Sunday, July 02, 2006

Henry the hero for France

Video Safari

France ended Brazil's World Cup reign with a deserved 1-0 win in their quarter final clash in Frankfurt on Saturday evening.
Thierry Henry's second half goal was enough to give France another famous victory over the South American giants.
France will now meet Portugal in the semi-finals next week in Munich for the right to reach the final
Zinedine Zidane was the star of the show as he rolled back the years with a majestic performance to show he is not ready to retire just yet.
Both sides started in a positive manner as they looked to gain an uphold over their opponents.
Brazil created the first noteworthy chance on 11 minutes when Ronaldo on the stretch headed Ronaldinho's free kick just wide of the target.
The Samba boys fashioned another good opening on the quarter hour when Ronaldo burst down the right and sent over a dangerous cross towards Kaka, but the Milan midfielder just failed to connect with the cross.
Zidane had an opportunity to test Dida in the Brazil goal with a free kick on the edge of the area, but he curled his shot over the crossbar.
The longer the first half wore on, the more France started to control the game with their midfield monopolising the possession.
Florent Malouda should have done better on 38 minutes when he found space inside the box from Zidane's free kick, but the Lyon man headed his effort over the top.
Patrick Vieira almost got through on goal a minute before the break after a wonderful pass from Zidane, but the midfielder was hauled down by Brazil defender Juan.
Juan was booked for the tackle ruling him out of the semi-final if Brazil progressed.
From the resultant free kick Ronaldo was also cautioned for blocking Henry's shot and from the second free kick Zidane again hit the wall as Brazil kept France at bay at the break. France picked up in the second half where they left off in the first and almost scored seconds after the restart.
Vieira rose highest to meet Zidane's inviting free kick only to see his header fly inches wide of the far post.
Fabien Barthez had a scare on 48 minutes when he came out to collect a cross from Cafu, but he made a mess of it with the ball coming off his legs and he was relieved to see his defenders on guard to clear the danger.
France deservedly broke the deadlock on 57 minutes through Henry with his third goal of the tournament.
Zidane's free kick from the left found Henry in acres of space inside the box and the Arsenal striker clinically volleyed his effort high into the net past Dida to send the French fans into raptures.
France almost doubled their lead on 61 minutes when Ribery brilliantly tricked his way past Lucio down the left and his cross deflected off Juan before agonisingly rolling across the line and out for a corner.
The goal stung Brazil into action as they pushed forward in numbers, but they were struggling to find a way through a resilient France rearguard.
France had a chance to double their lead on 70 minutes when Henry broke down the right and picked out Ribery charging through the middle, but Dida was quickly off his line to save at the feet of the Marseille ace.
Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira made his last throw of the dice on 78 minutes when bringing on Robinho as his final substitute and within minutes of coming on the little forward went close to scoring with a shot inside the box which flew just wide of the target.
Ronaldo had a sight of goal on 85 minutes when he found space on the edge of the box, but the World Cup's all-time top goalscorer dragged his left-footed shot off target.
Brazil continued to push and probe in search of an opener and Ronaldo won a dangerous free kick right on the edge of the box after going down under a challenge from Lilian Thuram.
From the free kick Ronaldinho saw his curling free kick just fly over the crossbar much to the relief of Barthez.
France substitute Louis Saha forced Dida into a good save in the final minute with a fierce left-footed strike on the edge of the area.
Ronaldo went close to equalising with a shot which bounced up in front of Barthez, but the goalkeeper managed to push the ball away.
Seconds later Ze Roberto wasted a great opening when he got on the end of Cicinho's cross, but he could not divert his effort on target as France held on to take the win.