July 03, 2006	Monday	Jumadi-ul-Sani 6, 1427

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PARIS, July 2: The French press on Sunday rose as one to hail the team’s stunning dismissal of favourites and holders Brazil in the World Cup quarter-finals the night before.

Thierry Henry's second half volley from a Zinedine Zidane free-kick was enough to see France through in the battle between the teams that have dominated the World Cup since 1994.

‘Magic!’ screamed L'Equipe on its front page – a line mirrored in Lyon’s Le Progres newspaper – “It was like a dream,” continued L'Equipe on the inside.

‘Monumental!’ was the headline in Marseille's La Provence with a picture of Henry swamped by jubilant teammates.

‘Fantastic!’ exclaimed Grenoble newspaper Dauphine Libere, “France is better than Brazil.”

In the west of the country Dimanche Ouest-France proclaimed: ‘Brilliant, into the semi-finals.’

Under a picture of a grinning Henry on the front page, it continued: “They've done it! Les Blues eliminated Brazil last night. A historic victory.

“A generation that refuses to give back their jerseys. They will not be stopped. The museum awaits.”

And in a reference to the stars worn on the shirts of teams that have previously won the World Cup, it added: “ Zidane, (Fabian) Barthez and (Lillian) Thuram can continue to dream of a second star.”

Nice Matin for their part revelled in the performance of the French team, claiming: “The samba (Brazil’s national dance) is blue.”

And for everyone the real hero was Zidane. Much maligned and criticised before the tournament began and even more so after the first two matches, in which he was ineffectual and booked twice, missing France's crucial third and final group game.

Deemed too old, past his peak and no longer a match-winning force, Zidane returned in the knock-out stages a reinvigorated character and France's footballing icon is back where he belongs, revered by one and all.

“Zidane is in seventh heaven,” said the Dauphine Libere, while Nice Matin drooled over the captain’s every movement.

“Zidane played his greatest match in blue. A festival of technique, extraordinary control, omnipresence and decisive passes.”

For La Provence, it was all about Zidane, who outshone the samba stars Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Kaka.

“A master without equal,” it said. “In aggressiveness, in work-rate, in action or in beautiful gestures. He was more Brazilian than the Brazilians.”

L'Equipe remembered Zidane’s last masterclass against Brazil, eight years ago when he scored two goals against the ‘Selecao’ in the World Cup final.

“The match of his life,” it said, before continuing: “Eight years after his triumph of July 12, 1998, Zinedine Zidane reached a new summit against the Brazilians.”

It dedicates two whole articles to gush over the national star.

“The master splattered the match with his class and genius with irreplacable persistence.”

Around 500,000 people took to the streets in celebration but despite the abundant outpouring of joy, things still turned sour.

What started out as a festival of celebration on the Champs Elysees in Paris, soon turned into a mini riot with 69 people arrested in the capital.

A car and a scooter were set ablaze and another car overturned on the Champs where a MacDonalds restaurant was one of five shops attacked.

Trouble was also reported in Marseille, a football-mad port town, as a violent minority clashed with police.

In both towns, police had to use teargas to disperse crowds who hurled bottles and other missiles at them.

But, as expected, politicians jumped on the celebratory bandwagon.

President Jacques Chirac said: “I feel immense joy. The French team played admirably.”

Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin applauded coach Raymond Domenech in a message sent Saturday night.

“You have achieved something formidable,” said de Villepin.—AFP