World Cup Final 12 July 1998

Stade de France, Paris
France 3 (Zidane 27, 45, Petit 90) Brazil 0

France: Barthez, Lizarazu, Desailly, Thuram, Leboeuf, Djorkaeff (Vieira 76), Deschamps, Zidane, Petit, Karembeu (Boghossian 58), Guivarc¹h (Dugarry 66).

Brazil: Taffarel, Cafu, Aldair, Junior Baiano, Roberto Carlos, Cesar Sampaio (Edmundo 74), Dunga, Rivaldo, Leonardo (Denilson 46), Ronaldo, Bebeto.

Referee: S. Belqola (Morocco)
Yellow Cards: Deschamps 38, Desailly 47, Karembeu 55, Junior Baiano 35.
Red Cards: Desailly 68.

France as hosts knew their chance for World Cup glory would never be greater than this moment. Brazil, despite having Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Roberto Carlos, had not looked convincing, beating Holland in the semis only after a penalty shoot-out. Before the Final itself, there were further problems with Ronaldo not on the initial teamsheet, then restored at the second time of asking.

France by contrast had been improving and their win over Croatia in the semis left them one game away from thie dream ending. Defensively they had looked strong, but they would have to play without libero Laurent Blanc who had been red-carded in that semi-final win. In midfield Zinedine Zidane was looking every inch the player who was regarded as the world¹s finest playmaker, and he would top that off with an inspired performance in the final.

It was soon clear that Brazil were in trouble, with both Guivarc'h and Djorkaeff having early chances. Roberto Carlos replied for Brazil, going close on two occasions. Just before the half-hour mark Zidane gave the hosts the advantage. The Juventus star headed home at the near post from a Petit corner from the right.

Four minutes later Ronaldo clashed with Barthez in the French goal and the look on the young striker's face betrayed the anguish that was engulfing the Brazilian side. On the stroke of half-time, Zidane added a second goal that left Brazil with a mountain to climb. A corner from the left by Djorkaeff was firmly met at the near post, with Zidane becoming the first player to score twice in a Final since Mario Kempes in 1978.

Brazil made little headway in the second period, but were given some hope when Marcel Desailly was sent­off for a second bookable offence in the 68th minute, following a foul on Cafu.

However France remained in total charge and in the final minute a counter-attack from Dugarry and Vieira left Petit clear to slot past Taffarel from the edge of the area to make it 3-0. The capacity crowd in the Stade de France had started celebrating long before the final whistle, with Petit's goal merely heightening the euphoria that swept around the whole of Paris within a matter of minutes.