On the pitch

08 Jul 2006

ZZ factor will tip balance says Sagnol

Willy Sagnol reckons Sunday's World Cup final between France and Italy is an evenly balanced affair apart from one crucial factor - Zinedine Zidane.

"Italy's best player is the team itself because it's such a strong block which will cause us problems," said the 29-year-old France defender.

"But I think Zinedine Zidane can tip the balance - and we have Zidane and they don't.

"He's got all the qualities of a natural leader, and along with Lilian (Thuram) and Fabian (Barthez) it's very enjoyable to follow in their footsteps.

"We want to see them finish in the best possible way, we want them to finish on a high as that means it's not bad for the others either," added the Bayern Munich player.

"We know we're in the final but we can't appreciate its significance as we're too concentrated on the game, and focused on our play and weighing up Italy's strengths and weaknesses.

"It'll only be later that we can reflect back on what's happened, which is regrettable."

Kahn announces international retirement

Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn announced here on Saturday after his country won the World Cup third-place playoff against Portugal that he was ending his international career.

"It was my last international match today and I could not have wished for a better final game for my country," Kahn said.

"It was a great time, but you have to know when it is time to stop."

Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann had dropped Kahn in favour of Jens Lehmann for the tournament, but recalled him for the third-place playoff which Germany won 3-1.

Kahn, 37, was elected the best player of the 2002 World Cup after helping Germany to the final in which they were beaten 2-0 by Brazil.

Organisers confident final will go ahead

The World Cup organisers said they were confident the final between France and Italy would go ahead in the Olympic Stadium here on Sunday despite storms in the German capital on Friday.

There is the possibility of rain and possibly a thunderstorm during the course of the afternoon but it should be calmer by the time the final kicks off at 8:00 pm (1800 GMT), organising committee spokesman Gerd Graus said.

The temperature is forecast to be at around 25 degrees Celsius.

"The match will be played tomorrow, we have no qualms about that," Graus told a media briefing on Saturday.

The pitch at the stadium had not been covered, he added.

"There was a lot of rain, but the pitch is in the condition to absorb it.

"There is no reason to cover it. In these kind of temperatures, covering the grass would actually have harmed it."

FIFA spokesman Markus Siegler added: "In the worst case scenario it could be delayed until Monday," he said.

Pauleta announces international retirement

Portuguese striker Pedro Pauleta announced Saturday that he was ending his international career after his side lost the World Cup third-place playoff against Germany.

"This is the saddest day of my career. Playing for this team, scoring for this team was what I most loved doing but my time has come," the 33-year-old Paris St Germain striker told Portuguese reporters in Stuttgart.

Pauleta played 88 times for Portugal, scoring 47 goals.

The third-place playoff, won 3-1 by Germany, was a day of international farewells.

Portugal great Luis Figo and Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn also played their last matches for their country.

Portuguese legend Figo retires

Portugal said goodbye to one of its greatest heroes here on Saturday as winger Luis Figo bowed out of international football in his country's 3-1 defeat to Germany in the World Cup third place play-off.

The 33-year-old Figo won his 127th cap for Portugal - he is the country's most capped player - coming on in the 75th minute for a cameo role, providing the curling cross for Nuno Gomes to score Portugal's goal.

At the final whistle Figo was in tears after 15 years of international service came to an end.

He was part of Portugal's 'golden generation' that won the under-16 European championship in 1989 and the under-20 world championship in 1991.

With the curtain coming down on his glittering international career Figo will now concentrate on his club career with Inter Milan.

He has been arguably Portugal's finest player since the great Eusebio who top-scored at the 1966 World Cup with nine goals.

Sheer hunger will decide final, says Lippi

Italy coach Marcello Lippi says sheer hunger for success will be the deciding factor in Sunday's World Cup final against France.

"Tomorrow we go to Berlin and we'll sit down at the table where everything will be laid out in front of us," said the 58-year-old.

