Zetecs do run very hot, sometimes over 100C, this is why the coolant is under pressure so it doesn't overheat the coolant, if you've been using the car and it hasn't done anything drastic like chuck lots of water out the exhaust, or expeansion tank chances are it's ok.
My dads mondy zetec hits the red just before the fans come on, but never overheats, ford temp gauages are notoriously innacurate.
The sure fire way of telling is to leave running, if they come on then go off once cooled all is fine, even at normal running temps it will be way too hot to touch.