Echoes of Zidane in Lyon's victory

The French have seen their future in the form of Karim Benzema and Hatem Ben Arfa, the young Olympique Lyonnais boys growing up in the post-Zidane era.

The Italians are still struggling to contain the violence that seems inevitable in Rome on a European soccer night, especially when the English are in the city.

These were the portents of Wednesday's final qualifying games in the Champions League. Only Lyon, completing a grand escape to come from bottom to runner-up in its group, and Fenerbahce of Istanbul actually joined the final group of 16 teams that go through to the draw on Friday for the knockout stages of the tournament.

In a sense it seemed less than sensible that 1,200 Manchester United fans journeyed to Rome for a game that was of little consequence - a game drawn, 1-1, with United fielding mainly reserves. It was also odd that, with England about to rely on an Italian coach, Fabio Capello, to reverse the decline of its national side, malevolent fans of Roma and Manchester should meet on the Pont Duca d'Acosta before the game - with the inevitable outcome of five English youths stabbed and six arrested.

Hospital reports suggested that none of the wounded was seriously hurt, so by comparison to the recent past, all the planning, the presence of 60 United stewards, the alcohol ban, tear gas, riot shields and batons, and the deployment of spotter helicopters, was time and money well spent.

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But let's hurry back to the future. Of all the clubs in France, Lyon has been the one that has taken over from Auxerre, and to a degree from Marseille, in managing youth.

A few months ago, after Lyon had been soundly beaten in its opening two Champions League games, it appeared that 2007 was the year that finally caught up with its policy of rearing good players and selling them to the highest bidders, be they Real Madrid or Chelsea.

In particular, the 3-0 home defeat to Glasgow Rangers in early October suggested that Lyon was oversold and its five-year span carrying the banner for France was running out of steam.

In Glasgow on Wednesday, the boot was on the other foot. Lyon's players did to the Scots exactly what Rangers had done to them at Stade Gerland.

But if the score, 3-0 to the away team, was the same, the manner of Lyon's victory, the mental boldness, and the style with the ball at the feet of its young players in particular, put the French club way out ahead of Scotland's.

Benzema was involved in everything. He is tall, his stance upright, his head held proud and reminiscent of somebody quite famous, someone compellingly influential on Benzema's generation.

That someone, of course, is Zinédine Zidane.

When Ben Arfa, who is now 20 and who was born in France of Tunisian descent, started the move for the first goal, it was with an astute pass that required somebody on his wavelength to run for it. Benzema was into his stride almost before the ball left Ben Arfa's boot.

It was a run that took Rangers' defense by surprise. Benzema, born in the city of Lyon, of Algerian Kabyle parentage, glided inside the left back and shot with his right foot hard and low. Rangers goalie Allan McGregor couldn't hold the shot, and Sidney Govou scored from point-blank range.

Even with Juninho, the experienced Brazilian who guides the emerging talents, Lyon became tentative, uncertain whether to protect the lead or go for the insurance of another goal. However, Rangers' best opportunity to save the match was squandered by its own Frenchman, Jean-Claude Darcheville, and in the final five minutes Benzema, looking more purposeful and more powerful with every passing minute, drilled holes in the home defense for fun.

He scored once, he scored twice, and at 3-0 the Lyon escapology was complete, the revenge mission accomplished. There was time only for Darcheville, at 32 a Frenchman rather closer to the end of his career than the Lyon duo, to implode.

It was a gamble using Darcheville at all. He came off the bench despite having barely trained after tearing a hamstring. His lack of sharpness in front of goal frustrated him, but nothing could excuse the final act in which he stamped on the ankle of Kim Kallstrom and was red-carded.

The missed opportunity by Darcheville, followed within minutes by Benzema's goals, was identified as the crux of the contest by Lyon's coach, Alain Perrin.

"Often these things can be the turning point," Perrin said. "I really felt Rangers would equalize, but Karim had an incredible match and was decisive at the crucial moments."