ACTUALITE |
30.06.2003
France overcome brave Cameroon
Thierry Henry´s golden goal gave France victory over Cameroon in the Confederations Cup on an emotional night in Paris.
Henry scored seven minutes into extra-time as the host nation beat a brave Cameroon side.
Cameroon were playing the match as a tribute to team-mate Marc-Vivien Foe, who died after collapsing during the team´s semi-final win over Colombia on Thursday.
And, as a mark of respect, the captain of each team - Rigobert Song of Cameroon and France´s Marcel Desailly - held a picture of Foe as they led their side´s out at the Stade de France in Paris.
A minute´s silence was also observed as players from both sides intermingled and linked arms in the centre circle.
All the Cameroon players wore Foe´s number 17 on their warmup shirts, with the deceased midfielder´s name written on the back.
Foe´s widow Marie Louise, who watched her husband collapse on Thursday, sat close to Fifa president Sepp Blatter in the grandstand.
Understandably, the match was slow in building up momentum before Thierry Henry created the first chance of the game to give the contest more impetus.
Henry crossed for Djibril Cisse after 22 minutes but his header went wide.
Cameroon immediately exerted a spell of pressure on the French goal with Mohamadou Idrissou and Eric Djemba Djemba both going close.
Henry was a constant threat for France but it was Pius Ndiefi for Cameroon who went close at the other end when his flicked shot was saved by keeper Fabien Barthez.
Barthez was quickly involved again and he did not know Idrissou was off-side when he pulled off an impressive point-blank save.
The opening half ended goalless and France found it just as difficult to break down the resolute Cameroon defence after the interval.
They had an ambitious Henry half-volley to show for their efforts before the Indomitable Lions had the best chance of the game.
Samuel Eto´o found himself free at the far post but, just after coming on as a substitute, shot wide from close range.
Eto´o had returned to join the Cameroon squad a day after scoring twice in Real Mallorca´s win over Recreativo Huelva in the Spanish Cup.
The game went into extra-time and Henry proved the match winner with his golden goal winner.
Cameroon: Kameni; Ndoumbe, Song, Atouba, Mettomo; Geremi, Mbami, Mezague, Idrissou; Ndiefi, Djemba Djemba.
France: Barthez; Sagnol, Desailly, Gallas, Lizarazu; Giuly, Pedretti, Dacourt, Wiltord; Cisse, Henry.
Referee: Valentin Ivanov (Russia)
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Hits: 1 | Source:BBC | |
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