I love it when the unexpected happens and last night’s game sprang a suprise for not only did France managed to beat the favourites Spain but they manage to do it with style.

I seriously expected Spain to breeze through to the quater finals after watching their displays in previous games but i guess what my dad told me before the game came to pass..he said “The ball is round..anything can happen”, a true yoda-ish moment.

France turned on the style yesterday and even though they fell behind after a David Villa spot kick in the 28th minute they showed hunger and desire,they really wanted to win this game!..it’s something i’ve never since in the French team since their all conquering team of 1998 & 2000.Welcome back France.

They seemed to be brimming with confidence, and one man that produced oodles of it was 22 year old Frank Ribery,who scored one of the best solo goals in this years tournament with a really,i mean REALLY cool finish,to produce that kind of finish when your only 22,behind the firm favourites 1-0 Spain is simply astonishing,full credit to Ribery a definite prospect for the future.

Spain continued to dominate the game even after the equaliser and into the second half they came out the brighter side,at one point their possesion share was 60% against France’s 40%,but that just goes to tell you that it’s not about possesion but it’s about what you do with the ball when you have it.

Spain’s Aragones than decided to make a switch,a peculiar switch if you ask me especially so early in the second half when his side really were in control,but a switch it was and on came Joaquin and Luis Garcia for Raul and David Villa respectively.

On the hour mark, Eric Abidal anticipated Torres inside the box to clear Joaquin’s deadly cross from the right.

Unable to force their way through the middle Spain found a more successful route out wide and were unlucky not to go in front in the 68th minute.

Luis Garcia latched onto Pernia’s cross from the left but his header bounced onto the ground to go high over the crossbar.

Aragones played his last card shortly after, with Marcos Senna replacing Xavi, who had failed to make much of an impact in midfield.

Domenech did tinker with his side too, bringing on Sidney Govou for Malouda with 15 minutes remaining but it was Spain that looked more threatening.

With time running,Spain’s Carles Puyol fouled Thierry Henry and the free kick that was taken proved to be a costly one as Patrick Viera headed in France’s second goal from it.
Puyol later said that the referee had made a mistake in giving the free kick.

t proved a hammer blow for the Spaniards who failed to hit back and conceded another goal in stoppage time as they pushed forward.

Zidane got past two defenders before firing towards the far post to mark a wonderful evening for Les Bleus.

It will now be a 1998 repeat as Brazil take on France in the quater finals.

We now take a short 2 day break..;)

Dejected Fabregas

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