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Preview, Portugal - France (05/07/2006 15:26)
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Scolaris magic touch:

It was first at 28th june 2001 Scolari became manager for a national side. A struggling Brazilian team asked for his help. Until then he had led both Gremio (in 1995) and Pamleiras (in 1999) to glory in the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores. Scolari was not given any easy task as Brazil for the first time faced the danger zone of not qulifying for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in their history.

With almost military strictness, Scolari imposed a displinary code in the brazilian side. Brazil fought back and clinched the third qualifying place. Without saying the the words "I'm in charge of this team, not you!", Scolari managed to express it with leaving Romario out of his Squad that travelled to Asia, despite the country’s media baying for his inclusion.
At this time Brazil had fallen as the big tournament favourites and Argentina had taken their place but failed to do so after got knocked out of the group stage.

Scolaris men on the other hand won all their 3 opening matches and walked through the later stages to face Germany in the final. With a a watertight defence and the electric form of Ronaldo and Rivaldo brought Brazil success. They beated Germany 2-0.

With his mission accomplished, Felipão retired from the Brazilian national side and placed himself on the market just waiting for the offers to start coming in. In November 2002, he had no hesitation answering Portugal’s call to lead them into UEFA EURO 2004 at home. After getting beaten by Hellas in both the opening match and the final, Scoalri faced his first 2 defeats as a national team coach.
Never the less, both brazil and Portugal have yet to lose in any World Cup match under his management. Later today the very same man will do everything he can to prevent France from ruining his statistics.



France are the favourites:

As little as they might like it, France goes into the match as the favourites. The two teams have battled for a victory 21 times, France having the upper hand with recording 15 wins, 1 draw and only 5 losses. None of the past encounters have been in a World Cup but they have met 2 times in the European Championship. Remarkeble, both times in the semi-final.

In the 1984 European Championship France, as the hosts, met Portugal in the semi-final. The game showed up to be an absolutely firecracker. Domergue gave the hosts (france) the lead with a goal after 24 minutes before Jordão equalised in the 74th minute. The game went into extra time where Jordão, in the 98th minute, struck another goal and put the entire Stade Vélodrome, Marseille, into absolute silence before Domergue managed to put the exitment back into the spectators with a goal in 114th minute. As the entire stadium prepared their penalty shoot out mode Platini made up his mind and scored the winning goal with a 119th minute strike making the entire stadium explode. France went on to win the final 2-0 against Spain.


16 years later in EURO 2000 with Holland and Belgium being the hosts the 2 sides met once again to fight for a spot in the final. Portugal made the opening move when Nuno Gomes opened the scoring line after 19 minutes. Portugal failed to hold on to the lead and Henry didn't fail when he got the opportunity in the 51st minute. The game went into a stalemate and at full time the score was still 1-1. Yet again France would pick the longest straw. Only 3 minutes before penalty shoot out another star performer scored the winning goal. Zindine "Zizou" Zidane, struck a penalty kick past the portugese goalie.

Everyon believeing in bad omens might wanna put some cash on France winning on a late-gasp winner in extra time from a star performer after a 1-1 draw at full time.



So far in World Cup 2006:


   

Portugal

          

France

  
Stage Opponent Result         Opponent Result
Grp   Angola 1-0         Switzerland 0-0
Grp   Iran 2-0         Korea Republic 1-1
Grp   Mexico 2-1         Togo 2-0
1/8 final   Holland 1-0         Spain 3-1
1/4 final   England 0-0 a.e.t.
1-3 PSO		         Brazil 1-0


Lineups for the match:

Portugal

  

France
1. RICARDO
16. BARTHEZ Fabien
5. FERNANDO MEIRA 3. ABIDAL Eric
6. COSTINHA 4. VIEIRA Patrick
7. LUIS FIGO 5. GALLAS William
9. PAULETA 6. MAKELELE Claude
13. MIGUEL 7. MALOUDA Florent
14. NUNO VALENTE 10. ZIDANE Zinedine
16. RICARDO CARVALHO 12. HENRY Thierry
17. CRISTIANO RONALDO 15. THURAM Lilian
18. MANICHE 19. SAGNOL Willy
20. DECO 22. RIBERY Frank


My own thoughts and prediction for the match:

This match could be the very end for at least 1 player that have proven himself as one of the best football players of all time. Zinedine 'Zizou' Zidane on the french team have gone public telling the World Cup is the last time he play football on this level. He have given us so much joy through the years, at least have he given me. He's a fantastic player and he deserves a spectacular finnishing on his career, although a yellow card into tonights match could give him a little sting in the side if France manage to beat Portugal tonight.

