Viva Les Bleus

France 1 - Portugal 0

Wow. Having seen the woeful French team in the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and noting their advancing age, I would never have predicted that France would have gotten to the semi-finals (much less get out of their own group). But the team has gotten better, bit by bit, with each game in the tournament (they certainly couldn't get much worse than the desultory first game against Switzerland, where no one seemed to be on the same page). And Zidane (aka, the monkishly bald French Wizard of football) finally both took control of the team and reenergized himself to his sparkling play of yesteryear. (Amazing that a 34-year old is considered past his prime...)

This takes me back to the 1998 World Cup tournament (which also included a cocky young English player who was sent off in petulant fashion in the team's deciding game), the first that I really watched with enthusiasm and the one that cemented my love of the game. And some of the gang that watched those games will be coming over on Sunday to join me in watching this year's Final (though, sadly no Combie--we'll miss you, mate), supplemented by some crepes and Sans Culottes beer.