT, July 13 — India number one Leander Paes won his first ATP singles title beating Neville Godwin of South Africa 6-3 6-2 to claim the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships here... Ronaldo was not fit: Zagallo PARIS, July, 13— Mario Zagallo exploded at the post match conference. "I have the decency to stand on this podium and answer your questions... |
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 Zinedine Zidane of France sports a smile as he holds the World Cup trophy after the final of the soccer World Cup 98 between Brazil and France at the Stade de France in Saint Denis, north of Paris. France beat Brazil with a 3-0 score. At right is Marcel Desailly. AP/PTI Inner strength saw us through: Petit ST DENIS, France, July 13 — France’s Emmanuel Petit, who won the English premiership and FA Cup double with Arsenal this season, scored in France’s 3-0 World Cup final victory over Brazil here last night for his third trophy of the season... |
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Split in team
destroyed Brazilians' spirit |
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| Zinedine
Zidane
'floored Brazil' ALGIERS, July 13 (Reuters) — Algerian newspapers crowned Zinedine Zidane "King of France" on Monday after his two goals helped France to victory in the World Cup final. "Zidane was dazzling," said Daily El Watan, joining in the columns of praise in the press of the former French colony for the player whose parents came from the Kabylie region, 200 kms east of Algiers. "Zidane floored Brazil," ran Authentique newspaper above a front-page picture of the French playmaker and his team mates holding the trophy after France’s 3-0 victory over Brazil. Zidane, whose first name Zinedine means "beauty of the faith" in Arabic, headed two of the goals but Demain L’Algerie daily gave him almost sole credit for the French victory. Its headline was simply: "Zidane 3 - Brazil 0". El Watan called Zidane "King of France". El Moudjahid, using the affectionate name by which Zidane is universally known, called him "Zizou the magician" and said his class and talent had dominated the final. French soccer’s prodigal son was born in France’s southern Port of Marseille but his parents’ homeland is the heart of Algeria’s Berber region, the scene of angry clashes after the murder of popular Berber region, the scene of angry clashes after the murder of popular Berber singer Lounes Matoub last month.  Tensions are already running high after Algeria last week began enforcing a controversial law that makes Arabic compulsory for all official business. Le Pen’s national front regularly polls 15 per cent of the vote in elections on a platform of repatriating tens of thousands of immigrants and giving preference in the workplace and social security to natural-born French. But while most politicians have scrambled over themselves to share the glory of the French soccer team, the National Front has been uncharacteristically mute at a time of unprecedented national pride. It is easy to see why. Besides Zidane, many of the other top team players are whale pen would call foreigners. Lilian Thuram who scored both goals in France’s semi-final win over Croatia is a black Frenchman from Guadeloupe. Marcel Desailly, for many the player of the tournament, and striker Thierry Henry are also both of Caribbean descent. Midfielder Youri Djorkaeff is the descendant of Armenian refugees. "It is thanks to us foreigners that France won tonight. We’re going to need a bit more respect," said Evelyne Vergerolle, a middle-aged Frenchwoman of Caribbean ancestry. In the southern port city of Marseille, where Zidane grew up and which suffers possibly the worst race relations of all big French towns, tensions were shunted to the sidelines — at least for one night. "In all the time I’ve lived here I’ve never really established any contacts with my north African neighbours," said one white local, jean-patrick. "But Zidane changed that tonight. For the first time I shook my neighbour’s hand. I don’t even know his name." But not everyone was about to get carried away by the wave of feel-good French unity. |
| Paes
beats Godwin,
wins ATP title NEWPORT, July 13 (Reuters) — India number one Leander Paes won his first ATP singles title beating Neville Godwin of South Africa 6-3 6-2 to claim the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships here. Paes, in control most of the way, needed only 72 minutes to beat Godwin and become the first Indian to win the tournament since Vijay Amritraj in 1984. He pocketed $ 39,000 for his week's work on the grass courts of Newport Casino. "It was nice to win for my country and also nice to win for me", said Paes. Godwin, 23, playing his first career final, suffered from inconsistencies with his net game and some untimely double faults. Paes, who hadn't lost his service in this tournament since the first round, was broken in the third game to give Godwin his only lead of the day at 2-1. But Paes broke back when he answered a Godwin overhead with a return winner down the line. Paes got his clinching break in the sixth game of the first set for a 4-2 lead and he used that opening to ride out the set. The players exchanged breaks in the first two games of the second set before Paes went on top for good after the South African netted an easy overhead. Godwin's errors at the net continued as he also dropped his