July 9, 2006
A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE
Zidane has seen red before
French captain Zinedine Zidane has been there before, getting red-carded at the most inopportune times in an otherwise star-studded career.
July 9, 2006
NO FAIRY TALE ENDING FOR ZIDANE, FRANCE
Italy wins World Cup in pks
Italy outlasted France in penalty kicks to win its fourth World Cup title Sunday night. The Italians captured the penalty-kick shootout, 5-3, after playing to a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes of regulation and extra time in front of a sellout crowd of 69,000 at Olympic Stadium.
July 9, 2006
MEET THE COACHES
France's Domenech messes old and new
French coach Raymond Domenech, who succeeded Jacques Santini after Euro 2004, found a way to mesh the old and new generation of players..
July 8, 2006
DOGGED DETERMINATION
Never-say-die Ribery key to French success
At first glance, you would swear he belonged on the docks of Marseille doing hard labor instead of with the Marseille soccer team or French National Team, for that matter. Frank Ribery has a red scar that runs down the right side of his face that makes him look older and more weathered than the 23 years he has logged on this planet.
July 6, 2006
THE MAN BEHIND ZIDANE
Vieira convinced captain to return to National Team, helps fortify French defense
The most important assist France midfielder Patrick Vieira made in his soccer career did not happen on the field, but rather off it. It occurred about a year ago when he convinced Zinedine Zidane to return to international soccer.
July 5, 2006
'HE IS A REAL STAR'
French coach praises Zidane
French coach Raymond Domenech gave Zinedine Zidane the highest praise: "He is a world champion. He is a real star."
July 5, 2006
THE PENALTY PHASE
Zidane's PK lifts France over Portugal into final
France survived a second-half surge by Portugal and the goalkeeping antics of Fabien Barthez to book its second spot in a World Cup final Wednesday night. Captain and midfielder Zinedine Zidane converted a first-half penalty kick to lift the French to a 1-0 semifinal victory over Portugal.
July 1, 2006
AND THEN THERE WERE FOUR…
Zidane, France stun Brazil 1-0 to complete semifinal field
The Zinedine Zidane farewell tour will continue for at least one more game, as the ageless midfielder led France to a 1-0 quarterfinal upset of defending champions Brazil in Saturday’s quarterfinal at Commerzbank Arena.
June 27, 2006
OLD GLORY
Zidane's old magic lifts France into quarters
So, there's still some magic left in the feet of Zinedine Zidane and some miles remaining in the aging legs of his teammates after all. The mastermind of the French's 1998 World Cup championship demonstrated in dramatic and spectacular fashion Tuesday night that he wasn't quite through with international soccer, at least not yet. The 34-year-old midfield maestro set up
June 23, 2006
LESS IS MORE
France plays better, wins, scores more, moves on without Zidane in its 2-0 victory over Togo
There has been much speculation made that the French National Team can score and play better without its aging superstar, Zinedine Zidane in the lineup. Les Bleus left little doubt about that on Friday night, breaking out of a goal-scoring slump that spanned two World Cups. The French, who had but one goal in their past five Cup matches scored twice In the second half en route to a 2-0 triumph over Togo.
June 18, 2006
SINGING LES BLEUS
France struggle to tie Korea 1-1
LEIPZIG, GERMANY---France ended the World Cup scoring drought, but still only came away with a 1-1 tie against South Korea on Sunday.
June 13, 2006
FRANCE GOAL DROUGHT DRAGS ON
Open with scoreless tie against Switzerland
Neither France nor Switzerland was able to capitalize on their few chances, each coming away with a point following a 0-0 tie in the their Group G match at Gottlieb-Daimler Stadium.
June 13, 2006
GLORY ONE LAST TIME?
Djorkaeff: France still can win the World Cup
It's now or never for France, says Red Bulls midfielder-forward Youri Djorakeff, a key member of the 1998 French's World Cup championship team. The French are an aging side and if they don't win the cup this time, it could be at least a decade before the country has another side that could make a run.
June 7, 2006
A WIN AND A LOSS
France beats China in warmup, loses Cisse
France defeated China, 3-1 in a World Cup warmup Thursday, but lost striker Djibril Cisse for the entire tournament when he suffered a broken leg early in the match.
May 25, 2006
THE FINAL FRENCH KISS?
France hopes to find glory one more time
So, what exactly will we see from this French team in Germany? Will it be the last hurrah or the twilight of the soccer gods? Time is running out on a talented generation of players that includes the great Zinedine Zidane, who had to come out of international retirement along with defender Lilian Thuram and midfielder Claude Makelele to give a lackluster French attack some bite to help the team into the World Cup.
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