Nedved v Zidane: the comeback king? (1 Viewer)

Stephan

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Nov 9, 2005
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Nedved v Zidane: the comeback king?


Pavel Nedved and Zinedine Zidane both returned to the world stage in 2005, but who will prove the comeback king in Germany? The lure of helping their countries qualify for the World Cup proved too much for the duo who came out of post-Euro 2004 retirement to push their nations towards the finals.

THE ZZ FACTOR

Zidane - along with Claude Makelele and Lilian Thuram - returned to the international fold in August after retiring following Les Bleus' sorry Euro 2004 campaign which ended in the whimper of a quarter-final exit to Greece.

While the other two were arguably more practical use to a France side which had struggled horribly in a mediocre qualifying Group Four, it was the re-appearance of Zidane in his habitual number 10 shirt that reinstilled belief in the French public - and surprisingly also the rest of the squad - that they could claim a place in Germany.

The place of Zidane in the French footballing psyche - cemented by the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 wins - was never more prominent until the Real Madrid man quit the international arena.

And it took only 90 minutes of a dreary goalless draw against Israel in the opening qualifier for the public to clamour for Zidane's return, meaning the clean break with the glorious past which Raymond Domenech's reign was meant to herald was immediately compromised.

But with Zidane back, the doom-and-gloom which had poisoned the qualifying campaign was transformed into delirious 'We can win the World Cup' optimism.

A 3-0 win in a friendly against Ivory Coast before a crucial 1-0 victory in the Republic of Ireland, courtesy of a Thierry Henry beauty, a draw in Switzerland and a healthy win over Cyprus later and France - and Zidane - were heading for the World Cup.

It mattered little that he had not played all that well and that the Swiss - but for Alexander Frei's profligate finishing - would have finished top of the group, Zidane had delivered his country again.

NEDVED CZECHS BACK IN

Pavel Nedved may not have won the World Cup, but the Juve dynamo enjoys similar messianic standing in the Czech Republic.

Nedved did not initially retire following his side's Euro 2004 semi-final defeat, but after a long season - peppered with injury problems - asked for a break from the national side.

But while Zidane's retirement was met with grieving from media and fans, Nedved was bombarded with criticism from compatriots, amazingly questioning his commitment to the national cause.

After being the hub of the side since the Euro 96 final, a disgusted Nedved decided to quit the national side altogether.

But tempted by the prospect of a first-ever World Cup finals for his country, Nedved brought himself out of self-imposed exile to guide - and even captain the side - in the two-legged play-off triumph over Norway.

With his return, the Czech Republic were again the vibrant side who wooed so many in Portugal, his return not only a psychological boost but also giving the team the drive from midfield so glaringly lacking in qualifying.

Nedved could come face-to-face with Zidane - the man he has supplanted so successfully at Juventus - in the World Cup quarter-finals, a fitting stage on which to contest the crown for the king of the comeback.



Eurosport - ih 26/12/2005
 

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