Liveblog: France vs. Spain

June 27th, 2006 | by: Chris Heidrich | Comments(414)

After taking the early lead via a penalty, Spain could not hold out against a French side that showed they’re not afraid to attack. Two goals in the second half put France through to face Brazil in the quarter-finals in a replay of the ‘98 final.

Final: France 3-1 Spain

Full-time: Like the sun rising in the east, Spain bows out of a major tournament early. They just cannot crack into the final rounds, whether through nightmare referees (2002), or being outplayed by an experienced French team. After the early rounds when they looked so good, Spain just did not look good enough to win tonight. France had the better chances, looked more likely to score and while I’m not happy with the way France scored their second goal, I have to say the better team on the night won. My prediction of the score was correct but I chose the wrong winner. Well done, Les Bleus!

91:30 – GGGGGOOOOAAAALLLLL!!!!!! France. Zidane! He springs the offside trap once again, this time the pass coming from soneone other than him. He still had some work to do, but showed some life in the old legs as he skipped around one Puyol and finishes nicely past Casillas.

90:55 – Yellows coming thick and fast in the final stages of this otherwise clean game. Zidane brings down Fabregas.

90:00 – Alonso fouls Gallas by putting a hand in his face. Could be Spain’s last chance. 3 minutes of injury time.

88:06 – Spain pressuring from the free kick and earn a corner after nice work on the right. From the corner Garcia just misses his header and Zidane clears. The nxt corner goes deep and Bathez comes to claim the ball after it is headed back across the face of goal.

86:52 – Ribery gets a yellow card for kicking the ball away after Vieira fouls Fabregas. Stupid yellow. France takes the time to take out Dirty Henry for Wiltord.

85:10 – Minutes for Spai to come back in this one. They haven’t looked likely and France has snuck in with a late goal. Don’t like the way Henry earned the free kick that lead to the goal, but what’s done is done and Spain must fight back.

83:10 – GGGGGGOOOOOOAAAAALLLLLLL!!!!!!!! Zidane free kick into the box. Alonso gets his head to it but it falls to Vieira at the back post. His header hits Ramos and squeaks into the goal. Nothing Casillas could do on that one.

81:45 – Yellow card for Puyol of Spain. Absolute joke as Henry milks the free kick. Puyol gave Henry a nudge in the chest with his elbow and Henry collapsed holding his face. Sickening to watch that crap from a class player.

80:24 – Quick free kick sees Zidane sweep a long ball over to Ribery who controls the ball and moves inside his defender in one movement. Nice stuff. His pass finds Govou on the edge of the area but his shot is skied over the bar.

78:39 – Joaquin shows a nice turn of pace to blow by Abidal and into the French penalty area. His shot, unfortunately for Spain only finds the side netting. Barthez not called on to make a save from 15 yards.

77:46 – Ramos steps up his acting regime with a nice tumble in the corner. He was well defended and simply fell over. No need to cry out and grab your legs when you only hurt yourself.

77:05 – Corner after the free kick Torres earned is headed clear. Replay shows a Spanish attacker jumping with his arm raised. No need for that in the game.

76:10 – Torres enjoys spending time on his back as once again he’s on the deck after a light challenge from Saginol.

73:55 – Malouda comes off for France. Govou takes his place. Spain will breathe a sigh of relief.

72:50 – Torres makes a meal out of a light touch NEAR his face by Vieira after the Frenchman had won possession from the Spaniard. The ref has nothing to do with the theatrics but stops play since it appears to be a problem with the head.

71:05 – Malouda does his best to win a free kick and the ref obliges. Chance for Spain to make their last sub. Xavi comes off for Marcos Senna. Malouda is a bit of a bull. He throws his body about quite a bit and is often seen clattering into someone.

70:03 – Quiet times for France. They haven’t had any prolonged possession or gotten the ball towards Henry for some time.

68:22 – Joaquin is called for handball in the box after a tussle to the ball as it was coming down. He can’t believe it but the ref had a great view of it and it was the right call.

66:35 – Abidal hacks down Xavi but instead of a booking the ref makes a point of having Abidal go over to Xavi to shake his hand. This is good refereeing. Seconds later Vieira scythes down Torres. Again no card, although it was a worthy foul and probably a good time to use the yellow.

65:38 – Nice sweeping move with Fabregas finding Pernia with a long pass. Pernia runs inside but is dispossessed. A story of Spain’s night so far.

63:20 – Spain starting to dominate possession again but not creating many chances as yet. France defending well in numbers without giving the impression they’re playing a negative style of football, ala Italy.

