FINAL

FRANCE v ITALY

France 2 Italy 1 (aet)
Wiltord 93, Trezeguet 103; Delvecchio 55

OK, so why have I given over my entire (nigh on) Final page to sad Italians, when it should be a happy page (you argue??). Nope. Not happy for me. OK, I have nothing against the French (at all), but I think we're going to be hearing how good they are from now until doomsday, so I think we'll see enough of them. Anyway, I think the Italians deserved to win, and I'm gutted that they didn't. Not sour grapes; just gutted. (If you really are desperate for Frenchie piccies, look on HERE. They have a page all to themselves). Oh, goodness - how did it happen? Was it the white kits, you reckon?? The fact that the French seemingly were allowed to play until they scored (a la MU) - for, where on earth did all that injury time come from (Mr Frisk?). I have to tell you that I am not normally a huge Azzurri fan (a fan, but not huge) but they were excellente par anything - defensively beautiful, strong, good going forward. Everything. They had it won. The Delvecchio goal was enough. Could visialise Paolo lifting that trophy (not a very good one, is it?) and cheering like anything. Nope. 3rd minute of injury time goal. Then a killer of a golden, which was gonna come, we all knew that. Yikes! Mistakes (tiny ones, but enormous) from Albertini and Fabio were the undoing and they didn't look too happy about it at the end. Heart bleeds for you, boys. You were splendid. Don't feel so bad (oh, how on earth can't they). And Del Piero. Oh, dear - should really have scored two goals to seal up the victory. Reportedly, he is "devastated". Oh, cheer up, do! The boys have been made "Knights of the Republic" though - so that'll make 'em happy! No, it is really of importance here to notice that the Italian press have not slated the team (as they are wont to do) at all and have called them heroes, more or less. Witness this from the Official Parma site TO THURAM THE TROPHY, TO 'CANNA' THE GLORY Despite Thuram's France beating Cannavaro's Italy 2-1 in the Euro 2000 Final on Sunday, their performances were of equal merit. The Gazzetta dello Sport gives Fabio a slight advantage over Lilian - 6.5 for the Neapolitan and 6 for the Frenchman. "Another great performance in the first half. He managed to outjump the much taller French strikers. Only towards then end of the game did he have a few problems. A number of chances, the ones that counted, then fell to the French on his side of the pitch." Their comments on Thuram's performance are rather less flattering. "It was not the great Thuram we have seen on other occasions. This tournament has not been one of his best." The Corriere dello Sport inverts the ratings, and describes Lilian's performance in glowing terms. "He has been one of the best players in the tournament. He showed himself to be in great shape against Italy as well. He chased back at pace brilliantly and did well to leave little room for Fiore and Del Piero who were playing down that side. He didn't have too much of a hard time of it in the first half, while they caused him a lot of problems in the second half." According to the Corriere dello Sport, Cannavaro had a good game. "But unfortunately he had a hand in both French goals. He was unable to head the ball away for the first goal, while for the second he fell to the ground, or rather collapsed to the ground. He struggled a bit against the Dutch in the opening minutes, while this time he put up a wall from the off. Not just a right-sided central defender, he looks more like an a right-back in the Zenden mould." Still, $&%*!!!!!!!! I may add more later, but not today. Lots of articles follow beneath this. Teams and things FRANCE (4-4-2): 16 F Barthez (Manchester United) - 15 L Thuram (Parma), 5 L Blanc (Internazionale), 8 M Desailly (Chelsea), 3 B Lizarazu (Bayern Munich; sub: 11 R Pires, Marseilles, 86min) - 21 C Dugarry (Bordeaux; sub: 13 S Wiltord, Bordeaux, 58), 4 P Vieira (Arsenal), 7 D Deschamps (Chelsea), 6 Y Djorkaeff (1FC Kaiserslautern; sub: 20 D Trezeguet, AS Monaco, 76) - 10 Z Zidane (Juventus), 12 T Henry (Arsenal). Substitutes not used: 1 B Lama (Paris Saint-Germain), 22 U Rame (Bordeaux), 2 V Candela (AS Roma), 9 N Anelka (Real Madrid), 17 E Petit (Arsenal), 14 J Micoud (Bordeaux), 18 F Leboeuf (Chelsea), 19 C Karembeu (Real Madrid). Booked: Thuram. ITALY (3-5-2): 12 F Toldo (Fiorentina) - 5 F Cannavaro (Parma), 13 A Nesta (Lazio), 15 M Iuliano (Juventus) - 11 G Pessotto (Juventus), 14 L Di Biagio (Internazionale; sub: 16 M Ambrosini, AC Milan, 66), 4 D Albertini (AC Milan), 18 S Fiore (Udinese; sub: 10 A Del Piero, Juventus, 53), 3 P Maldini (AC Milan) - 20 F Totti (AS Roma), 21 M Delvecchio (AS Roma; sub: 19 V Montella, AS Roma, 86). Substitutes