Left: Portugal's Luis Figo ... waving goodbye to international football after this World Cup. Right: France's Zinedine Zidane .. also walking away from international duty after the Cup. - REUTERS
MUNICH, Germany (AP):
TWO SOCCER legends lead their teams on to the pitch today looking for a last bit of glory.
France's Zinedine Zidane and Portugal's Luis Figo are retiring from international soccer after the tournament, and they want a big finish by winning the semi-final encounter in Munich.
For Zidane, the tournament marks an end to his soccer career altogether.
Zidane and Figo are both former world players of the year and one-time teammates at Real Madrid. The winner goes to Berlin for Sunday's final. The loser goes to Stuttgart to play for third place.
Both veterans go into the semi-final in good shape. Zidane is 34, Figo 33.
"It's a shame age is overtaking (Zidane) because, like Figo, we'd like him to keep playing another seven, eight, 10 or 20 years," Portugal coach Luis Felipe Scolari said. "We enjoy watching both of them. It's like I say, the ball doesn't cry when it's at their feet."
The pair who came out of retirement for the World Cup are leading their countries toward the trophy.
"We won't change our system, but we'll show respect for Zidane," Scolari said. "In a split second he can change the course of a game."
GOOD FRENCH WINE
FIFA President Sepp Blatter also praised Zidane, who helped France win their first title in 1998.
"I don't talk about veterans but about players that still improve like a good French wine," Blatter said. "France have left such an impression that their opponents should really worry."
The two midfielders lead teams that have proven the doubters wrong as the World Cup approaches its end.
Zidane marked his 100th cap just over a month ago with one of his worst games in a blue shirt. He repeatedly surrendered possession and looked weary.
In Germany, he and his team started slowly. Both have improved.
In France's 1-0 quarter-final win over Brazil, Zidane probably played better than he did in the 1998 final.
Add to that Thierry Henry's craftiness (he got the winning goal), William Gallas' deepening bond with Lilian Thuram in central defence, Patrick Vieira's new-found vigour, and France are a strong contender for their second title.
"Of the four semi-finalists, France are in the best shape," Scolari said. "If we made the final, maybe that game wouldn't be as difficult."
France defender William Gallas said his team was making a point by advancing deep into the tournament.
CRITICISED BY THE PRESS
"Our idea was to go to the final. We have one game left," Gallas said. "It's a shame, instead of supporting the team, we were heavily criticised by the press, by the people, but we knew what we wanted to do and answered the right way."
Also in France's favour: they haven't lost against Portugal in 31 years. The two countries have never met at a World Cup, but the French twice edged the Portuguese in the semi-finals of the European Championships.
Figo, who will be making his 126th appearance, has produced steady, workman-like soccer. He no longer bursts past defenders with a quick shift of gear, but he can still dribble and has excellent vision.
He hasn't scored, but has had a hand in four of Portugal's six goals. He also has a slight injury, as does Cristiano Ronaldo.
Apart from skilled players such as Deco and Ronaldo, Portugal also have one of the world's best coaches in Scolari. The Brazilian has recorded a 12-game unbeaten run in the World Cup stretching from the last tournament where he took his own country to the title. Portugal, who are on a 19-game unbeaten run, haven't lost in Germany.
"Portugal are defensively better organised than Brazil were and up front you have Deco, Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo," French winger Franck Ribery said.
"It will be tough. Tougher than against Brazil," Thuram added.