60:45 – Ramos makes a textbook sliding tackle on Malouda on the corner. Great to see that in slow motion.

59:41 – Nice chance for Spain. Ball crossed in from the right and a desparation tackle by a French defender clears the danger. Looks like Garcia might have had the best shot at getting to that ball.

57:20 – Figured out it was Joaquin who replaced Villa. His speed should help Spain get in behind France. They haven’t really been able to yet.

55:30 – Happy to see Raul sit down. He’s been pretty quiet. Spain needs some imagination up front to break down the French who have defended very well so far (penalty notwithstanding).

53:26 – Double substitution for Spain. Raul for Luis Garcia, and David Villa is off as well. Didn’t see who replaced him yet but will update as I find out.

52:55 – Perhaps Spain is a little too inexperienced to handle the French pressing of the offside trap. They’re really struggling to contain the fast break.

51:15 – Malouda forces a great save from Casillas . The ball just would not come down quick enough for him to get a solid shot away, but he does well enough with the side volley. Zidane’s pass put thim through again.

49:40 – Ribery and Henry take turns controlling a long pass from Zidane on the right wing. Henry takes on a Spanish defender but his pass inside finds no one.

48:22 – Henry lucky to escape with a talking to from the ref after a hefty and late challenge on Puyol, who invited the challenge by mis-controlling the ball in the first place.

47:40 – Pablo acquainting himself with the grass again. This time he gets a kick in the guts while jumping for a header.

45:34 – Makalele wastes no time making his presence felt, by banging into Pablo. Pablo shows he’s very good at falling down a second time. But the ref did make the right call with the penalty.

45:01 – Second half underway. Thanks to JMV in the comments for clearing up the mystery of Torres’ tattoo. Apparently it is “Fernando” in one of the languages J.R.R. Tolkien made up. Pretty cool, but I’m not sure I’d need to see my own name staring back at me all the time. Unless he’s very forgetful.

Half-time Highlights: Zidane has been highly involved without dominating the game. Henry has been playing right up to the last defender and looks ready to break the offside trap at any time.

Spain on the other hand have been more patient in their build-up. Fabregas has had plenty of touches but no killer passes as yet. Villa and Torres have been throwing themselves about but most of their possession has been in deeper positions, running at defenders but having to get rid of the ball before they get close enough for a shot on goal.

It’s a tight encounter and while Spain has had more possession, I give France the edge so far. Let’s see what the second half holds.

Half-time: No injury time played by the ref, who blows right on 45 minutes. A fairly entertaining half of football. Not a shower of chances but two goals and some enterprising passing in midfield by both sides. Neither goalkeeper has been called on to make a save as yet, but they’ve both picked the ball up out of the back of the net.

43:37 – Great morale boost for Les Blues just before the half. What can Spain do in response?

42:32 – This game has turned into end-to-end stuff. France nearly break through again at one end, then Torres bursts into the French area at the other. Torres goes down in the box but the ref tells him to get up and get on with it.

40:42 – GGGGGOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!!!!! Ribery springs the offside trap, while Henry was in an offside position but not interfering with play. Vieira plays him through, Ribery rounds the keeper and finishes well.

38:45 – Henry is unhappy with the offsides call, but perhaps it was the push-off on the Spanish defender that made the ref blow his whistle. Either way, a fair result.

37:50 – Frustration for Spain as they get two cheap free kicks awarded against them. The second is in range for a dangerous cross by Zidane to the back post, but Casillas is there to take care of it.

36:36 – Torres has got some wicked tatts down his left forearm. Anyone know what they are or if they say anything? Looks like Arabic.

35:21 – Sergio Ramos hits the deck hard clutching his face after Malouda runs into him trying to get by. Ramos is a good actor and will do well in Hollywood with that hair.

34:29 – Ribery earns a free kick after keeping the ball away from 5 Spaniards. He’s got some nice close in skills.

31:55 – Pernia charges into a challenge to win the ball but gets hurt in the process. Probably because Ribery dragged his studs down Pernia’s shin. The ref plays on, but Spain kicks it out so he can receive some attention.

30:46 – Corner to Spain. The ball bounces out to Fabregas who scuffs his shot from 20 yards and it dribbles to Barthez.

29:01 – Fast response by France. They certainly have some urgency after the goal. Some nice passing moves that cross the width of the field, until the final ball which finds Malouda offside.

