SOCCER: While a few a Brazilian stragglers will follow the rest of the squad out of this World Cup and home from Frankfurt this morning, Raymond Domenech and his rejuvenated French side are preparing for the journey to Munich and Wednesday's semi-final against Portugal after beating the holders and ending the challenge of South America on Saturday night.

A victory inspired and orchestrated in majestic fashion by Zinedine Zidane has ensured the tournament will have four European teams in the semis for the first time since 1982. The only difference from then, when Italy won the title, is that Portugal rather than Poland have retained hopes of a first major trophy.

Back in France the win sparked euphoria among journalists frantically revising their view of Domenech's team. "Magic," trumpeted L'Équipe in a one-word, front-page, banner headline. "Monumental," was the equally effusive choice of La Provence.

Having largely written off the team's chances before the tournament - not least because of the players' average age of nearly 30 - and even called for Zidane to be dropped, the French media are now suggesting a place in the final is well within the grasp of Les Bleus.

Certainly, the French head south with a growing sense of confidence they can go all the way. Their win over Brazil, thanks to a single, second-half goal by Thierry Henry - the first directly set up for the striker by Zidane in the 55 internationals they have played together - was well deserved. And for what it is worth, they have beaten Luiz Felipe Scolari's side in four meetings, the only competitive game of those - a semi-final at Euro 2000 - going to France by three goals to two after extra time.

On Saturday they maintained a run of World Cup wins over Brazil extending back to 1958 with a commanding performance of bright, insightful, attacking football during the first hour and, after they scored, a classic example of how the counter-attacking game can be played.

The players expressed quiet satisfaction but little surprise over what they had achieved.

"It is not a miracle," said William Gallas, one of many to have been outstanding for the French on what was a tremendous night for them. "Others may be surprised but we knew that with our ability as a team and our solidarity, we could win. This Brazil team always looked beatable to us and now we have done it."

Having endured many highs and lows since scoring two of the three goals that earned France victory over the South Americans in the 1998 final, Zidane emerged as the game's pivotal figure. At 34 he comfortably outshone Brazil's stars with a wonderfully elegant midfield performance.

Domenech, who has endured a severely strained relationship with his skipper, paid particular tribute to the Real Madrid man but also heralded his side's other veterans.

"The old men are still around," he beamed. "Of course this is fantastic, exciting and everything, but this is just a step forward, What we want now is the final and we have another match to win to get there."

Predictably, the Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira was in sombre mood but there were neither complaints nor excuses from the 63-year-old, who had guided his country to the title in 1994.

"We knew it was going to be very difficult for us against players who have been through a lot since being champions of the world," he observed. "We started well in the first 15 minutes but after that the French used the width of the pitch almost perfectly and kept the ball very well.

"Technically, they were the better side. We didn't match our opponents where it mattered. Our defence met its match and France where the better side tactically - getting nine men behind the ball when they had to and showing that they had the better players on the night - like Henry.

"We have no complaints," he continued. "The French deserved their victory. Zidane was everywhere and . . . he made the job very difficult for us."

Henry's goal, meanwhile, was another blow to those who contend he never makes an impact in the biggest of games.

"We wanted to prove after what happened in 2002 that we were not rubbish," he said.

They did that, all right, and a good deal more besides.