Real Madrid's big guns fire blanks during European event
(China Daily)
Updated: 2004-06-29 06:46

After a miserable domestic season, Real Madrid's heavyweight collection of players must have been looking forward to Euro 2004 as a way of venting their frustrations and re-establishing reputations.

Instead, the tournament has brought only more misery for David Beckham, Raul, Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane, who appear to have saved their best form for the lavishly produced TV commercials commissioned by their sportswear manufacturers.

Beckham, signed from Manchester United for 35 million euros (US$42.45 million) last year, gradually lost confidence during his first season in Spain and went from bad to worse for England.

Their captain missed a penalty in the last-gasp 2-1 defeat by France in the opening game, was anonymous against Switzerland and Croatia and offered nothing in the way of inspiration in the quarter-final loss to Portugal.

His last contribution to the England cause was to blast his penalty kick embarrassingly high over the bar as Portugal won the shootout 6-5 and Beckham was forced into an angry defence of his position as captain.

"Do you think I can inspire the team like I could in the past? What do you think? Listen, I am England captain and I will not be resigning my position, I'm proud to be part of this team and proud to be England captain," he told a news conference.

Beckham appeared to be vying with club mate Raul to get the award for biggest disappointment at Euro 2004.

The Spain captain, usually the most reliable of scorers, failed to find the net in three matches at the tournament and kept his place in the lineup on reputation alone.

No satisfaction

Figo is the only member of the Real squad still involved, but even he can take little personal satisfaction from Euro 2004.

The 31-year-old, playing his last major tournament for Portugal, stormed off the pitch when he was substituted against England after 75 minutes.

Even if coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is prepared to forgive that petulant display, he will have to decide whether the country's footballing icon deserves a spot ahead of starry Simao Sabrosa.

Zidane, who looked exhausted for Real in the second half of the season, scored three goals at Euro 2004 but the 32-year-old was incapable of supplying the leadership France so badly needed in their shocking 1-0 loss to Greece in the quarter-finals.

It is all a far cry from the last European Championship four years ago, when Zidane and Figo were in imperious form.

Within two years both were playing for Real Madrid after joining for a combined fee of more than US$120 million and they helped the club win the European Cup for the ninth time in 2002.

Real have recognized the need to add fresh legs to their aging squad before next season.

Strengthening the defence will be a priority, with Raul Bravo's inept attempts to shackle Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo likely to live long in the memory of Real fans.

But the performances of the team's all-star quartet will also have convinced the club to look elsewhere for inspiration.

If Real continue their policy of signing the world's best players, it may will be a collection of Czechs, Greeks, Swedes and Danes heading to the Bernabeu over the next few weeks.

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