Quarter-Finals matches at France 98 played on Friday, 3rd July.
 Brazil vs  Denmark in Nantes (3:2).
 Italy vs  France in Saint-Denis (0:0 aet)
Les Bleus were les blancs aujhord'hui, with Zidane back after
suspension to breathe down on Pagliuca early.
Laurent Blanc tried to push up again but Djorkaeff couldn't find a way
through the final line of Azzurri; Guivarc'h attempted a blast from further out.
Italian moves were few and far between in the first half, with Del
Piero and Vieri unable to find cause to sit down together in celebration once more.
Plenty of niggling fouls and wishful thinking, but the inconsistency
of the refereeing in this tournament is ludicrous and the level of overacting to get
players in the notebook equal to it.
Half-time: (0-0).
Football has lost its atmosphere as only high society can afford the
prices of the people's sport.
Guivarc'h did an Alan Shearer on Cannavaro and Moriero, who knows all
about dirty play, tried to get the Frenchman sent off. For a bit of extra effect,
Cannavaro went off to get a face mask applied.
Barthez came out of his area to clear from Vieri and sent the ball
upfield, for an Italian goal-kick. It was that sort of game.
Henry and Trezeguet came on to spice up the match, around twenty
minutes into the second half.
Henry came a little too close with a curler towards the top left hand
corner of the Italian goal and Cesare Maldini introduced Roberto Baggio, for Del Piero.
Again Henry and Trezeguet worked well together and the French rose
from their seats to sing a chorus or two.
That was about it, even Cesare Maldini seemed too calm; a ten-man
England side played better than both of these teams put together.
So the game went into extra-time. Maldini could only lose by one goal;
great tactic.
The Italians had saved their energy, Canavarro took of his mask and
the real match began. Why not just play the first to score three goals?
Roberto Baggio sliced a good chance across the face of the French goal
in the first period of extra-time.
Djorkaeff slammed the ball against Pagliuca's legs, near the end of
the second period of extra-time.
Final Score:
Italy 0
- France
0 aet
PENALTIES: (4:3)
France: Zidane -- scored.
Italy: R. Baggio -- scored.
France: Lizarazu -- SAVED.
Italy: Albertini -- SAVED.
France: Trezeguet -- scored.
Italy: Costacurta -- scored.
France: Henry -- scored.
Italy: Vieri -- scored.
France: Blanc -- scored.
Italy: Di Biagio -- HIT THE BAR.
End Result:
Ciao Italia.
Jorgensen scored the fastest goal in this World Cup to give Denmark
the lead against Brazil, in the second minute.
In the eleventh minute, Ronaldo sent Bebeto through to score his third
goal of the tournament.
Brazil were back in the game and pushing for the second. Roberto
Carlos stormed down the left wing, in the 20th minute, and somersaulted over a sliding
Helveg. The Dane was booked, even though there was no contact.
Brian Laudrup was lucky not to get a card when he slammed into
Ronaldo's ankle; the Brazilians didn't even get a free-kick?
In the 27th minute, Ronaldo had Bebeto and Rivaldo in front of him,
chose the number 10 this time and Rivaldo made no mistake.
The Danes had lost their formation, Brazil were causing havoc.
To all the French fans who thought that their 120 minutes of statemate
with Italy was an achievement and spent the evening celebrating Di Biagio's penalty kick
against the cross-bar, I sincerely hope that you recorded this match.
The Danes showed equal glimpses of flair in their attempt to get back
on equal terms. This is football, me thinks.
Peter Moller had a tremendous chance to level the score in the
thirty-fifth minute but caught the ball under his foot, instead of on the instep. By the
time he recovered, the Brazilian defence were back and pushed him out wider.
A minute or so later, Aldair received a yellow card for showing his
judo skills on the very edge of the Brazilian area.
Half-time: (2-1).
Six minutes after the restart, Roberto Carlos tried to clear out of
the area with an overhead-kick. He missed, and the ball fell to Brian Laudrup; with plenty
of time to line up up his shot into the roof of the net.
On the hour, Rivaldo stunned Peter Schmeichel with a grass-cutting
shot from outside the area; and through his defence. Three-two, to Brazil.
Denmark had an excellent chance to level the score again, 13 minutes
from the end.
Smart interchanging in the Brazilian area saw the ball passed from
Sand (on for Moller) to Helveg on his right, and from Helveg back into Rieper; corner.
Rieper again; headed onto the bar in the last minutes.
Credit to Denmark for attacking Brazil, but the World Champions are
too fluid and play a football worthy of the trophy this year too.
That's Entertainment!
Final Score:
Brazil
3 -
Denmark 2
Group A
Brazil,  Morocco,  Norway,  Scotland.
Group B
 Austria,  Cameroon,  Chile, Italy.
Group C
Denmark, France,  Saudi Arabia,  South Africa.
Group D
 Bulgaria,  Nigeria,  Paraguay,  Spain.
Group E
 Belgium,  Holland,  Mexico,  South Korea.
Group F
 Germany,  Iran,  United States,  Yugoslavia.
Group G
 Colombia,  England,  Romania,  Tunisia.
Group H
 Argentina,  Croatia,  Jamaica,  Japan.
1998 World Cup Finals -
Knockout Stage.
Group Tables - Leading
Goalscorers.
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