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France upset Spain to set up 98 repeat against Brazil
The 2006 World Cup continues to produce fantastic entertainment as Ronaldo helped Brazil into the quarter-finals with his record breaking 15th goal where they will now meet France who upset favoured Spain 3-1 in another second round thriller on Tuesday.
The mouthwatering last 8 matchup will be a repeat of the 1998 final when Zinedine Zidane - who scored the insurance goal against Spain - bagged two headers in a 3-0 win in Paris for their only global triumph.
Spain went into the match as heavy favourites and took the lead on 26 minutes when David Villa made no mistake from the spot but despite holding the advantage, France came roaring back picking up inspiration from a brilliant equaliser from Franck Ribery just before half-time.
The match seemed heading for extra-time before veteran Patrick Vieira who scored on his birthday last Friday against Togo to keep France in the competition popped up on 81 minutes to head the all important go-ahead goal in a cracking tie in Hanover.
Zidane then guaranteed a famous win and set off a party for French fans when he scored in injury time to set up a dream date against Brazil on Saturday.
"We're really happy as we had a great desire after a first round that wasn't too easy for us to show we had the quality to do something," said Zidane.
Coach Raymond Domenech could afford to joke that things had finally gone well on the night for his side of "oldies," who some critics have for weeks dubbed too long in the tooth to do well at the tournament.
"We were admirable on all levels, courageous, reactive, solid, intelligent, lucid and patient," he insisted.
"Patrick Vieira was written off, Zizou ought not to be playing... But our little team of oldies are still in there. They may be old but they are patient," noted Domenech, saying that he couldn't wait for a match with Brazil.
"It's for matches like that that we are here." |
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Post time 28-6-2006 08:09 AM
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