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French media shows no mercy (Euro 2004)
BBCWorld ^ | 26 June, 2004 | BBC

Posted on 06/26/2004 6:30:17 PM PDT by Cronos

French media shows no mercy

Zinedine Zidane
 
The French press has labelled the country's exit from Euro 2004 at the hands of Greece as "pitiful".

The defending champions were beaten 1-0 in Friday's quarter-final and the French media has savaged the team.

Newspaper Le Parisien said "it is a severe failure which will necessitate hard questioning".

And Sports paper L'Equipe described the team's display as "indefensible", adding: "Les Bleus are stark naked, they showed no desire, no ideas".

Three-time world footballer of the year Zinedine Zidane bore the brunt of L'Equipe's anger.

The paper gave Zidane, who is tipped to retire from international football, just four out of 10 for his display.

"He was practically useless during the first half. Can Zizou quit the national team after such a lacklustre performance?," the paper asked.

Le Parisien predicted "France's failure means the end for the golden generation which won the 1998 World Cup in 1998 and the European championship in 2000".

Le Monde, the quality daily which unusually let sport onto its front page, wrote that France were "dominated from the first minutes of the match".

"Penetrable in defence and disorganised in attack, France leave this tournament quite rightly," it added.

The front page of the Nice Matin screamed: "Dismaying!", while also asking "is this really a surprise?"

"The team is no more than a shadow of its former self," it continued.


By contrast, the Greek press was understandably ecstatic after the national team produced one of the greatest shocks in football.

The headline in Tea Nea newspaper said: "Oh la la, the great Greece!", while "Vive la Grece!" was Eleftherotypia's response to the victory.

Other headlines were "The Greece of 1-0, The Greece of miracles," and "A country, a team, a dream".

But Eleftheros Typos correctly pointed out "No, it's not a dream," and said Angelos Charisteas' golden goal had "led to national euphoria".

And sports daily Filathlos confidently stated: "Otto Rehhagel's team which brought France to their knees can bring home the trophy".



TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: euro2004; football; france; greece

1 posted on 06/26/2004 6:30:19 PM PDT by Cronos
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To: Cronos

BBBuuuaaaahahahahahahahaha


2 posted on 06/26/2004 6:31:53 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (I want to die in my sleep like Gramps -- not yelling and screaming like those in his car)
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To: Cronos

Clearly soccer is more important to them than preserving civilization against its enemies.


3 posted on 06/26/2004 6:44:09 PM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: Cronos

Cheese-eating surrender monkeys, get over it.


4 posted on 06/26/2004 6:48:49 PM PDT by JusPasenThru (42 muscles to frown, 17 muscles to smile, but 0 muscles just to sit there and look dumb.)
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To: Cronos
...which won the 1998 World Cup in 1998...

Yer kiddin!...I thought they won the 1998 World Cup in 1997.

FMCDH(BITS)

5 posted on 06/26/2004 6:50:40 PM PDT by nothingnew (KERRY: "If at first you don't deceive, lie, lie again!")
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To: Cronos
I prefer French "Bull Fighting."


6 posted on 06/26/2004 6:53:46 PM PDT by Bluntpoint
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To: Cronos

Hmmmm, perhaps they will continue their love of all things Saddam by torturing their players when they don't win.


7 posted on 06/26/2004 7:00:54 PM PDT by McGavin999 (If Kerry can't deal with the "Republican Attack Machine" how is he going to deal with Al Qaeda)
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To: McGavin999

Maybe, but the French team played atrociously even though they do have some of the best players in the world like Henri, Zidane, Trezeguet and Pires.


8 posted on 06/26/2004 7:14:46 PM PDT by Cronos (W2K4!)
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To: Cronos

I would not count Trezeguet as one of the best players. He was actually horrible throughout the championship. The French missed Vieira in midfield. However, this is no excuse for how terribly they played, and not just in this game.

I actually like zidane who is not just one of the best players in the world, but a very classy down to earth guy. Too bad he plays for France! I can't believe how low the French press is. Without him they wouldn't have beaten England (he scored 2 goals in a 2-1 victory) or the Swiss.


9 posted on 06/26/2004 8:59:23 PM PDT by winner3000
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To: winner3000

You're right about Trezeguet, I meant Vieira. Zidane is superb. Did you watch the France-England match? Zizou with icy coolness took the last two goals to take away the BRits chances.


10 posted on 06/26/2004 9:01:45 PM PDT by Cronos (W2K4!)
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