1998 FIFA World Cup Final

The 1998 FIFA World Cup Final was contested between Brazil, the world champions and the hosts France. France won 3–0, winning the World Cup for the first time, claiming victory in their own country.

Route to the final

Brazil

Brazil were drawn in Group A for the group stages alongside Scotland, Morocco and Norway. They recorded victories over Scotland (2-1) and Morroco (3-0) to progress but lost their final game 2-1 to Norway.

They next faced Group B runners-up Chile in the last-16 and comprehensively won 4-1, Ronaldo and Cesar Sampaio each scoring twice. In the quarter finals they played Denmark, who had also won their previous game 4-1 (against Nigeria national football team) but Brazil won a tight game 3-2. Despite being 1-0 down to a Martin Jorgensen goal in the 2nd minute, Brazil turned the game around in their favour with goals from Bebeto (11) and Rivaldo (27). Brian Laudrup equalised for Denmark after 50 minutes but Brazil won the game 10 minutes later courtesy of a second from Rivaldo.

In the semi-finals, Brazil faced the Netherlands in Marseilles. The game finished 1-1 at full-time, Ronaldo scoring just after half-time and Patrick Kluivert equalising for the Netherlands in the 87th minute, and the score remained the same through extra-time. The match had to be settled by penalties and it was Brazil that eventually won 4-2 to reach their second successive World Cup final.

France

Match summary

The build-up was dominated by the fitness of Brazil's star striker amid rumours that he had suffered a pre-match fit. However he was mysteriously reinstated on the team sheet.

Zinedine Zidane gave France the lead just before the half-hour mark with a header from an inswinging corner and he doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time with an almost identical goal. Midfielder Emmanuel Petit wrapped up the scoring in the 90th minute to put the victory beyond all doubt. France had to survive the last 20 minutes with only 10 men with the dismissal of Marcel Desailly. However, this did not affect them much.

Match details

footballbox
date = 1998-07-12
time = 21:00
team1 = fb-rt|BRA
score = 0 – 3
report = [http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=1013/results/matches/match=8788/report.html (Report)]
team2 = fb|FRA
goals1 =
goals2 = Zidane goal|27 goal|45+1
Petit goal|90
stadium = Stade de France, Saint-Denis
attendance = 75,000
referee = Said Belqola (Morocco)