Brazil v France
Germany 2006 | Quarter-finals
FIFA World Cup Stadium, Frankfurt
Attendance: 48,000
Going into the game
Brazil were hellbent on making it the last match of Zinedine Zidane’s cosmic career. The playmaker, who’d headed them to hell in the 1998 final, had announced he would hang up his gold Predators once France’s campaign was concluded.
Kaka, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and amigos were the favourites to get the job done. The Seleção had scored 10 times in four straight victories to cruise to ‘Mainhatten’. Raymond Domenech’s Bleus had drawn 0-0 with Switzerland and 1-1 with Korea Republic en route to finishing Group G runners-up, before awakening in the last 50 minutes of a comeback reverse of Spain.
When Zidane, who sustained an injury scoring in the last 16, was told he wasn’t fit enough to start, he replied, “I will play.” He did. Carlos Alberto Parreira nevertheless had a neutralisation plan. Gilberto Silva, who’d gagged Zidane twice as Arsenal dumped Real Madrid out of the UEFA Champions League a few months previous, was brought into his XI at the expense of Adriano.
The game
‘Zizou’ waved his wizard’s wand with only 35 seconds on the clock, hornswoggling Ze Roberto, Kaka and Gilberto. The sorcery continued with 360° turns, outrageous flicks and ankle-snapping step-overs.
Just before half-time, Zidane bamboozled two Brazilians and slid Patrick Vieira through on goal, forcing Juan to haul him down and scarcely escape seeing red. Shortly after it, Ronaldo fell victim to another crowd-wowing Zidane trick. The 34-year-old then helped cast the killer curse, setting up Thierry Henry for the only goal. Zidane had made Brazil bawl once again.
Quotes
“People will talk about his performance in 50 years, 100 years. He was a magician throughout. You’d need 30 minutes for a highlight reel of his performance.”
Florent Malouda
“The medical team told me I was out. I’m a calm guy, but I told them in no uncertain terms that there was no way I wasn’t playing against Brazil. I played injured, but I put in one of my best-ever performances for France.”
Zinedine Zidane
“Zidane turned the pitch into a theatre. He produced magic time and time again. He was exceptional.”
Pele
Trivia
The result ended Brazil’s still-standing record of 11 straight victories in the World Cup. Their previous failure to win had been in a 3-0 defeat to a Zidane-propelled France in the 1998 final.
After the game, Zidane went into the opposition dressing room to swap shirts with his good friend Ronaldo. Right-back Cicinho recalled what the Brazil No9 told the France No10. “Ronaldo saw him and said, ‘Zizou’, do me a favour. Get out of here, because everyone is crying and angry. Congratulations, you played incredibly well, but please get out.’ Zidane picked up the shirt and left in silence.”
