Wednesday, June 28 2006 14:54 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Hanover: An inspired France marshalled by Zinedine Zidane swept to a 3-1 win over Spain here on Tuesday to set up a dream World Cup quarter-final date with Brazil.

Spain took the lead with a penalty from David Villa before Frank Ribery levelled, with Patrick Vieira and Zidane finishing off a memorable night for Les Bleus. France had promised to show her true face after making heavy weather of her opening group matches and she kept her word as Raymond Domenech's ageing side produced their prettiest football since arriving in Germany and arguably the best since he took over after Euro 2004.

But it was Spain who went ahead in the 26th minute after defender Lilian Thuram tackled Pablo Ibanez from behind, stepping on the Atletico Madrid defender's ankle.

Zidane said that France had been determined to show that their laboured first round showings were not a true indication of their quality.

"We're really happy as we had a great desire after a first round that wasn't too easy for us to show we had the quality to do something," Zidane said.



Coach Raymond Domenech could afford to joke that things had finally gone well on the night for his side of 'oldies,' who some critics have for weeks dubbed too long in the tooth to do well at the tournament.

"We were admirable on all levels, courageous, reactive, solid, intelligent, lucid and patient," he insisted.

"Patrick Vieira was written off, Zizou ought not to be playing. But our little team of oldies are still in there. They may be old but they are patient," noted Domenech, saying that he couldn't wait for a match with Brazil.

"It's for matches like that that we are here," he said.

Striker Thierry Henry said that the French midfield had pulled out all the stops against talented rivals.

"It was a good game and our midfield did really well. We were confident but maybe if we'd played Spain right from the outset not many people would have backed us," he said.

Spanish keeper Iker Casillas was distraught at the defeat.

"We didn't want it to end this way. We are really disappointed but we are on the way home and that's how it is," he said.

Italian referee Roberto Rosetti had no hesitation in pointing to the spot despite protests from Zidane with David Villa stepping up to slot the ball low and left past Fabien Barthez to leave the 1998 champions on the back foot.

Up to then France were matching Spain step by step for pace, constructing some deft moves with Zidane at the heart of most and Ribery keeping the Spanish defence on their toes on the right.



Ribery had France's best early chance after Henry squared the ball from the right only for the young Marseille midfielder to fluff his lines from in front of Casillas' goal.

But Ribery then showed why they're calling him the next Zidane as he drew France back level in the 41st minute as he latched onto a through ball from Vieira, beat off two Spanish defenders, sidestepped the onrushing Casillas and shot into an empty goal.

The 23-year-old, who has made a rapid rise through the Gallic ranks, celebrated his first goal for his country on his seventh appearance with a flying leap into les Bleus' substitutes bench.

The Spaniards went into the break aggrieved at not being awarded a second late penalty when Fernando Torres hit the deck after a challenge from Willy Sagnol.

With extra time looming tension was evident and Spain's Carles Puyol picked up a yellow card for a foul on Henry, though, replays showed that there had been no contact but the Arsenal striker's theatrical collapse fooled the referee.

Zidane fired the resultant freekick high into the box with Vieira leaping over the Spanish defence to head low towards Casillas but Spanish defender Sergi Ramos attempt to deflect it only helped to turn it away from Casillas and into the right hand corner of the goal.

Zidane then picked up his third yellow card of the competition and promptly celebrated by adding France's third, receiving a perfect pass from Sylvain Wiltord, eluding Puyol's desperate challenge and slotting it past Casillas.