A Tale of Two Champions

The respective champions of the last two World Cups got their campaigns kicking to rather contrasting starts this morning.

France has been saddled with age jokes since the 98 World Cup. They won it with a defense that was over a hundred years old in combined age, and with its 98 talismans such as Thuram and Zidane still vital clogs in this 2006 team, it looks like the French have dragged progression into the recycling bin and opted for instantaneous success instead.

Their dour 0-0 draw with relative minnows Switzerland yesterday underlines two or three of a hundred things about Les Bleus:

• Thuram is old
• They've lost the cup initiative
• Zidane looks old

Decidedly, they failed to breakdown a resolute Swiss defense despite playing classy champagne football. Ribery (probably the only young player) produced some fancy tricks and Zidane got off his rocking chair a few times to produce some neat passes.

In contrasting fashion, Brazil played like cows and got away with a victory. Croatia should be downing quite a few whiskeys to drown their sorrows tonight as their brilliant defensive organization was undone by a masterclass strike from Kaka. But other than that sumptuous effort from the babyfaced Brazilian, Brazil for the most part looked tired, unimaginative and frankly, boring. They seem unable to cope with the physical aspects of the Croats' game and often looked like they were more excited to play out 90-minutes and go back to the hotel for a nap rather than to do the Brazil thing, which is to play jaw-dropping soccer.

But they won, and as Eriksson said, that's the important thing. Then again to compare Brazil's lackluster performance to England's school boy approach to soccer on Saturday is a juggernaut insult. Which in contrast to France playing some neat soccer and drawing as a result, is something that Brazil can take heart for. France's World Cup goal drought continues and the problem is, there's no Cisse to blame it on anymore.

Henry, the sharpest tool in football's shack was there, getting on the end of chances, Makelele was crunching-in the tackles and Zidane was breezing through the park playing the orchestrator. But yet they did not get the result. The France machine was chugging but there was no end product. Brazil decided to snooze through their match and won. The temperament of champions was what separated the two. Much like how Manchester United won the cup under Cantona's watch with a host of badly played 1-0 victories, champions win even when they play badly. The others who claim to play well have only but the referee to blame and frankly, a loss is still a loss to fans, whether or not you looked snazzy while losing.

France could go on to win the cup, and that, and that only is what will satisfy the French legions after being knocked out in the last one while defending it on their watch. As for Brazil, it's another three points in a what would likely be two more in the coming weeks. And after that it is as they say, clockwork, as they march on to the final against England.

Peace.

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