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[LosingNow]

..and Zidane carded. cant play next one.

France 2nd goal disallowed

[justforkix]

perhaps, we have seen the last of Zidane in a WC....

[LosingNow]

It is a draw..

..and I think you are right. Zidane's illustrious WC career is perhaps over

Big game next week .. Kor vs SUI in this group.

[Aloo Kashmiri Ul Haq]

perhaps, we have seen the last of Zidane in a WC....

if france dont qualify isn't this like zidane's last int'l game?

[dextrous]

on the other hand, it means, the first person of indian origin will be in the starting line-up of a WC game 

[Blwe_torch]

France end goal drought but held by Korea

June 19, 2006 03:05 IST


France were held to a 1-1 draw by a dogged South Korea side on Sunday that left Group G wide open after the former champions missed a series of late chances.

France ended a worrying goal drought at World Cup finals thanks to an early goal from Thierry Henry but Park Ji-sung grabbed Korea's equaliser in the 81st minute.

 The 1998 champions, who had started with a dull 0-0 draw with Switzerland, stepped up a gear in a bid to keep alive their chances of reaching the knockout stage.

Henry gave them a ninth minute lead with a cool left-foot finish after a Sylvain Wiltord shot took a deflection and broke into his path. It was France's first at World Cup finals since they beat Brazil 3-0 in the final in Paris eight years ago.

Les Bleus, the 1998 champions, went out in the group stage in 2002 without scoring and would have have matched Bolivia's unwanted record of five World Cup matches without a goal had they not scored on Sunday.

An ageing France team certainly did not look like title contenders on a dry, mild evening in Saxony and are still not sure of avoiding another embarrassing early exit.

South Korea were lively as ever but looked also naive and harmless against opponents a lot tougher than Togo, whom the 2002 semi-finalists had beaten 2-1 in their opening match.

Looking a lot fresher and more aggressive than in their opening match, France benefited from a convincing World Cup debut by midfielder Florent Malouda, who had missed the match against the Swiss suffering from haemorrhoids.

France had threatened after seven minutes with a close-range effort by Wiltord which Korean goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae managed to kick out.

The French contingent in the Zentralstadion shouted for a goal after 32 minutes when a header from a corner by Patrick Vieira appeared to cross the line before Korean keeper Lee Won-jae pushed it out.

The Koreans threatened on a few occasions but were never able to keep up any sustained pressure on the French.

The tempo dropped in a relatively sluggish second half until top prospect Franck Ribery came on for France and treated the fans with a few of his trademark exciting runs.

But it was Korea who proved the most dangerous when a cross was headed back into the area by Cho Jae-jin and Park popped up to steer the ball over Fabien Barthez for a priceless equaliser.

[keep-it-cool]

The French contingent in the Zentralstadion shouted for a goal after 32 minutes when a header from a corner by Patrick Vieira appeared to cross the line before Korean keeper Lee Won-jae pushed it out.

This was a clear goal ... unfortunately for France, the assistant refree failed to spot it.

Poor show by France ... they dominated throughout and should have walked it, but for the lack of penetration right up front.

[toney]

K-I-C, this was no clear goal. The keeper was behind the line but no replay showed with absolute conviction that the entire ball crossed the line. I love the Korean spectators, they bring so much energy to the game.

[toney]

I havent forgiven Zidane for scoring those two goals in the 1998 finals. So, I love this situation.
PS: I admire the classy player in Zidane, I just dont like the French team. It is just a coincidence but I hate Arsenal which ahs its fair share of French players!!

[keep-it-cool]

K-I-C, this was no clear goal. The keeper was behind the line but no replay showed with absolute conviction that the entire ball crossed the line. I love the Korean spectators, they bring so much energy to the game.

toney, it was ... if you watch the goalkeeper in the replay, both his feet were behind the line and there was a gap between the line and his legs ... and the ball actually disappeared from view (it came back into play off his thigh and palm) for a moment before coming back ... for that to happen, the entire ball should have been across the line for a couple of seconds ...

shall post a video link as soon as i can find one

[Blwe_torch]

It was a clear goal. Not only was the goalkeeper behind the line by a foot and a half, he stopped the ball very much inside the goal. It is strange that the referee missed this. I hope they rectify the mistake, one way or the other....as FIFA is doing things nowadays.