not used: 1 C Abbiati (AC Milan), 22 F Antonioli (AS Roma), 2 C Ferrara (Juventus), 6 P Negro (Lazio), 7 A Di Livio (Fiorentina), 9 F Inzaghi (Juventus). Booked: Di Biagio, Cannavaro, Totti. Referee: A Frisk (Sweden). GREAT MOMENTS OF EURO 2000: THE CONTENTS OF ZIZOU'S SHORTS 03 July 2000 - London by 365 staff BBC HE MAY be the greatest player in the world, but - on this evidence at least - his ball control still leaves a bit to be desired. Want to see the moment where the French genius popped out? Then press on I say - what a sight it was! In addition to all their other achievements, France now has its very own Peter Beardsley / Paul Scholes style, jock-strap defying midfield maestro. Zizou: we salute you. I don't know, I can't see anything here - must be the eyes!! Press on what?? Don't tease people! :) Ilk, who wants to see what I think they see??? I'll look again tomorrow, in the daylight!!! :) Anyway, if you want to see real (nice) pictures of the French lot, then click HERE Sorry, I couldn't bear to have them on this page. I only wanted sad pictures (and the riskee Zidane! :)) DEL PIERO: 'IT'S MY FAULT' Juventus Star Feeling Guilty After Costly Misses by Iain Moody ALESSANDRO DEL PIERO, the Italian superstar who squandered two golden chances to clinch the European title for Dino Zoff's team in Sunday's night's final with France, has spoken of the guilt that he feels for denying his hard-working team-mates the reward that their graft deserved. Speaking immediately after the match in Rotterdam, the Juventus striker admitted: "It's difficult to find words. It looked like we were going to win right up to thirty seconds before the final whistle." After the Italians took the lead thanks to a well-worked goal from Roma attacker Marco Delvecchio, Del Piero was presented with two second-half opportunities to kill the game off. Just four minutes after the opening goal he was put through by an astute pass from playmaker Francesco Totti only to roll a tame shot well wide of the far post with just Fabien Barthez to beat. Then, with six minutes left on the clock and French hopes fading fast, a fine ball from Massimo Ambrosini put the Italian substitute in the same position only for him to shoot straight at the despairing dive of the new Manchester United keeper. The swarthy front man continued: "I know that I wasted two excellent chances. I feel guilty. We played really well and I'm sorry that that will be hidden by the final result. I can just pass on my congratulations to my friend Zinedine Zidane." Italian goalkeeper Francesco Toldo, one of the revelations of the tournament, described the pain he felt when victory was snatched away: "It will be difficult to forget. We were sure of winning - with just thirty seconds to go we were ready to start partying then it all went wrong. We played well. There have been other occasions when we have played less well and still won but all that counted was to win." The Fiorentina number one went on: "Today we're going to suffer. I'm really sorry because we gave our all but we also have to remember how to act after a loss. It's the first time that football has ever made me cry." Italian captain Paolo Maldini, just one cap away from equalling his manager's record total for the national team, was impressed by the French will-to-win: "We kept going right to the end, it was our best performance of the tournament against the best opponents we have faced. I have to admit that they never stopped believing they were going to win." The final word goes to Lazio defender Alessandro Nesta, one of Euro 2000's most impressive players: "I think it was destiny. Things ended badly for us but we played with heart and with ability. We've become a true team." 365 Match report from the UEFA Official Euro 2000 site Trézéguet's golden moment France became the first team to win the European Championship as world champions when they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against an Italian side who were seconds away from EURO 2000™ glory. Sylvain Wiltord struck right at the end of normal time to cancel out Marco Delvecchio's 55th-minute goal and then in injury time substitute David Trézéguet fired home the golden goal to give French their second European Championship title. Delvecchio a surprise choice France had brought back Youri Djorkaeff for Emmanuel Petit, who was ill, while Christophe Dugarry replaced Nicolas Anelka after recovering from a broken nose suffered early in the tournament. Meanwhile, the Italians sprung a surprise by including Marco Delvecchio in place of Filippo Inzaghi up front. France kicked off on a cloudy evening, in front of a colourful and noisy crowd, and they were immediately into their stride with a mazy run by Henry which was halted