Live Ticker: Spain 1 : 3 France

Spain-France

Two European giants meet for the chance to play reigning world champions Brazil in the quarter-finals. Will it be the final game for French star Zinedine Zidane? Stay here for all the action in the final round of 16 match.

The starting line-ups for the final round of 16 match: Spain vs. France
Spain (4-3-3):

1-Iker Casillas; 15-Sergio Ramos, 5-Carles Puyol, 22-Pablo Ibanez, 3-Mariano Pernia; 18-Cesc Fabregas, 14-Xabi Alonso, 8-Xavi; 7-Raul, 9-Fernando Torres, 21-David Villa

Coach: Luis Aragones

France (4-2-3-1):

16-Fabien Barthez; 19-Willy Sagnol, 15-Lilian Thuram, 5-William Gallas, 3-Eric Abidal; 4-Patrick Vieira, 6-Claude Makelele; 22-Franck Ribery, 10-Zinedine Zidane, 7-Florent Malouda; 12-Thierry Henry

Coach: Raymond Domenech

Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Italy)

French coach Raymond Domenech reinserts legendary midfielder Zinedine Zidane. This, despite the fact that the two man front of Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet was so effectively dangerous in the 2-0 victory against Togo. Luis Aragones is also turning to a seasoned veteran again -- Raul. The Spaniards are putting their money on offense, going with three forwards.

Spain are trying to shake the World Cup monkey off their back. They have had little success at the most important international tournament in the past. France are seeking to regain the glory they captured on home soil in 1998. Since the EURO 2000 though, the Les Bleus' shine has been tarnished considerably.

Fernando Torres is one of the most dangerous strikers at this World Cup. The Atletico Madrid forward has scored thrice, equaling the team total of tonight's opponent, France. His partner up front, David Villa, has found the net twice.

Spain are hoping to end a dubious record. In five competitive matches against Les Bleus, La Furia Roja have lost four times and drawn just once.

It's youth vs. age. The Spaniards line up with an average age just over 25. France, depending on experience, are just shy of the mark of age 30.

43,000 fans cheer the arrival of the teams onto the pitch. France will be in all white. Spain are wearing their red shirts with blue shorts. The pro-Spanish crowd belts out the Iberian country's national anthem. The French national anthem is impolitely greeted with whistles.

0. min.
The final round of 16 match is under way in Hanover.
Italian Roberto Rosetti will be the referee in this game.

2. min.
Willy Sagnol is greeted nicely by two Spanish opponents at midfield. He gets up holding his jaw. First free-kick of the match.

3. min.
The first Spanish incursion into France's half. Torres lays it ahead to Villa but he's blown offside.

4. min.
Long through ball sent to Raul. Fabien Barthez reels in the pass but Raul was called for a foul.

5. min.
The first unusual event in the match. A supposed corner kick for France is overturned after one of the referee assistants informed Rosetti that a hand ball had occurred beforehand. Free-kick Spain.

9. min.
Free-kick just over the goal's corner
Spain's Pernia with a fine free-kick from 35 meters out. The ball sails jsut past the upper left-hand corner Fabien Barthez's goal.

12. min.
Thierry Henry with a nice effort, moving in from the left and letting go a shot that he didn't quite hit squarely. No problems for Casillas.

14. min.
So far, the French would seem to have the slight advantage over their southern neighbors, but it could hardly be called decisive up to now.

16. min.
Zizou leads a France charge. Ribery comes in with the ball from the right. His cross is intercepted but not cleared properly. And here comes the retiree, Zidane. His shot is deflected over the goal line. Corner kick.

20. min.
The French defense is clogging up the passing lanes wonderfully so far. Spain are allowed to pass it at the center line but can't get much further with it before turning the ball over to the '98 champs.

22. min.
Neither Spain nor France have found a way to get past the other side's defenders, hence, most of the action is at restricted to midfield.

23. min.
That could have been the go-ahead goal
After that observation, Henry coasts down the right sideline, sends a ball into the box low on the ground. It scoots past one, two, three, then four players, two of them French and nobody can redirect it into the goal.

27. min.
Penalty kick
Rosetti points to the penalty spot after Thuram ungently tackles Pablo in the box. Villa steps up.

27. min.
Spain go in front!
David Villa sinks the kick between a diving Barthez and the left post.

30. min.
Spain win a corner kick. Zidane clears it half-heartedly. It comes to Fabregas but the shot dribbles to Barthez.

33. min.
How will France best react to falling behind? David Trezeguet maybe?