"Without sounding too presumptuous, there isn't much difference between the two teams. France are an excellent side with superb players, but our team is also strong.

"There are a lot of factors that will contribute to the outcome like organization and technical quality. But what it will come down to is which team has more hunger.

"In the French team there are players who have won the World Cup and European championship, while this generation of Italian players haven't even come close to winning something.

"That's whats on the table tomorrow, and we have our forks in our hand."

World Cup squad of the tournament

FIFA on Friday announced the list of 23 players for the squad of the tournament.

The list will be reduced to the best 11 by FIFA after the final on Sunday between France and Italy.

Goalkeepers: Jens Lehmann (GER), Gianluigi Buffon (ITA), Ricardo (POR)

Defenders: Philipp Lahm (GER), Roberto Ayala (ARG), John Terry (ENG), Lilian Thuram (FRA), Fabio Cannavaro (ITA), Gianluca Zambrotta (ITA), Ricardo Carvalho (POR)

Midfielders: Michael Ballack (GER), Ze Roberto (BRA), Patrick Vieira (FRA), Zinedine Zidane (FRA), Andrea Pirlo (ITA), Gennaro Gattuso (ITA), Luis Figo (POR), Maniche (POR)

Strikers: Miroslav Klose (GER), Hernan Crespo (ARG), Thierry Henry (FRA), Francesco Totti (ITA), Luca Toni (ITA)

Zidane and Henry must shine says Platini

French stars Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry can propel France to World Cup glory over Italy on Sunday said Les Bleus legend Michel Platini on Saturday.

"The (French) squad is strong, with great players, the experience of Zidane and also if we really are going to win it, there is Thierry Henry who will make the difference," said the former French captain.

"It is Henry that scored the goal against Brazil and won the penalty in the Portugal semi-final.

"It is the great players that make the difference: Zidane's freekick which resulted in Henry's goal against Brazil, the penalty as a result of the foul on Henry which Zidane converted.

"We have two great stars and it is them who will win the World Cup," added the 51-year-old.

Gattuso hoping to face a tired Zidane

Italy's tigerish midfielder Gennaro Gattuso said on Friday he hopes Zinedine Zidane has used up all his energy in helping France reach the World Cup final.

"Zidane's 34 and he's played every match at a high level. I hope he has little energy left in his body for the final," the 28-year-old AC Milan midfielder said.

Nicknamed 'The Growler' for his aggressive style, Gattuso insists he won't be marking Zidane man-for-man, but will be out to make his life difficult.

"If Zidane comes into my path of course I'll try and stop him, that's normal, but I certainly won't be following him everywhere on the pitch," Gattuso said.

"I've never man-marked anybody. The only time I have done it was when I stayed on (Juan Carlos) Valeron in a Champions League quarter-final against Deportivo La Coruna for 20 minutes."

Germany crush Portugal to take third-place

Hosts Germany finished their World Cup campaign in style as they stuffed Portugal 3-1 in the third-place match at the home city of Jurgen Klinsmann in Stuttgart on Saturday.

The match was poised at 0-0 at half-time before Germany exploded for three second-half goals all from the boot of Bastian Schweinsteiger although the second deflected in off Petit which was declared an own-goal.

Nuno Gomes steered home a header in the 82nd minute following a superb cross from substitute Luis Figo.

The win caps a festive tournament for Germany who rode a wave of happiness and joy during their World Cup run that was only finally derailed by the brilliant Italians in the semi-finals.

Portugal equalled their previous best of reaching the semi-finals back in 1966 when they were beaten by England.

Elizondo to referee World Cup final

Argentinian referee Horacio Elizondo will be in charge of Sunday's World Cup final here between France and Italy, FIFA announced on Thursday.

Elizondo was also in charge of the tournament opener between Germany and Costa Rica in Munich on June 9.

In the quarter-finals he was the referee for the England v Portugal game and sent off England striker Wayne Rooney in a controversial decision for stamping on an opponent.

