Thursday, July 6 2006 15:50 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Munich: France striker Thierry Henry said after his nation beat Portugal on Wednesday to reach the World Cup final that he had never listened to the critics who savaged the team when they made a poor start to the tournament.

A 33rd-minute penalty scored by Zinedine Zidane settled a low-key match 1-0 in France's favour and earned the French a trip to the final against Italy in Berlin's Olympic Stadium on Sunday and a chance to add to the trophy they won in 1998.

Henry said France had never doubted they would come good after struggling through their first-round group with draws against Switzerland and South Korea before clinching qualification with a 2-0 win over Togo.

"It is true that we were not playing well, people were saying we were too old. That was pretty harsh, but as soon as you step it up it works," Henry said.

"We were not listening to it, we were playing as a team. That is what the team is all about," he said.

He said the key to France's victory had been their resolute defence after he himself had earned the spot kick when he was tripped by Ricardo Carvalho.

"We defended like lions. After we got the penalty, the way we defended was great," Henry said.

He predicted a 'tight game' against Italy, who France beat in a dramatic Euro 2000 final. Lilian Thuram, one of the veterans from the 1998-winning team who came out of international retirement to help France qualify, said the joy of being in the final was just as strong eight years later.

"I am 34 today and I feel like a 10-year-old child who is watching the World Cup on television and thinking it is magnificent," he said.

"I am just saying that I am so lucky. We're in the final and I hope that the party is going to continue because this is just too beautiful," said Thuram, who was named man of the match.

Coach Raymond Domenech said he was not content simply with reaching the final.

"We have to go all the way. We cannot just be satisfied with the fact that getting there is wonderful," he said.

"We will have to go for it and give it our all without giving it a second thought," he said.