HE talked of a “war” before the match and he is no shrinking violet himself, so it was somewhat surprising yesterday when Patrick Vieira complained yesterday of England’s strongarm tactics during the opening group B match in Lisbon.
England conceded 21 free kicks to France’s 16 in the match and Claude Makelele, the Chelsea and France midfield player, emerged from the Stadium of Light with his arm in a sling after damaging his collarbone in a collision with Emile Heskey, evidence, according to Vieira, that England had been overly aggressive in their attempts to win the game.
“It was really tough. We couldn’t break down their defensive shield. They fouled a lot and cheated,” the Arsenal midfield player said. “But we stayed calm and showed the strength of character we needed to win.
“I was surprised by the English game, they were very defensive. But we were very strong as a group, even when England made a lot of fouls. We would have thought 1-1 was a good result but the luck we didn’t have in the 2002 World Cup, we had in this game.”
By contrast, Bixente Lizarazu, the France full back, apologised for any offence caused by the team’s post-match celebrations and Zinedine Zidane recalled how he had stunned England into silence with two swings of that magnificent right foot.
Advertisement
“You have to understand it was a special victory for us,” Lizarazu said. “We thought a draw was the most we could get, but then suddenly we had won. If England had won, particularly in such a dramatic way, they would have done the same.”
Zidane, talking through the two-minute spell that turned the match upside down, said: “When I put the ball down for the free kick, I knew how important it was because it was the last chance for us to get into the game. I gathered my thoughts and focused myself, but then I swung a boot at it.
“Before a moment like that I don’t feel any emotion. I have been through moments like that before. And I always practise. I know exactly what I have to do. It was the same with the penalty. I don’t think about the occasion or how long is left. I just go for it.
“We never doubted ourselves for a second. The fact that we won says everything about us. It was hard on England but such drama is what makes this game beautiful.”