in the area. At the other end, Italy were quick to signal their intentions, with French keeper Fabien Barthez racing out of his area to deny the onrushing Delvecchio. Henry hits the post Both sides came out looking for the boost of an early goal, and the world champions, in all-blue, almost grabbed a shock lead after six minutes. Henry seemed to be too wide on the right to attempt a shot, but he hooked in a drive which Italian keeper Francesco Toldo must have thought was going wide, only for the ball to rebound off the woodwork. Italy, wearing an all-white change strip, were also looking extremely lively, and had a near-miss themselves two minutes later. Gianluca Pessotto set Stefano Fiore free down the right, and Delvecchio stretched but was unable to make full contact in a promising position at the far post. Italy on the offensive Italy were making a nonsense of their EURO 2000™ reputation for defensive football with some spirited attacking in the opening quarter-hour - enjoying 60 per cent of possession at that stage - and Demetrio Albertini curled a 20-yard free-kick narrowly over the bar. Didier Deschamps blasted wide in France's next reply of an entertaining opening. France threatened in the 22nd minute. Youri Djorkaeff swung over France's first corner from the left, Marcel Desailly got his head to the ball under pressure from Toldo, but saw his effort bounce narrowly past the post. As the half-hour approached, France began gaining a greater share of possession and Luigi Di Biagio was booked for a tackle from behind on Djorkaeff after 31 minutes. Toldo foils Djorkaeff Italy appeared to be retreating into their defensive shell, and France came desperately close to breaking through six minutes from the interval. The livewire Henry weaved into the penalty area and drove the ball goalwards, Djorkaeff seized possession and turned to fire in a low hot, but Toldo went down athletically to make a fine point-blank stop. Soon afterwards, Fabio Cannavaro became the second Italian booked as he scythed down Henry. However, the free kick came to nothing, and an interesting first half ended in stalemate. France start brightly France made the more enterprising start to the second period, with Henry almost played in by a Zidane pass only for Cannavaro to intervene. A great run down the left after 49 minutes took him to the by-line, but Zidane inside was inches away from making contact with his precise centre. Italy were looking short of invention and innovation and it was no great surprise when Alessandro Del Piero was brought in to replace Fiore after 53 minutes. Within seconds Italy came close to an opener, as Laurent Blanc was forced to head desperately behind from a dangerous Maldini cross. Italy did take the lead after 55 minutes with a move of stunning simplicity. Totto's adroit back-heel released Pessotto down the right and his cross eluded Desailly, allowing Delvecchio to volley home from point-blank range. It was the AS Roma striker's first goal for his country in his sixth appearance after not having appeared in any of Italy's qualifying matches. France up tempo Italy should have doubled that advantage after 59 minutes, as Totti sent Del Piero clear, but the Juventus FC player pulled his shot across the face of the goal. France had brought on Sylvain Wiltord to bolster their attack, but it was a defender who almost got them back in the game as Lilian Thuram drew a fine save from Toldo, heading powerfully from Zidane's cross. Then Wiltord's shot was saved by Toldo's feet in the 62nd minute after Zidane had unlocked the Italian defence: the world champions were fighting back. However, Toldo was again in fantastic form, and he saved with his legs from Henry just as the striker seemed set to score from another Zidane cross. France's need to attack was leaving them vulnerable to breaks and Delvecchio volleyed just wide after 69 minutes after an excellent Pessotto pass. Wiltord strikes France struggled to put an end product to their attacking endeavour despite the introduction of a third striker in David Trézéguet. Meanwhile, Italy missed another great chance to seal the title when Del Piero shot straight at Barthez when clean through five minutes from time. They were made to play for that profligacy in the most cruel manner possible as Wiltord broke free on the left of the penalty area in injury time and crashed a low drive past Toldo to send the final into extra-time. Toldo bloodied France, buoyed by their late reprieve, began extra-time on the offensive, with Henry shooting straight at Toldo after 93 minutes. Seconds later, Barthez dashed from his goal to fly-kick clear as Del Piero threatened. Barthez's opposite number Toldo needed treatment after receiving a bloodied nose from