ANNOUNCER: Didier...
CROWD: Deschamps!
ANNOUNCER: Fabien... CROWD: Barthez!
ANNOUNCER: Lilian... CROWD: Thuram!
ANNOUNCER: Laurent... CROWD: Blanc!
ANNOUNCER: Marcel... CROWD: Desailly!
ANNOUNCER: Emmanuel... CROWD: Petit!
ANNOUNCER: Zinedine... CROWD: Zidane!
FANS SING: "La Marseillaise"
The 16th FIFA World Cup will be the biggest festival of sport
the planet has ever seen.
When champions Brazil walk out to face Scotland,
it is the first of 64 matches.
Brazil are overwhelming favourites
for the tournament
and in the 21-year-old Ronaldo,
they have the most potent player
in the world game.
He is soon showing Scotland
his version of the Highland Reel.
After both teams score first-half goals,
the winner comes from a classic
Brazilian passing move
followed by a classic Scottish blunder - a Boyd own goal.
CHEERING
With this victory, and another over Morocco, Brazil quickly
march into the second round.
Their fans can already see the route to the final.
But for the French team, support is more sceptical.
After failing to qualify for the last two World Cups,
they must convince the public that their role as hosts
is more than just ceremonial.
The team's ambitions revolve around Zinedine Zidane,
the best midfield player in Europe.
So Marseille awaits some magic from its famous son,
with South Africa first on stage as volunteers.
Zidane provides,
but France's nervous attack can only squander his gifts.
Until substitute Christophe Dugarry gets a vital touch
on his swerving corner kick.
In the second half, South Africa simply fall apart on this,
their World Cup debut.
Issa with an own goal and then Thierry Henry completes the scoring.
A 3-0 win calms the nerves of coach Aime Jacquet.
But his legion of critics will want France tested by more valid
opponents to be persuaded.
Saudi Arabia are no real threat.
GASPS FROM CROWD
But France's goal-scoring resources begin to look even thinner
as Dugarry joins Stephane Guivarc'h on the injury list.
The French attack now rests with two 19-year-olds,
but first Henry
and then David Trezeguet have enough
confidence to see off
this modest opposition.
France are coasting.
Until Zidane suffers a moment of sheer madness.
Zidane's gratuitous stamping on Anwar has put the entire
French campaign in jeopardy.
And Jacquet shows him no commiseration.
CROWD ROAR
Further goals by Henry and Lizarazu
only emphasise Zidane's folly.
The French go through to the second round,
where they must cope without their playmaker.
One consolation is that their defence looks increasingly impressive.
The expansion of the tournament brought some of the evolving nations
into the World Cup family.
Jamaica's first visit was accompanied by their exuberant fans
and they face a fierce test of their status against Argentina.
Gabriel Batistuta is an accomplished international striker
while Ariel Ortega is already being hailed as the new Maradona.
SPANISH COMMENTARY
Gooaaaal!
Indeed, it is these two players who show the Reggae Boyz
their true place in the world order.
Ortega notches the first two goals,
while Batistuta registers
what will be the only hat-trick of this World Cup.
Goooaaal!
Argentina's three straight wins in their group bring them
face to face with a familiar foe in the second round.
Batistuta!
FANS CHANT: England, England, England...
England had brushed aside Tunisia in their first game in Marseille,
with Paul Scholes confirming his progress at international level.
Later, David Beckham has broke back to display his dead ball skills.
But it was the introduction of Michael Owen that made
the biggest impact, by scoring the goal
that should've earned England a draw
against Romania - but didn't.
This lapse pitches them against Argentina in St Etienne.
But the infusion of youth has turned England into a balanced, pacey team.
What follows is an epic game.
COMMENTATOR: Seaman makes the tackle. Penalty! A penalty has been given.
First advantage to Argentina as Diego Simeone wins a penalty
from Seaman's misguided challenge.
FANS: England!
COMMENTATOR: Goooaaaal!
Batistuta calmly dispatches
his fifth goal in four games.
Chance here for Owen, just outside the box,
going for the heart of goal, brought down! Penalty!
England quickly retaliate in kind,
as Owen's rush to goal teases Ayala into fateful contact.
What Batistuta can do at one end,
Shearer does at the other.
