90 minutes in a nutshell: France started the match full steam ahead but soon lost their way in the face of deep Croatian defending and a lack of support for Stephane Guivarc'H up front. Zinedine Zidane had seven chances in the opening period and threatened to run riot early on, but only his 41st-minute, 20-yard volley troubled Drazan Ladic. A goal by Davor Suker 24 seconds into the second half rocked the boat and when Lilian Thuram equalised in the next minute after an error by Zvonimir Boban, a game finally looked in the offing. France kept up the pressure and, in the 70th minute, Thuram shot across goal to score his and France's second at the far post. Panic reorganisation became necessary four minutes later when Laurent Blanc was dismissed for violent conduct but France held out to earn their first ever appearance in the final.

Boy done good: Thuram, who capped a fine performance spent harrassing Croatia down the right by scoringboth of France's goals.Two left feet: Davor Suker. Although he opened the scoring, he could have given Croatia a vital first-half lead had he not fluffed a through ball from Aljosa Asanovic in the 43rd minute.

Magic moment: The whistle at the start of the second half. All hell broke loose and only at this point did the game start after the mysteriously disappearing first half.

Mr Sitter: A lot of close shaves but no particularly horrendous haircuts.

Shiver the timbers: Solid throughout.

Cheered: Thuram, for equalising so quickly, and the whole of the French team by the whole of France at the final whistle.

Jeered: The referee, for sending off Blanc after he dared raise his hand -- refs have a strange idea of violent conduct.

Turning point: Half-time. Before that there was no match.

Ref-er-ee! J.M Garcia Aranda made a decent fist of it, but will be glad to have avoided the wrath of the home nation had they lost after he sent off Blanc.

Terracetalk: Croatia: "Back to the chess board then."

France: Too busy kissing each other to say anything.