Trézéguet. The French forward followed up a deflected Robert Pires' shot that the 'keeper did well to hold. Trézéguet hits the winner Given the stakes both sides were being admirably attack-minded. Del Piero was again off target after 99 minutes while his club colleague Zidane curled a free-kick over two minutes later. The increasingly influential Zidane then had a shot deflected wide from Pires cross. That was the source for the golden goal winner after 103 minutes as he got down the left and pulled the ball back for Trézéguet, who crashed a fabulous first-time shot into the roof of the net. With the French fans exultant, Didier Deschamps lifted the Henri Delaunay Trophy. All articles from The Times Deflated Azzurri pay price for inflated expectations Lynne Truss AND so we had the agony of the golden goal again. Just as everybody had got used to the idea of an Italian 1-0 victory (and especially the Italian bench, who were preparing to charge the field), Sylvain Wiltord scored the injury-time equaliser and ruined it. What football ever did to deserve the cruel dispatch of the golden goal, it must have been very bad. Poor Italy. Within a few minutes, it was all over. Italy had played brilliantly in every part of the field, surpassed all expectations. But in a split second they were transformed from heroes to a pile of bodies collapsed on the ground. Talking of bodies on the ground, the memento mori comes in many forms, skulls on desks being the most popular. But before the Euro 2000 final kicked off last night, we were treated to a new one. We assumed the 30ft-high inflatable waving figures - each dressed in the colours of a competing nation and seen at the appropriate matches, leaping to life and cheering the goals - had been dismantled already and sold for underwear. Not so. Before France and Italy came on, all 16 of them suddenly shot up at the corners of the stadium, waving as double-jointedly as ever. "Notice me!" they seemed to say. "I am Sweden! I am England! And I am Portugal and I have ripply broken arms!" At which point, just as they were commanding our attention fully, 14 of them were detumesced (there is no other word), leaving only the French and Italian figures still up and waving. What a reminder that we've all got to go some time. I hope the Italians took it in, considering what happened later. Since finals are often a disappointment, it was useful to be reminded that at the end of the evening, either France or Italy would be joining the other 14 lying in the dust. For what is life but disappointment? And so, suitably sobered, we watched the first half, noticing that the "Italy will be so tired" myth had little foundation, and that the pressure of the occasion was having its usual effect on the scoreline. In the end, it obviously helped the Italians that they hadn't expected to be there. So unprepared were they, in fact, that they had evidently asked themselves on Friday, "but what are we going to wear?" Their delighted fans were likewise fresher than their French counterparts - and the messages on their banners were directed at their team instead of at women that they hoped to marry. The French banners proposed to someone called Cathy, with a "Dit moi oui" for someone called Marie. The Italians instead gave complex instructions to their team about how to win the tournament. Advice that the Azzurri took, clearly. Tired? No, Italy were still on the high from Thursday. Marco Delvecchio's goal in the 54th minute may not have won them the match, but it was a splendid reward for the character Italy have shown, and also a good reply to those who said Italy stood no chance of surviving the group stage, the quarter-final, the semi-final, and had no chance at all in the final. As the winning France goal went in, of course, the French figure sprang up and waved its arms about, while the Italian one was carted off for bin-liners. As for everyone else watching the match - well, Marie and Cathy will have new husbands, of course. Me, I'm wrung dry, limp, trailing on the ground. And unless someone comes along and attaches a large hairdrier to each leg sharpish, I may never be the same again. Thank you Zinedine, Edgar and Jan, what a swell party that was Lynne Truss The Final Reckoning WELL, the party's over, it's time to call it a day. And I have to say it's unsettling. Rarely does a three-week period become so distorted as when a big tournament is on. Only three weeks ago that the gigantic inflated footballer was wheeled, striding elegantly, on to the pitch at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels? Only three weeks since, in the opening match against Sweden, Filip De Wilde, the Belgium goalkeeper, took delivery of a back-pass, diddled with it perilously and