Beckham's short pass is now the prelude to an astonishing
World Cup moment.
Control, pace and sheer willpower
propel the 18-year-old Michael Owen
to a momentous goal.
In one magical instant, Owen becomes an icon in world football,
his image beamed around the globe, his outrageous talent
eagerly acknowledged by the press.
Electrified by such a startling goal,
England press forward in search of more.
But Scholes' close range miss becomes the first
of a series of "if only" moments.
Spared from going two goals behind, Argentina revive
and suddenly the plan
on the coach's chalkboard becomes reality on the pitch.
Zanetti's surgically clean strike levels the scores
in the beat of half-time.
But the mood of the game is about to darken.
Beckham's act of petty revenge on Simeone earns him
an instant red card.
Even as the young player walks off,
his critics are dipping their pens in poison.
Glenn Hoddle has no sympathy.
His priority is to reorganise his ten-man team.
Every player, even Shearer, must be a defender for England now.
A sustained sequence of defiant
tackling keeps Argentina at bay,
with Tony Adams at the heart of the resistance.
COMMENTATOR: Oh, it's gone in! A goal. No, he's disallowed it.
But then England think they've snatched a victory against the odds.
Sol Campbell is celebrating. There are three players off the pitch at the moment.
Until Campbell realises his great moment has been erased from history.
Shearer had fouled goalkeeper Roa.
FINAL WHISTLE
The team survive an agonised period of sudden death.
But for England once again,
a penalty shoot-out becomes their point of departure,
as David Batty's final miss is added to Paul Ince's earlier fail.
There are no recriminations, just professional sympathy.
But after three such exits in major tournaments,
England must one day confront their fear of the penalty shoot-out
and conquer it.
Argentina march on.
Teams from Africa now arrive as serious contenders.
No less a figure than Pele had predicted a World Cup win
for the continent by the millennium.
The 1990 quarterfinalists Cameroon started brightly
against Austria, as Pierre Njanka dazzled with a solo goal.
But with seconds to go, the defence began celebrating too soon,
allowing Toni Polster a crucial equaliser. Three points became one.
Thumped 3-0 by Italy, Cameroon needed a win over Chile to move on
but Sierra's brilliant free kick
made survival unlikely for the Africans.
Until Patrick M'Boma boomed in an equaliser.
But a draw was not enough.
CHEERING
The Moroccans declared
their talents by twice taking
the lead against a rugged Norway.
Mustapha Hadji's sinuous skills
bringing him a brilliant goal.
Hadda's strike was pure power.
The 2-2 draw gave them a chance of qualifying ahead of the Norwegians.
Morocco predictably lost to Brazil,
but they outclassed a threadbare Scotland 3-0,
only to be cruelly denied progress by Norway's win over Brazil.
But their football charmed the world.
CROWD ROAR
Africa's principle hopes lay with Nigeria,
Olympic champions in '96 and now dripping with highly-prized talent.
They displayed their power with a startling win over Spain.
Raul's brilliant volley had given the Spanish a 2-1 lead,
but a grotesque header by Zubizarreta
and a thunderous shot by Sunday Oliseh swept them to victory.
Victor Ikpeba's smart goal was
enough to see off an ageing Bulgaria
and to take the Africans into the second round to face Denmark.
Another display of power and pace was expected.
But it came from the Danes, not the Nigerians.
Early goals by Peter Moller
and Brian Laudrup clipped the wings
of the Super Eagles.
When second-half substitute Ebbe Sand scored with his first touch
to make it 3-0, Nigeria's morale collapsed.
A 4-1 defeat was a harsh reminder that sustained concentration
is needed to win World Cups.
A properly focused Nigeria would be a threat to all in Japan
and South Korea.
Both future hosts gained valuable experience at this World Cup.
Japan rewarded their followers with brave single goal defeats
to Argentina and Croatia.
While Nakayama scored his country's first World Cup goal
in a 2-1 loss to Jamaica.
South Korea suffered defeats by Holland and Mexico, but the world
audience was grateful for the draw which took out a lacklustre Belgium.
On FIFA's Fair Play Day,
the contrasting cultures of America and Iran came together in peace.
A game of no relevance to the tournament still had
ideological significance for the players.
