To all footy lovers out there. Enjoy this:

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GOLDEN WONDERS

France's Win May Have Been Lucky, And It Might Even Have Been Dodgy... But
It's Great For Football

By Steve Anglesey

FRANCE'S irresistible force needed a golden goal to defeat Italy's immovable
object and win Euro 2000 on Sunday night and though their victory was
scarcely deserved, it is one that is good for football as well as for the
lasting reputation of a truly excellent tournament.

Had Dino Zoff's proud and pragmatic Italians succeeded in holding onto the
lead given to them by Marco Delvecchio for just 60 further seconds, Euro
2000 might have been remembered a few years hence as the tournament which
proved that, for all the attacking flair on display in Holland and Belgium,
it is still defence which wins championships. Instead, a late goal from
nowhere by Sylvain Wiltord and David Trezeguet's deciding blast in extra
time will join the dash of the Dutch and Portuguese among many golden
memories of three weeks which have rivalled, if not bettered, the greatness
of Mexico 70 and USA 94.

Zoff's protests about the four minutes of time added on did appear
justified, but few will argue with the ultimate result, adding as it does to
a thankfully growing worldwide trend in which bold play is rewarded as the
expense of the stifling negativity on display from Italy in this tournament
and seen so regularly in Serie A.

Seeing the Italians sink to their knees in disbelief in the 94th minute, and
in despair 12 minutes later, it was hard not to recall similar scenes in the
Nou Camp 14 months earlier on another night when a team noted for its
adventure was subdued by a wily opponent almost until the last. Manchester
United were as off-colour that Barcelona night as France were in Rotterdam,
only missed chances keeping them alive. Yet their superiority and positive
approach throughout the tournament rendered post-match bleatings about them
not deserving to be called the Champions of Europe as hollow as they were
pathetic. So it will be with France.

The manner of their win, and the non-performance of Zinedine Zidane, will
hopefully end the absurd pre-match hype about this French side being the
best ever and their playmaker the greatest footballer since Pele. In truth,
they struggled to break down arguably the worst and certainly the least
creative Italian side in two decades, while it is hard to recall Michel
Platini failing to impose himself upon the big occasion in the manner Zidane
did.

Equally, as most suggested it might, their lack of creation in midfield and
cutting edge up front finally did for the Azzurri. Yet most of the bravery
on the night came from them, with Alessandro Nesta and Fabio Cannavaro
immense and Francesco Toldo equally commanding until Wiltord approached with
the game on the line. At least their ultimately futile defiance leaves us
with some good memories of a side which, aware of its own inadequacies,
chose to spoil throughout the tournament.

France's big guns, Thierry Henry apart, largely failed to fire, although the
back four of Lilian Thuram, Laurent Blanc, Marcel Desailly and Bixente
Lizarazu gave ample demonstration of why the world and now European
champions have not yet lost a competitive game when playing together. But
ultimately our clearest recollections of France at Euro 2000 will not be of
them, or even of two vital goals scored by the supporting cast.

Instead, they will be of Henry's stunning goal against Denmark and Zidane's
outstanding run in extra time against the Portuguese - snapshots of a team
which dared to dream and ultimately won an important victory for the
positive.






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