Zidane penalty downs Portugal

France has booked itself a place in the World Cup Final and defied football pundits around the globe following a thrilling 1-0 win over an exciting Portuguese outfit in Munich this morning (AEST).

The game’s decisive moment arrived in the 33rd minute when Thierry Henry turned Portugal’s Ricardo Carvalho inside out before the Chelsea defender brought the French superstar down with his trailing leg inside the penalty area.

Legendary midfielder Zinedine Zidane, in the second last match of his distinguished career, took the resulting spot kick, slotting the ball to the right of an outstretched Ricardo, who was unable to reproduce the heroics of Portugal’s historical Quarter Final win over England.

Portugal captain Luis Figo scorned a gilt edged chance to force a period of extra time with 12 minutes remaining, as Fabien Barthez parried a thunderous shot by Cristiano Ronaldo skyward.

Six yards out, Figo then proceeded to head the ball agonisingly high of an open goal, squandering Portugal’s chance to better the feats of Eusebio’s 1966 side, as the last of the golden generation bid farewell to the international stage without winning a major tournament.

France’s opener came about following an exhilarating opening half-hour of football as Portugal’s swaggering and free-flowing style came head-to-head with a reinvigorated and flamboyant French side.

Before either side had time to settle into the tempo of the game, Florent Malouda, found an opening in Portugal’s defence within 40 seconds as he latched onto a long ball by William Gallas, before skewing his shot wide of Ricardo’s goal.

With Ronaldo running rampant on the left flank, the Manchester United winger found Maniche in space in the ninth minute, as the former Chelsea midfielder unleashed a powerful drive from the edge of the area, which flew inches high of the goal.

Zidane then sent the French into the lead with a well-struck penalty.

Within minutes of the restart, France came close to doubling their advantage when both Marseille’s Frank Ribery and Theirry Henry forced saves from Ricardo.

Pauleta, who has yet to really sparkle on football’s grandest stage, turned his defender and shot wide in the 53rd minute mark, as Portugal failed to take advantage of their dominance early in the second half.

With Lilian Thuram bravely marshalling France’s at times impenetrable defence, a Nuno Valente cross caused pandemonium in the area with both Ronaldo and Helder Postiga failing to make the vital touch necessary to send the ball into the back of the net, before Figo’s 78th minute blunder cost Portugal a chance to reach the ultimate contest in world football.

France now meet Italy in a re-match of the 2000 European Championship final to decide who will be crowned World Champions.

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