Figo gets last chance for international glory LISBON, Portugal (AP) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lodged in the 15 years of memories as an international soccer star, Luis Figo has had two moments of heartbreak. At the 2002 World Cup, Portugal was drawn into an apparently easy group, and the country's "golden generation" of top players seemed poised to fulfill its promise by advancing deep into the competition. But shocking defeats to the United States and South Korea sent the Portuguese spiraling out of the tournament in the first stage. Two years later, Portugal was playing at home in the European Championship. It rode a wave of national euphoria all the way to the final, only to lose against Greece at Benfica's Stadium of Light. "I didn't just lose a final in the space of 90 minutes. I lost an entire career with my country's team," Figo said. The World Cup in Germany offers the 33-year-old midfielder a last chance to lay his ghosts to rest. But the hard knocks have taught him to temper his expectations, even though Portugal is ranked among the world's top 10 teams. "Only those who've played in a World Cup before know how difficult it is. Talk is easy. Anyone can say we're going to do this or that. Actually doing it is something else," Figo said. Whatever the outcome of the June 9-July 9 tournament, Figo's place as one of Portugal's all-time greats, alongside 1960s soccer icon Eusebio, is assured. Figo made his top-level debut for Sporting Lisbon in 1989, the year he helped Portugal's Under-16 side win the world championship. But he didn't become a Sporting regular until the 1991-92 season. Nor did he shine on the Portuguese youth team that won the world title in 1991. His career took off after his 1995 transfer to Barcelona. Figo was Portugal's standout performer at Euro 2000 and set a world record transfer fee with his $74.6 million move to Real Madrid in July that year -- a move that earned him the ire of Barcelona fans. He was voted European Footballer of Year in 2000, and the following year earned the highest accolade when he was elected FIFA's World Player of the Year. But the World Cup was a flop. And the disappointment at Euro 2004, coupled with a heavy schedule with Real Madrid, contributed to his decision in August of that year to retire from international soccer. He returned a year ago to help Portugal's qualifying campaign. Since his debut for the senior team in October 1992 against Luxembourg, Figo has a national record of 118 appearances, with 31 goals. Though Figo, now playing at Inter Milan, no longer produces the trademark explosive bursts that took him past the world's best defenders, he's a wise head on a young team. For Portugal's Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, Figo is the natural choice for team captain. "He's one of our mainstays, not only because of how he plays, but also because of what he represents and the way he worries opponents," Scolari said. "Off the field he offers his experience to the other players and helps ease younger players into the side." Now, Figo hopes, comes the final step: success in the World Cup. 去年Figo重回國家隊的時候說過：「如果要我為世界盃再心碎一次，我也願意。」 希望這次…流下的會是喜悅的淚水。 -- ◢◣ ＊ With hopes in your heart, You'll Never Walk Alone! ◢◣ ★ 1977 ██ ◢◣ ◢◣◢◣ ◢██◣ ◢◣ ◢██◣ ◢██◣ ◢██◣ ██ ★ 1978 ███◣ ██ ◥██◤ █▅▅◤ ██◤ █▅▅█ █▅▅█ █▅▅█ ██ ★ 1981 ◥██◤ ◥◤ ◥◤ ◥▅▅◤ ◥◤ ███◤ ◥██◤ ◥██◤ ◥◤ ★ 1984 ◥◤ ★ 2005 --

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