World champions France will meet Japan in the Confederations Cup final on Sunday after a 2-1 win over Brazil in today’s semifinal.
Japan, co-hosting the tournament with South Korea, qualified for the final earlier with a 1-0 win over Australia in Yokohama.
A clever volley side-footed home from 18 metres by Robert Pires after only seven minutes and an opportunistic close-range header from skipper Marcel Desailly following a 54th minute Youri Djorkaeff free-kick gave France a well-deserved victory.
Brazil, who could have have been three goals down after a one-sided opening 25 minutes, replied with a direct free-kick from Ramon after 30 minutes, but despite playing their best football of the tournament, could not cancel out Desailly's goal.
Brazil will now face Australia in the play-off for third place in Suwon on Saturday.
The match was the first between the two countries currently placed first and second in FIFA's world rankings since France beat Brazil 3-0 to win the World Cup final nearly three years ago.
But with many of France's top players absent and Brazil fielding largely a second team, the match lacked the cutting edge of an out-and-out first class match.