France- Brazil clash to evoke memories

FRANKFURT, June 30: Memories of Zinedine Zidane's finest hour and Ronaldo's worst will be evoked when France play Brazil in tomorrow's quarter-final between the last two world champions.

In the 1998 final won 3-0 by France a masterful Zidane scored two headed goals while Ronaldo, taken ill in the team hotel before the game, could only offer a dazed performance.

Brazil went on to win their fifth title four years ago and have not lost a World Cup match since being stunned by the French at the Stade de France.

Les Bleus, by contrast, have struggled since lifting the trophy for the first time, leaving the 2002 finals without a win or a goal from the group stage.

Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said he did not regard tomorrow's game as a chance of avenging 1998.

''There's no atmosphere of revenge, we're not thinking about that here,'' Parreira said. ''We're playing another decisive match against France, just as we did against Ghana.

After bringing in some fresh faces for the final group game against Japan, Parreira reverted to his original lineup against Ghana in the last 16 and saw his team pull off a flattering 3-0 win.

His France counterpart Raymond Domenech also appears to have found the right formula, the 3-1 second round win over Spain reminiscent of previous vintage.

Parreira is sweating on the fitness of Kaka and Emerson, who both picked up knee injuries against Ghana, while Domenech has worries of his own with Zidane missing training on Thursday.

The playmaker received treatment on a bruise he sustained against Spain, although a team spokesman said it was just a precautionary measure.

Zidane, who will end his glittering career after the finals, knows every match now could be his last.

The ageing maestro feared he would have to leave by the back door after France started the finals with dismal displays but they have now stepped up a gear and all seems in place for a decent farewell, if not a triumphant one.

''We will have to play even better to stand a chance but I believe we can because that team can adapt to the opposition and raise the level of their game,'' said Domenech.

Like Zidane, Ronaldo, now the most prolific scorer in World Cup history with 15 goals, started with below-par performances before scoring in successive games against Japan and Ghana.

Now the two meet again in what could be a classic encounter.

''When you're a football player, your first dream is to play in the World Cup and the next one is to meet Brazil there,'' said France midfielder Patrick Vieira.

Teams: Brazil (4-4-2): 1-Dida; 2-Cafu, 3-Lucio, 4-Juan, 6-Roberto Carlos; 17-Gilberto Silva, 11-Ze Roberto, 8-Kaka, 10-Ronaldinho; 9-Ronaldo, 23-Robinho.

Coach: Carlos Alberto Parreira France (4-2-3-1): 16-Fabien Barthez; 19-Willy Sagnol, 15-Lilian Thuram, 5-William Gallas, 3-Eric Abidal; 4-Patrick Vieira, 6-Claude Makelele; 22-Franck Ribery, 10-Zinedine Zidane, 7-Florent Malouda; 12-Thierry Henry.

Coach: Raymond Domenech

REUTERS

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