The 2006 World Cup in Germany
A booksmusicfilmstv.com surreal take on the footie fest in Germany
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France denied Portugal once again in a major semi final, as they reached their second World Cup final after winning this rather uneventful match. With so many players on yellow cards, and scared of missing the World Cup final, maybe it was understandable that things were pretty subdued until a frantic last few minutes. Manchester United striker and French substitute Louis Saha was the one unlucky player to pick up a second yellow card, and so now can play no part in the biggest game of all.

There was an entertaining start to this semi final, which saw early chances for both sides. Lyon's Florent Malouda shot just wide in the first minute for France, but, for Portugal, Deco forced a full length save from Fabien Barthez, and Maniche fired just over - both efforts being from long range. Portugal were looking the better side in the first half hour, but then their defender, Ricardo Carvalho, tripped Thierry Henry in the penalty area. Zinedine Zidane hit the resulting penalty with power to Ricardo's right, and into the net, though the Portuguese 'keeper still got a hand to the ball.

Henry nearly scored a second goal for the French early in the second half, when he surged into the area, and fired in a shot which nearly sneaked under Ricardo's body, but the 'keeper got enough on the ball to divert it just wide. Ricardo then pushed out a fierce Frank Ribery effort from long distance. Portugal replied with a good shot on the turn by Pauleta, but it went into the side netting. A great chance fell to Luis Figo, when Barthez had strangely scooped up a powerful Cristiano Ronaldo free kick, but the Portuguese captain headed over from close range. In the closing moments even Ricardo was coming up to join Portugal's attack, but their only real chance fell to defender Fernando Meira, who blasted over from a good position. With Portugal's defeat came an end to manager Luiz Felipe Scolari's amazing run of 12 successive wins in World Cup finals.

So, Zinedine Zidane has, deservedly, the World Cup final as the last game of his great career. A player who has won just about everything, Zidane and this 'old' French side have defied the odds. A moving sight at the end of this game was of the two greats, Zidane and Luis Figo, embracing. Sadly, for Figo, his international career has had a number of near misses, and Portugal's golden generation's last chance of winning a major competition has now gone.

- Paul Rance/booksmusicfilmstv.com.