Clash of the titans
Soccer legends Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane both want the chance for one more game -- and win -- after tonight's match against each other to end their careers on a high note. The two men, both of whom had actually retired from international soccer once already, have said this World Cup will be their final major tournament. Whoever wins in Munich will play Italy in Berlin for soccer's greatest prize.

Tonight's teams.
Portugal (4-5-1): 1-Ricardo; 13-Miguel, 16-Ricardo Carvalho, 5-Fernando Meira, 14-Nuno Valente; 6-Costinha, 18-Maniche, 20-Deco, 7-Luis Figo, 17-Cristiano Ronaldo; 9-Pauleta Coach: Luiz Felipe Scolari France (4-2-3-1): 16-Fabien Barthez; 19-Willy Sagnol, 15-Lilian Thuram, 5-William Gallas, 3-Eric Abidal; 4-Patrick Vieira, 6-Claude Makelele; 22-Franck Ribery, 10-Zinedine Zidane, 7-Florent Malouda; 12-Thierry Henry Coach: Raymond Domenech Referee: Jorge Larrionda (Uruguay)

Ten minutes to kick-off in Munich. The stadium is almost full. Lots of Portugese blood red and French blue in the stands. The teams are waiting in the tunnel.

The teams are walking in. The two captains and Real team mates -- Zidane and Figo -- look focused and have no time for friendly conversation.

Cristiano Ronaldo smiles as the Portugese anthem begins. Does he know something we don't?

The camera sets on Zidane for the French anthem. Will it be his last game today, or will he play a second World Cup final?

Portugal win the toss.

1. min.
The game is on. France kick off.


1. min.
Malouda gets the first chance as he gets the ball from Henry. His shot is not clean and goes wide.

2. min.
Ronaldo comes with good pace along the left wing but is stopped ten meters before the box.

4. min.
Good chance for Portugal. Ronaldo flies down the wing again and passes into Deco outside the box who shoots. Barthez deflects with one hand and Pauleta is blocked from hitting the ball into the French goal.

6. min.
The teams are taking turns playing their way to the box. Portugal are a bit faster but the French also combine well.

8. min.
Ronaldo has started the game at top speed. Again he approaches the box bit this time flicks the ball backwards to Maniche whose shot is only a foot over the bar.

9. min.
In the next attack, Figo gets a low cross in that Gallas manages to get a foot on.

11. min.
The Portugese have had the better chances so far and the French have made unusually many mistakes in the first ten minutes.

13. min.
Good combination by the French ends up dangerously close to Henry's foot. Ribery, Zidane and Abidal play the ball around and the latter gets the cross in that is not more than half a meter away from Henry's foot as he storms towards the far post.

15. min.
Figo goes towards the box and is forced to shoot as Pauleta is in an off-side position. The shot is too weak and no problem for Barthez.

18. min.
Portugal have lost the pressure they had although the French are quite passive at the moment.

20. min.
Makelele finds Ribery with a lovely pass. Ribery passes to Henry at the box line who tries a shot but hits a Portugese defender.

23. min.
Portugal bite themselves into the French half and Ronaldo is the key as they combine but to little result.

25. min.
Both teams are all but effective when they reach the box. Most of the time is spent passing within the team at midfield as if they need to build up confidence.

28. min.
Henry gets the ball deep in the box to the left and dribbles past his defender to move in. He flicks the ball towards the center but Ricardo is first on the ball.

30. min.
The French defense seem to be warm and it's getting increasingly more difficult for the Portugese to come to any attempts at goal.

31. min.
Penalty for France


33. min.
Goal France and Zidane!!


33. min.
Henry is the one who wins the penalty as he gets brought down just inside the box but with free range to the goal. Zidane takes two steps back and shows all English players how to beat Ricardo .

36. min.
Maniche tries a long shot from twenty five meters and Barthez does not look the most convincing as he struggles to hold on to the ball.

38. min.
Ronaldo moves in from the right and shoots just inside the box. A good shot that is deflected to a corner. The young Portugese has been the most prolific player on the pitch so far.

41. min.
The French are very disciplined and now control the pace of the game.

43. min.
Ronaldo again. This time he comes down the right and shoots outside the box. The shot is wide though.

45+1. min.
First half is over.
The Portugese are pushing on hoping for the equalizer but with no luck.

A quite good first half where the Portugese started off at high pace but the French defense soon found their rhythm. After the French goal the tempo slowed down a bit as les blues took control of the game.

Figo is looking a tad concerned as he waits for second half to begin.

45. min.
Second half has started.


47. min.
Henry gets a great chance! The French striker gets a ball and starts a solo counter. He goes past his defender and shoots outside the five meter line. The ball is deflected to a corner by Ricardo.

49. min.
France again! Zidane is having a good time making half the Portugese team look like beginners and then passes the ball to Ribery whose shot is saved by Ricardo.

52. min.
Ronaldo runs around with the ball but unlike first half his moves are inefficient.

53. min.
Pauleta gets the ball inside the box for the first time. The Portugese striker turns and shoots into the left side of the net.

55. min.
A French counter started by Henry sees Ribery pass Zidane outside the box where the French captain tries to direct the ball on to Henry but it's too hard.

57. min.
Miguel is down but the cameras show he stumbles to the ground where he hangs out for a minute or two beefore being brought off the pitch. He will probably be back soon.

60. min.
Miguel is back but it does not look good.

61. min.
Abidal gets a hard hit cross straight in the face outside the box. The French defender is groggy and is helped off.

63. min.
Miguel goes off for Ferreira.


65. min.
The French are slowly backing home waiting for the counter and focusing on defending their lead.

68. min.
Pauleta leaves for Simao.


69. min.
Malouda goes for Wiltord.


70. min.
The Portugese have not managed to create a lot so far in second half. But the French are now deep into their own half and will probably feel some heat before the 90 minutes are over.

72. min.
Ribery leaves for Govou.


73. min.
The French now have all but Henry on their own half. The striker is hanging out in the mid circle waiting for the long ball.

75. min.
Postiga comes on for Costinha.


77. min.
Portugal's best chance.
Ronaldo hits a free-kick from twentyfive meters that Barthez can't hold. The ball goes out to Figo who has the whole goal to head the ball into but he is a bit late in his jump and the ball goes over the bar and lands in the net.

79. min.
The French are playing an ever more dangerous game as they do nothing but defend with no intentions to score the winner.

82. min.
Carvalho is booked after a bad tackle on Wiltord.


83. min.
Figo wins a corner for Portrugal but it's poorly taken.

85. min.
Henry goes off for Saha.


86. min.
Saha is booked and will not play in a possible final.


87. min.
The French have been extremely passive the last thirty minutes but there's no question their tactics are effective.

89. min.
It also seems as if the Portugese have half given up. Ronaldo is a shadow of his first half performance and Deco has been invisible most of the game.

90+2. min.
Meira gets the chance to shoot just outside the box but his half volley flies way high.

90+3. min.
A corner kick for Portugal sees their goalie Ricardo in the French box. The Portugese keeper manages a back kick that wins his team another corner.

90+4. min.
France are through and will play Italy in the 2006 World Cup final.


France's tactics passed the test. They stood firm at the back and gave the Portugese few possibilities to come to a finish. Zidane gets his second final.