had it nicked off him for a goal by Johan Mjällby? Seems like years. Seems like minutes. The European championship has been a colourful dream of astonishingly good football which has, rather too persuasively, created its own world. It's a world in which every time you look up you see Gheorghe Hagi staring into the mental abyss of yet another yellow card; or the dainty Filippo Inzaghi caught offside with his hands in his hair; or a blur where Thierry Henry has just streaked through open country to score a brilliant goal. Over? Euro 2000 is a way of life, mate. How can it possibly be over? Before the tournament, I noticed with some alarm that Belgium (where I've been stationed throughout) did not appear ready for it. I accepted that I might be an incorrigible fusspot in such matters and that it was always a mistake to arrive at a party too early, while the host was still deciding on his socks and there was only an old half-bottle of Tizer on the kitchen table. But I must whisper, as delicately as possible, now that it's over and we know that the nibbles never did turn up, that hosting a football tournament may be something that Belgium does not do best. Spending all the money on bouncers was a valid choice, but not a particularly endearing one. But did this matter, in the end? Unless you are a deported England fan, not too much. The Netherlands, the co-hosts, evidently extended a warm welcome to visitors - they even controlled the England fans in Eindhoven without bother. Besides, with the quality of football from the qualifying teams, a good time was absolutely guaranteed. It's the people who make a party, after all! And there is not a single team that didn't turn itself inside out for the sake of this competition, as their fans well know. Even poor old Denmark (played three, lost three) gave their all, with the poignant banner "TAK FOR ALT BOSSE" displayed in Ličge during the Czech Republic match, in genuine gratitude to Bo Johansson, the outgoing coach, for leading Denmark blind and weaponless into the valley of the shadow of the group of death. So, what I'm saying is, they invited Zinedine Zidane to this party - and memories of this event will rightly focus on Zidane, performing at the height of his talent. From the moment France took the field against Denmark on the first Sunday in Bruges, the pre-eminence of the man was evident. Unlike Paul Gascoigne, who always suffered from having a brain like a foot, Zidane has a foot like a brain and a brain like a brain. In fact, he is simply the brainiest footballer I've ever seen. At semi-conductor speed, and with three opponents closing in on him, he simply bends his balding pate over the ball, calculates all coefficients and simultaneous equations, and then not only works out an unfussy way to retain the ball (swivel, counter-swivel, hop, turn, tap), but comes up with a miraculously improvised way to pass it as well. What everyone has loved about Euro 2000 is the open, forward, dynamic play. More than 80 goals and a million saves; only two goalless draws. High passion, committed athleticism, fabulous hair and great goals. There's nothing to beat it. Hoorah. England fans will cherish Michael Owen's goal against Romania and, of course, the glory of beating Germany; less so, perhaps, the false dawn of the two exciting openers against Portugal, before our opponents regrouped and blasted holes through us at close quarters. I was looking at a computer graphic of Luis Figo's goal against England the other day, incidentally - and do you know, it was preposterous! It showed Figo charging directly towards goal, leaving defenders collapsing on both sides, firing through Tony Adams's legs and straight past David Seaman as if he wasn't there. Well, I thought, lucky this was only a graphic. Imagine if such a thing could happen in the real world! Unsurprisingly, Figo got the man-of-the-match award. It's an award system that has recognised goalscorers in a quite unimaginative way. On the night Martin Keown heroically worked his socks off for England against Germany, for example, it was Alan Shearer who got man of the match. Goalkeepers, defenders and playmakers don't get a look-in, so the amazing Alessandro Nesta, of Italy, will go officially unrecognised, as will all the goalkeepers, despite the fact that the quality of goalkeeping in Euro 2000 has been one of its great revelations. Toldo's saves in the Holland-Italy match were magnificent; I remember Rüstü, of Turkey, taking Emile Mpenza's rocket shot like a bullet to the chest in the match against Belgium; meanwhile, Barthez's vertical salmon-leap to palm a shot from Raúl over the bar in the France-Spain quarter-final was frankly unbelievable. Plus there are players who just physically summed up