BERLIN - Few teams faced more questions heading into the World Cup than Italy
and France. The French were over the hill - they couldn't even score. The
Italians were consumed by the biggest soccer scandal in the nation's history. No
teams have answered their doubters more emphatically.
Supporters of France's
national soccer team celebrate in Jean Bouin stadium in Paris after the
World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Portugal played in
Germany, Wednesday, July 5, 2006. France won 1-0.[AP]
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"We were not listening to it when they were giving us a lot of stick," French
forward Thierry Henry said, "and we're not listening to it now."
On Sunday in Berlin, the Italians play for their fourth world soccer
championship and the French go for their second.
Both teams have rich traditions, but neither entered the monthlong tournament
a favorite.
The Italians came to Germany as a match-fixing scandal built at home. Day
after day, allegations of bribes and favoritism piled up against four topflight
clubs for which 13 of the 23 Italy team members play.
The players were silent about the probe, but their performances were
boisterous.
"Yes, the confusion of the past two months has given us all the desire to
respond in an appropriate way," coach Marcello Lippi said. "It's brought this
group of guys together. We wanted to show what Italian soccer really means."
Italy won the World Cup in 1934, 1938 and 1982. This time it has allowed only
an own-goal in six games, and now its offense is rising to the same level. After
beating Germany with two goals in the final minutes of extra time, Italy headed
to its first final since losing to Brazil in 1994.
That run has required a determination no team has matched in this event.
Except, perhaps, for France.
Four years ago, the French became the first defending champion to exit in the
opening round of the next World Cup. They didn't even score a goal in 2002.
In the buildup to Germany 2006, they rarely impressed, barely escaping from
their qualifying group. Veteran players such as Zinedine Zidane, Patrick Vieira
and Fabien Barthez hinted at dissension toward coach Raymond Domenech.
Through two first-round games, France was on the verge of early elimination
again, and Zidane was suspended for the match with Togo after getting two yellow
cards. He even threw his captain's armband in the coach's direction when
substituted in the dying moments from a 1-1 tie with South Korea. It looked like
it might be the last game for Zidane, who retires after this tournament.
But the French beat Togo — and were revitalized.
They beat Spain 3-1 with a dominant second half, then toyed with
pretournament favorite Brazil in the quarterfinals.
Their 1-0 semifinal win over Portugal came with a bit of good fortune — a
suspect rewarding of a penalty kick that Zidane converted. No matter: France
will be in Berlin for its fifth World Cup meeting with Italy.