It produced a memorable victory for Iran.
CROWD CHEER
Estili's first-half header put the Iranians into an ecstatic lead.
While the impressive Mahdavikia sealed a 2-1 victory that sent
his nation into tumult.
CROWD ROAR
But the real threat to the established powers
came from underrated teams such as Chile,
who boasted a potential star in Marcelo Salas.
His £15 million transfer to Lazio had suggested a major
South American talent.
His two-goal performance against Italy gives absolute confirmation.
Impressive as Salas is, some old talent is also on display.
Roberto Baggio, a veteran of the last two World Cups, had been summoned
late to add style and creativity to Italy's sterile midfield.
Having created one goal for Vieri, Baggio saves Italy's blushes
by winning a vital, if fortunate, penalty.
In taking the kick himself, Baggio confronts memories
which must have haunted him since his fatal miss in the '94 final.
Despite a Chilean's attempts to remind him,
Baggio scores
with Buddhist serenity.
The shared point helps both teams progress.
But Chile's reward is a major threat.
Salas, the South American Player of the Year, is now pitched
head-to-head with Ronaldo,
the World Player of the Year.
Two men blessed with frightening
pace and mesmerising control.
But Chile's nervous defence quickly tilts the balance towards Brazil.
Cesar Sampaio goes blissfully unmarked as he heads
the first goal.
His second comes after a Roberto Carlos free kick
pinballs its way around the area.
Carlos pretends it was intentional.
Now, Mario Zagallo's men begin to show
the sort of fluency of his great 1970 team.
Most importantly, Ronaldo is now in scoring form.
Brazil lead 3-0.
In the second half, Salas scores
his fourth goal of the tournament.
Neither he nor Ivan Zamorano will give up the fight.
But Ronaldo is rampant.
His second goal ushers a brave Chile through the exit door.
Brazil move on to the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, France's unbeaten progress has aroused the nation
from its indifference.
Nobody wants to miss the tie against Paraguay.
But France are still without Zidane and become a blunt instrument.
FRENCH COMMENTARY
HE LISTENS TO RADIO COMMENTARY
Henry's effort is the closest to a goal in 90 minutes.
Into extra time, the hosts begin to step out along the tightrope.
The country holds its breath.
COMMENTATOR CELEBRATES
Laurent Blanc, golden goal!
Golden goal! Golden goal!
Only minutes before a shoot-out,
Laurent Blanc fires the Blues into the quarterfinal.
The first golden goal in World Cup history goes to France.
The French bandwagon is beginning to roll.
France are through, but so too are Italy, with three wins
and a draw behind them.
But all France cares about now
is that their talisman, Zidane, is back.
France have the World Cup tradition, but Italy the achievements.
For France, it's the same story from their previous games -
chances and misses.
For the Italian coach, Cesare Maldini,
years of service are at risk in this match.
Christian Vieri is Italy's best hope of a goal. He has five already.
But Barthez somehow keeps this effort out.
Vieri's strength is matched by the formidable Desailly.
France are on the very edge, but Barthez keeps his nerve.
In extra time, Baggio has one golden chance to finish the French.
But time has made him mortal after all.
The game will go down to penalties.
Could this be Baggio's last kick in World Cup football?
Lizarazu is the first to miss.
But Albertini immediately gives
away Italy's advantage.
Who will break next?
REFEREE BLOWS WHISTLE
In the end, Di Biagio is the one who finds the loaded chamber.
Barthez belatedly realises that France are through to the semifinal.
The last three World Cups have seen Italy defeated on penalties.
It is time to rebuild.
The critics believe that Germany's all conquering days are also over.
Their squad has too many old players and too many young ones,
with not enough in between.
But they showed enough fight to pull
back two goals against Yugoslavia.
In Jeremies' case, almost too much.
FOGHORNS
CROWD ROAR
Despite their age,
neither Jurgen Klinsmann nor Oliver Bierhoff have lost their edge.
Six goals between them carry the Germans through to a quarterfinal
where they face the surprise team of the tournament - Croatia.
Behind the smiles and the handshakes,
Croatia have unfinished business with the Germans
from their bruising game in Euro '96.
And for the first half at least,
both sides are intent on intimidation.