service in the fifth game and fell behind 4-1. Paes held serve at love for 5-1. Godwin salvaged one more game before Paes ended it, dropping only one point in the final game before angling a backhand volley to complete the conquest. "I figured from the start that whoever made the most first serves and the most returns would win the match and I guess that's what I did", said Paes. "My returns forced him to make mistakes. I like going after everything — that's my work ethic". Both players were unseeded here. Godwin had put out top-seeded Jason Stoltenberg in the semifinals. "I played really well all week. So I have to be satisfied, said Godwin. "But today I served terrible and it's hard to volley against Leander because he's so quick and reads the game so well. You think you have a ball put away and he makes a great pass. "And it's so key to hold your serve on grass — I just couldn't serve out the games". |
| Ronaldo was not fit: Zagallo PARIS, July, 13 (DPA) — Mario Zagallo exploded at the post match conference. "I have the decency to stand on this podium and answer your questions. You obviously don't and should learn from your French colleagues," he said before storming out of the room in disgust about a question on why Ronaldo had played. Not that French coach Aime Jacquet has a better relationship with his media — never was his answer after some criticism during the World Cup. But Zagallo had just witnessed Brazil’s worst World Cup defeat in the event's 68-year history — a 3-0 drubbing by France, in the final. Seemingly forgetting he has a total of 21 highly-skilled individuals and the fact that Ronaldo had not been the team's superstar throughout the tournament — he nonetheless linked the defeat directly to the health of the 21-year-old. "I have to say we were suffering from a major traumatic shock because Ronaldo was not fit to play. It was a major psychological blow for our team. Our team was very upset and down at the idea that Ronaldo wouldn’t be able to play that well," he said before the outburst. There was plenty of confusion before the match. Reports from Rio De Janeiro said that the whole nation was in shock when Ronaldo didn’t appear on the first team sheet. The international media in the stadium was as baffled. Twenty minutes later, Ronaldo's girlfriend Susanna Werner was just being photographed with a Brazilian flag around her, the old team sheet was collected again and a new one distributed — this time with Ronaldo in the starting 11. Some said it was a tactical manoeuvre — especially because Brazil did also not show up for the pre-match warmup session. Others reckoned he was having knee-problems again and the fifa then distributed a hand-written statement he had an ankle injury. All wrong, it was later revealed by Brazil team doctor Lidio Toledo: Ronaldo felt bad after lunch. He was ok again later, but felt indisposed. Zagallo said: "True, when the team sheet first came out, Ronaldo wasn’t on it, this was not for tactical reasons, but Ronaldo was really not fit to play. That really affected the whole team. Indeed, the four-times champions really looked indisposed on the pitch and were not able to raise their game, showing only glimpses of glory in the entire tournament. Ronaldo was no factor at all, and Zagallo conceded: "throughout the game I was wondering whether or not to take him off." That he could in fact have thought about everyone. The best Brazil managed was a shot from substitute Denilson which grazed the crossbar, but that was in the 90th minute and Brazil long defeated from two goals by Zinedine Zidane and Emmanual Petit's final strike just two minutes away. Roberto Carlos sprung to Ronaldo’s defence by saying: "I saw in the morning that he wasn't feeling well. He is young and under a lot of pressure because of all his contracts." |
| Inner
strength saw
us through: Petit ST DENIS, France, July 13 (AFP) — France’s Emmanuel Petit, who won the English premiership and FA Cup double with Arsenal this season, scored in France’s 3-0 World Cup final victory over Brazil here last night for his third trophy of the season. Petit, along with French teammate Patrick Vieira, were revelations in midfield as the London Club earned their second league and cup double this century. Vieira’s second half appearance also confirmed his trophy treble this season. He also combined with Petit for his goal. Petit has carried that form through into the World Cup, where he has also been praised by FIFA for his sportsmanship, with a good final display as France won the trophy for the first time. His form in left midfield was excellent throughout this 16th World Cup finals and he capped his performance with a last-minute goal to inflict on Brazil their heaviest defeat in the World Cup. Christophe Dugarry fed Vieira who passed to Petit and his left foot shot crept inside the left hand post of Brazilian keeper Taffarel. Petit said it was inner strength which carried France to the World Cup trophy. "We felt great support from people around us and the team has been very strong inside," he said. "That was the key to our victory." The 27-year-old Petit was in limbo at Monaco where he was finding it hard to find form because he was being played out of position. He started his career at Monaco as a left back, was then put back in central defence, before reverting once more to the left-sided fullback role. But once he had moved to the London Club under fellow Frenchman Arsene Wenger he began to blossom. At Arsenal he is idolised and now he must surely gain a great deal of credit in his home country following this win. "Manu," as he is known, has made up for lost time with a vengeance. The death of his older brother, victim of a stroke on the football field in 1987, has been particularly hard on him. For some time he was finding it hard to pick up the pieces of his life after the tragedy. "I mourned my brother terribly for two years and I found it difficult to accept his death," Petit had said. Like Deschamps, Petit ran and ran in the final as though he is filled with superb-charged fuel. Now he can have a rest having won football’s greatest prize. |
