France coast on Zidane genius, Djorkaeff brilliance as Raul misses penalty

France coast on Zidane genius, Djorkaeff brilliance as Raul misses penalty
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

BRUGES, JUNE 26: World Cup holders France beat Spain 2-1 to line up a Euro 2000 semi-final with Portugal here last night -- but only after Spanish star Raul missed a dramatic last-minute penalty.

France, looking to do a historic double as the first reigning World Cup winners to add the European crown, had been cruising after Youri Djorkaeff scored a superb second goal just before the end of the first half.

But just as the stadium clock showed 90 minutes, disaster appeared from nowhere for Roger Lemerre's men when goalkeeper Fabien Barthez needlessly tripped Spain skipper Abelardo on the left-hand side of the area.

Italian referee Pierluigi Collina pointed to the French spot for the second time in the match -- Gaizka Mendieta having earlier converted an equaliser to Zinedine Zidane's opener for France.

This time, Raul stepped up for the kick. Barthez dived to his left but the Real Madrid hero's curling shot went to his right and sailed over the crossbar.

It was a heart-stopping finish to a match in which France have faced their biggest challenge yet at Euro 2000 -- but had risen to the occasion with a mixture of class and clinical finishing.

World Cup final hero Zidane, on inspired form here, put them in front with a sweetly-struck free-kick in the 33rd minute, Mendieta levelled just five minutes later and Djorkaeff crashed home the winner a minute before the interval.