Well you don't always get what you want. Sometimes you just get what you need. France and Denmark, only remotely worried about the outcome, played with a disfiguring lack of urgency in Lyon yesterday and all the talk about how two attacking teams always make for a great match evaporated in the French heat.

The French, unencumbered by any need more pressing than that of wooing their public, gave some World Cup auditions to the lesser lights of their squad but they caught the mood; impressive in parts, strolling at times, never risking their dignity by sweating too much.

The Danes go without much glory into the next round where they meet the more appetising Nigerians. Thus far in the tournament the Danes have looked like a wad of beaten dockets and Bo Johannson's post-match comment that he wouldn't usually be happy with a loss but he was happy now suggested a team a little out of touch with the imperatives of the beautiful game.

Briefly in the first half the game was poised for take-off. The Danes, with three points more than South Africa and a goal difference superior by four goals, found themselves trailing to an early French goal when the news came from Bordeaux that the South Africans had scored.

It was a fleeting hope. The game had flickered briefly in the light wind when Trezeguet, fed by Candela, was brought down in the Danish area and the referee pointed to the spot. Djorkaeff obliged. We all moved forward in our seats.

In those opening passages Djorkaeff stoked the game, prompting the Lyon crowd to chant his name over and over again. He assembled such a collection of flicks, passes, back heels and dummies that the suspended Zidane was scarcely missed.

Djorkaeff opened the action with a stunning one-two with Vieira which included an audacious back heel. The Arsenal star's shot found Schmeichel's chest, but we fell for the glimpse.

After Djorkaeff's penalty Denmark made brief shapes towards drawing down their old bag of tricks and Brian Laudrup went close on 16 minutes with his side's first chance of the game.

The Danes, who dropped Ebbe Sand after two disappointing outings, didn't get much out of an attack spearheaded by Brian Laudrup with Jorgensen and Michael Laudrup pushing on from wider positions.

As such the French will have been quietly pleased with the strength in depth of their own panel. Frank Lebouef, liberated from the bench, acquitted himself well. Candela, the full back, skimmed the left wing confidently and if Vieira didn't roam the midfield with the same buffalo strength as he has in an Arsenal shirt, he did enough to move up the pecking order.

Up front, of course, the problems continue. Guivarc'h, who campaigned heavily in the French media for a starting position yesterday, was left on the bench until the 85th minute. Thierry Henry, the side's leading scorer, was introduced a little earlier, but the bad news for the French was the lack of sparkle from Diomedes, Pires and Trezeguet.

Trezeguet snapped up useful passes by Djorkaeff several times in the first half but never looked like cashing in any of them.

The overwhelmingly French crowd were growing bored with it all by the 41st minute when the ennui turned to alarm. Jorgensen was fed by Brian Laudrup from a quick free, Candela panicked, perhaps unnecessarily, and brought him down. Spot-kick number two. Michael Laudrup shoved it home.

The Danes were tranquilised not roused by their good fortune and came back after the half-time break spoiling for a good sleep.

Ten minutes into the half the Danish lassitude was punished for the final time when some pinball in their penalty area finished conclusively with Emmanuel Petit driving the ball home.

Elsewhere South Africa were failing in a welter of mistakes. Two of the older, more respected firms in soccer effected disdain and played out the game with professional detachment.

"I think we can say we had three good matches," said French coach Aime Jacquet afterwards, "and we played with a lot of determination and ambition. We deserve to be where we have got today. I think we are doing well and we will get better."

His parting promise was the most exciting aspect of the afternoon.