France vs Brazil 2006 World Cup
by Petra Roux: Brazil
France faced Brazil in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. It was a World Cup masterclass from Zinedine Zidane. Zidane dazzled throughout, Thierry Henry scored, and France outclassed a star-studded Brazil side. They advanced all the way to the semifinals.
Transcript (en)
But the cross is met by William Gallas and Zidane breaks for France Past one, past two, slips it brilliantly a race through the middle here Can they close him down or will there be a card? To be taken away, big decision this for the referee Yellow, I think that's right, it's yellow for one The French will because he will miss the semi-final if of course Brazil may And how it would change away, it will be Henri and his goal from the referee and another card I think coming out whose hand went up Henri shouted for the or a free kick or whatever about a centimetre Zidane and he's played it straight at the wall it's almost impossible to get it above them the clearance is not a good one and it's cleared now that's a better one the referee I think is going to say let's cool France have had all the free kicks in the last couple of minutes and here they have a chance of a goal it's gone wide Thierry Henry head in hands but it's steered wide in fact I think it was Vieira getting up in front of Henry possibly and he will take a free kick here for the French and the tall man Vieira is up there so is Churam, so will be Gallas danger now, here is the big, big chance France have the lead, Thierry Henry, the stoop for the glory. No question of Oxide, he's stolen away, but where were the markers? They were all preoccupied with others, and Henry took foot. Brazil nil, another race on here, led by Ribéry. Another who's getting better and better in this World Cup. Oh, it's up! How close can it be? We 1 at the other end Henry against Lucio Henry ball in Rib and Dida makes an absolutely crucial intervention We've been playing for exactly 80 minutes to the second, it's Ronaldinho for Brazil, they trail by a goal. Their crown is in danger of slipping off its head. It's a cross from Robinho to Cecinho. Four yellow shirts, convergence, the penalty area, it drops to Ronaldinho. big chance here Spurn Robinho's in the thick of things already but he can't find the target Zereberto will be pursued and harried it's a chance for Ronaldo he's dragged it wide they'll try again Ronaldo, he's got to find a way through he's finding a way through brilliantly He's got the free kick, has he? They're all saying no, it's a yellow card for Liverpool. Maybe it will be, cometh the 89th minute, cometh Ronaldinho. Barcaz is two feet from his line. It's Ronaldinho, it's too high, and maybe Brazil's dreams have just gone. It wasn't a bad one, but it curled a foot too high. Booted as far as he possibly can, it drops to Zidane, who scored in the last minute against Spain. He's played his man in, it's Saha! Dida makes the save. A crescendo of noise and excitement around Frankfurt. Play on, says the referee. It's Ronaldo! Beaten away by Barthes! And they just can't get in there before. Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo were beaten eight years ago. France have done it. Ronaldo's World Cup career in the world.
