Zidane puts France through

It was fitting that it should be Zidane, the hero of the 1998 triumph, who delivered the blow that sent France in the direction of Berlin after proving the inspiration in Les Bleus' surprise rise from group phase grafters to potential world champions.

Unlike England's stars in the previous round, the Real Madrid midfielder did not tremble in front of Ricardo after Ricardo Carvalho's ill-judged lunge on Thierry Henry had been punished.

The challenge looked powder-puff, but there was contact with the Arsenal forward's shin that was arguably firm enough to bring him to the ground, though Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari's vehement protestations on the sidelines were not without merit.

The Brazilian's mood will barely have been lightened soon after when Uruguayan ref Jorge Larrionda - rightly - waved away Portuguese penalty appeals when Cristiano Ronaldo shamefully crumbled to the floor as he challenged for a high ball.

And Scolari made his feelings known in an angry outburst after the final whistle, finger-wagging furiously and clearly upset by his adopted nation's elimination.

But Scolari - who saw a 12-game unbeaten run at World Cups come to an end - can have few complaints that his side are only playing hosts Germany for third place after an ineffective display which found them sadly lacking in the French box and too often resorting to disgraceful 'simulation' in a desperate bid to find an opening.

With only Pauleta up front, wide men Luis Figo and Ronaldo - the latter particularly sprightly as he fed off the booing from the Munich crowd - were limited to long-range efforts.

And Deco - suspended for the triumph over England - faded horribly after a bright opening leaving Portugal desperately short of the creative trickery to unlock a France defence marshalled by the superb Lilian Thuram.

Portugal's best chances came from France's own jitters after Thierry Henry had failed to give them the breathing space of a two-goal cushion a minute after the interval when his low strike was well smothered by Ricardo.

Fabien Barthez, otherwise solid, bizarrely spooned a Ronaldo free-kick volleyball-style into the air with quarter of an hour left, Figo arrived unchallenged only to head over the bar.

And as nerves paralysed France in a frantic final few minutes, a long ball saw sub Helder Postiga beat Thuram in the air only for the shooting chance to fall to Fernando Meira - a defender by trade masquerading as makeshift striker - who duly lashed the ball over.

Full-back Nuno Valente still had time to drift an inviting cross from the left wing over the head of Barthez, who was visibly relieved to see the ball drop wide of the far post.

"What matters now is to go all the way. We can't be content with that," said France coach Raymond Domenech. "We have to recuperate and start focusing. We must give all we have in that final to make sure we have no regrets."

Man of the Match: Lilian Thuram (France)