Second Semi Final
Well I'm typing this whilst wearing a French training shirt and I have family links with France so I can't really tip Portugal can I?
France have got better as the tournament has gone on, which wouldn't be difficult given the poor effort they put in against Switzerland. I think Zinedine Zidane has shown a desire that few people thought he still had in him. I found the pre-competition stories about the team being ran by Willy Sagnol, Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry a bit disrespectful to Martin O'Neil's science fiction twin Raymond Domenech, but something has clicked.
As I've said below I think that the passion and the passing in the second half against Brazil was superb, one move in particular was up there with Argentina's 24 passes against Serbia.
For Barthez, Sagnol, Gallas, Thuram, Zidane, Vieira, Wiltord and Makele this is the end of the line at international level.
Portugal like France have a number of players who won't be around for 2008 never mind 2010: Ricardo, Figo, Carvalho, Costinha, Nuno Valente and Nuno Gomez. They haven't really hit the highs since their match against Mexico and that was the second string Portugal side playing. With Deco back after suspension I think they have the players good enough to give France their biggest test yet but not good enough to reach their first World Cup Final.
Coincidences
1. In 1998 France had three wins and two draws inside 90 minutes on their way to the semi final where they beat Croatia 2-1. In 2006 they have three wins and two draws so far.
2. In 1998 France played two European teams (Italy and Denmark), one from Asia (Saudi Arabia), one from South America (Paraguay) and one from Africa (South Africa) prior to meeting another European country (Croatia) in the Semi Finals. In 2006 they have met two European sides (Switzerland and Spain), one from Asia (South Korea), one from South America (Brazil) and one from Africa (Togo) prior to beating another European country in the Semi Finals.
Prediction: Old men to triumph again - France inside 90 minutes.
France have got better as the tournament has gone on, which wouldn't be difficult given the poor effort they put in against Switzerland. I think Zinedine Zidane has shown a desire that few people thought he still had in him. I found the pre-competition stories about the team being ran by Willy Sagnol, Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry a bit disrespectful to Martin O'Neil's science fiction twin Raymond Domenech, but something has clicked.
As I've said below I think that the passion and the passing in the second half against Brazil was superb, one move in particular was up there with Argentina's 24 passes against Serbia.
For Barthez, Sagnol, Gallas, Thuram, Zidane, Vieira, Wiltord and Makele this is the end of the line at international level.
Portugal like France have a number of players who won't be around for 2008 never mind 2010: Ricardo, Figo, Carvalho, Costinha, Nuno Valente and Nuno Gomez. They haven't really hit the highs since their match against Mexico and that was the second string Portugal side playing. With Deco back after suspension I think they have the players good enough to give France their biggest test yet but not good enough to reach their first World Cup Final.
Coincidences
1. In 1998 France had three wins and two draws inside 90 minutes on their way to the semi final where they beat Croatia 2-1. In 2006 they have three wins and two draws so far.
2. In 1998 France played two European teams (Italy and Denmark), one from Asia (Saudi Arabia), one from South America (Paraguay) and one from Africa (South Africa) prior to meeting another European country (Croatia) in the Semi Finals. In 2006 they have met two European sides (Switzerland and Spain), one from Asia (South Korea), one from South America (Brazil) and one from Africa (Togo) prior to beating another European country in the Semi Finals.
Prediction: Old men to triumph again - France inside 90 minutes.
posted by Paul at
1:57 pm
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