France's Patrick Vieira (bottom centre) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal against Spain during their second round World Cup match in Hanover yesterday. France won 3-1 to advance to the quarter-finals. - REUTERS
HANOVER, Germany (AP):
FRANCE SCORED two late goals yesterday to give the 1998 champions a spot in the World Cup quarter-finals with a 3-1 win over Spain.
David Villa had scored from the penalty spot in the 27th minute to give Spain the lead before Franck Ribery ran around goalkeeper Iker Casillas to equalise with a left-foot shot in the 41st.
Patrick Vieira made it 2-1 in the 83rd minute and Zinedine Zidane scored the third in injury time.
France, who have not impressed many with their play at this year's World Cup, will face Brazil in the quarter-finals on Saturday in Frank-furt. Brazil beat Ghana 3-0 earlier yesterday.
ZIDANE'S FREE KICK
Zidan's e said France "really wanted to show that while the first round wasn't easy, we were capable of a few things. And this evening we have demonstrated that we have a good group that wants to go further."
Zidane, who will retire after the World Cup ends, took the free kick which made the difference.
His shot curled into the goalmouth, where a frantic Xabi Alonso headed it into the path of Vieira, who then headed it into the net off a deflection.
"He kept going - for the whole match," France coach Raymond Domenech said. "Zidane in the 89th minute. He stuck to it. He still accelerated."
France defender Lilian Thuram conceded the early penalty with a push from behind on defender Pablo Ibanez. Villa's goal was his third of the tournament.
France had never lost a competitive match to Spain and yesterday marked the 22nd anniversary of their 2-0 defeat of Spain to win the 1984 European Championship.
