France 1-0 Brazil By MSN’s Matt Ball
Last updated July 2 2006
All four World Cup semi-finalists will be European teams, three of them previous winners. France filled the last spot by deservedly beating Brazil 1-0 in Frankfurt.
France had struggled through the group stage, drawing with Switzerland and South Korea before beating Togo but the criticism they received appears to have brought the players together as a team and against Spain in the last 16 match they had begun to show better form. Brazil were to be on the receiving end of the culmination of this progress – France were simply too good.
Both teams passed the ball well early on but France began to dominate midfield and the French defenders were rarely troubled by Ronaldo or Ronaldinho.
The breakthrough came on 57 minutes. Zidane floated a free-kick into the box from the left wing and Thierry Henry arrived unmarked at the far post to volley effortlessly into the roof of the net.
That left Brazil more than half an hour to get back into the game but they rarely looked capable of finding an equaliser. France defended well and Brazil looked surprisingly short of ideas. Adriano come on after 63 minutes to little effect and it was not until 79 minutes that Robinho, who had looked like a match winner every time he touched the ball in previous games, was brought on with just over 10 minutes to go. He may still have been feeling the effects of his recent injury but France had little difficulty keeping him at bay.
Not only did Brazil fail to find a way through to goal, they did not even look that worried about it. As time ticked away they showed few signs of wanting to hurry; it was as if they had accepted that France was going to win.
With the back four holding firm, Makele and Vieira just in front of them tackling strongly all game, Zidane and Ribery on song in midfield, and Henry beginning to show his Arsenal form in a national team shirt, France look like a team destined to make the final. The only weak link is goalkeeper Barthez whose eccentricities may yet cost them dear. | 
