EURO 2000: Zizou and the last European paradise

In the suburb of La Castellane in Marseilles, a 12-year-old boy avoided the noise coming from higher floors mixing TV news with babies’ cries as he tried to focus his attention to an issue of France Football magazine with Platini and Michel Hidalgo on the front page just days before the Euro 1984 opener.

A Lovely sound came to his ears; it’s a ball being passed on by his neighbors who all belong to second generation immigrants. Quickly they divided roles and Zizou always chose between Platini and Francescoli.

29,000 fans were packed in the stadium in the Belgian city of Bruges chanting for both Denmark and France as the blues led by Zidane took part in their first major tournament after being crowned world champions.

MASSIVE TEST

The game was the opener of a group that included the Netherlands and Denmark as four previous champions competed for two spots in the quarterfinals.

Roger Lemerre took over from Aime Jacquet as France coach before the massive test in Belgium and the Netherlands who, for the first time, co-hosted an impressive tournament that can be compared to Euro 1984.

The surprises began in Group A where Portugal and Romania booked their places in the next round at the expense of England and Germany.

Figo and co collected maximum points winning their three games and demonstrated character as they came from two goals down to beat England by three before thrashing Germany 3-0 thanks to a hat-trick from Sergio Conceicao.

Meanwhile, Romania finished second after beating England 3-2 in the final minute of their tie.

ENTERTAINING MATCHES

Meanwhile, Italy won group B with nine points and was accompanied in the quarterfinals by Turkey who defeated Belgium 2-0 and held Sweden to a goalless draw.

Group C offered entertaining matches with a nearly three goals in each game as Slovenian young coach Katanec led his country to impress in their first ever appearance.

Zahovic scored twice and Pavlin another goal as Slovenia went 3-0 up against Yugoslavia who turned things around with a brace from Savo Milosevic added to a goal from Drulovic.


Egyptian Gamal El Ghandour was the first ever African to referee a match in the Euros, but his presence wasn’t a happy occasion for Spain as they surprisingly lost to Norway by a single goal.

The Spaniards bounced back with beating Slovenia 2-1 before edging Yugoslavia 4-3 in an epic game in Bruges as both sides qualified to the next round.

‘I ALWAYS LOOKED AT THE WALL’

In group C, Zidane led France to thrash Denmark 3-0 before overcoming Czech Republic 2-1.

France then lost 3-2 to the Netherlands who won the group to face Yugoslavia while the Blues had to meet neighbors Spain.

“I always looked at the wall before taking a free kick trying to shoot the ball just over their heads. In that moment nobody could do anything and the opposition keeper would have problems watching the ball coming from behind the wall. I always wanted to play it the way Platini did”

That’s what Zidane said after scoring from a free kick against Spain before La Roja pulled level with a penalty converted by Gaizka Mendieta.

Yuri Djorkaeff restored the French lead in the last minute before the break and Spanish star Raul missed a penalty in the dying seconds as world champions advanced to the last four.

Portugal put an end to the Turkish adventure winning 2-0 in Amsterdam, while Italy had no problems beating Romania with the same score.

MIRACULOUS SAVE

The Netherlands had a show of power in Rotterdam humiliating Yugoslavia 6-1 with a hat-trick from Kluivert to play against Italy in the semifinals.

“I’m not a penalty specialist. I was second choice behind Yuri (Djorkaeff) but in that match I had to take it myself. I had to concentrate knowing that it could take us to the final. I never avoid looking the keeper in the eyes… only when I miss of course! But I knew the angle and the power I needed. It was impossible for Vitor (Baia) to stop the ball… it was a perfect kick,” Zidane said so after scoring the golden goal against Portugal in the semifinals.

For the first time France went 0-1 down with a goal from Nuno Gomes but Thierry Henry pulled the game level after the break.

Portugal could score but for Barthez’s miraculous save from Xavier’s header, before the same Portuguese defender committed an error in his box to give Zidane the chance to end the game from the spot.

In Amsterdam, Italy found themselves down to ten men after Zambrotta’s dismissal and the referee signaled a penalty for the hosts as Francesco Toldo saved from Frank de Boer.
The Netherlands hand another penalty in the second half, but Kluivert was denied by the post as 50,000 Dutch fans in the stadium couldn’t believe their eyes.

Italy held on to the draw after 120 minutes of Dutch control in which the Azzurri coach Dino Zoff could have had a heart attack.

De Boer, Stam and Bosvelt all missed their penalties as Italy reached their first European final since 1968.

The Italians were preparing themselves to take revenge in Rotterdam for their world cup quarterfinal exit at the hands of France two years earlier.

Zoff made a surprise change in the line-up starting with Marco Delvecchio in place of Filippo Inzaghi.

After 55 minutes of boring play, Totti’s back-heel found Pessotto on the right wing to set up Delvecchio who put the ball past Barthez to give Italy the lead.

Substitute Alessandro Del Piero missed a clear chance to double the lead in the 59th
minute, while Lemerre threw everything up front introducing strikers Sylvain Wiltord and David Trezeguet.

Wiltord skipped past Nesta inside the box and struck past Toldo to equalize for France in the third minute of stoppage time.

Robert Pires skipped past Cannavaro from the left wing to send a pinpointed cross that found Trezeguet unmarked to score the golden goal after 103 minutes… and Italy headed for a hot bath before sleep.

 “I was lucky to live in a zone like La Castellane where you learn things more than football in the presence of other friends who belonged to immigrants obliged to struggle to get by”