REF BLOWS WHISTLE
Even Bierhoff get into the spirit, and he is lucky to see only yellow.
WHISTLING AND JEERING
At least his header is a rare piece of legitimate football action.
TUMULT IN CROWD
Eventually, Suker's dramatic tumble provokes an inevitable response
from the referee.
And Christian Worns must walk after two yellow cards.
CHEERING
Robert Jarni's goal completes a desperate first half
for the Germans, and worse is to come.
THEY CHANT
With 12 of his squad over 30, coach Berti Vogts has few options.
The Germans are tiring fast.
Brilliant goals by Goran Vlaovic
and then Davor Suker finish the Germans off.
The 3-0 defeat is their biggest in the World Cup since 1954.
CHEERING
Croatia are through to the semifinals in their first-ever
World Cup. An astonishing achievement.
It is the end of a golden era for German football, as Klinsmann,
Matthaus, Moller and Hassler take their white shirts into retirement.
CHURCH BELLS TOLL
With the three European winners of the World Cup now eliminated,
Brazil's fans should have little need for prayer.
SHE BLOWS WHISTLE
FANS CHEER
CROWD PROTEST
Denmark's decision to attack Brazil is brave but provocative.
It yields an early reward with Jorgensen's goal.
CHEERING
But Brazilian teams like nothing more than to trade goals,
provided they score one more.
And tonight,
Ronaldo confounds the Danes by dropping deep to become provider.
Bebeto hardly needs more than a touch to score,
so fine was the pass.
Ronaldo is becoming a player who can damage
the opposition from anywhere on the park.
Only foul play can stop Ronaldo, and this looks a genuine injury,
despite Schmeichel's protests.
Restored to health,
Ronaldo sets up Rivaldo to give
Brazil a 2-1 lead at half-time.
But the Danes keep up the entertainment. When Roberto Carlos
falls off his bicycle, Brian Laudrup pounces to equalise.
Rivaldo finds a gap that even Schmeichel can't cover.
Brazil win 3-2 and take their expected place in the semifinal.
The usual carnival begins.
And nobody at it cares that the Brazilian defence is
beginning to leak goals. Why spoil the party?
While Brazil wait for Argentina to join them in the semifinal,
Holland plan a revenge for their defeat in the 1978 final.
Dennis Bergkamp is fit and scoring and the Dutch squad is,
for once, at peace with itself.
The tone of the game is set by Kluivert's early goal,
a payback to his team for his dismissal against Belgium.
This will be a quarterfinal
blessed with attacking instincts.
Lopez promptly equalises,
helped by Holland's chaotic offside trap.
CROWD PROTEST AND JEER
Despite Argentina's fine football, there remains in it
a calculated desire to take opponents out of the game.
Simeone's dramatic response
to Numan's foul ensures a second yellow card for the Dutchman.
And when Ortega is denied the penalty he played for,
he cannot control his anger.
Like Maradona, Ortega ends his first World Cup in disgrace.
As extra time beckons the two ten-man teams,
Frank de Boer's hit-and-hope pass gives Bergkamp the chance
to score one of the best goals
of the tournament.
CHEERING
Holland go through to the semifinals.
Of the four teams left, three have never won the World Cup before.
Can Bergkamp finally lead Holland to the crown that was twice
denied them in the 1970s?
RUMBLING DRUMBEAT
CROATIA FANS CHANT
France and Croatia have surprised their supporters
with their progress.
But now expectations are high.
France's team colours are the only make-up for this evening.
While the Croatian fans are a wall of noise and colour.
FANS CHANT
The French are even ready to put their shirt on the team.
REFEREE BLOWS WHISTLE
France surges into attack.
They will never have such a chance again in a lifetime.
Home advantage against an unseeded team.
CROWD ROAR
But this transmits a crippling anxiety to France's shooting.
Even Zidane is fallible.
And every chance the French miss, fuels Croatia's belief
in their ultimate triumph.
Michel Platini revisits old anxieties.
REFEREE BLOWS WHISTLE
FOGHORNS
REFEREE BLOWS WHISTLE
In the first minute of the second half,
France's worst nightmare comes true.
Davor Suker scores as Lilian Thuram plays him onside.
