France v Spain 2006: the night Franck Ribéry came of age | OneFootball

As France prepare to face Spain on Tuesday at 21:00 for a place in the World Cup final, memories turn to their last World Cup meeting in 2006, when Franck Ribéry came of age in the last 16 in Hanover as France won 3-1.

Spain struck first, David Villa converting a penalty on 28 minutes. Then, in nine breathless seconds, Claude Makélélé won the ball, exchanged a one-two with Patrick Vieira and released Ribéry, who rounded Iker Casillas to slot in on 41 minutes despite the recovery of Mariano Pernía and Carles Puyol. L'Équipe notes that those nine seconds transformed his trajectory.

The equaliser triggered a jubilant dash to the bench, arms out like Pauleta, before he dived on Alou Diarra. Nearly 20 million in France watched as commentator Thierry Gilardi hailed the brilliant youngster.

Ribéry had been a late pick by Raymond Domenech ahead of Nicolas Anelka, Robert Pires and, notably, Ludovic Giuly, fresh from a Champions League win with Barça. He blended quickly into the squad with Zinédine Zidane's blessing. In the group stage he thrilled with bursts of pace, even if the final ball sometimes escaped him.

The goal felt like a release for player and team, and he worked tirelessly on the right with Willy Sagnol, while Florent Malouda operated on the left. He earned 7/10, with praise for audacity and constant menace, and a feeling he was now decisive.

Ribéry said the moment would mark him for life and that he was living something unique as he became a fans' favourite. Earlier that day, Bayern president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge had said the club viewed him as a potential successor to Michael Ballack. Germany warmed to him during the tournament and a year later he joined Bayern, staying 12 years from 2007 to 2019 as "Kaiser Franck", playing 425 matches and scoring 124 goals.

Source: L'Équipe