Bleus Heaven

Unjustly pilloried as a bunch of geriatric has-beens, France had the last laugh with a vintage performance of fluent and inventive football that dumped much fancied holders Brazil out of the competition and kindled real hope that they could be World Champions in 2006.

Thierry Henry’s magnificent 57th minute volley settled a game in which Zidane was superb and Vieira majestic. And if the French can play like this again, it is difficult to see who is capable of stopping them.