A 29th minute Patrick Vieira header was enough to give France a 1-0 win over hosts Japan in a totally one-sided Confederations Cup final at the International Stadium today.
He scored when defender Frank Leboeuf sent a long, upfield pass to the edge of the box where Vieira out-jumped Naoki Matsuda and goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi to steer a high looping header home.
It was a bad mistake by the goalkeeper who appeared to hesitate rather than clear the ball and it was the first goal Japan had conceded in five matches in the tournament.
But Japan rarely threatened the outstanding French defence in which Marcel Desailly and Leboeuf soaked up what little Japanese pressure came their way.
For Vieira, who waited four years and 40 matches to score his first goal for France in the opening match against South Korea on May 30, it was his second goal in 12 days and underlined his place in the tournament's All-Star team.
France now emulate Brazil as the only other country to hold three international titles at the same time. Brazil won the World Cup in 1994 and the Copa America and Confederations Cup in 1997.
France, added this title to the World Cup they won in 1998 and the European championship they won a year ago. Before the match a short silence was held as a mark of respect for the eight primary school children murdered in Osaka last week.