DAY 19
Night of legends
Dan Nicholl
Posted Wed, 28 Jun 2006

Goodbye Africa, then, although not without a fight. Ghana carried the continent’s final hopes, but against Brazil (and with no Essien), the odds were never bright. And so it proved, a 3-0 defeat carrying Brazil through, but a scoreline that Ghana didn’t deserve, after a harrying, attacking performance that saw the Black Stars come awfully close on several occasions.

But Ronaldo’s record goal took Brazil ahead, and the second just before the break condemned Ghana to a second round exit that might still represent a brave performance in their maiden World Cup, but will still leave the Ghanaians feeling that a touch more good fortune (and a closer application of the offside rule) might just have given them a shot at a famous victory.

Brazil through, then, and on to a repeat of the 1998 final. On the back of their earlier performances, France had no right to beat Spain, who had shone in the group stages, but there’s a lot of experience in the French squad, and while Thierry Henry was unusually quiet, Frank Ribery’s rising star caught the world’s eye, and an elderly midfielder wrapped up a win that will have the French press reconsidering some of their earlier opinions.

The elderly midfielder is of course Zidane, and with each game now potentially his last, he’ll cherish his late strike to confirm a 3-1 win and a place in the last eight. Brazil represent a challenge far too strong for France, surely — but then who thought that Les Bleus would see off Spain?

Dan’s pick of the day

Zidane’s calm in stroking in the third was polished stuff, but Ronaldo steals the show for his World Cup record. A through ball, a step over, and a smooth nudge into the net took him to 15 goals, the greatest ever cumulative total at the World Cup. Written off after the opening match, the big man is certainly back; just how far can he take his goal-scoring mark?