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No one loses in Lyon
France beats Denmark 2-1; both advance from Group C
Posted: Wednesday June 24, 1998 03:26 PM
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Youri Djorkaeff put France up early, but both teams got what they wanted from the match (AP) |
LYON, France (AP) --
The president happily listened as the crowds sang the Marseillaise in
unison. In another corner, the Danish contingent was bouncing back and
forth in joy. Everyone was a winner Wednesday in France's 2-1 defeat of Denmark.
Wednesday's Group C results gave the host nation top place and an easier
passage into the next World Cup rounds, while the Scandinavians also
advanced to meet Nigeria on
Sunday. Despite the loss, Denmark went through as second qualifier
as Saudi
Arabia held South
Africa 2-2 in the other group match. "We're doing well and we're
going to get better," said French coach Aime Jacquet after France clinched
its third win in a row, this time with a slew of players more used to bein
substitute. "We lost, but we can move on," said a relieved Danish
coach Bo Johansson. The crowd at the 44,000-capacity Stade de
Gerland sang the Marseillaise and France's first fan, President Jacques
Chirac, was all smiles. "I'll be there again [for France] at the final," he
said. Playmaker Youri Djorkaeff converted a penalty in the 12th
minute after a smooth move from defender Vincent Candela found David
Trezeguet, who was floored by Jes Hogh. Peter Schmeichel, earning a Danish
record 103rd cap, got a hand on the penalty but could not push it out.
Against the run of play, Denmark equalized in the 42nd minute when two
French defensive flaws also earned it a spot kick. Patrick Vieira
unnecessarily leaned into an opponent just outside the area and then Brian
Laudrup caught the French asleep. The veteran sent Martin Jorgensen into
the penalty area and Candela cut his legs away in desperation.
Michael Laudrup, in his 102nd international, scored his 37th goal for
Denmark. At 34, he will retire after the World Cup. Emmanuel Petit
put things right again for France in the 57th minute, shooting through a
maze of legs to beat Schmeichel for the decisive goal, spoiling the record
day forthe goalkeeper. "France was the better team," conceded
Johansson. "It was good that the loss wasn't bigger." In the last
second, French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez had to make a good save from a
freekick by Stig Tofting, earning several kisses on his bald head from his
defenders. "Even with the substitutions, the confidence was still
there and they kept us on the right road," said Jacquet. By the end
of the game, Danish fans were cheering "Saudi, Saudi," knowing the Arab
nation had done more than expected by containing South Africa.
Emmanuel Petit celebrates after scoring the winning goal off a corner kick (AP) | |
France won Group C with a maximum nine points out of three games. Denmark
has four points, South Africa two, and Saudi Arabia finished last with one
point. A Danish loss combined with a big South African win could
have seen the Africans through. A Danish win over France would have given
the Scandinavians first place. Denmark will play Nigeria in St.
Denis on Sunday and Brazil looms for
the winner of that match in the quarterfinal. France will face either Spain, Bulgaria or Paraguay in
Lens, which is considered a far easier task. Only
four of France's World Cup starting lineup began Wednesday's game.
Anybody with ideas both would play for a mutually advantageous goalless
draw were quickly proved wrong. France, without a slew of regular
starters to avoid suspensions in the second round, piled on the pressure
from the start and had to wait only a dozen minutes to be rewarded with the
penalty goal. With star playmaker Zinedine Zidane serving the first
game of a two-match suspension for kicking an opponent, it was the start
Jacuet had dreamed of. Hometown hero Djorkaeff took over Zidane's
playmaking role with poise and efficiency for most of the match.
France had well over a dozen chances, continuing its attractive brand of
soccer that has delighted the home crowds during the first two weeks of the
World Cup. Denmark did find some holes in the reworked French
defense, with Brian Laudrup using his speed on the right to outpace Candela
and testing Barthez with two shots, the last of which needed a brilliant
reaction save from 10 yards. In the second half, France continued to
pressure, and Djorkaeff almost volleyed home a deep pass from Petit, but
again Schmeichel was up to the task. Petit put some distance between
the teams in the 57th minute. Lineups: France: Fabien
Barthez; Christian Karembeu, Marcel Desailly, Frank Leboeuf, Vincent
Candela; Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires (Thierry Henry, 72nd), Emmanuel Petit
(Alain Boghossian, 65th); Youri Djorkaeff, David Trezeguet (Stephane
Guivarc'h, 86th), Bernard Diomede. Denmark: Peter Schmeichel;
Jacob Laursen (Soren Colding, 46th), Marc Rieper, Jes Hogh, Jan Heintze;
Martin Jorgensen (Ebbe Sand, 55th), Thomas Helveg, Allan Nielsen, Michael
Schjonberg; Michael Laudrup, Brian Laudrup (Stig Tofting, 75th).
Referee: Pierluigi Collina, Italy.
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