LONDON Dee 31 (Reuters): A dramatic golden goal ensured the new century in soccer began wilh France again hi Hu- ascendant
France, world eltaniplons in 1998. wen crowned European champions lot the Him Huie tn 2000 winning an outstanding competition with a 21 win over Italy tn Rotterdam
Real Madrid became the first European club champions of the new century wilh a. 3-0 victory over Valencia in Paris in the first European Cup final to he contested by (wo teams from the same country.
Their record eighth success in the tournament earned them FIFA's "Team of the Century"
Cameroon underlined their dominant jxisition in Africa, albeit wilh a controversial penalty shootout victory over Nigeria tn the African Nations Cup in March, and followed that up with another penalty shootout Victory over Spain io win the gold medal in lire Olympics in Sydney in September.
Zinedine Zidane, who inspired France to victory in Euro 2000 in similar fashion to his heroics in I lie World Cup. was named World Footballer of the Year by FIFA for the second time
Manchester United, who lost their European crown to Real but won the English premier league for the sixth time in eight seasons, were judged by Deloitte and Touche to be I lie richest club tn the world for the third straight year with an annual turnover of 1 10.9 million pounds (163.6 million dollars) up from 87.9 million pounds (129.7 million dollars) in 1999. GERMANY GET WORLD CLIP
Germany. whose national team failed abysmally wilh a first round exit at Euro 2000 after winning the competition four years earlier, emerged as perhaps the biggest winners of all
In Zurich in July. FIFA awarded them the right lo stage the 2006 World Cup finals when its Executive Committee voted 12-11 in their favour over South Africa.
The result of that particular battle caused more fall-out than anything on the field of plav in 2000 Charlie Dempsey of New Zealand abstained rather tliim voted lor the South Africans as he had been man-^ dated to do by his Oceania confederation becatise of what he called "intolerable pressure' brought to bear on him before the vote.
If he had voted for South Africa. FIFA president Sepp Blatters casting vote would have taken the World Cup to Africa for the first time It will now be at least another 10 years before that can happen.
Al the start of the new cen-turv there is no doubt thabsoc-cer's appeal Is greater than ever with Ihe money men Involved in (he. sport continually looking for new markets to conquer
Manchester Un it eel this month announced a three-match tour of the Far East next summer bill the reasons are not only altruistic. Although (heir many fans in the region will get a rare chance to see the lean) play, the tour will no doubt generate millions of dollars in extra revenue from Ihe sale of replica shirts and sou-
PLAYER POWER
And as the major clubs get richer so do the players, whose power is likely to be even further enhanced by proposals from the European Commission on a player s right to end his contract.
The impact that the new regulations would have on the global game can not be stressed too highly with FIFA itself admitting if it does not reach agreement with Brussels the sport will be thrown into chaos.
Transfers will still take place and domestic transfers between clubs in the same country are unlikely to be affected.
But Ihe international scene will be radically different with arbitrary transfer fees replaced by compensation fees, shorter contracts, a new arbitration system and transfers only permissible worldwide during certain times of the season.
Rules concerning the movement of players into Europe from South African. Africa. Asia or Australasia may also be tightened, especially with regard to teenagers.
UEFA's Chief Executive Gerhard Aigner, one of the most powerful and influential men in the sport, sounded a warning this week that UEFA must consider reforming the Champions League because with 32 teams it is too big and is saturating the fixture list. However no change can take place for two years because of current TV contract commit-ments.
But some big clubs like Lazio. Bayern Munich and Juventus have played matches this season in half-empty stadiums and TV audiences are falling.
The warning signs have been there for some lime and although soccer will remain the world's most popular sport, there is no doubt II finds itself on ihe threshold of major change.