France will meet Italy in Sunday's World Cup Final after Zinedine Zidane's first-half penalty proved to be enough to beat a punchless Portugal side 1-0 in Munich.

The match will be a repeat of the Euro 2000 final after France edged a nervy semi-final against Luis Felipe Scolari's side.

France started well and almost took the lead in the first minute when Florent Malouda escaped Miguel's attentions, only to drag his effort wide.

Portugal hit back in a lively opening and in the fourth minute Cristiano Ronaldo stretched the French defence and set up Deco whose shot was saved, with some difficulty, by Fabien Barthez. Pauleta was unable to latch on to the rebound.

As play swung from end to end Eric Abidal's teasing cross along the six-yard line evaded everyone before Luis Figo, in acres of space, tried a long-range attempt that Barthez was equal to.

The key incident of the game came in the 32nd minute when France were awarded a penalty. Henry was tripped by Ricardo Carvalho and Zidane beat Ricardo slotting his spot-kick home low to the keeper's right.

Scolari didn't think it was a penalty - Henry made the most of it with a theatrical dive - but Carvalho did catch him.

Four minutes later Ronaldo had appeals for a penalty waved away - to Scolari's annoyance and just before the interval the Manchester United star broke from the halfway line but three French defenders forced him away from goal and the winger's shot drifted well wide.

France started the second half well but then sat back and let Portugal come at them. However, Scolari's side were poor going forward and, despite all their possession, they never really looked like snatching an equaliser.

In the 48th minute Henry latched on to a loose ball, forged his way into the area and saw his shot somewhat fortunately turned away for a corner by Ricardo before the Portugal keeper saved a rasping Franck Ribery drive.

In the 53rd minute Portugal went close when Pauleta swivelled inside the area before firing a shot into the side-netting.

After a flurry of substitutions, Barthez almost gifted Portugal an equaliser with 12 minutes left. The eccentric keeper scooped Ronaldo's ambitious free-kick up into the air but Figo contrived to head the rebound over the bar.

In stoppage time Meira blasted a shot from the edge of the area way over the bar but, despite Ricardo coming upfield for two last-gasp corners, France hung on to seal a place in their second World Cup Final in three tournaments.