Brazil vs France. Review on Soccer

What better way to end the quarterfinals than a repeat of the 1998 World Cup final? Brazil vs. France for the right to prolong a quest for the greatest title in all of sport. I was in Bennigans , saket in delhi at the time of the match and believe me no better way to enjoy a match than on big screen with a beer and lamb steak.

I would say of all the teams remaining, Brazil has appeared to be by far the most bored. Before setting foot in Germany this summer, the five-time world champions knew they would win their group without breaking a sweat. And once they got past there, in stepped Ghana, who were without their best player, central midfielder Michael Essien.

The Selecao have essentially slept-walked to the quarterfinals, but they should be up to occasion because they know France well. The last time Brazil tasted defeat of any kind in the World Cup, the French were the culprits.

Zinedine Zidane was at his best on that day, scoring twice in a resounding 3-0 victory to give France their only World Cup title. Zidane is back again, in what his opposition hope is his last game ever for his country.

The French got off to a slow start in this World Cup, but unlike Brazil, where a slow start translates to three wins, the French tied their first two games, leaving themselves in a precarious position. But after securing second place in their group with a less than impressive 2-0 win against former colonialists Togo, they met up with Spain, who at the time were one of the most impressive teams in the tournament.

Unfortunately for Spanish enthusiasts, France were merely pacing themselves. Les Bleus conceded an early penalty, but fought back in impressive style led by dynamic veteran midfielders Patrick Vieira and Zidane.

But it was a formerly uncapped midfielder who shined the brightest in a field of stars that night. Frank Ribery has seen his profile go from anonymous to ubiquitous in a matter of days. The Marseille man has been the spark that France has seemed to lack since their 2000 European title, and figures to play a prominent role on Saturday.

Make no mistake, while France has everyone abuzz about a possible upset, Brazil is still the odds on favorite to take home the title. Despite a defense that has seemed vulnerable, they have only allowed one goal in this tournament, and still possess the greatest array of offensive talent of any team.

I can't believe I have written this long about France and Brazil without mentioning the two greatest players in the game. Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry will square off in an elimination game of epic proportions for only the second time in about six weeks. This time the circumstances are similar, as Ronaldinho's squad remain the clear favorite against a team most had not expected to make it this far. Hopefully, an early dismissal won't change the excitement