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June 18, 2006
SINGING LES BLEUS
France struggle to tie Korea 1-1
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South Korea's Eul Yong lee beats Frances' Patrick Veira to the ball.
Tony Quinn |
LEIPZIG, GERMANY---France ended the World Cup scoring drought, but still only came away with a 1-1 tie against South Korea on Sunday.
After going all of the 2002 World Cup and the first game of this one without a goal, Les Blues finally found the back of the net in the 9th minute against Korea.
Sylvain Wiltford cut the ball across to Thierry Henri just st the top of the penalty area. Henry controlled the ball with his right foot and tucked it into the net with his left foot. It was the fourth World Cup goal for Henry.
France had the better chances through most of the game, but it was the South Koreans to scored after putting relentless pressure on the French defense in the second half.
In the 81st minute, a cross from the wing was headed down in the penalty area, French goalkeeper Fabian Barthez who is notoriously weak in the air, slapped at the cross, but did not connect. Korea’s Park Ji Sung got a foot on the ball and put it in the net.
Only one minute earlier, Barthez had made a save on a similar ball, stopping a shot by Kim Ding Jin.
Other than their goal, France’s best opportunity was a header by Patrick Viera in the 32nd minute which was stopped by the Korean keeper Lee Woon Jae who appeared to be well behind the goal line when he made the stop.
France put on a passing and ball possession clinic for a brief period during the second half, but was unable to convert the attack into a goal.
In the 85th minute, France had one last opportunity, as Zinedine Zidane threaded a ball through to Henry, but the shot was stopped by Lee. Zidane, who has announced his retirement from the international game after this World Cup, was given a yellow card for a foul on the play, meaning he will sit out France’s final group game against Togo. With only two points from their first two matches, it is possible the French will fail to advance, making today’s game the final one of Zidane’s great career.
The Koreans meanwhile have four points going into their final Group G match with Switzerland
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