Germany and Portugal scoreless at the half

Hosts Germany and Portugal were locked in a goalless stalemate after 45 minutes of lively action in the third-place playoff on Saturday in Stuttgart.

Germany had the bulk of possession and provoked a number of dangerous free-kicks on the perimeter of the penalty area that eventually came to nothing.

Sebastian Kehl sent a screaming blast in that Ricardo to well to block while top scorer Miroslav Klose also looked dangerous in his bid to nail down the golden boot title.

Klose has 5 goals ahead of France striker Thierry Henry on three who features in Sunday's final against Italy.

Oliver Kahn captained the German side while Luis Figo was on the bench for Portugal.

Podolski named best young player

Germany's Lukas Podolski was named by FIFA on Friday as the World Cup's best young player.

The 21-year-old Polish-born striker scored three goals after coach Jurgen Klinsmann had selected him as part of a drive to reinvigorate a flagging team. He has now scored 15 goals from 31 appearance with the national team.

Podolski played with FC Cologne last year but after they were relegated to the second division he joined champions Bayern Munich.

He won the first ever World Cup best young player award ahead of the other nominees, Lionel Messi of Argentina, Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, Luis Valencia of Ecuador, Tranquilo Barnetta of Switzerland and Cesc Fabregas of Spain.

It was open to all players born after January 1 1985. A total of 40 players from the 32 qualified teams met this criterion.

France in white for World Cup final

France will play in their reserve colours of all-white in Sunday's World Cup final against Italy here, FIFA announced on Thursday.

The Italians, deemed as the home side by FIFA, will play in their habitual blue shirts.

The last time the French won the World Cup on home soil in 1998 they wore their customary blue shirts against the yellow of Brazil.

The match in Berlin's Olympic Stadium kicks off at 1800 GMT

Italy receive praise from Domenech

Italy, who meet France in the World Cup final on Sunday - received generous praise from an unexpected quarter on Thursday - Raymond Domenech.

The 54-year-old French coach revealed himself as an out and out fan of Marcelo Lippi's Azzurri, and was savouring the prospect of Sunday's clash in Berlin.

"The game has the makings of a beautiful occasion," he said.

"A beautiful occasion because it's a World Cup final and because it's against Italy.

"I'm a strong admirer of the team, I feel attached to the way they play. Games with Italy are never boring and always leave an impression."

"Italy pulled off a real achievement in beating Germany and from what I saw the choice of tactics transformed the game," commented Domenech.

Kahn to play against Portugal

Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann will step aside for the third place match against Portugal on Saturday to give Oliver Kahn what may be his last international appearance.

"I can confirm that Oliver Kahn will be in goal. He has played a big role in this team behind the scenes at the finals and deserves this game," said Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann who explained. "Jens has no problem with that."

Kahn, capped 85 times, played second fiddle to Lehmann at the finals but will get a farewell World Cup match before ending his international career.

Kahn lost his starting place to Lehmann, who was faultless between the posts in this World Cup, in a much publicised decision just ahead of the finals.

Three French, four Italians up for best player

Italy and France contribute the majority of players nominated for the award of World Cup player of the tournament as FIFA's technical Study Group mulls their respective merits, it emerged Thursday.

The group have put ten players forward and the world media will choose who should succeed Oliver kahn, voted the 2002 edition's most valuable player.

The ten are Italian quartet Andrea Pirlo, Fabio Cannavaro, Gianlugi Buffon and Gianluca Zambrotta, French final rivals Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira, Maniche of Portugal, as well as German skipper Michael Ballack and top scorer - to date - Miroslav Klose, also of Germany.

Prior to Kahn, the first keeper to win the award, Ronaldo was singled out in 1998 despite Brazil's final loss.

The 1994 prize went to compatriot Romario, Salvatore Schillaci of Italy won in 1990, Diego Maradona took the 1986 honours and Italian striker Paulo Rossi was the experts choice four years earlier.