The Everlasting Saga of Zidane and France

He moves with the grace and elegance of a hero. His face betrays no expression while in his mind race a thousand thoughts. The sleek touches of the ball and nimble movements of the feet revived a whole nation's image like anything. A Human could never be capable of this,they said, and I agreed. This is no Human, this is Zinedine Zidane.
The world has seen France go from strength to strength over the last 15 years and the
man at the center of the honours and success has been Zinedine Zidane.



France Before Zidane, With Zidane, After Zidane
French Football had died after Michel Platini won them the European Championship in 1984. Platini retired in 1987 and so did French Football. Zidane made an entry to the side only in 1994. The 7 years in between were a nightmare for French Football. France failed to qualify for the 1988 European Championships and the 1990 and 1994 World Cups. The managed to make their way into the 1992 European Championship but were ousted in the First Round itself.
And then came Zidane. He made his mark immediately, scoring 2 goals against the Czech Republic to draw the match at 2-2, after playing just the last 27 minutes of the match as a substitute. France qualified for the Euro 1996 held in England and lost out to the Czechs on penalties in the semi-finals. But the Big Year was 1998. Zidane was the backbone, if not more, of the French squad that demolished Brazil 3-0 in the Final at Paris in the World Cup Final to win their first World Cup. Zidane was named the FIFA Player of the Year. The Year 2000 saw France become European Champions, with Zidane once again in the center of it all. Zidane guided France through the 2002 World Cup Qualifiers and saw France cement its place there but could not play due to injury. He just featured in the last Group Stage match, unfit.
Without Zidane, France looked so off-colour that they did not manage to score a single goal. Ousted in the First Round, France left Korea-Japan shamefacedly. Once again came the Euro, this time in Portugal 2004. Zidane opened France's Title defense with two goals against David Beckham's England in stoppage time. One, a magnificent free-kick while the other, a rock solid penalty kick. France stumbled out of the Euro in the quarter-finals against the eventual winners Greece.
Zidane announced his retirement, and France found themselves groping in the dark, unable to get desired results in the 2006 World Cup Qualifiers. Zidane came back from retirement and took France to the Final of the World Cup. where they lost agonizingly in the penalties, after Zidane had head-butted Materazzi to get himself a red-card in extra-time. Zizou left football after that World Cup.
Now, as the Euro 2008 has begun, France take to the field in a major Tournament Without the services of Zinedine Zidane in the team for the first time in 12 years. And just like what happened to France during those shirt terms without Zizou earlier, their opener against Romania was disappointing to say the least. A dull stalemate saw zero team chemistry, almost no chances created and pathetic football.
Will this be how France will perform without Zidane? Has France succumbed again till they find their new-hero? We will have to wait and see. I just hope that France do something in the tournament and avenge that painful loss in the World Cup Final.

The Parade of 'Next Zidanes'
France have searched their depths in the search of a desperately needed saviour. The country has gone to such a big extent, that every second-talent in the nation has been termed the 'Next Zidane'. From Ribery to Benzema, Nasri to Gomis and even Jeremy Toulalan have been compared to the Great! Was Zidane such a common phenomenon, that can occur every other year! World Football will not witness another Zidane for years.
It is true that France without Zidane is almost nothing. Whenever Zidane has been off the field, their play has taken a change, for the worse. What France need at the moment is an inspirational captain in Viera and the experienced players in the World Cup and Euro winners Thuram, Henry, Makelele among others. I Just hope that France make this a year to remember and make it big at the Euro. The start to the campaign may have been disappointing, but so was the case in the World Cup 2006. But then again, that year there was Zizou.....