Anyway, I, an avid French supporter, am thoroughly disappointed with this performance.
They seem to be in control of the match in the first 20-30 mins and then they lose the fizz all together. Henry looks like more hype than substance in the WC atleast. He should never play for France beyond this WC, I hope!
Zidane ....well........he can start playing in the veterens' tournaments from now on...or retire in peace.
Barthez too can excuse.
France looks more like a museum-team than a real challenger this time.
I am sure, they will beat Togo and reach the last 16. After that, only a miracle can carry them further.
Ribbery and the other debutant Masoulda are very impressive.
I am sure, France is missing Pires, Anelka and Cisse.
A few words abt our favorite Dhorassoo. He is coming as a late substitute......too late to do anything substantial. I hope he gets to play atleast 20-25 mins to make some difference, if not more.

And...yes...change the coach too. He looks like the French version of our dear old GC!

[justforkix]

It was a clear goal. Not only was the goalkeeper behind the line by a foot and a half, he stopped the ball very much inside the goal. It is strange that the referee missed this. I hope they rectify the mistake, one way or the other....as FIFA is doing things nowadays.

Well FIFA can "rectify" the mistake and not allowing the ref to officiate in the next round. Surely they can't award a goal to France !!!! That would be unfair to Korea....

[keep-it-cool]

It was a clear goal. Not only was the goalkeeper behind the line by a foot and a half, he stopped the ball very much inside the goal. It is strange that the referee missed this. I hope they rectify the mistake, one way or the other....as FIFA is doing things nowadays.

Anyway, I, an avid French supporter, am thoroughly disappointed with this performance.
They seem to be in control of the match in the first 20-30 mins and then they lose the fizz all together. Henry looks like more hype than substance in the WC atleast. He should never play for France beyond this WC, I hope!
Zidane ....well........he can start playing in the veterens' tournaments from now on...or retire in peace.
Barthez too can excuse.
France looks more like a museum-team than a real challenger this time.
I am sure, they will beat Togo and reach the last 16. After that, only a miracle can carry them further.
Ribbery and the other debutant Masoulda are very impressive.
I am sure, France is missing Pires, Anelka and Cisse.
A few words abt our favorite Dhorassoo. He is coming as a late substitute......too late to do anything substantial. I hope he gets to play atleast 20-25 mins to make some difference, if not more.

And...yes...change the coach too. He looks like the French version of our dear old GC!

On the contrary, he sticks to veterans such as Zidane (read SG) instead of going for better youthful options!

[keep-it-cool]

toney, blwe, jfk

Here is the link

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/I5Q2K9vhS5k&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/I5Q2K9vhS5k&rel=0</a>

It is clear as daylight .. in the replays ... the side on replay especially is telling - the ball disappears behind the goalkeeper (who himself is a fair bit behind the line) before coming out into the field of play.

I am not sure I blame the refree though .. even for the linesman, at normal speed, it is difficult to spot that .. happened so quick.

The FIFA has already made it clear that the decision would stay and have also said that technology is still not an option.

[Blwe_torch]

Thanks kic.......regarding Zidane, I am posting a seperate article, which shows, as you all know, that the coach and the captain didn't quite get along.
Yes, the coach can be blamed for persisting with older players. Zidane has been called back from retirement!

[keep-it-cool]

I really cannot quite imagine why Saha is not in the starting line up

[Blwe_torch]

I really cannot quite imagine why Saha is not in the starting line up

Agree.....and even Trezeguet.

[keep-it-cool]

I really cannot quite imagine why Saha is not in the starting line up

Agree.....and even Trezeguet.

Trezeguet apparently had a poor club season ... but I agree, France needs some more firepower upfront ...