Zidane: Clash won't be personal Becks battle

Zinedine Zidane is determined that Sunday’s showdown between France and England in Lisbon should not be billed as the "Beckham v Zidane show".

The France playmaker will be tasting the big tournament atmosphere for possibly the last time in Portugal this summer – he has promised a decision after the tournament – but is playing down the importance of his skirmish with his fellow Real Madrid "galactico".

Zidane is loathe to suggestions that the outcome of the match could depend on whether he or Beckham is on top of their game.

Asked if he considered the battle with his Real Madrid team-mate had particular significance he said: “Not at all. Even if this is the first time we have played each other since we have been together in Madrid this is not a personal duel.

“It is France v England and will be a good game – of course we might have a chat after the match.

“Matches like this are always special and France v England is always a big occasion – David is there but I will only be trying to play as well as possible for the team.”

Reflecting on past encounters with Beckham, Zidane said: “Especially when I played for Juventus I used to play against him when he was at Manchester.

“And then we played him again when I was at Real Madrid and he was in his last season in Manchester.

“I also remember when we beat England at Wembley when we were world champions - that was a special moment too.

“However, every match is special and you can play each other 10 times and every match will be a little bit different. This match is particularly important because it will determine for us how the rest of the tournament unfolds.

“We (Zidane and Beckham) did not really talk about this match at Madrid; we played together and talked together but did not really speak much about the match.”

Beckham has only shown fleeting glimpses in major tournaments of his talent; his free-kick against Colombia in 1998 was later eclipsed by the sending-off against Argentina in St Etienne.

In Euro 2000 England performed dismally while in the 2002 World Cup Beckham’s winning penalty against Argentina made him a hero only for Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side to exit the tournament by losing to Brazil in the last eight.

The same can not be said for Zidane who has been a colossus for France in that period of time and was key to France’s success in the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.

Three times FIFA World Player of the Year, Zidane’s feats means his move to Real from Juventus in 2001 remains a world record.

In 1998 his two headed goals put France on the way to their epoch-making 3-0 win over Brazil in the World Cup final and made him a national icon.

In 2000, he was again player of the tournament as France added the Euro title and significantly his absence through injury from France’s first two games in the 2002 World Cup fatally damaged Les Bleus who were eliminated at the first hurdle.

Zidane is not underestimating Beckham and his team-mates even though France have won four of their last five international tournaments and England have not reached a major final since their solitary major trophy, the 1966 World Cup.

“They are all dangerous players and in midfield they are very solid and will try an unsettle us. I love (Paul) Scholes and all their players and Beckham too who has had a good season (at Real Madrid),” said Zidane.