Big names ready to go in semifinal round play

Germany and Italy meet today and France and Portugal clash Wednesday.
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- There's no better way for Zinedine Zidane to end his career than winning another World Cup for France.
Michael Ballack and Francesco Totti are pushing Germany and Italy toward their fourth World Cup crowns.
And in its bid for a first title, Portugal turns to Luis Figo.
Thankfully for the game's image, some of the biggest names in soccer are in the semifinals.
Zidane faces Figo when France meets Portugal in Munich Wednesday. Today, Ballack and Totti will be opponents as Germany takes on Italy in Dortmund.
There's been a tendency at this World Cup for comparative journeymen to outshine the stars.
No disrespect to the likes of Owen Hargreaves, Brett Emerton and Tranquillo Barnetta, but not many people paid money to watch them.
Players such as Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry have failed to reach anything like their true form. Wayne Rooney will best be remembered for being sent off for stamping on an opponent's groin and then pushing Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.
Zidane playing well
Zidane, by contrast, appears to be playing as well as when he scored twice in the 1998 World Cup final against Brazil and one of the all time greatest Champions League final goals for Real Madrid against Bayer Leverkusen in 2002.
His performance in France's 1-0 quarterfinal victory over Brazil Saturday was arguably the best by anyone in the entire 32-team championship. Even Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and the Brazilian stars had to admire the 34-year-old attacking midfielder who announced a month ago that this would be his final event.
Few expected Zidane to rise to the occasion.
His form for Real Madrid during the season that just ended wasn't great -- although he was hampered by injuries and, with France struggling through its first two group games, there were fears that Zidane's last game would have been against South Korea.
Teammates provided lift
Thankfully for Zidane, who was suspended and watched the third group game against Togo from the bench, his teammates won the game 2-0 to reach the knockout phase. He effectively thanked them with standout performances in the 3-1 victory over Spain and the triumph over Brazil.
Zidane set up one goal and then scored another against the Spaniards and his curling free kick found Henry to score with a close range volley against the defending champion Brazilians.
But it was his general play that also caught the eye.
Zidane showed off his trademark spins as he twisted past defenders and continually found teammates with expertly guided first-time passes. Soon those dazzling moments will be gone, but Zidane hopes that won't be until after the July 9 final in Berlin.
Figo, Zidane's one time teammate at Real Madrid, is out to make sure he doesn't get there.
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