Spain 1 France 3: The Germans must have a word for it - this sensation of an involuntary cringe while waiting for the blow to fall. The Spanish certainly have a phrase for it. World Cup. They always know that the blow is coming. They don't know when, just that it will be before the quarter-finals.
Last night in Hanover, Spain held all the decent cards. The French, jaded and long since sated, would have traded anything for some youth, some momentum or some desire as they went into battle again. Instead, they got the traditional Spanish collapse.
Handed a first-half lead, Spain did little about defending, consolidating or accumulating. They just waited stoically for disaster to find them. Their big names, with a few exceptions, declined all responsibility. Their World Cup adventure had the look of doom about it long before a late header from Patrick Vieira found the Spanish net and a fine individual goal from Zinedine Zidane underlined the gulf between the sides.
The French could hardly be accused of anything as calculated as playing themselves into this tournament, but all the rows, the flounces and hissy fits have carried them through to a quarter-final against Brazil. Their minds surely are concentrated now.
Last night, the Spanish opted for reputation over potential. Raul, who has had a miserable World Cup, was preferred ahead of either Luis Garcia or Joaquin. For Les Bleus, the dithering Raymond Domenech had to go back to the ancient regime and cast a come hither look at Zidane.
Some sympathy for Domenech here. Zidane had done nothing much to merit such attention, but to lose the game without him in the line-up would be life threatening for the manager. As his opposite number, Luis Aragones, might say, Domenech is a chicken who just hasn't got those sort of cojones.
We know Aragones has access to this knowledge because in refusing to elaborate further on the Thierry Henry/racist remarks incident, he told the media this week, "I have black, Gypsy and Japanese friends, including one whose job is to determine the sex of poultry". As it happened, Zidane was something like his old self and, as he left the field with his arm draped over the shoulder of Fabien Barthez, one wondered if Les Bleus hadn't discovered immortality.
The Spanish expected better than this. Say what you might about Aragones though (Racist Groupie to Poultry Fiddlers!), he sets out an attractive side. In the second minute the Spaniards came at the French in Armada form, Villa Torres and Raul leading the way with Xavi following up. They were smitten by an offside flag. but briefly they looked irresistible. If only they believed.
The French at least are sustained by a memory of how things can be. Zidane especially. After 20 minutes it looked as if Zissou alone would be the difference. He laid a little ball off for Thierry Henry and when it fell astray in the box he pounced to shoot over the bar.
Minutes later, he again fed Henry, this time a divine little angled five-yarder out to the right wing. Henry stroked it across the goal and the lanky Vieira found his leg just a quarter-inch too short to turn it into the net.
After 27 minutes the Spaniards were offered the gift of confidence. Lilian Thuram, usually the most elegant of defenders, horsed into the back of Pablo Ibanez in the box, stamping his ankle as he did so. The Italian referee, having seen his nation awarded a penalty for much less against Australia on Monday, pointed to the spot. Barthez guessed right, but David Villa's penalty was perfect. Spain are a goal ahead.
Which seems to make them nervous.
Now then, the stats people have been calling us over to dark corners and pushing numbers. The French, they hiss, are, on average, five years older than the Spanish. This figure applies only to the teams on the field, of course, and takes no account of the fact that Franck Ribery and Malouda, the two token French youths selected, are better and more hard-working than many of the supposedly zestful Spaniards.
While Raul and, to a lesser extent, Villa have gone missing up front for Spain, Ribery and Malouda are chipping away at the game, taking their cue from Zidane.
Just four minutes before half-time Ribery uses his head to beat the offside trap (something his elderly colleagues have been having difficulty with) when Vieira sends him free. Iker Casillas comes off his line like a man who smells smoke, but Ribery dances around him and left foots the ball home. They go to the break. The Spaniards look as if they need therapy.
The torment continues later.
Six minutes into the half Ribery plays a looped pass towards Malouda who almost lobs Casillas from the edge of the area. By now, Aragones had seen enough. Raul and David Villa were hailed ashore. Xavi soon followed.
All for nothing. Spain huffed and puffed, but hadn't two ideas to rub together. Gifted possession by the French, they didn't know what to do with it. Joaquin brought some trickery, but by now Torres was isolated and sulky in attack and Cesc Fabregas was finding it hard to muster the sort of passing which has swelled his reputation.
In the end, as Spanish confidence made a puddle around their boots, it looked like they were fated for death by extra time unless the French chose to put an end to it sooner. They did. Puyol stuck an elbow out to clumsily impede Henry's progress in the 83rd minute. Puyol got booked and conceded a free which Zidane floated to the near post. It got a flick on and Vieira headed home off the lunging leg of Sergio Ramos.
Over, except for the grace note which was provided by, who else, Zidane. In injury-time, Fabregas was hustled out of possession by Makelele. A quick pass to Wiltord, who found Zidane in space and full of running. Zissou cut inside Puyol. He eyed the goal and he eyed Casillas and then wrongfooted the latter to shake the former.
Resurrection man! Magnifique!
SUBSTITUTIONS
SPAIN: Senna for Xavi (72 mins), Joaquin for Villa (54 mins), Luis Garcia for Raul (54 mins). Subs not used: Salgado, Marchena, Albelda, Reyes, Antonio Lopez, Iniesta, Canizares, Juanito, Reina. Booked: Puyol.
FRANCE: Govou for Malouda (74 mins), Wiltord for Henry (88 mins). Subs not used: Landreau, Boumsong, Dhorasoo, Silvestre, Saha, Givet, Diarra, Trezeguet, Chimbonda, Coupet. Booked: Vieira, Ribery, Zidane.
Referee: R Rosetti (Italy).
