France save Zidane from sad exit

COLOGNE, June 24: It was a strange 34th birthday for Zinedine Zidane but an enjoyable one in the end, France's 2-0 World Cup victory over Togo meaning he will be back for the team he has graced for over a decade.

Les Bleus' first World Cup win since they stunned Brazil 3-0 in the 1998 final will enable Zidane, who will retire after the tournament and missed yesterday game through suspension, to play at least one more match.

The ageing maestro was shown his second yellow card in the tournament during the 1-1 draw with South Korea last Sunday that would have been the last match of his illustrious career had France failed to qualify.

Now they are through to a second round clash on Tuesday with Spain, whose players Zidane knows well after having blessed Real Madrid for years.

''I'm pleased for the team and for Zidane,'' said French Football Federation president Jean-Pierre Escalettes.

''It would have hurt if that match (against Korea), with the yellow card and that bizarre ending (with a substitution in added time), would have been his last.

''He's happy to meet Spain, guess why?'' The discreet, almost shy Zidane was not by the pitch nor in the stands but watched from the dressing room as his friend Patrick Vieira, deputising as captain and celebrating his 30th birthday, scored the first goal and set up the other.

''Zizou talked to us before the match the way he always does and we knew he was in that dressing room supporting us,'' said Vieira.

Defender Eric Abidal, who was also suspended, watched the game with Zidane from the changing rooms.

''He didn't want to come out,'' Abidas said. ''It's not easy to be by the pitch when you're not playing.

''He will stop after this and now he can retire on a high note.

He's still got important moments waiting for him. That match against Spain will be complicated and we need him.'' Zidane and Vieira deserve a birthday party but they will have to wait.

''We'll take care of that on July 9 in Berlin,'' said Abidal, naming the date and place of the World Cup final.

REUTERS