BRUGES, Belgium, June 25 (Reuters) - Zinedine Zidane said he
was feeling great after looking exactly that way as he inspired
France to a hard-fought 2-1 win over Spain on Sunday for a spot
in the semi-finals of Euro 2000.
'I'm 28 and I'm at the peak of my powers,' said the gifted
playmaker after offering an outstanding display two days after
his birthday.
'I'm feeling really good. Let's hope it will continue.'
Not only did the Juventus player put the world champions in
the lead with a superb 32nd minute free kick - his 14th goal
for France in 57 appearances.
France's number 10 also orchestrated play with mastery
throughout an exciting game. He was at the heart of every move
the French made, demonstrating his unique skills and vision.
'When we don't know what to do with the ball, we just give
it to him and he works out something,' said wing back Bixente
Lizarazu, summing up how vital Zidane is to his team.
The 1998 European Footballer of the Year - who may well win
the award this year again if he helps France go all the way -
simply did everything right.
'He really is exceptional,' said striker Christophe Dugarry,
a close friend of Zidane since the two played together for
Bordeaux. 'Sometimes you want to stop playing just to watch
him.'
Zidane's showing naturally drew comparisons with another
French hero, Michel Platini, who was equally brilliant and also
scored from a free kick in another great victory over Spain, in
the 1984 European final.
But everything almost went awfully wrong for France on
Sunday, Raul firing a penalty kick over the bar in stoppage
time.
'We were getting ready for extra time,' said Zidane. 'It
would have been tough for us, but for them as well, and I think
we were fresher. But looking at the whole 90 minutes, I think we
deserved to win.'
And the quiet Marseille son of African immigrants believes there is much more to come from his adopted home.
'I think we're even stronger than we were two years ago,' he
said. 'We've had two years to mature and we've got several
talented strikers now.'
