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| June 3rd 2005 |
Buenos Aires, Estadio Monumental
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| FRANCE - PORTUGAL |
3-1 (3-1)
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GOALS 9' 1-0 Zinedine Zidane
12' 1-1 Eusebio
19' 2-1 Thierry Henry
41' 3-1 Michel Platini (penalty)
REFEREE Nikolai Latichev (Soviet Union)
ATTENDANCE 77,000
YELLOW CARDS Thuram (FRA) - Joao Pinto, Couto (POR)
FRANCE (coach: Aimé Jacquet, system 4-4-2)
16 Fabien Barthez
15 Lilian Thuram
8 Marcel Desailly
5 Laurent Blanc
6 Maxime Bossis (-46)
14 Jean Tigana
10 Michel Platini (-80)
7 Didier Deschamps (captain)
20 Zinedine Zidane
18 Eric Cantona (-75)
12 Thierry Henry
Substitutes:
3 Bixente Lizarazu (+46)
9 Just Fontaine (+75)
13 Alain Giresse (+80)
PORTUGAL (Coach: Otto Gloria, system 4-4-2)
1 Alberto Costa Pereira
2 Joao Pinto (-66)
3 Fernando Couto
4 José Germano
5 Toni
7 Luis Filipe Figo
10 Manuel Rui Costa (-33)
11 Mario Coluna (captain)
13 Antonio Simoes
8 Eusebio
9 José Torres (-57)
Substitutes:
16 Fernando Chalana (+33)
20 José Aguas (+57)
15 Jaime Graca (+66)
MATCHREPORT
The South-European clash between France and Portugal developed into a great match with four beautiful goals, all scored in the first half
packed with good football, sensational and emotional moments. After half-time Portugal couldn't beat France's steady defence.
Aimé Jacquet had put versatile Jean Tigana back in midfield, Kopa had to make place. The coach thought he needed a bit more of defensive
strength to withstand Portugal and their technical maestros. Though scoring against Chile Just Fontaine still had not done enough to
convince Jacquet and along with Henry, Eric Cantona made the team up front. Portugal had no surprises and the backbone Germano - Coluna
- Eusebio should do it at the ultimate level, supported by class on the wings from Figo and Simoes.
France opened the match overwhelmingly and scored within the 10 minute mark. Les Bleus played against a pace Portugal didn't know. Eusebio
and Co. wanted to have the ball themselves but France wouldn't let them. Henry was sent deep by Platini and could only be stopped by a foul
from Couto. From the free kick Zidane curled the ball brilliantly over the wall into the net, unreachable for Costa Pereira. It was only Zidane's
first goal in the competition, but a great one. But France's lead wouldn't last long. Only 3 minutes later Eusebio received a pass from Coluna.
He shook off Desailly, rounded Blanc and tipped the ball into the net behind Barthez who had quickly left his line. It wasn't a hard shot but
the goalkeeper was out of position and not to blame.
Both teams based their play on their technical skills. Figo was the better of Bossis, Couto had a difficult time against Henry. In midfield
Deschamps and Coluna met each other in a hard fight but Tigana played Rui Costa out of the match. The Portugese playmaker was
substituted after half an hour already, Otto Gloria had lost the hope that he could do something significant. Fernando Chalana, another great
technician, came in his place. But before that many things had happened on the pitch. The 1-1 wasn't to be long, too. After 19 minutes Platini
sent an inch perfect pass to Henry who was much quicker than Couto and Costa Pereira had no answer to his sharp attempt: 2-1. What
followed was a flood of attacks on both goals. Barthez recovered bravely from the goal against him and saved from the unstoppable Eusebio
before turning a hard shot from Toni away. For France Cantona came in a good position but his shot went over the bar. Costa Pereira saved
fantasticly from a Zidane lob that came out of the blue, and when Henry had dazzled past Germano Michel Platini headed just wide. Much to
enjoy this evening in Buenos Aires!
The substitution of Rui Costa and the inclusion of Chalana didn't change too much for Portugal. France remained dominant in midfield but
Portugal with an outstanding Eusebio and a very good Figo were always threatening. The Pearl from Mozambique shot just wide and Figo
went past Bossis a few times without finishing it off. Shortly before the break France took more distance. Henry, involved in all three
goals, went into the box and was fouled by a cooperation of Couto and Germano. Referee Latichev pointed to the spot. Platini arrived to
convert and he clinically sent Costa Pereira to the wrong corner. That was the 3-1 and France were well in control. At half time Jacquet
decided that he wouldn't gamble on Bossis any more and that Lizarazu would probably do better against Figo. The World Cup 1998 defence
was back together.
And that defence did perfectly well after the break. Portugal tried to play quicker now, they had experienced that combining through France's
midfield at 60% speed wouldn't be so easy. Figo and Simoes now played more deep but from the backline, where Portugal had less class than
elsewhere on the field, there was rather little initiative. Chalana tried too much on his own so Coluna had to solve a lot of problems by himself.
But Deschamps was an opponent with much bite who would never give in and Tigana was quick enough to close all gaps. In the end it all
came down on Eusebio's shoulders. The much fancied striker and topscorer of the competition went from left to right and back, trying
whatever possible but got little space against the strong Blanc. Gloria took off Torres who had gotten no chance against Desailly and José
Aguas came in. Moments later Joao Pinto, the rightback who had received a yellow card, went off too and in his place an extra midfielder,
Jaime Graca, entered the pitch.
It gave Portugal a little more grip in midfield where Platini seemed to have given too much. Ten minutes from time the playmaker, who wasn't
pleased with it, was replaced by Alain Giresse. Just a few minutes before Jacquet had already sent Fontaine onto the field in place of Cantona,
in an attempt to be more dangerous from the counter. But France now were more focussed on defence and they did it well. Graca found
Eusebio twice but Barthez kept a cool head and turned away both efforts. Time slipped through the Portugese hands and when Aguas missed
from 8 metres, not only time disappeared but also hope. France in the end survived quite easily. They had played beautifully in the first half
and had shown defensive strength in the second. In the quarter final a match-up with Holland was scheduled, certainly a very interesting
game with even more resistance for France than Portugal had provided. Eusebio bowed out of the tournament as topscorer at this time and
had been one of the best players all together. Portugal had played up to their potential but ended up short against France.
Next Tuesday the last match already in this round of last 16. But it seems to be an entertaining one, when Brazil take on Belgium. Of course the
Selecao starts as huge favourites. They are complete and Zagalo is expected to field his first choice team again, which would leave stars like
Jairzinho, Romario and Zico on the bench. Belgian coach Guy Thijs would happily have the Brazilian reserves in his squad and grant them a
starting place. Still the Red Devils do not count themselves out and after reaching the second round are full of self confidence. They have
Nico Dewalque suspended but Laurent Verbiest will be back as sweeper. The match will be played in the Estadio Bernabeu in Madrid, where
Maurice Guigue is the referee.
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