Portugal ... 0 France ... 1It was at the pinnacle of French success that Bixente Lizarazu once observed: "When we don't know what to do, we give the ball to Zidane and he works something out."

To judge by the win he secured last night thanks to a first-half penalty, one that carries France into their second World Cup final in eight years, a good many of the faces may have changed, but the basic plan retains a familiar look to it.

This was neither the greatest game nor the best French performance of this tournament, but Raymond Domenech's side did enough to beat a Portugal side that never quite managed to display the appetite for victory they had shown two years ago on home turf.

As they stared defeat in the face, there were late chances for an equaliser, Luis Figo and Fernando Meira both missing the target when they should have done better.

Ultimately, though, the Portuguese slipped tamely out of the competition and can have few complaints.

A second world title may yet elude their opponents, but whatever happens in Berlin this weekend, the French are already assured of the title Comeback Kings.

Aiming to recapture former glories by pinning your hopes on an ageing great may not strike everyone as the soundest blueprint for success, but after the wilderness years of 2002 and 2004, not to mention the bulk of the qualifying campaign for this tournament, most French supporters will be content that there is at least a plan again. And one, as it happens, that seems to be serving them well so far here in Germany.

This may not quite have been the masterclass provided by the veteran midfielder against Brazil in Frankfurt but there was much to admire as he inspired his side to victory and scored the game's only goal.

The penalty came with almost an hour of the contest remaining, and Portugal saw enough of the ball during that time to feel they should have dragged themselves level.

Not for the first time, though, their lack of a really top-class striker proved a major handicap, while Figo will probably best remember what is likely to be the last game of his outstanding international career for his failure to head home 12 minutes from time after Fabien Barthez had made one of his trademark cock-ups of a Cristiano Ronaldo free.

Late on, Louis Saha picked up a rash booking that rules him out of Sunday's final against Italy but the French were otherwise models of self-control, the defensive unit subduing their opponents for long stretches while Franck Ribery, Florent Malouda and Thierry Henry settled for retaining possession and hitting their opponents on the occasional break through much of the second half until, by turns, all three were replaced.

By the end of the first half all that separated them was Zidane's penalty, a sweetly converted spot kick that Ricardo got a touch to but simply couldn't keep out. Henry had won it with a turn that deceived Ricardo Carvalho and left the Chelsea defender with a stark choice between allowing his opponent clean into the area and seeking to trip him as he fell.

He chose the latter, then issued a plea of innocence that was rightly waved away by the Uruguayan match official, though Henry did not make much effort to stay on his feet.

The referee didn't always call things quite so well but he did at least appear to have the measure of Ronaldo, the Manchester United winger who got a taste of the treatment last night that he appears to be in for back in England - if he ever goes back - as large sections of the crowd booed and whistled his every touch.

If applied to other aspects of his life, the 21-year-old's penchant for claims could bring a decent-sized insurance business to its knees. Here, he hit the deck with tedious regularity and managed early on to provoke the French coach into prompting the referee to show him a yellow card after Patrick Vieira had dispossessed him out wide.

Willy Sagnol was more direct when he tangled with the winger around the six-yard box not long afterwards, with the left-back clearly incensed by his opponent's antics in the hope of winning a penalty.

The greater pity of Ronaldo's carry-on from a Portuguese point of view was that he was the team's most threatening forward for the bulk of the game.

Luis Figo was only intermittently involved, Deco was not making anything like his usual impact and Pauleta was looking totally overwhelmed by the attention he was receiving from a capable French defence until he momentarily got the better of Lilian Thuram early in the second half.

On that occasion, the PSG striker turned his man rather neatly only to send his close-range shot wide of both Fabien Barthez's outstretched arms and the post.

It was a rare chance of note for the Portuguese, who were matching their opponents in terms of possession and showing more urgency without having much to show for it in terms of end product.

Ronaldo managed a couple of somewhat wild strikes at goal from unpromising positions but only Maniche's long-range efforts had really troubled Barthez, who coped well when called into action prior to Ronaldo's late free.

With the Portuguese incapable of imposing themselves on the game, Vieira and Claude Makelele again providing a highly effective shield in front of the defence and Zidane coolly directing things one way then another, it was all rather comfortable for the French.

In their last three games they have shown themselves masters of doing what is required, but they may have to perform more strongly on Sunday.

For Figo, who warmly embraced Zidane at the end, it is surely the end of an era, but the Frenchman still seems intent on writing one glorious final chapter in what is already one of the game's greatest careers.

SUBSTITUTIONS

PORTUGAL: Paulo Ferreira for Miguel (63 mins), Postiga for Costinha (74 mins), Simao for Pauleta (68 mins). Subs not used: Boa Morte, Caneira, Nuno Gomes, Paulo Santos, Quim, Ricardo Costa, Tiago, Viana. Booked: Ricardo Carvalho.

FRANCE: Govou for Ribery (72 mins), Wiltord for Malouda (69 mins), Saha for Henry (85 mins). Subs not used: Boumsong, Chimbonda, Coupet, Dhorasoo, Diarra, Givet, Landreau, Silvestre, Trezeguet. Booked: Saha.

Referee: Jorge Larrionda (Uruguay)