5 July 2006, by Tom Kundert

France end Portugal dream

Portugal 0-1 France

Portugal’s brilliant World Cup campaign fizzled out disappointingly tonight in Munich as France won a match of few chances by a single goal. Zinedine Zidane scored from the spot after Thierry Henry won a penalty in the 33rd minute.

Portugal were back to full strength as Costinha and Deco, returning from suspension, and Figo and Ronaldo, overcoming injuries picked up against England, all made the starting line-up.

France created danger in the very first minute as Malouda burst clear on the edge of the area, only to drag his shot wide.

Promising start

Portugal quickly got into their slick passing game in an entertaining opening phase, and a low shot from Deco forced Barthez into a sprawling save, with Thuram doing superbly well to prevent Pauleta from reaching the rebound.

Maniche then came desperately close to scoring in spectacular fashion when Ronaldo’s clever back-heel set him up for a typically ferocious long-range effort that just cleared the bar. Next it was Figo who fired in another good shot from distance, but Barthez got his body behind the ball.

The game then settled into more of a tactical battle, with defences clearly on top. The most dangerous player on the pitch was Cristiano Ronaldo, who not doubt spurred on by loud whistling from the crowd whenever the ball came to his feet, unsettled the French with his strong running and bewitching footwork.

In the 33rd minute France grabbed the lead when Ricardo Carvalho was adjudged to have brought down Thierry Henry in the box. Although there was contact Henry seemed to make a meal out of it, but the referee had no doubts and pointed to the spot.

Zidane struck the penalty hard into the left-hand corner of the net, with Ricardo unable to repeat his England heroics despite getting a hand to the ball.

As the players went into the changing room at the break Luiz Filipe Scolari knew he would need all his legendary motivational skills to get Portugal back into a match.

Cast iron French defence

Frustratingly Portugal never managed to build up an attacking momentum, with too many of their big players, most notably Pauleta and Deco, failing to make an impression on the match.

After Henry and Ribery had threatened early in the second half Pauleta came to life with a good turn and shot that whistled into the side-netting. However, it came as no surprise when the Paris Saint Germain striker was replaced by Simao half way through the second period.

Postiga was thrown on shortly afterwards as Scolari desperately tried to fire his team into life against an ominously strong French rearguard.

Out of nothing Portugal were almost gifted an equaliser in the 78th minute when Barthez spilt a 35-metre free-kick from Ronaldo but Figo headed agonisingly over from just six yards out.

The lively Postiga brought more urgency to Portugal’s forward play, and Valente also pushed forward effectively, but the chances never arrived.

Central defender Meira blasted an injury time volley high and wide, and even Ricardo joined the attack in a desperate last throw of the dice but Portugal could find no way through and their wonderful German adventure was not to end in the Berlin final.

Portugal will now play the hosts in Stuttgart on Saturday to try and match their 1966 third-place finish.

PortuGoal man of the match:
Nuno Valente – As throughout the tournament the Everton left-back defended impeccably and attacked intelligently and purposefully. A genuine unsung hero.

Portugal:
Ricardo, Miguel (Paulo Ferreira, 62), Fernando Meira, Ricardo Carvalho, Nuno Valente, Costinha (Postiga, 74), Maniche, Cristiano Ronaldo, Deco, Figo, Pauleta (Simao, 67)
Yellow card: Ricardo Carvalho (82)

France:
Barthez, Sagnol, Thuram, Gallas, Abidal, Makelele, Vieira, Ribery (Gouvou, 71), Zidane, Malouda (Wiltord, 68), Henry (Saha, 84)
Yellow card: Saha (88)

Goal:
[0-1] Zidane, 33 (pen)