Spain 1 - 3 France

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Tuesday Jun 27 2006 08:00

France will take on Brazil in the quarter-finals of the World Cup after late goals from Patrick Vieira and Zinedine Zidane secured a 3-1 win against Spain in Hanover.

Les Bleus fell behind to a 28th-minute David Villa penalty, but went in on level terms at the break thanks to a coolly taken Franck Ribery goal.

The second round clash looked to be heading in to extra-time until Vieira rose to head home in the 83rd minute, with Zidane adding a clincher deep in to stoppage-time.

Spain had the better of a cagey opening period, but France should have opened the scoring 23 minutes in when Thierry Henry fired over a teasing low cross which somehow evaded both Ribery and Vieira.

Luis Aragones' men then went ahead after Lilian Thuram was adjudged to have fouled Pablo Ibanez in the area. The decision was harsh but, with the Spanish man moving away from goal, Thuram had no need to make the challenge.

Villa stepped up confidently and despatched a perfect penalty in to the bottom left corner of Fabien Barthez's goal.

France hit back strongly and deservedly levelled after 41 minutes when Ribery exchanged passes with Vieira before going round the 'keeper and coolly slotting the ball past the two covering defenders and in to the back of the net.

The second 45 minutes lacked the fluency of the closing stages of the opening half, but France, with Ribery finally showing why he is so highly rated in his homeland, always looked the more likely to score.

The best chance to break the deadlock fell to Florent Malouda, who beat the offside trap and raced on to Zidane's throughball. He attempted to lift it over Iker Casillas, but the Spain goalkeeper reacted sharply to push it away.

Then, as the coaches began to plan for extra-time, Carles Puyol, who was outstanding for most of the game, needlessly fouled Henry some 35 yards from goal.

Zidane swung the free-kick over and, after Xabi Alonso unwittingly flicked it on, the unmarked Vieira rose at the far post to head home via a deflection off the outstretched leg of Sergio Ramos.

Spain threw everyone forward in search of an equaliser, but, almost inevitably, were caught out by a swift counter attack.

The ball reached Zidane on the left wing and he cut in to the box, stepped inside Puyol and nonchalantly stroked the ball past Casillas.

The goal evoked memories of Zidane's heyday, but more importantly condemned Spain to yet another early exit from a major tournament.