37. min.
The action has drifted back to midfield after Spain's go-ahead goal. Spain have surrendered the ball to France, making the French come up with an idea how to get an equalizer. They don't seem to have one at the moment.

41. min.
Equalizer for France
Everyone was watching Thierry Henry who was passively offside. From the other side, a through ball to Franck Ribery who rounds a helpless Casillas and just barely slots the ball past two sliding Spaniards. It's an open game again.

43. min.
Spain are angry about that lapse and are trying to regain the lead before the interval.

45. min.
The equalizer has livened up the affair. Unfortunately the half is over. 1-1 and we can look forward, I think, to an exciting second half.

46. min.
The second half has started


46. min.
Both coaches stick with their starting line-ups for the second half.

48. min.
Something worth mentioning: In the first half, referee Rosetti did not book a single player which is no mean feat considering some of the battles that have taken place this round.

50. min.
Same thing as in the first half to a great extent. Spain are going for France's left side of the field but fail to get very close to the French penalty area.

52. min.
Casillas with a fingertip save
Zidane makes a nice one-touch pass to a breaking Malouda who tries to lob it over the Spanish keeper, but Casillas is on his toes and can deflect the ball away.

54. min.
Goalscorer Villa leaves. Joaquin for him. Raul also removed. Luis Garcia on the field.
Luis Aragones takes out two purebred strikers and inserts two offensively-oriented midfielders.

58. min.
The end of the first half looked so promising from an entertainment perspective but the action has dipped into a lull. Only avid Spanish supporters remind us that there is a World Cup match being played.

59. min.
France close
Ribery beats his man at the right corner flag, runs into the box and crosses it back but the ball is too hot and it leaves the penalty area.

61. min.
France are certainly showing more finesse when they are in the Spanish end. The possibilities are greater for les bleus but the clear chance has yet to be created.

64. min.
Fernando Torres is, like Thierry Henry, a lonely man up at the front. Few if any balls are getting through to the Atletico striker. Henry, on the other hand, has been more active in going to the ball and trying to do something with it.

67. min.
The first yellow of the match -- 67 minutes is probably a record. Vieira is booked.


70. min.
The Spaniard are walking a thin line in the back. They are consistently catching Henry offside but the Arsenal striker must be able to beat that trap just once, can't he?

71. min.
Marcos Senna comes on for Xavi.
Luis Aragones has used up his allotment of substitutes. Raymond Domenech looks to be planning for a longer game and has yet to put a fresh player in.

74. min.
Aragones is upset that a hand in face by Vieira is not booked -- which would have been his second. Any and every advantage is being sought now.

74. min.
France's first sub. Sidney Govou in for Malouda


79. min.
Good chance for Spain
Joaquin with the first big chance for Spain in the second half. He beat his man on the right edge of the penalty box, scooted into it but his shot hits the outside of the netting on the near post.

81. min.
Ribery has shown why he is the heir apparent to Zidane. He tricks his defender near the penalty box, squares it to Govou who curls a shot high over Casillas.

82. min.
Puyol didn't come close to playing the ball and elbows Henry.
And Puyol wonders why he is booked.

83. min.
France go ahead
After the foul on Henry, Zidane curls the ball into the box. A Spaniard heads it first but the ball sails to the far post and Patrick Vieira is Johnny-on-the-spot and directs the ball off the leg of Sergio Ramos into the Spanish goal. France lead 2-1.

85. min.
The Spanish must now wake up out of their second half lethargy but the French have been oh so solid defensively tonight.

87. min.
Ribery is booked.


87. min.
Sylvain Wiltord for Henry
Domenech trying to kill a little time with the substitution.

88. min.
Spain now throwing everyone up front -- and they have to if they want to extend their stay in Germany.

89. min.
Fabien Barthez now can show his first-class ability. He reigns in the penalty box on two corner kicks in a row.

90. min.
We're in stoppage time in Hanover


90. min.
Referee Rosetti now very liberal with the yellow card.
+1 Zidane is booked.

90. min.
Zinedine Zidane seals Spain's fate
+2 Zizou receives a ball alone on the left, evades the unlucky Puyol in the box, fires it low past Casillas. France will be playing a rematch of the 1998 World Cup final against Brazil.

Roberto Rosetti blows the final whistle
After a shaky start, the 1998 champions show Spain the exit to the 2006 tournament. France simply have the Iberians number when it comes to matches with something on the line.

pain certainly were at eye level with les Bleus but like many a team in this round, failed to take risks and must pay the price. And France: The oldies prove their weight in gold. Zinedine Zidane lives to play another day -- Saturday, against Brazil.