Croatia are 44 minutes from the final.
ANNOUNCER: Goal for Croatia...
The French forwards feel the pressure.
But full-back Thuram is enraged by his own error.
Within a minute, he brings France back to life.
CHEERING
FANS BEAT DRUM
SINGING IN CROWD
CROWD ROAR
Thuram hasn't finished.
The defender storms forward for another goal
and ponders an alternative career as a striker.
INDISTINCT SPEECH FROM ANNOUNCER
..number 15, Lilian Thuram!
CHEERING
CROWD PROTEST
Croatia are on the run.
But Slaven Bilic cynically tries to win an advantage for his team.
Laurent Blanc is sent off and will miss the final.
Assuming the French can hold on to their lead.
ANNOUNCER: Substitution for France.
Number six, Youri Djorkaeff!
CHEERING
ANNOUNCER: Number 18, Frank Leboeuf!
CHEERING
FANS SING
Croatia pour forward in a desperate bid to equalise.
But the French, edged on by La Marseillaise, will not be beaten.
REFEREE BLOWS FINAL WHISTLE
After three semifinal defeats in their World Cup history,
France are at last in the final itself.
Croatia's great adventure ends with tears.
But they will go on to take third place while Suker will claim
the Golden Boot, the tournament top scorer on six goals.
At the other semifinal,
two hordes of passionate supporters descend on Marseille.
FANS CHANT: Brazil! Brazil! Brazil!
For many, the game will revolve around two outstanding forwards.
Ronaldo and Bergkamp.
This is spiced by the fact that Ronaldo played his first
senior football in Holland.
Europe versus South America, a match to savour.
SINGING
After all the anticipation,
the first half is suffocated by the heat and the tension.
Every run is into a cul-de-sac.
While Ronaldo is in the grip of his former PSV team-mate, Jaap Stam.
Kluivert misses, and there is nothing so far from Bergkamp.
Perhaps the cool of the night will revive the game in the second half.
CHANTING FROM CROWD
FANS ROAR
Ronaldo pounces on Rivaldo's angled pass to put Brazil ahead.
The highly priced but underused Denilson is brought on
to preoccupy the Dutch defence.
ANNOUNCER CONFIRMS SUBSTITUTION
Only a brilliant rescue by Davids stops Brazil adding a second.
Denilson's skills begin to cast a sorcerer's spell on the Dutch.
But there is nothing magical about Rivaldo's effort.
Brazil should have had this game in the bag by now.
With minutes remaining, Brazil paid a penalty.
Kluivert soars above a static defence to equalise.
CROWD ROAR
ANNOUNCER: Patrick Kluivert!
Extra time and sudden death bring a further chill to the night.
One of these two fine teams must lose.
First Kluivert and then Ronaldo threaten to score the golden goal.
But for once, their alchemy fails them
and Bergkamp has been a mere shadow.
Penalties will decide. It will be a lingering death, not a sudden one.
FOGHORNS
CHEERING
Taffarel's brilliant save from Cocu
and Ronald de Boer lift Brazil into yet another World Cup final.
This is the least their fans expected
and now, the celebrations can begin.
Mario Zagallo has won World Cups as a player
and coach over a span of 40 years.
What more history can this great man of football yet achieve?
July 12, 1998.
For Brazilian fans today,
their Sunday worship will be of earthly gods.
The likes of Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Denilson inspire faith, not doubt.
So a fifth World Cup seems assured.
The French team must defy history if they are to sweep Brazil aside.
No host country has won for 20 years.
Inside the Stade de France, the new shrine to football,
the French team take a form of communion while their fans believe
that anything is possible now that the team has reached the final.
The first sign of an upset arrives as the Brazilian squad
fail to come out for their customary warm up.
This leaves the outgoing FIFA President to guard their trophy.
As the countdown to kick-off quickens, the mystery deepens.
Rumours sweep the stadium that Ronaldo is injured
and out of the Brazilian team.
Then another sweeps back saying he is fit
and he plays.
Confusion turns to speculation.
When the teams finally emerge, Ronaldo is there,
looking like a schoolboy who has been dragged to the opera.
Brazil may be joined in hands, but obviously not in spirit.
