[imgleft]http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2006-07/08/images/pic04.jpg[/imgleft]Zidane and his successor Ribery played a key role in France's World Cup victories.
PARIS — One day before the World Cup final against Italy on Sunday, July 9, French Muslims are walking on the air with their soccer team and with superstar Muslim footballers Zinedine Zidane and Franck Ribery.
"We are proud of our French soccer team and playmaker Zinedine Zidane," Lhaj Thami Breze, chairman of the Union of French Islamic Organizations (UOIF), told IslamOnline.net.
"We are confident Les Bleus (the nickname for the French soccer team) will defeat Italy and win the World Cup," he added.
Led by legend Zidane, France will go head-to-head against Italy on Berlin's 69,000-capacity Olympic Stadium in the world tournament final on Sunday.
The French team reached the final after winning a semi-final game against Portugal 1-0 by playmaker legend and three-time FIFA World Player of the Year Zidane.
Now, the French are only 90 minutes away from the second World Cup in eight years, the crowning achievement in a decade of glory that began when France, and Zidane, reached the semi-finals of the 1996 European Championship.
France won the 1998 World Cup against Brazil 3-0, two of which scored by Zidane.
Now a global audience of 1.5 billion will focus their gaze in the final to see if the French magician can pull off one last, glorious conjuring trick.
Glory
"It is really a source of pride that Zidane is of an Arab and Muslim origin," said Samira, a female fan of Algerian origin, told IOL.
"He has contributed to make France's football glory," she added.
As France booked a final World Cup place, thousands of French fans of immigrant origin took to the streets to celebrate the French win.
"Zidane is France's president... Mercy Zidane," was among the slogans chanted by the jubilant French.
The French fans are confident that their team is going to beat the Azzurri (Italy) because they hold the skeleton key.
"We have Zidane and they (Italy) don't," French defender Willy Sagnol told Agence France-Presse (AFP) Saturday.
Marcello Lippi, Zidane's manager of the French maestro for three years at Juventus, agreed.
"Zidane is probably the best player there has been in the past 20 years," he said.
France and Italy have met five times in major tournaments, in which the French team has beaten the Azzurri three times.
Their most recent victory over the Azzurri came in the final of Euro 2000, when Italy were just 17 seconds away from winning before France equalized and David Trezeguet struck a memorable golden goal winner.
Ribery
Zidane's expected successor, Frank Ribery, has also added to the jubilance of the French Muslims.
"Seeing Ribery while raising his hands and supplicating to God as any typical Muslims do makes me feel proud," said Hamid, of Moroccan origin.
The 23-year-old Ribery has stolen the limelight during France's opener in the World Cup against Switzerland when he was caught while raising his hands and supplicating to God as any other Muslims do.
"French Muslims feel that Ribery's supplication notice is a sign of dignity and honor for the French suburbanites, most of whom are of Muslim origin," Breze added.
Ribery, who did not make his international debut until late May, is expected to start the World Cup final on Sunday against Italy.
The 23-year-old forward has brought energy and pace to a veteran lineup, his fearless runs causing panic among opposing defenders and creating regular scoring opportunities.
Named to the World Cup roster without having played in an international game, Ribery showed his value during three tune-up matches when he entered in the second half.
The Olympique Marseille right-sided winger and midfielder is believed to have reverted to Islam after marrying a Muslim women, of Moroccan origin.
Though he rarely speaks about how he found the Muslim faith, he recently told Le Paris Match magazine that he felt "safe" with Islam.
France is home to some six to seven million Muslims, the largest Muslim minority in Europe.
PARIS — One day before the World Cup final against Italy on Sunday, July 9, French Muslims are walking on the air with their soccer team and with superstar Muslim footballers Zinedine Zidane and Franck Ribery.
"We are proud of our French soccer team and playmaker Zinedine Zidane," Lhaj Thami Breze, chairman of the Union of French Islamic Organizations (UOIF), told IslamOnline.net.
"We are confident Les Bleus (the nickname for the French soccer team) will defeat Italy and win the World Cup," he added.
Led by legend Zidane, France will go head-to-head against Italy on Berlin's 69,000-capacity Olympic Stadium in the world tournament final on Sunday.
The French team reached the final after winning a semi-final game against Portugal 1-0 by playmaker legend and three-time FIFA World Player of the Year Zidane.
Now, the French are only 90 minutes away from the second World Cup in eight years, the crowning achievement in a decade of glory that began when France, and Zidane, reached the semi-finals of the 1996 European Championship.
France won the 1998 World Cup against Brazil 3-0, two of which scored by Zidane.
Now a global audience of 1.5 billion will focus their gaze in the final to see if the French magician can pull off one last, glorious conjuring trick.
Glory
"It is really a source of pride that Zidane is of an Arab and Muslim origin," said Samira, a female fan of Algerian origin, told IOL.
"He has contributed to make France's football glory," she added.
As France booked a final World Cup place, thousands of French fans of immigrant origin took to the streets to celebrate the French win.
"Zidane is France's president... Mercy Zidane," was among the slogans chanted by the jubilant French.
The French fans are confident that their team is going to beat the Azzurri (Italy) because they hold the skeleton key.
"We have Zidane and they (Italy) don't," French defender Willy Sagnol told Agence France-Presse (AFP) Saturday.
Marcello Lippi, Zidane's manager of the French maestro for three years at Juventus, agreed.
"Zidane is probably the best player there has been in the past 20 years," he said.
France and Italy have met five times in major tournaments, in which the French team has beaten the Azzurri three times.
Their most recent victory over the Azzurri came in the final of Euro 2000, when Italy were just 17 seconds away from winning before France equalized and David Trezeguet struck a memorable golden goal winner.
Ribery
Zidane's expected successor, Frank Ribery, has also added to the jubilance of the French Muslims.
"Seeing Ribery while raising his hands and supplicating to God as any typical Muslims do makes me feel proud," said Hamid, of Moroccan origin.
The 23-year-old Ribery has stolen the limelight during France's opener in the World Cup against Switzerland when he was caught while raising his hands and supplicating to God as any other Muslims do.
"French Muslims feel that Ribery's supplication notice is a sign of dignity and honor for the French suburbanites, most of whom are of Muslim origin," Breze added.
Ribery, who did not make his international debut until late May, is expected to start the World Cup final on Sunday against Italy.
The 23-year-old forward has brought energy and pace to a veteran lineup, his fearless runs causing panic among opposing defenders and creating regular scoring opportunities.
Named to the World Cup roster without having played in an international game, Ribery showed his value during three tune-up matches when he entered in the second half.
The Olympique Marseille right-sided winger and midfielder is believed to have reverted to Islam after marrying a Muslim women, of Moroccan origin.
Though he rarely speaks about how he found the Muslim faith, he recently told Le Paris Match magazine that he felt "safe" with Islam.
France is home to some six to seven million Muslims, the largest Muslim minority in Europe.
:bananabb2in: haha j/k
