France will take on Brazil in the quarter-finals of the World Cup after late goals from Patrick Vieira and Zinedine Zidane secured a 3-1 win against Spain in Hanover.

Les Bleus fell behind to a 28th-minute David Villa penalty, but went in on level terms at the break thanks to a coolly taken Franck Ribery goal.

The second round clash looked to be heading in to extra-time until Vieira rose to head home in the 83rd minute, with Zidane adding a clincher deep in to stoppage-time.

Spain had the better of a cagey opening period, but France should have opened the scoring 23 minutes in when Thierry Henry fired over a teasing low cross which somehow evaded both Ribery and Vieira.

Luis Aragones' men then went ahead after Lilian Thuram was adjudged to have fouled Pablo Ibanez in the area. The decision was harsh but, with the Spanish man moving away from goal, Thuram had no need to make the challenge.

Villa stepped up confidently and despatched a perfect penalty in to the bottom left corner of Fabien Barthez's goal.

France hit back strongly and deservedly levelled after 41 minutes when Ribery exchanged passes with Vieira before going round the 'keeper and coolly slotting the ball past the two covering defenders and in to the back of the net.

The second 45 minutes lacked the fluency of the closing stages of the opening half, but France, with Ribery finally showing why he is so highly rated in his homeland, always looked the more likely to score.

The best chance to break the deadlock fell to Florent Malouda, who beat the offside trap and raced on to Zidane's throughball. He attempted to lift it over Iker Casillas, but the Spain goalkeeper reacted sharply to push it away.

Then, as the coaches began to plan for extra-time, Carles Puyol, who was outstanding for most of the game, needlessly fouled Henry some 35 yards from goal.

Zidane swung the free-kick over and, after Xabi Alonso unwittingly flicked it on, the unmarked Vieira rose at the far post to head home via a deflection off the outstretched leg of Sergio Ramos.

Spain threw everyone forward in search of an equaliser, but, almost inevitably, were caught out by a swift counter attack.

The ball reached Zidane on the left wing and he cut in to the box, stepped inside Puyol and nonchalantly stroked the ball past Casillas.

The goal evoked memories of Zidane's heyday, but more importantly condemned Spain to yet another early exit from a major tournament.