BAND PLAYS: "La Marsellaise"
FANS AND PLAYERS SING
The anthem of the French Republic is now a signal for another revolution.
The overthrow of football's ruling power is at hand.
FANS SING
CHEERING
Sensing Brazil's disarray, the French storm into attack.
FRENCH COMMENTARY
Guivarc'h's missed chances are beginning to mount up.
Zidane suffers once more.
A first glimpse of Ronaldo in action
confirms his unease.
A poor cross is made exciting only by Barthez's fumble.
REFEREE BLOWS WHISTLE
FRENCH COMMENTARY
But Zidane senses a warning.
Having seen so many missed chances,
he decides to take the scoring initiative himself.
CHEERING
From Petit's corner, Zidane heads France in front.
ECSTATIC FRENCH COMMENTARY
Atoning for his suspension has plainly become a personal quest
for Zidane.
CHEERING
CROWD PROTEST AND WHISTLE
If Ronaldo wasn't injured before the game, he is now.
But Barthez's challenge was fair
and his sportsmanship is outstanding.
This public injury adds to whatever Ronaldo has suffered in private.
Suddenly, his face is that of an old man.
Mario Zagallo senses that his star is close to burning out.
Crucially, the French know this too and forage for more goals.
Petit is only a deflection away.
The Brazil defence begins to wear a haunted look.
EXCITED FRENCH COMMENTARY
But this is more than matched by Guivarc'h's tormented expression
as another chance to make history goes begging.
The Brazilian defence is crumbling.
Zidane steals in again for another goal.
Roberto Carlos finds that the problem with having huge thighs
is that he cannot close his legs.
REFEREE BLOWS WHISTLE
INDISTINCT ANNOUNCEMENT
Number 10, Zinedine Zidane!
Zidane's goals have the French nation in a frenzy.
Who could have believed a 2-0 lead over the champions by the interval?
It was as possible as
a French cockerel eating a South American banana.
REFEREE BLOWS WHISTLE
Despite his apparent ailments,
Ronaldo still leads Brazil into what must now be a do-or-die second half.
CROWD ROAR
REFEREE BLOWS WHISTLE
Desailly earns what will prove a fateful booking.
In a defining moment, Ronaldo merely shoots
when he would normally have scored.
Barthez gratefully smothers the ball.
Whatever befell the young Brazilian
star that day, it is doubtful
that he could have coped with the French defence, even fully fit.
They gave him no space to turn. No air to breathe.
And no time to dream.
The French cover every eventuality.
Even the extravagant trickery of Denilson cannot fool
a rock-solid French defence.
But for one mad moment,
Desailly's discipline deserts him.
A second yellow card means dismissal.
CROWD PROTEST
A sudden dread fills French hearts,
as ghosts of previous failures rise again.
To Aime Jacquet, the seconds will now feel like minutes.
Zidane urges his team to more defiance.
A goal now for Brazil would be
like a blood transfusion.
But Emmanuel Petit, moved into defence,
intends to cut off all supplies.
Both coaches are tortured by time.
One has too little, the other too much.
Dugarry can put everyone out of their misery.
But his feeble shot extends the agony.
France are close to making history.
Denilson's shot against the bar marks Brazil's last chance
to turn the tide of events.
Instead, they are swamped by a third French goal,
scored by the irrepressible Petit.
ECSTATIC FRENCH COMMENTARY
Now France can believe at last.
CHEERING
ANNOUNCER: Number 17, Emmanuel Petit!
REFEREE BLOWS FINAL WHISTLE
France are world champions.
INDISTINCT ANNOUNCEMENT
ANNOUNCER: Laurent... CROWD: Blanc!
ANNOUNCER: Marcel... CROWD: Desailly!
ANNOUNCER: Fabien... CROWD: Barthez!
ANNOUNCER: Zinedine... CROWD: Zidane!
ANNOUNCER: Emmanuel... CROWD: Petit!
ANNOUNCER: Didier... CROWD: Deschamps!
1998, grands champions du monde, l'equipe de France!
After all the doubts, the French team scored more goals
and conceded fewer than any other team in the tournament.
The 16th World Cup has worthy winners.
MUSIC: "La Cour Des Grands (Do You Mind If I Play)" by Youssou N'Dour and Axelle Red