Les Beautiful 'Old' France brings new order, sends Brazil home By TERRY JONES -- Edmonton Sun Sun, July 2, 2006

FRANKFURT -- The team that gave the world "The Beautiful Game" is gone.

And in most places on the planet, it was wonderful. Not because Brazil was sent home from the World Cup. It was the way. And by whom.

"This is so beautiful,'' said Zinedine Zidane.

It was also one of the most monumental moments in World Cup history.

Five-time champion Brazil, overwhelming favourites to make it to a fourth straight final and win a second-straight title, were defeated 1-0 by France. The Over the Hill Gang rides on.

Coming here without a World Cup goal since beating Brazil in the final of France '98 - and looking like french toast after group play - Les Bleus are back!

For a second-straight elimination game France went back to the future.

"We didn't steal anything from anybody,'' Thierry Henry told reporters when it was over. "We played well. This was not a lucky victory.''

Indeed. This was no penalty shootout. It was no fluke. It was no one-play-that-happened-to-go-the-right-way, the way-the-ball-bounces win.

France was full value from the first minute when Man of the Match Zidane, who has put off his retirement for another four days, danced through a series of Brazilian tackle attempts. It was Game On from the get-go.

And it was a gorgeous game, almost totally free of play acting, relatively free of fouls and full of flow and first-rate football in complete contrast to the Portugal shootout win over England to open this day.

Call this World Cup "Euro 2006" now. Brazil is gone. Argentina is gone.

Germany, Italy, France and Portugal move on.

Nine of the 10 World Cups staged in Europe will now have a European champion.

But who had this one figured a week ago, two years ago, four years ago?

"The old men are still around,'' said France coach Raymond Domench.

"We wanted to prove, after 2002, that we were not rubbish,'' added Henry, who scored in the 57th minute.

The post-game quotes were as good as the game itself.

"I've always said the World Cup isn't about us dreaming of winning, but I have to say this is the stuff of dreams,'' offered Henry, the Arsenal striker who, along with Zidane and Patrick Vieira, had a huge game to go with the clean sheet for Fabien Barthez.

Barthez didn't have to perform the dramatics in goal you'd expect going against Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and the rest of the best soccer team in the world until this day.

"Now we want to go all the way,'' added Henry.

"We don't want to stop now,'' said Zidane. "We had to produce a massive performance and that's what we accomplished. We deserve our victory.

"We needed a great match and we delivered,'' added Zidane, who came out of international retirement for this, and has looked like his old sensational self for the past two tilts.

Unable to win a game or even score a goal at Korea-Japan 2002 and not much better at Euro 2004, France is making this storybook stuff.

Henry scored the goal on a free kick from Zidane. Left completely uncovered, Henry took the long cross in the air and touched it home from only a few feet in front of the net.

But this wasn't just one goal. France had possession 56% to 44% and were the better bunch on the day.

"It was extraordinary,'' said Domench.

"Sometimes there aren't words to describe what you are experiencing. Portugal won't be easy, but for the moment let me enjoy this moment.

"There's only football to offer you great moments like this.''

France plays Portugal Wednesday in Munich. Germany meets Italy Tuesday in Dortmund.

But for the moment, there's plenty to talk about today without looking ahead.

Amazing day. And here, where horns honked long into the night after Germany's win, it was also a celebration for the third time in four World Cup meetings where France has, remarkably, managed to beat Brazil at the World Cup.

The last one, in Paris eight years ago, was one for the ages. This was one for the aged.