| Win
greatest event
since liberation? PARIS, July 13 (Reuters) — French newspapers variously compared the jubilation after France’s 3-0 World Cup victory over Brazil to the 1944 liberation of Paris and its significance to the storming of the Bastille. For France soir, team coach Aime Jacquet had quite simply given the country "a tricolour orgasm". "It’s ours," screamed the popular daily Le Parisien. "For ever," proclaimed sports daily L’Equipe. "Incredible, crazy, unimaginable, fabulous, fantastic. We don’t know what we have to say, cry or scream to state the truth, we are the champions of the world," said the populist daily Aujourd’hui, a national version of Le Parisien. "A century of world football ended this morning at dawn, after a night of jubilation which overwhelmed our country in way which has not happened, with no exaggeration, since the liberation," L’Equipe said. France took to the streets after the match for an all-night party with nearly one and half million people packing the Champs Elysees in a sea of tricolour red, white and blue flags. "They snuffed out the magicians of Brazil. They are the champions of the world. The last of this millennium. Stupendous," the conservative daily Le Figaro said. The left-leaning daily Liberation saw France’s first World Cup victory as a chance for the country to escape from the economic gloom which has depressed the people and left three million out of work. The team’s success "creates today hope of escape from the long tunnel of economic depression," it said. For Aujourd’hui though, even comparisons with the liberation were not enough. "There was July 14, 1789, the date when the Bastille, symbol of the old regime, was taken by the people of Paris, the date when the French Revolution began. "And there is July 12, 1998, the date of the victory of the French football team in the World Cup. France’s World Cup. And the date for the new French Revolution. "Nothing will ever be the same again," it said, calling on politicians, bosses, union leaders and artists to pick up the ball set in motion by the winning national team. Other articles highlighted the new scope for racial unity in a country which only a few months ago was nervously eyeing the national front after a strong showing for the far-right, anti-immigrant party in regional elections. Now the entire country was out in support of a team of players, some of whom had been written off by national front leader Jean-Marie Le Pen as not French enough. "This unique collective adventure in this country’ life must find a continuation, a continuation which will allow us to live together more confidently and more happily," Le Parisien said. "Zidane, master of the world", said L’Equipe in a tribute to the new national hero, Zinedine Zindane, a son of Algerian immigrants who scored France’s first two goals. Throughout the whole day, a country had its date with destiny...11 for all and all for 11," said the Sunday Le Journal Du Dimanche which brought out a special Monday edition. |
| Shocked Brazil weeps at loss RIO DE JANEIRO, July 13 (Reuters) — Brazilians wept when France crushed Brazil 3-0 in the World Cup final last night, a defeat that hit hard where there is little but soccer to boost national pride. On Rio De Janeiro’s famous Copacabana beach hundreds of people clung to each other in pouring rain and sobbed uncontrollably, while others drifted away as if shellshocked. "This is a sad day," said 29-year-old geographer Aveloino Pereira, his eyes red from crying. "We didn’t think we could lose this one, especially to a country that doesn’t have a history of soccer." Soccer is normally a source of great pride for Brazilians who have suffered years of economic chaos and grinding poverty and they had prayed hard for a fifth World Cup title. The loss in Paris was felt like a jolt across Latin America, where the poor versus rich aspect of the Brazil-France final found deep resonance. Mexican radio commentators even wondered whether Brazil had been bought off. "How can such a world class team perform so badly. Were they paid off?" said one commentator on Radio Red. A call-in television poll of Brazilians before the match found that 86 per cent thought they would win. Brazilians had shot off firecrackers, blew horns and wildly celebrated in the streets as if the cup title was their’s since beating the Netherlands in a nail-biting semifinal on Tuesday. But the mood soured quickly after last night’s final started as it became clear Brazil were not in World Cup form. By half time trailing 0-2, normally exuberant Brazilians were in despair. In the industrial city of Sao Paulo, they stomped out of bars and tossed away green and yellow