27:21 – GGGGOOOOOOAAAALLLLLL! Villa steps up and takes a strong penalty. Barthez guesses right but the penalty was inch-perfect. Villa has three goals in the World Cup now.

26:24 – Penalty! Spain. Pablo is hacked down from behind by Thuram. It was unlucky, but the right call by the ref. Villa steps up to take it.

24:54 – Fabregas not having the best of spells. He gets skinned on the wing by Saginol who whips a cross in. Casillas cleans up though and there is no danger.

22:42 – Fabregas loses the ball in midfield and Zidane picks it up. His patient pass finds Henry who puts a cross in and the ball rolls across the face of goal. Two French players, Ribery and Vieira, only have to get a solid touch on the ball to score but neither can. Great chance for France that came and went in a second.

20:38 – Ball bobbling around in center field with no player able to control it. Zidane is in the thick of it. God to se the ol’ fella battle it out with the young blokes.

19:40 – Gallas pulls Torres down at midfield after the young striker down well to chest the ball down.

17:02 – Zidane plays a long ball from deep in the French half to try and put Henry in a one-on-one race with Puyol. Puyol is equal to the task and heads to safety, stretching something in the process.

15:32 – Zidane plays a nice ball down the right to put Ribery into space. His cross at speed has only Henry to aim at. Spain is back in numbers but the balls hangs in the 18 yard box long enough for Zidane to charge in. His shot is blocked and a corner results.

14:18 – Nice buildup by Spain and they burst down the right with Xavi releasing Torres. He tries to get behind Abidal but slips at the crucial moment.

12:38 – A quick free kick taken by France sees Zidane just offside. Nice shot of him interacting with the AR showing him how close it must have been.

11:14 – France coming back now. Ribery to Zidance who feeds Henry out wide on the left. He cuts inside but his shot is weak and Casillas collects easily.

09:58 – Nice, controlled possession by Spain. not going anywhere but making France chase the ball about.

07:58 – Villa is felled by a bump to the back of the head by Thuram’s forehead. Free kick to Spain and Pernia steps up to take it. His bending shot is well struck with nice pace but just doesn’t come around enough to trouble Barthez.

07:10 – Finally there actually is a corner to France. Casillas punches clear but a foul is blown on French players jumping into the keeper.

05:26 – Confusion reigns. It appears as though Henry has told the referee that instead of a corner to France, it should have been a goal kick to Spain. Zidane has no idea what’s going on and I’m in the same boat. Damn the German commentary. I want Henry to tell the IRS I don’t owe them any money this year. He’s got such an honest face.

04:11 – A long ball into the French box aiming for Raul. Barthez claims but the ref blows for a push by Raul.

02:35 – Spain breaking out of defense and showing some of that speed. Within 3 passes they were putting a ball into the French box. Nothing came of it, but a warning to France to make sure they leave someone at home at all times.

01:17 – Saginol goes on the litle run down the right near the half then hits the deck like a sack of spuds under challenge. He reckons he got a bump to the face. Replay inconclusive.

00:01 – We’re off! Let the games begin. Spain should bring a fast-paced game which will test the ageing legs of the French, especially towards the end of the game. If France progress, 6 of the 7 World Cup winners will be through to the quarter finals.

National Anthems: Spain’s wordless anthem just looks weird to see no players singing. Wonder if they feel left out when all the other teams get to belt out a tune. Platini not singing the French anthem. As the players shake hands, Fabregas gets a hug from Henry and Vieira. The Arsenal connections run through both teams.

5 minutes to go: Players in the tunnel. France wearing white tonight. Spain in traditional red. Fabregas is starting the game for Spain and I think that’s a good move for them. Starting Raul on the other hand is a backward step. They have so many other talented strikers. Raul is Spain’s Zidane.

15 minutes to go: Amazingly, Spain and France have never met in the World Cup before, but they did meet on this date in 1984 and it was a glorious day for the French. Will we see history repeated? Chris O over on the France team blog makes the case for Zidane starting on the bench. This will never happen, of course, but it’s an interesting thought. Is there a point where he becomes a liability?

Pre-game: Who will win this match?
After watching the Brazilians (literally) stroll through their 3-0 win over a defensively naive Ghana, we’re almost ready to find out who they will play. France may be finding their scoring touch after their 2-0 win and constant peppering of the Togo goal in their final group game. Spain rested just about everyone in their final group game and still squeaked out a win so we should expect them to be full of running tonight.

It has the potential to be a fantastic game and I’m crossing my fingers. My prediction is 3-1 Spain. What’s yours?