| Champions Brazil will defend their World Cup title in the Stade de France on
Sunday, against France or Croatia, following tonight's breathtaking 4-2 penalty
shoot-out semi-final win over Holland in Marseille. Brazilian 'keeper Taffarel saved the third and fourth spot-kicks from Dutchmen
Philip Cocu and Ronald de Boer to send the samba fans wild, whilst the Dutch
were left ruing a number of missed chances. The two top-scoring teams in the competition met in what was billed as the classic
confrontation between attack-minded nations, and after a rather cagey opening
45 minutes, with just the one attempt on target, the contest exploded into action. A minute after the interval Ronaldo gave the South Americans the lead they
looked like holding until Patrick Kluivert levelled with just three minutes
remaining to send an enthralling match into golden goal sudden death extra-time
and the eventual dreaded shoot-out. It was evident early on that neither side would be throwing too much caution to
the wind, with a number of tactical battles providing fascinating action all over
the pitch. Mario Zagallo introduced Ze Carlos in place of the suspended Cafu as right
wing-back and the debutante was singled out as a weakness by the Dutch, who
concentrated most of their attacks down the left with Boudewijn Zenden and
Cocu. While Roberto Carlos was given special attention down the Dutch right
with Michael Reiziger and Ronald de Boer doubling up on the flying left
wing-back. Dennis Bergkamp sent a 20-yard chip just over Taffarel's crossbar after just three
minutes as the first 15 minutes saw both sides approach this semi-final with total
respect for each other. With Ronaldo and Bebeto superbly shackled by Jaap Stam and the outstanding
Frank de Boer the Brazilians were struggling to find their normal fluency, and
similarly the Dutch, with Bergkamp anonymous, failed to create any real
opportunities until the 29th minute. Cocu and Zenden combined down the left with the latter's inviting delivery met
by the head of Kluivert, who will be disappointed not to have hit the target from
eight yards as his effort sailed inches over the Brazilian bar. Apart from a couple of typical long-range efforts from Roberto Carlos, of which a
ludicrous 45-yard free-kick attempt on 44 minutes needed saving by van der Sar,
Brazil had been very disappointing in attack and another Kluivert header
shaved their crossbar right on the stroke of half-time. The Dutch were caught napping just seconds after the interval when Ronaldo
escaped the clutches of his markers to open the scoring with a low left-footed shot
through the legs of Edwin van der Sar, for his 29th goal in 43 amazing
appearances. Holland now had to play to create themselves, and the old cliche that the 'game
had needed a goal' was never more true, as they immediately went close to
grabbing the equaliser. Wim Jonk's corner from the left was whipped in
right-footed and Kluivert's glancing header was met by Frank de Boer at the far
post but somehow Taffarel kept out his point-blank shot as Brazil scrambled the
danger away. It was end-to-end entertainment of the highest quality and Ronaldo
demonstrated astounding pace to latch onto a one-two with Bebeto with van der
Sar smothering bravely, whilst Kluivert continued his one-man mission, going
close with another header and a left-foot shot. On 73 minutes Ronaldo looked sure to end the game as a contest when racing
clear onto a throughball from substitute Denilson only to be denied by a
wonderful last-ditch tackle by Edgar Davids with the ball trickling agonisingly
wide. Rivaldo then had a chance to sew it up following Denilson's mesmerising run and
dribble but van der Sar produced another outstanding stop, before Kluivert
again fired wastefully over from substitute van Hooijdonk's measured low cross
with ten minutes remaining. However, just five minutes later the Dutch striker, Kluivert, finally and
deservedly headed home the equaliser from a quality cross from Ronald de Boer,
to take this intriguing match into golden goal extra time. Although the Dutch did
appeal in vain for a controversial last-minute penalty when van Hooijdonk went
down in the area, only to be booked for diving. Far from sitting back and waiting for the agony of the shoot-outs, both sides were
positive during the two sudden death periods with chances at both ends. Ronaldo saw his overhead-kick cleared off the line before van der Sar produced
a fantastic diving save to deny the brilliant 21-year-old, whilst van Hooijdonk
tested Taffarel with a 35-yard free-kick and Kluivert's left-footed volley scraped
the paint off a post with the 'keeper beaten. Brazil were first up in the shoot-out with Ronaldo firing high into the net and the
next four kicks were all successful, with Frank de Boer and Bergkamp scoring for
Holland and Rivaldo and Emerson putting the world champions 3-2 ahead,
before Cocu and Ronald de Boer's failures sandwiched a strike from Dunga. The stage is now set for the World Cup Final on Sunday evening with Brazil
aiming to lift the trophy for the fifth time, whilst the winners of France and
Croatia will be making their first ever appearance in the Final. |
