Has there ever been a player in the history of European football who could control the ball as well as Zinedine Zidane?
No. No, it does not.
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Zizou was a magician. He was a circus act. He might as well have had superpowers, given how in his prime he would draw audible gasps from the crowd simply by what he could do with the ball at his feet.
At his best, no one came close to him … as Portugal found out in brutally clear terms at Euro 2000.
It can come as no real surprise that France, with a player of Zidane in its ranks, stormed the continent of Belgium and the Netherlands. They only became the second team in history to win a World Cup and European Championship back-to-back, and it was largely that Zidane took the absolute p ***.
He made comparisons with Diego Armando Maradona for how he dictated games, avoided tackles and slalomed through opposing defenses, and you can make a high roll from a man from one of the five French winners on his way to lifting the trophy in Brussels.
?? EURO Masterclass: Zinédine Zidane? Spain at EURO 2000 ??? # EURO2020 | #EUROmasterclass | @equipedefrance pic.twitter.com/JgBb1a0k0f
– UEFA EURO 2020 (@ EURO2020) 7 March 2020
In the semis against Portugal, however, he did something that defied the faith – even for him.
And we are not talking about his Golden Goal penalty that won the match for France in overtime.
The moment of magic came under innocent circumstances during the second half of normal time. France, after leveling through Thierry Henry, chased a winner. But their creativity was stifled by Portugal, who at the time had interrupted delivery at Zidane’s feet.
After getting tired of it, Emmanuel Petit launched a 60-yard raker over the top in his direction. It was a wonderfully done pass, but the angle, height and pace of the ball made Zidane do well to do something about it.
Zidane takes the ball down his chest / Claudio Villa / Getty Images
A mortal may have hopelessly turned on it with the vague intention of capturing Victor Baia in Portugal’s goal. But not Zidane.
In a performance of barely explicable skill and technique, Zidane managed to catch the ball in his chest, send it back over his head and protect it from the retiring Dimas.
In an instant, he then turned his body 180 degrees and caught it with the outside of his right boot just as it hits the canvas.
Zidane flies with the ball / Claudio Villa / Getty Images
Where did the ball go? Has it shot down at the touchline? Did it conjure up harmlessly in the possession of one of the three covering Portuguese defenders who were actively willing to make a mistake?
No, it stays dead, right where Zidane wanted it, and he runs into space before whipping in a cross for Thierry Henry.
?? Zidane was unplayable when France beat Portugal to reach the #OTD final at EURO 2000! ? # EURO2020 | @equipedefrance pic.twitter.com/oxZkZ8M5WI
– UEFA EURO 2020 (@ EURO2020) 28 June 2021
You can see the whole thing unfold in about four seconds in the Twitter clip above (1:06). Give it a look and see for yourself.
Had the attacker, dived and craned his neck to meet it, not slipped in the decisive moment, this would have fallen down as one of the very best help. But when it happened, it’s just one of many moments of pure genius that Zidane produced at the tournament.
He inspired France to go all the way and win a second major trophy in two years. Based on the above, it’s no wonder why.
