Spain v France, when Spaniards tried to send Zinédine Zidane into retirement | OneFootball

France face Spain on Tuesday at 21:00 for a World Cup final berth. Twenty years ago the same fixture in the 2006 last 16 was framed by many in Spain as Zinédine Zidane’s final act, after he had announced his post-tournament retirement. It turned out very differently.

In the build-up, many in Spain felt confident, branding France old and past it. Marca ran the headline Vamos a jubilar a Zidane, and editor José Maria Rodriguez later said the line had been misunderstood, adding they would sooner he never retired.

Form reinforced that mood, Spain sailed through their group by beating Ukraine 4-0, Tunisia 3-1 and Saudi Arabia 1-0. France toiled with draws against Switzerland 0-0 and South Korea 1-1, then finally beat Togo 2-0.

The crowd in Hannover was largely Spanish, Zidane was booed in the warm up and the Marseillaise was whistled. David Villa put Spain ahead from the spot in the 28th minute, but Franck Ribéry levelled on 40 minutes.

After the break Zidane took charge. His free kick was turned in by Patrick Vieira at the back post in the 84th minute, then, in stoppage time, Zidane sealed a 3-1 win with a brilliant solo finish.

Willy Sagnol later joked it was not bad for a 72-year-old. Zidane said it was not yet his farewell and that the adventure continued, which it did with a Brazil 1-0 masterclass, before his career ended with a red card for head-butting Marco Materazzi in the final against Italy, drawn 1-1 then lost 3-5 on penalties.

Source: L'Équipe