Brazil banners in disgust. Supporters in one bar in Sao Paulo’s middle class Vila Magdalena neighbourhood even started cheering for France. "I think it was great France won because our game was so bad we didn’t even get one goal. It’s pathetic," said Sao Paulo resident Barbara Correa. One man collapsed on the Copacabana sand as the second half started, wailing he couldn’t bear to watch any more. Like many other men in this macho land, he found himself weeping openly and being soothed by a more stoic female partner. Some took comfort in remembering that they already had won four titles and they had been playing against the hosts. "Don’t forget we’re the only ones who’ve won it four times," he said as several people cried softly nearby and leaned on each other for support. Others in Brazil’s central western state of Goya saddled up for a long horseback ride home well before the game ended. But the shock was not as bad as in 1950 when Brazil lost the World Cup final to Uruguay in front of a home crowd in Rio De Janeiro. The nation was traumatized then but seemed resigned and accepting yesterday. "Being runners up seems like nothing to us, but to get to the World Cup final is a lot and we only lost to the hosts," Pele, one of the world’s greatest soccer players, told Globo Television. |
| Split
in team
destroyed Brazilians' spirit By Sir Geoff Hurst I would love to have been a fly on the wall of the Brazilian dressing room in the minutes leading up to this extraordinary World Cup Final. I can't imagine what went on but clearly there was a split within the team over whether Ronaldo should play and it destroyed the spirit within the camp. From the moment the defending world champions stepped on to the pitch they looked like they really didn't want to be there. I have never seen a team look so disinterested in a World Cup final but full credit should go to France for taking advantage of their lacklustre display. Brazil proved my suspicion that they really are a one-man team because without a fit Ronaldo they never even looked like scoring when the hosts were down to ten men. It demonstrates just how fragile Mario Zagallo's squad was that he decided to play the star forward even though he was clearly in some discomfort. Quite simply he had nobody to replace him. Bebeto was finally found out at this level and was too old to break down the best defence in the tournament. While the other alternative Edmundo, who came on as a substitute looked like a very ordinary player. But despite the lack of striking options, Zagallo was crazy to pick a player who had left hospital just hours before the match. He is experienced enough to realise that even if you are Brazil, you cannot afford to carry a player who is effectively a passenger in the World Cup final. Ronaldo's only meaningful contribution was one close range shot on goal and his body language throughout suggested his ankle was troubling him. I don't care how good the Brazilian forward is, Zagallo should have chosen one of his fit players instead. Yes, the psychological impact of losing your best footballer in the World Cup final would have hit Brazil hard but it would not have done any more damage than insisting an injured man plays. The defending champions were just strolling around in the first half and didn't look as if playing a World Cup final meant anything to them at all. After all their hype and arrogance, I at least suspected them to show some resistance but it wasn't until the second half that we saw a player in a yellow shirt actually running with a purpose and he was the substitute Denilson. As I said in earlier columns it was only Ronaldo that made this Brazilian team potential world champions and without him they looked a very ordinary team. This is undoubtedly the worst display by the South Americans I have ever seen in the World Cup and their will be a long inquest into what happened in that dressing room. It is a dream for France to win the tournament on their own soil. I know from my experience in 1966 how special it is to lift the famous gold trophy in your own country. What Aime Jacquet's side have achieved will live in the minds of the French people and give them something to feel hugely proud of for years to come. They are not a classic World Cup winning side but their rock solid defence meant they were always going to be tough to beat. To win the trophy without a striker scoring a goal in any of the knock-out stages is incredible. Again the goals came from the unlikely source of Zinedine Zidane's head and a super break away goal at the end from Emmanuel Petit. It was just as well the midfielders were on target because the forward Stephane Guivarc'h and then Christophe Dugarry missed chances that had me cringing. They will never get better opportunities to score but on each occasion they froze and completely missed the target. If the French strikeforce had been stronger they really could have embarrassed this dispirited Brazilian side. Once again Petit and Zidane were superb for the hosts and both deserved to crown their performance with goals. When Zidane scored his second header just before half-time. I began to fear he was going to equal my record of scoring a hat-trick in the World Cup final. It was nail-biting for me, but I was glad to see he was played in a more withdrawn role after the break and my achievement will stand for another four years! It was good for football for three goals to be scored in open play in the World Cup final but the Brazilian defence were at fault for all of them. To allow Zidane to score twice from corners at the near post is unforgivable and I was disappointed to see defenders just walking back when Petit broke away for the third goal. You must always play with pride until the final whistle for the sake of the team, the fans and your country. Brazil lacked spirit from the kick-off and paid the price for sulking during a World Cup final. We expected so much from Ronaldo it was sad to see him reduced to being a spectator in what should have been the biggest game of his life. His time will come but Brazil must recover from one of the worst nights in their footballing history. — PMG |