But he's not alone. This could also be the last international match for Luis Figo in a Portugal side that plays to prevent the history catching up on them as they have lost twice in semi-finals against the french before. Also Figo can miss the final if he gets a yellow card and his team still beats France.

Other people having one card and is in the danger zone of missing out the final is;
France: Zidane (already mentioned), Vieira, Thuram, Sagnol, Ribery and Saha.
Portugal: Figo (already mentioned), Ricardom Ricardo Carvalho, Nuno Valente and Maniche.

The question is if this will affect the players style of play?
I think not! Ask any player on a professional level (except players for Serbia & Montenegro) what is most important. Helping your team Nation getting to the final and miss it because of suspension or do everything to prevent getting the susension and maybe lose because of it. The answear is pretty obvious, so the match wont feel this.

My tip for todays match will be a 1-0 win for France. The scorer be either Zidane or Henry.

I believe this because France is, together with Italy, the best organized team. Their defence line is almost watertight and their midfield speaks for itself. Makelele and Vieira gonna have important roles today and will most likely bother Deco out of the match at times. Thuram and Gallas will take care of Pauleta with no big troubles.

Portgual will have to rely on Maniche and Carvalho to take out Zidane, a task i think will as close to impossible is as it can be. Zidane is in terrific form atm and he's one of the most experienced players in the game today. He knows just what is expected by him and what he needs to do to make it happen.

There will be some more important Zizou magic in this World Cup!
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Zz00000157 wrote:
20:44 05/07 2006
pictureMy thoughts.

Portugals MAJOR problem is a lack of a really prolific striker. They havent had a solid striker since Nuno Gomes rocked the 1996 eurocup and due to this they have to rely on Ronaldo and Maniche to deliver the goals.

France have also had some offensive problems so far, only 7 goals in 5 matches tells us that, and if Portugal gets the first goal it will get VERY interesting.

The french defence is prolly the best in this world cup something both Spain and Brazil have discovered so far and i think the portugese players will come to the same conclusion.

I think the deciding factor in this match will be the performance of Maniche\Ronaldo\Deco. They are Portugals only hope and if they dont deliver goals then the frenchies will be victorious tonight.


My tip:   2-0 France, atleast one goal from Vieira.

Player to watch:  Franck Ribery
Spinner wrote:
20:51 05/07 2006
pictureGreat stuff again, Gizmo!
Nice to learn the history behind the two teams, their previous encounters, and their roads to the Semi-Finals.
My head predicts France winning too, but my heart would like to say it's Portugals time.
I think France played like pants in their first games, but have improved and gotten better the last two games.
As for Portugal, they have been stable, but perhaps not as sparkling.

It's hard not to like certain young Portoguese players with a nack for dribbeling and performing fancy moves, but at the same time Zidane brings his own magic to the game as well.

I will let my heart rule tonight, and guess....
Portugal wins 2-1!
Zz00006046 wrote:
21:51 05/07 2006
picturewow gizmo, awesome blogs!
Spinner wrote:
23:01 05/07 2006
pictureDrat, I guess Zidanes magic prooved too strong ): Hmm, Italy VS France in the Finals now...Two teams who have both proven their defensive capabilities this time... Could we have an extremely boring final on our hands?
Gizmo wrote:
00:03 06/07 2006
pictureSpinner, i doubt it gonna be boring.

anyway, i'll offcourse come back with a blog about the final as well on Sunday ;)
All the usual stuff will get in. A bit history taste from both sides on why they should win.
the lineups, and their way to the final
and ofc my own thoughts about the match.
and since it's the final i might throw in some statistics, we'll see what i can scramble up to make the blog be as interesting as possible.
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