Live Commentary

  • 90
    France were unrecognisable as the team which struggled in the group stage and will fancy their chances against Brazil in the last eight. It's another early exit for Spain, despite them having their most talented squad for years.
  • 90
    FULL-TIME: SPAIN 1-3 FRANCE
  • 90
    SPAIN 1-3 FRANCE Les Bleus break quickly and ZIDANE cuts in from the left wing, steps inside Puyol and smashes the ball beyond Casillas.
  • 90
    Zidane is booked for a foul on Fabregas. A harsh decision.
  • 89
    Spain lump the ball into the box and Barthez punches clear. Luis Garcia wins a corner, but again Barthez gets up well and this time he holds on to the ball.
  • 88
    Sylvain Wiltord replaces Henry as France run the clock down.
  • 87
    Ribery is booked.
  • 86
    Spain look stunned by that goal and seem to have few attacking ideas left.
  • 83
    SPAIN 1-2 FRANCE The free-kick is swung in and VIEIRA rises unmarked at the back post to head home via a deflection from Ramos' outstretched leg.
  • 82
    Puyol obstructs Henry and picks up a yellow card. The France striker goes to ground as if he's been elbowed in the face, despite the contact being with his chest.
  • 81
    Ribery gets the better of Pernia and Fabregas before cutting the ball back to Govou on the edge of the box. The sub fires way over the crossbar.
  • 79
    Joaquin cuts in from the right wing, beats Abidal and goes for goal. His shot is just wide of the target.
  • 78
    The corner goes straight to Barthez, who punches it in unconvincing fashion.
  • 77
    Torres wins a free-kick 35 yards from goal. Alonso curls it over and Sagnol has to head it behind for a corner.
  • 74
    Domenech makes his first change - Sidney Govou for Malouda.
  • 74
    Torres goes to ground after a clash with Vieira. It's a clear attempt to get France's midfield powerhouse another card and the referee is having none of it.
  • 72
    Aragones makes his final substitution, as Senna replaces Xavi.
  • 71
    Malouda surges forward and lifts the ball over the Spanish defence for Vieira to chase. He looks well offside, but the flag stays down and Casillas has to come out of his area to clear.
  • 69
    The referee blows his whistle after Joaquin and Thuram tangle in the French penalty area. The free-kick goes France's way, but replays suggest Joaquin was the man being fouled.
  • 68
    Vieira collects the first yellow card of the night for a foul on Fabregas.
  • 64
    Henry beats his marker on the left wing and lifts the ball in to the box for Zidane to chase. The pass is overhit and the Spanish 'keeper claims the ball.
  • 63
    France, playing their best football of the tournament, are well on top at the minute. Ribery is finally starting to show why he is so highly rated and the Spanish defence are struggling to cope with him.
  • 60
    Great defending from Sagnol halts a rare Spanish attack - he reacts quickly to clear Joaquin's cross with two attackers waiting to pounce.
  • 59
    Ribery tricks his way past Pernia and gets to the byline. He fires over a low cross but Puyol, at full stretch, manages to hack it clear.
  • 58
    Neat build up play from Spain comes to nothing as Luis Garcia dives in an attempt to win a free-kick. The referee waves play on.
  • 56
    Pernia is penalised for a push on Zidane 30 yards from the Spanish goal. Malouda's free-kick is too high for Thuram, who fouls Casillas as he jumps for the ball.
  • 54
    A double change for Spain, with Joaquin and Luis Garcia replacing Villa and the disappointing Raul.
  • 52
    Malouda beats the offside trap and tries to lift Zidane's throughball over Casillas. The Spain 'keeper dives full length to push the ball to safety. Excellent build-up play from France and a top save from Casillas.
  • 50
    Ribery and Henry combine well on the right wing, but strong defending from Pernia prevents the Arsenal forward getting a cross away.
  • 49
    Henry is lucky to escape without a card for a late challenge on Puyol.
  • 47
    The second half has plenty to live up to after an intriguing opening 45 minutes. Will Spain's painful habit of bottling it in the knockout stages of major tournaments return to haunt them?
  • 46
    France get the second half underway.
  • 45
    HALF-TIME: SPAIN 1-1 FRANCE
  • 43
    Torres surges in to the France penalty area and throws himself to the turf. The refree correctly rules no penalty, but he really should have booked the Spain striker.
  • 41
    SPAIN 1-1 FRANCE RIBERY exchanges passes with Vieira and runs through on goal, going round the goalkeeper and slotting it past the two covering defenders.
  • 41
    Claude Makelele runs the ball out of defence, but his good work is wasted when he hits an aimless long ball through to the Spanish 'keeper.
  • 39
    Vieira goes down suspiciously easily to win a free-kick ten yards outside the Spanish penalty area. Zidane's delivery is poor and Casillas claims the ball.
  • 37
    Zidane is getting frustrated. He kicks out at Alonso after losing a tackle and is fortunate to escape with only a warning.
  • 35
    Vieira lifts the ball over the top of the Spanish defence for Henry to run on to, but the striker goes too soon and the offside flag goes up.
  • 32
    A dreadful challenge by Ribery on Pernia goes unnoticed by the referee. The Spain full-back needs treatment before play can continue.
  • 31
    The corner eventually finds Fabregas on the edge of the French area, but his tame shot is easily gathered by Barthez.
  • 30
    Torres chases a long ball in to the corner, giving Thuram no option but to play it behind for a corner.
  • 28
    SPAIN 1-0 FRANCE VILLA smashes the ball in to the bottom corner of Fabien Barthez's goal. A fantastic spot-kick.
  • 27
    PENALTY Ibanez falls down easily under a challenge from Lilian Thuram and the ref points to the spot.
  • 23
    Zidane releases Henry on the right and the Arsenal man sends over a teasing low cross. Vieira looks certain to score but, with the goal gaping, fails to get a toe on the ball.
  • 22
    Malouda tries to flick a throw-in on for Henry, but his touch is too heavy and Casillas collects.
  • 20
    France are the more threatening side going forward, with Zidane in much better form than in the group stage.
  • 17
    Zidane looks to release Henry with a long ball over the top, but Puyol reacts quickly to make a crucial interception. Henry would have been clean through on goal if the Barcelona defender hadn't spotted the danger.
  • 16
    Franck Ribery's low cross in to the Spanish area is half-cleared. The ball falls for Zidane but Carles Puyol gets across to make a vital block as the veteran playmaker tries to shoot.
  • 14
    Torres sprints away down the right wing, but he can't get past William Gallas and put a cross over.
  • 12
    Spain are starting to take control in midfield, but France look dangerous on the break and Henry tests Iker Casillas with a low shot. Easy save for the Spanish goalkeeper.
  • 9
    Spain win a free-kick 25 yards out. Mariano Pernia's curling effort is just inches wide of the target.
  • 7
    Ibanez Pablo deflects Florent Malouda's cross behind - this time it is a corner. Zidane's delivery is good but Patrick Vieira is penalised for climbing.
  • 5
    Sergio Ramos appears to concede a corner under pressure from Henry. After a minute of confusion the referee changes his mind and awards Spain a free-kick.
  • 3
    Fernando Torres demonstrates his exceptional pace by surging through the France midfield, but his throughball towards Villa is too strong and runs out of play.
  • 2
    David Villa and Xabi Alonso combine to floor Willy Sagnol on the right wing, but Thierry Henry's free-kick delivery is poor.
  • 1
    Spain get the match underway.
  • 0
    Les Bleus boss Raymond Domenech has recalled Zinedine Zidane and Eric Abidal after they missed the 2-0 win against Togo through suspension. David Trezeguet and Mikael Silvestre return to the bench.
  • 0
    Spain coach Luis Aragones has brought Raul and Cesc Fabregas in to his starting line-up at the expense of Luis Garcia and Marcos Senna.
  • 0
    Spain take on France in Hanover for the right to face Brazil in the quarter-finals.

Statistics

Spain
Shots on target 2
Shots off target 5
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 29
Offsides 2
Corners 8

France
Shots on target 5
Shots off target 4
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 23
Offsides 8
Corners 5

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