Brazil's worst Cup defeat started with a mysterious injury scare surrounding Ronaldo and was detonated by two superbly-headed goals from midfielder Zinedine Zidane in the first half.

The French were in complete control until central defender Marcel Desailly was sent off in the 68th minute for a second yellow card offence.

The final 20 minutes were nerve-racking for the 80,000 in the Stade de France and the millions around the country preparing to celebrate.But seconds before the end, a third goal from midfielder Emmanuel Petit capped a champagne performance and triggered a night of dancing jubilation on the streets of France.

France are the first host country to win the Cup since Argentina in 1978 and only the seventh nation to become champions in 16 finals over 68 years.After a superb performance, they ended unbeaten with the most goals at themonth-long tournament and the best defensive record for a title-winning side.

French coach Aime Jacquet spoke of ``a fabulous dream''. Zidane said: ``there's nothing better, we're world champions.''

France wasted several good scoring chances -- they could have been at least three up at half-time, yet they were rarely threatened by a strangely disappointing Brazilian side that never showed the flair of earlier rounds. Ronaldo was the main reason for that, the 21-year-old striker apparently suffering a stomach upset that kept him on the margins of most of the action.

A team sheet was issued before the start without his name, to the consternation of an estimated 1.7 billion viewers watching on television, before a fresh team sheet was handed out, this time with his name on it.Ronaldo had a clear chance early in the second half that was brilliantly held by goalkeeper Fabien Barthez but, like many of his team mates, was for the most part a spectator.

Substitute Denilson hit the bar in the final moments butthe Brazilian attack, normally the most feared weapon in world soccer, was toothless.``During the second half we did everything we could. We had the upper hand but it made no difference,'' said Brazilian coach Mario Zagallo.

This was Zidane's match and the playmaker, who had excelled throughout the tournament yet not scored, burst through like a man unchained in the 27th minute.

Just as it was looking like France had run into familiar scoring problems, he found space as Petit banged in a corner, rose ahead of Leonardo and crashed in his header past Taffarel.

It was the first French goal scored by an attacking player since the first round, with all of the team's others coming from defenders as the strikers' luck dried up.

Zidane scored his second on the stroke of half-time, again heading home from a corner taken this time by Youri Djorkaeff.

The quiet Marseille-born player was the first since Argentina's Mario Kempes in 1978 to score twice in a final and only the seventh to achieve the feat.

Zidanegrabbed his chances, but before that France had been unlucky with two clear scoring opportunities and they could have scored more after half-time.

The best was when Christian Karembeu found Petit in the box in the 42nd minute and he had time to tee up his shot, only for Junior Baiano to deflect the ball agonisingly wide.

France appeared to be coasting to victory before Desailly, a key figure in the absence of suspended Laurent Blanc, was shown the red card in the 68th minute after a foul on Cafu, his second bookable offence.

He was only the third player to be sent off in a final and there was no controversy about his dismissal unlike that of Blanc, whose partnership with Desailly was one of the main reasons France had progressed this far.

Brazilian frustration was showing even before Desailly left, with substitute Edmundo shouting and angrily urging his team mates forward with his fist. Yet France were more likely to stretch their lead and Christophe Dugarry missed a gaping chance nine minutes fromthe end after a backheel sprung the offside trap. With almost seconds to think about where to put his shot, he cracked it just wide of the post.

Petit finally put the icing on the cake when he raced 90 metres to gather a pass from substitute Patrick Vieira before planting the ball in the corner. to seal a magnificent victory. ``France played a brilliant game,'' said Zagallo. And it was as simple as that.''