SPAIN v FRANCE - MATCH REPORT
Toby Higgins

Patrick Vieira scored his second goal in as many games for his country as France came from behind to beat Spain.

Spain went ahead on 28 minutes from the penalty spot after a clumsy Lillian Thuram challenge, and David Villa showed the ultimate composure to fire his spot kick expertly past the diving Fabien Barthez, who guessed the right way but was helpless to keep it out.

The former World Champions were level before the break though, as Frank Ribery latched onto a through ball from Vieira, and while Spain unsuccessfully claimed offside against an inactive Thierry Henry, Ribery rounded Iker Casillas before rolling the ball home.

The second half was a much more cagey affair, with neither side looking to press forward for fear of conceding. But, with just eight minutes left, Vieira rose unmarked at the back post to head a Zidane free kick past Casillas, and to send Les Blues fans into raptures, though controversy surrounded the awarding of the original free-kick, as Henry appear to feign injury after tussling with Carlos Puyol.

French captain Zidane, who it looked like at one stage might have played his final game for his country when he went off against South Korea in the group stage, completed the comeback in jury time, as he fired past Casillas after receiving a Sydney Govou pass.

Spain failed to reign as the experienced French side ran out winners over a young team who promise to be a real threat in four years time, though for the moment, they maintain their tag of being one of the biggest under achievers World Cup history.

France, who stopped the Spanish playing and were visibly a better side than they had been in the group stage, book their place in the quarter final, where they will face the side they defeated in Paris in 1998, and the current World Champions, Brazil.

Man of the Match: Zinedine Zidane - pulled the strings for the French in midfield and rounded off a good performance with a goal that will not only lift him, but also his side for their quarter final test against the Samba Stars.

Venue: AWD - Arena
Attendance: 43,000
Referee: Roberto Rosetti

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