Clash of Styles in Euro Final a Certainty for France, Italy
A team hungry to win meets one desperate not to lose in the Euro 2000 final.
France has reached today’s clash in style, adding attacking prowess to the defensive stability that was the foundation of its World Cup triumph two years ago. But if any team can halt the French steamroller, it is the superbly organized, if not always attractive, Italians.
“The Italians don’t really produce an attractive game,” said Patrick Vieira, who had a brief, unhappy spell at AC Milan before transferring to Arsenal. “All that matters to the Italians is to defend well. After that, they leave three players to take care of matters up front.”
With its best striker, Christian Vieri, injured, Italy has shown only occasional flashes at Euro 2000.
For the most part it has resorted to negative tactics, most notably in its semifinal win on penalties against the Netherlands when it barely came out of its defensive shell for two hours.
Italy has the toughest defense in the competition, having given up only two goals, and some on the French side fear that Coach Dino Zoff’s team might defend in depth today.
France is an overwhelming favorite to become the second team to hold the World Cup and European Championship simultaneously since West Germany did it by winning the European title in 1972 and the World Cup in 1974.
One of France’s only worries is whether midfielder Emmanuel Petit will have shaken a bout of flu.
“They are another great team,” Italian defender Alessandro Nesta said. “We’ll need another great game to beat them.”
But Italy, European champion in 1968, won’t be underestimated by the French.
The Azzurri is looking to avenge a 4-3 penalty-shootout loss to France in the quarterfinals of the 1998 World Cup.
“We have some things to change from the match in Paris, especially the result,” said midfielder Demetrio Albertini, one of two Italians who failed to convert in the shootout.
This year’s Italian team isn’t the most attractive to watch, but Zoff’s players have shown all the traditional virtues of determination, big-match temperament and world-class organization.
Italy’s victory over the Netherlands, when it played for nearly 90 minutes with only 10 players, was a perfect example.
Zoff hopes that the victory didn’t take too much out of his team.
“We spent of lot of energy, but so did the French in their game,” he said. “They had one more day of rest than us.”
Italy knows the French team inside out since 13 of the players have been signed to Italian clubs at some stage in their career.
Perhaps the most dangerous is Zinedine Zidane, whom Zoff saw regularly at Juventus.
“He is a great player, but we’re not going to change our whole concept just trying to stop him,” Zoff said.
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Euro 2000 Championship
* Who: France vs. Italy
* When: 11 a.m. PDT today
* TV: Pay per view
