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Spain 1 France 3
27/06/2006: France stunned Spain with goals from Franck Ribery, Patrick Vieira and Zinedine Zidane sealing a come-from-behind victory in Hanover.
The Spaniards opened the scoring after an even first 20 minutes when Lilian Thuram brought Ibanez Pablo down in the area (28) and David Villa made no mistake from 12 yards.
France were back on terms four minutes before half time after Ribery was slipped in by Vieira for the winger to pass the ball into an empty net. Spain thought they should have been awarded a second penalty on 43 minutes when Fernando Torres went down in the box but the referee was not interested in the challenge.
Raymond Domenech's side extended their lead on 83 minutes after enjoying the better of the second half when Vieira headed home Zidane's free-kick at the far post. Carlos Puyol was judged to have fouled Thierry Henry although the striker made a meal of the challenge and Spain were punished in dramatic style.
Zidane put the gloss on the result with a last-minute strike as Spain pushed forward in search of an equaliser.
France now go on to face Brazil in the last eight while Spain, who shrugged off their tag of perennial underachievers in Germany, will be heading home in the morning wondering what might have given a better account of themselves in front of goal.
Pre match report
Spain are to include Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas and Raul in the starting XI against France, who have Eric Abidal and Zinedine Zidane back.
Spain coach Luis Aragones looks set to make a number of changes after resting many first choice players for the final group match. He may bring Raul in at the expense of Luis Garcia, and Fabregas in for midfielder Marcos Senna.
Meanwhile Aragones' French counterpart Raymond Domenech has has Abidal and Zidane back after they served their one-game bans and will leave it late before deciding whether to play Thierry Henry alone up front or partner him with David Trezeguet.
This final second round clash brings together two European heavyweights, who are in very different form.
France squeezed into the second round with a narrow 2-0 win over Togo in their final Group G game, although that was not enough for them to top the group and avoid what will now be a massive test for Raymond Domenech's side.
The 1998 World Cup winners had not won a game at the finals since beating Brazil in the final of that competition on home soil, and indeed before the 1-1 draw with South Korea had not even scored a goal.
But they could well have hit a bit of form at the right time, with Arsenal striker Thierry Henry scoring in both of their last games to close within two of leading scorer Miroslav Klose.
They have really yet to get out of first gear, but showed signs of a return to form against Togo, when Patrick Vieira and Henry got on the end of some flowing moves to score. The likes of Florent Malouda and Franck Ribery also began to show that they are worthy of a place in the side.
Ribery especially looked a threat, but the Marseille man's place may come under threat from Zidane. A niggling injury to Malouda could be Ribery's best hope of keeping his place in the side.
Spain, on the other hand, were 100% during the group stages and probably did as much as most sides to prove they are a real competitor for the trophy, but this game provides them with easily their toughest test so far.
The Spaniards, perennial underachievers in previous finals appearances, have looked superb going forward in Germany, with Fernando Torres, David Villa and Raul all impressing so far.
And France may have trouble breaking down a Spain defence that is marshalled by the composed Carles Puyol, they have not lost a single international game since the end of Euro 2004 and come into this game on the back of five straight wins.
The countries have faced one another seven times in the last 18 years, and if you are basing your strategy on that then a shock seems to be on the cards. France have won five of those encounters and lost only one, although that came on their most recent meeting in 2001.
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Comments on: Spain 1 France 3
28/06/2006: Spain was a surprise. Brazil is going to be a beautiful revenge and a trip back for France on the last TGV to Paris this Saturday night!
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