 |
Group C - France-S.Africa, France unleashes 3-goal flurry |
 |
France produced the champagne soccer the whole nation had been hoping for and routed South Africa 3-0 Friday night under a continuous barrage of attacks that could carry it far in the World Cup.
Substitute Christophe Dugarry, whose place on the team was credited by many to his friendship with French star Zinedine Zidane, scored one goal and assisted on another. Thierry Henry weaved through the South African defense in injury time to provide a final goal and top off a great performance.
Zidane, Marseille's native son, led the French forward throughout the match, ridiculing South Africa's defensive strategy, and together with his best friend Dugarry, he led France beyond the nervousness of its debut as host.
"The door is wide open now," said French coach Aime Jacquet. "We are really confident."
As they should be after so dominant a game, even if it was against a nation making its World Cup debut.
"We will savor this win, but we won't rest on our laurels," Henry said.
Wave after wave of attacks finally paid off in the 35th minute when a corner kick from Zidane found Dugarry unmarked in the goalmouth.
The substitute for injured striker Stephane Guivarc'h headed it home off the goalpost to set the crowd into roaring celebration.
In the 78th minute, continuous pressure paid off again, with Dugarry finding Youri Djorkaeff free in the penalty area. The forward's shot on goal was deflected by South Africa's Pierre Issa into his own net.
Henry, just 20, then made it a perfect night for France, lifting the ball over goalie Hans Vonk for his first goal for France.
France silenced the critics and sent the crowds into continuous cheers despite the howling winds that beat on this Mediterranean port throughout the evening. The audience included French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin and French organizing committee president Michel Platini.
"We knew we could count on the Marseille crowd," said Jacquet. "It was good soccer in very tough conditions."
Added Didier Deschamps, "We mustn't lose our way now after such a good start. This is just one game."
South Africa's latest chapter in its sporting history, following almost three decades on the sidelines of international soccer because of apartheid, never had any sparkle to it.
"We were missing experience and chances to play together. We played against a great team," said South African coach Philippe Troussier. "But we did not deserve this kind of result."
The 3-0 score was the most decisive in the World Cup so far.
South Africa got its only chance in first-half injury time when Issa rose above Laurent Blanc to meet a free kick from David Nyathi. But his glancing header went just to the wrong side of the post.
The only French worry was that for 78 minutes only a single goal separated the two. On defense, France towered over the opposition and outmuscled the Africans every time.
France may have been tentative for the first 20 minutes, but started producing threats over the next 15 minutes with a half-dozen opportunities.
Dugarry, much-maligned by the French media for a string of weak performances, came through almost immediately after entering.
And the French took off from there.