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| Europe level with South America ST DENIS, France, July 13 (AFP) — Europe have gained parity with South America after their eighth World Cup win in the 16 finals since the first tournament in 1930. Aime Jacquet's France were only the second European side to earn a final victory over a South American side following Germany's victory over Argentina in Italy in 1990. Brazil equalled Germany as only the second side to play in six finals, though Brazil have now won four titles to Germany's three. Africa, Asia and North and Central America had no sides in the quarter-finals to prove the top two continents still reigned supreme. Much progress has been made in those supposedly lesser continents but the six European teams and two South American sides in the last eight proved there is still work to do amongst the weaker confederations of world football. France 98, with 32 nations for the first time, saw five African sides four Asian sides and three from Central and North American, including the Caribbean, competing in the finals. But the minnows remained the minnows while the big fish swam the oceans of world football with their usual dominance. Blatter said just over two weeks ago that Africa would have to wait beyond 2006 before staging the continent's first World Cup. Once again, this year's World Cup has seen a first round cull of African sides with just Nigeria reaching the second phase from a total African entry of five teams. Asia, in Japan and South Korea, will be organising the 2002 finals, Japan has already admitted their players will need to play in strong European leagues if they want to compete with the leading nations. Mexico is a perenniel qualifier for the world's biggest football bonanza but their best performance is a quarter-final loss to Germany in 1986. The USA did well to qualify for the second round on home soil in 1994 but they were thrashed with three consecutive defeats this time. And Oceania didn't even have one candidate in the 32-nation finals though Australia led Iran 2-0 in a play-off before two late goals for a 2-2 draw at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was enough to ensure Terry Venables' Aussies were not going to book their ticket for France 98. |
| It
wasn't our
night, says Zagallo PARIS, July 13 (Reuters) — French coach Aime Jacquet, in his hour of triumph, praised his team for their display in beating Brazil 3-0 in last’s night's World Cup final but said he would never forgive the critics who attacked him before the tournament. "We took advantage of an extraordinary confidence in the team. We were betrayed by the journalists over the years and France now knows it has a great team with great players." Asked if he would now forgive his critics, Jacquet said: "I will never forgive, never will I forgive." Brazil coach Mario Zagallo gave credit to France and said they thoroughly deserved their 3-0 victory in the World Cup final tonight. "France played a brilliant game. The whole country was behind the national team. For us it will have to be another time unfortunately," said Zagallo. "I would have liked to have given Brazil a fifth World Cup. We did everything we could but it wasn’t our night. France were the better team." Jacquet's prediction comes true |
| Jacquet's prediction comes true SAINT DENIS, July 13 (AFP) — France coach Aime Jacquest's prediction he would retire the day after they won the 1998 World Cup was spot on after their 3-0 World Cup final victory over Brazil here. Some thought Jacquet was putting too much pressure on his team but there can be no doubting his methods now that France have won their first ever title. The 80,000-strong crowd at the stadium, including French President Jacques Chirac, celebrated with gusto following their win yesterday through two goals from Zinedine Zidane and a third from Emmanuel Petit. Jacquet, often portrayed in the French media as a simple, slightly laughable figure, answered his critics in the best possible way with this rousing victory. Not only did France win but they outplayed Brazil. The four-time champions from South America never really looked like breaching the French back four which conceded only one goal in open play during the entire tournament. France's midfield had more bite and would have scored more if their lone striker Stephane Guivarc'h and his substitute, Christophne Dugarry, had not made two incredible misses. France may have two top class strikers but Jacquet has continually said during this 16th World Cup he didn't mind who scored as long as they won. |
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