the tournament. Edgar Davids, in his swimming goggles, proving that even girlie hair and specs can be elevated to footie fashion if the will is strong enough. Patrick Kluivert having the time of his young, strutting life against Yugoslavia (It's three! It's four! No, hang on, it's three again!) Pierluigi Collina (top ref, Julia Roberts fan and stickler for discipline) giving red cards to players who weren't even on the pitch, with his eyes popping out of his already quite scary head. Christophe Dugarry with his nostril splints. Jan Koller, of the Czech Republic, biggest man in the world, roaming the field as if looking for someone to eat. What a shame if an event such as this is remembered for the water cannons in Charleroi. So think of Zidane instead, waiting several minutes for the explosive Portuguese protests to die down at the semifinal in Brussels, knowing he must put the penalty away, his whole body whirring and ticking with controlled concentration. This is not only a contested penalty, remember; it is potentially the golden goal. But though a few more hairs fall out, this is the only sign of the strain he is under. For Zidane is the Pete Sampras of football. The whistle blows. He makes a short run, fires it into the roof of the goal, into Baía's right top corner. And France are in the final, and on this night in June in the year 2000, Zinedine Zidane is the best footballer in the world. July 3 2000 FOOTBALL Eurovision BY SIMON BARNES ONE or two may remember Lenny the Lion, an unconvincingly leonine ventriloquist's dummy, whose television show used to begin with a great deal of extravagant praise for the eponymous lion, followed by his appearance on screen. At this point, the lion would always cover his face, lower his eyes, and say: "Awww, don't embawwass me!" That was pretty much the model followed by ITV in their presentation of the European championship final last night. The build-up was all about Zinedine Zidane, who else? The greatest player in the world, Desmond Lynam said, and you can't argue with facts like that. There was a montage of golden Zizou moments, all those clever step-over moves from those long, clever legs, and that marvellous blank expression in his mask-like brown eyes. There was a collection of assessments from people who should know: "There is nothing to say," Emmanuel Petit said. "Sit in the stadium and look." Fabien Barthez, the Old Trafford-bound France goalkeeper added in sub-titled French that the point of Zidane was that "the best produce it when it matters". And then Terry Venables in the studio spoke about his Muhammad Ali touch: he doesn't go in swinging for the knockout from the bell, "he softens them up for the kill". And he added, crucially: "He's got to be great." And after all this, Zidane walked out on to the pitch for the first half with a resounding cry of "Awww, don't embawwas me!" It was as if the expectations were too much. Either that or the Italian defence. In no other form of entertainment do we build up stars and then watch them do nothing. That is one of the extraordinary things about sport as entertainment. It produces what looks like a star vehicle and then it turns out to be quite different. And also, the rhythms of sport are quite different from the rhythms of entertainment: the final dénouement is often the dreariest part of the entire entertainment. Instead of the blood-bolstered shambles of Act Five in Hamlet, we get something thoughtful and informative, but often less than resounding. Ron Atkinson said at the end of the first half that Zidane was "waiting for the perfect moment". Perhaps he was going to be like Tartuffe, and wait three acts while people talked about him, before making his true entrance. We watched nudges and flicks and lay-offs, we saw little runs and occasional thoughtful gestures. Surely an explosion of brilliance could not be far away: the great tournament decided by the intervention of its greatest, and certainly its most televisible, player. And then the sublime back-heel that set up the simply-taken goal and before you could say "football, bloody hell" - the game's televised quote of the century - the great man had seized his moment. Except it was Totti with the back-heel, and Delvecchio that put Italy a goal ahead. Oh, full of surprises, this game, endless surprises and suddenly the great defenders were a goal ahead, and great things were required of Zidane as never before. How late could the "embawwassed" lion of France leave it to make his mark? The capricious artist who writes the scripts for these occasions has no interest at all in reputations: it was a match won by the spear-carriers, Wiltord and Trezeguet. The prince was confined to a walk-on role. Back to Fixtures Back to Main Page