Post by Salem6 on May 21, 2004 10:23:42 GMT
France and Brazil drew 0-0 in the FIFA Centenary match at the Stade de France nearly six years after the teams contested the 1998 World Cup final won by the hosts.
The Brazilian team were brandishing a banner which said "Senna, our eternal champion" as they marched out on to the field in hommage to the Brazil Formula One legend who was killed at the San Marino Grand Prix a little over a decade ago.
The match, more a sporting celebration than a real contest, saw both teams wearing an old-style kit made of thick material in the first half with France in their usual blue and Brazil in white.
France's forward Thierry Henry (R) breaks away from Brazil's midfielder Edmilson during the FIFA Centenary football match between France and Brazil at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris.
They reverted to their usual clothing after the interval but the party atmosphere continued with both sides only showing flashes of motivation and the match ending goalless for the first time in 11 contests.
With Brazil soon to play South American World Cup qualifiers and France involved in the Euro 2004 tournament in Portugal next month, the players looked for the most part careful not to spoil their preparation.
France coach Jacques Santini however would have been pleased to see their ninth consecutive match without conceding a goal though that apart, it is hard to see what else he would have gleaned from this contest.
Shortly after the match, Santini said captain Marcel Desailly had incurred a knee injury without adding details on the severity of the problem.
For the diehard statisticians, France maintained their unbeaten run against Brazil since their 2-0 defeat at the Parc des Princes in 1992 and Bernard Mendy became the 800th France international when he came on after the break.
With France fielding stars such as Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry and with Ronaldinho and Ronaldo playing for Brazil, there had to be moments where skill was on show however.
Brazil's striker Ronaldinho (L) fights for the ball with France's defender William Gallas during the FIFA Centenary football match between France and Brazil at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris.
Ronaldo forced a great save from keeper Gregory Coupet and shortly after Thierry Henry fired high over the bar with his left foot after acrobatically bringing the ball down with his right and sidestepping the defender.
Zidane showed his entertaining technical skill a few times down the left but there was little else on show before the break.
Brazil reverted to their usual yellow and blue kit after the break and Zidane took the captain's armband from Desailly, who had made way for Mendy.
Robert Pires had been replaced by Sylvain Wiltord who last appeared for France in the 3-0 victory over Germany last November.
Edu celebrated coming into the action with a left-footed shot which just went past Coupet's post while Juninho also tested Coupet with a powerful shot.
Roberto Carlos went one better to hit the post before Trezeguet gave the crowd a lift as he ran upfield but was then caught offside.
The first real ovation of the evening came when Zidane came off for Olivier Kapo in the 69th minute and passed the captain's armband to Arsenal's Patrick Vieira.
Coupet, who had a good night, saved from Ronaldo and then palmed away an attempt by Julio Baptista.
There was more action in the second half than the first of this fixture between reigning world champions Brazil and the European champions but the main aim of creating a footballing party had been achieved.
www.wldcup.com/news/2004May/20040520_24312_world_soccer.html
The Brazilian team were brandishing a banner which said "Senna, our eternal champion" as they marched out on to the field in hommage to the Brazil Formula One legend who was killed at the San Marino Grand Prix a little over a decade ago.
The match, more a sporting celebration than a real contest, saw both teams wearing an old-style kit made of thick material in the first half with France in their usual blue and Brazil in white.
France's forward Thierry Henry (R) breaks away from Brazil's midfielder Edmilson during the FIFA Centenary football match between France and Brazil at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris.
They reverted to their usual clothing after the interval but the party atmosphere continued with both sides only showing flashes of motivation and the match ending goalless for the first time in 11 contests.
With Brazil soon to play South American World Cup qualifiers and France involved in the Euro 2004 tournament in Portugal next month, the players looked for the most part careful not to spoil their preparation.
France coach Jacques Santini however would have been pleased to see their ninth consecutive match without conceding a goal though that apart, it is hard to see what else he would have gleaned from this contest.
Shortly after the match, Santini said captain Marcel Desailly had incurred a knee injury without adding details on the severity of the problem.
For the diehard statisticians, France maintained their unbeaten run against Brazil since their 2-0 defeat at the Parc des Princes in 1992 and Bernard Mendy became the 800th France international when he came on after the break.
With France fielding stars such as Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry and with Ronaldinho and Ronaldo playing for Brazil, there had to be moments where skill was on show however.
Brazil's striker Ronaldinho (L) fights for the ball with France's defender William Gallas during the FIFA Centenary football match between France and Brazil at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris.
Ronaldo forced a great save from keeper Gregory Coupet and shortly after Thierry Henry fired high over the bar with his left foot after acrobatically bringing the ball down with his right and sidestepping the defender.
Zidane showed his entertaining technical skill a few times down the left but there was little else on show before the break.
Brazil reverted to their usual yellow and blue kit after the break and Zidane took the captain's armband from Desailly, who had made way for Mendy.
Robert Pires had been replaced by Sylvain Wiltord who last appeared for France in the 3-0 victory over Germany last November.
Edu celebrated coming into the action with a left-footed shot which just went past Coupet's post while Juninho also tested Coupet with a powerful shot.
Roberto Carlos went one better to hit the post before Trezeguet gave the crowd a lift as he ran upfield but was then caught offside.
The first real ovation of the evening came when Zidane came off for Olivier Kapo in the 69th minute and passed the captain's armband to Arsenal's Patrick Vieira.
Coupet, who had a good night, saved from Ronaldo and then palmed away an attempt by Julio Baptista.
There was more action in the second half than the first of this fixture between reigning world champions Brazil and the European champions but the main aim of creating a footballing party had been achieved.
www.wldcup.com/news/2004May/20040520_24312_world_soccer.html