France have gone into halftime 1-0 up against Portugal on Wednesday in the second semi-final of the World Cup Finals 2006 from a penalty from Les Bleus captain Zinedine Zidane.

France head coach Raymond Domenech stuck to the team who beat Spain 3-1 before knocking out Brazil 1-0 in the quarter-finals, with Les Bleus captain Zinedine Zidane in a midfield playmaking role and Arsenal’s Thierry Henry in a solo striking role up front.

The game started brightly enough, with France settling into the pace of the game faster than Portugal.

Portugal came very close to opening the scoring in the 7th minute after defender Maniche made on of his runs upfield and having a long-range strike that went only inches high of Fabien Barthez’s crossbar.

Franck Ribery placed a wonderful cross-goal pass that Thierry Henry was very close to toe-poking in past Ricardo in the Portuguese goal.

Both sides made some good breaks, with some great attacking chances, but the defending from both teams was excellent and the attacks broke down.

A penalty was awarded to France in the 32nd minute after Thierry Henry was adjudged to have been brought down just inside the box by Chelsea’s Ricardo Carvalho.

The French captain stepped up to take the penalty, which saw Ricardo in the Portugal goal diving the right way, but Zidane’s shot was just slightly out of reach and went past the keepers right to make it 1-0.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who was getting booed by the English fans (of which there were many) every time he touched the ball, was proving to be Portugal’s most dangerous attacking player, with a couple of runs at goal that forced France to defend well and a penalty appeal that was waved away by the referee.

France were dominating possession, with Ribery and Zidane working well together, but Portugal always threatening on the break.

The game went into half-time 1-0 up, but with both sides having plenty of opportunities to score.

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