By reaching this final, Zoff has surpassed his country's gloomy expectations. With France absolutely reliant on Zidane, he sees the chance of confounding his critics completely. But the modern game demands a team of players who can share in the creative work. For France, to play one minute without Zidane would be unthinkable. Hence the outstanding player of Euro 2000 must expect Zoff's Italy to devise some means of curbing his influence.
Nobody does it better.
Thursday in Amsterdam came as a comprehensive reminder to the rest of Europe that the Italians are the past-masters of defence. We have come close often during my time but have always let it slip. I live in hope. It is an aspiration he has in common with his French contemporary Laurent Blanc, another lion of a defender who was so sadly deprived of a final place in France '98 following Slaven Bilic's theatrics and who, at 35 and about to retire from the international game, also wants to climax his career with a medal. While this has been a festival of attacking football, Italy recognise defending as both art and science and its masters are rewarded accordingly.