Did he take the right decision to retire?
2006-07-04 18:40:04 · 10 answers · asked by dragon_king170 1 in Sports ➔ Football ➔ FIFA World Cup (TM)
Zinedine Zidane is now one game away from the World Cup final.
The aging playmaker is not ready to retire yet, if Saturday's masterful performance is anything to go by.
Zidane, aged 34, produced a stunning performance to again punish Brazil, just like he did eight years ago when he headed two goals to lead Les Bleus to its first World Cup title.
His dangerous curling free-kick enabled Thierry Henry to fire in France's winner from close range in the 57th minute.
After France's quarterfinal loss to Greece at the 2004 European Championships, Zidane bowed out from international soccer only to return a year later for one last crack at the World Cup.
Win or lose against Portugal in the semifinal, Zidane will retire for good. But his mind is firmly on the July 9 final.
Captain Zidane's 106th French appearance saw typical moments of skill and technical precision. One moment saw him control a high ball with a wonderful first touch, and on another occasion he juggled the ball over Roberto Carlos' head, drawing applause even from the Brazil fans.
A minute before the interval, Zidane carved through Brazil's midfield with lightning quick feet, and released Patrick Vieira who charged through on goal before being upended crudely by Juan.
Zidane's 106th appearance for France was one of his best. Whether bringing down a high ball like he was catching a tennis ball, or jinking past midfielders with his lightning quick feet, Zidane gave a class in skill, technique, and ball retention.
His fizzing passes split open Brazil's defense, his dragbacks sent players the wrong way, and he even twice pointed one way as if to indicate the direction of his pass and then turned around sharply, tricking Brazilians who may well have invented the move
This was not a training pitch, but a World Cup quarterfinal, and Zidane's audacity was too much for Brazil to handle.
Zidane's free-kick at the start of the second-half stretched Brazil's defense again and Vieira headed wide.
Then, came a moment that had never happened before; Zidane set up Thierry Henry for a goal.
In close to 60 games together, it was Zizou's first assist for Henry.
Moments before the kickoff, Brazil's Ronaldinho and Zidane exchanged smiles, while Ronaldo said "Ca va?" (How are you?) to Zidane, and the pair laughed. United on one field, three Golden Ball and World Cup winners, full of respect and admiration for one another.
Zidane, who played his last club season for Real Madrid, also guided France to the 2000 European Championship title and was named FIFA World Player of the Year three times. He also won the prestigious Golden Ball in 1998, awarded to the best player in Europe.
A player of uncommon skill and rare technical poise, Zidane's ability to control almost any ball, his elegance, vision of the game and penchant for big-game goals has seen him compared with some of the greatest creative talents in the game, like Michel Platini and Johan Cruyff.
At club level, he has won every major honor with Juventus and Real Madrid, having started his career with Cannes and then staying with Bordeaux until Juve came knocking in 1996.
In Germany, he collected yellow cards against Switzerland and South Korea as stumbling France drew its opening two matches, despite a strong Zidane performance against Switzerland.
Returning against a Spain team which promised to retire him from the World Cup, Zidane gave a sparkling performance, creating a goal for Vieira and scoring France's third with a jinking run and powerful shot.
Better with every match, Zidane could be saving his best for Berlin.
2006-07-04 18:45:14 · answer #1 · answered by sakthi 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
ZIDANE IS JUST FANTASTIC..
i think when they age , the best thing a great sports personality can do is to retire at the height of the career...
i am glad that his comeback was for something so special in his life..
2006-07-04 19:30:32 · answer #2 · answered by rumahs 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Zidane is ending his career with a great performance at this World Cup. He should be proud....
2006-07-04 18:47:31 · answer #3 · answered by katfromlondon 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
His granddaughter asked him to win the cup to drink milk, that is the reason he is playing like crazy. Hope he doesn't collapse on the field. It is high time he and the french team retired and give chance to a younger team to perform better.
2006-07-04 18:57:14 · answer #4 · answered by venki 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is a good decision for him to retire - he is still the world class player that he has been, but he is too old to be risking his health now. I think this is as late as possible for him to retire - he cannot & should not carry on any longer.
2006-07-04 18:44:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
considering his age his performance is amazing, Zidane is well and truly a legend and he played like one. the excellent cross to Henry in the QF against Brazil proved that
2006-07-04 19:16:05 · answer #6 · answered by leodavinci 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely fantastic. And I can not stand the French. FORZA AZURRI!
2006-07-04 20:36:00 · answer #7 · answered by PANCHO 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.worldcup2006news.net
He definitely deserves the golden ball. I´m really looking forward to tonight´s game.
2006-07-04 18:53:28 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think he was awesome I'm totally rooting for him tomorrow~!
2006-07-04 18:43:50 · answer #9 · answered by JustWondrering 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Simply superb.France is there because of him.
2006-07-04 18:54:38 · answer #10 · answered by khan a 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