France reach final with Zidane penalty

Portugal 0
France 1

The great Zinedine Zidane gave France a 1-0 win over Portugal yesterday with a penalty that handed them a place in the World Cup final.

Eight years after their Zidane-inspired home triumph, Les Bleus will feature in the title match of the showcase tournament for the second time when they face Italy on Sunday in Berlin.

The 34-year-old Zidane, who retires after the finals and will play the last game of a glittering career at the Olympic stadium, got the winner after 33 minutes by converting a penalty after Thierry Henry's ankle was caught by central defender Ricardo Carvalho.

Portugal, playing their second semi-final after reaching the last four in the World Cup of 1966 with Eusebio in their ranks, have to be content with challenging hosts Germany for third place on Saturday in Stuttgart.

Portugal, the Euro 2004 runners-up, have a reputation for losing ill-tempered battles against the French, whom they have not beaten since 1975.

Yesterday's clash on a warm, still night at the high-tech Allianz Arena was tense, as expected, but largely free of ugly scenes.

France, relying on a bunch of gifted thirty-somethings, started the tournament in sluggish fashion before stepping up a few gears to recapture their winning ways, dumping out champions Brazil in the previous round.

The sides traded early chances in a lively opening when Portugal had a great opportunity after nine minutes, Maniche firing just over the bar from the edge of the box after a clever back-heeled Cristiano Ronaldo pass.

Ronaldo, booed by large sections of the crowd every time he touched the ball, was a permanent danger and came close to scoring after a fine move punctuated by a deflected shot shortly before the break.

France, however, looked in control for large spells and deserved their half-time lead, which they nearly doubled early in the second half with attempts by Henry and Franck Ribery.

Portugal kept trying hard but were repeatedly denied by a watertight French defence at the centre of which Thuram, 34 like Zidane, shone with calm authority.

France did survive a scare in a relatively uneventful second half after 78 minutes when a Luis Figo header flew over the bar after Fabien Barthez scooped a Ronaldo free-kick into the air.

Portugal: 1-Ricardo; 13-Miguel (2-Paulo Ferreira 62), 16-Ricardo Carvalho, 5-Fernando Meira, 14-Nuno Valente; 6-Costinha (Helder Postiga 74), 18-Maniche, 20-Deco, 7-Luis Figo, 17-Cristiano Ronaldo; 9-Pauleta (11-Simao 68).

France: 16-Fabien Barthez; 19-Willy Sagnol, 15-Lilian Thuram, 5-William Gallas, 3-Eric Abidal; 4-Patrick Vieira, 6-Claude Makelele; 22-Franck Ribery (9-Sidney Govou 72), 10-Zinedine Zidane, 7-Florent Malouda (11-Sylvain Wiltord 69); 12-Thierry Henry (14-Louis Saha 85).

Referee: Jorge Larrionda (Uruguay).

Linesmen: Walter Rial (Uruguay), Pablo Fandino (Uruguay).

Scorer: Zidane 33 pen.

Half-time: 0-1. Attendance: 66,000.

FIFA man of the match: Thuram.

Portugal Vs France Stats