France 3 Spain 1:Two late goals from Patrick Vieira and Zinedine Zidane gave France a 3-1 win over Spain in the World Cup second round today.
Vieira headed in at the far post in the 83rd minute after a free
kick had been deflected towards his own goal by Spain's Xabi
Alonso. Vieira's header flicked off Spain's Sergio Ramos on its way
into the net.
Zidane finished things off in style in stoppage time, beating
goalkeeper Iker Casillas after a swift counterattack.
France now meet Brazil in the quarter-finals on Saturday, a
repeat of the 1998 final won by the French.
France, written off by many as too old, came back from a goal
down.
Spain had opened the scoring on 28 minutes, striker David
Villa firing home from a penalty after Pablo Ibanez had been
fouled by Lilian Thuram.
France reacted in style four minutes from halftime.
Lively winger Franck Ribery raced on to a fine through ball
from Vieira and rounded keeper Casillas to score his first goal for
France with a cool finish.
Spain, eager to shake off their tag as under-achievers and to
erase memories of their last competitive meeting with France, when
Raul missed a last-minute penalty in a 2-1 defeat in the
quarter-finals of Euro 2000, looked fresher and more imaginative
throughout the first half.
After a cautious start from both sides, Spain were the first
to threaten when left back Mariano Pernia curled a free kick just
over the left upright from 25 metres on nine minutes.
France, relying on their trademark, watertight back four,
showed little initiative up from until both Ribery and Vieira
failed to connect with a low Thierry Henry cross midway through the
half.
Everything was a place for a dramatic second-half fight after
France levelled shortly before the break.
France went close in the 52nd minute when a chipped volley by
Florent Malouda enabled Casillas to show his class with a
spectacular one-handed save.
Luis Aragones then tried some fresh legs in an effort to
break the deadlock, taking off Raul, who won his 99th cap on his
29th birthday in disappointing fashion, and Villa to make way for
Luis Garcia and Joaquin.