WORLD CUP: HENRY SHINES ON WORLD STAGE.

Byline: SCOTT FRENCH Staff Writer

HAMBURG, Germany -- There's never been a doubt about Thierry Henry's gifts, it's how he chooses to use them. Or, rather, where.

The 28-year-old striker has long shined for club while inconsistent for country, but his performance during this World Cup has quieted most of the critics. Henry, acknowledged as one of the world's two or three finest forwards, has scored three goals and set up a crucial penalty kick as France awakened from a poor start to reach Sunday's final against Italy in Berlin. If Les Bleus are to break down Italy's lock-down defense, the Paris-raised striker must play a pivotal role.

It's an opportunity he's relishing, especially after missing the title game when France won the championship eightyears ago. He was primarily a super sub for the French in 1998.

Henry was on the sidelines warming up when Marcel Desailly was red-carded, and coach Aime Jacquet had to make a tactical substitution instead.

``I was frustrated at first, but then I realized I would lift the trophy, and that felt good,'' Henry said.

It was the start. A year later, he moved to English powerhouse Arsenal, quickly establishing himself as the English Premier League's deadliest finisher. He's scored at least 24league goals -- 27 this season, when he won an unprecedented third English Footballer of the Year honor -- while winning four of the past five scoring titles, set an Arsenal record with 214 strikes and this year led the London-based club to the UEFA Champions League final.

For France, he often has had little to show for his talent, often giving elegant if ineffective performances as Les Bleus struggled after winning the 2000 European Championship. Henry was stationed primarily as a provider for David Trezeguet, who feasted on his combination of silky ball skills, tremendous speed and grace -- he looks like he's gliding at full speed with the ball -- vision and deadliness in front of the goal.

Henry scored three goals at Euro 2000, but he played poorly and was red-carded for a rash tackle as the French flamed out at the 2002 World Cup, then failed to impress at a disappointing 2004 European finals. No team scored fewer qualifying goals than France, and this tournament started ominously, Henry's goal against South Korea -- ending France's four-game World Cup goalless skid -- a rare high point in the first two games.

But Henry, now France's lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 alignment, scored again in a victory over Togo that ensured survival, and he netted a sizzler, a volley from Zinedine Zidane's free kick, to beat Brazil.

It was the first time in more than 60 appearances together that Henry has scored from a Zidane feed.

He drew the penalty that Zidane converted to beat Portugal in Wednesday's semifinal, and now prepares to take aim at the Italians, who have surrendered just one goal -- an own goal in the 1-1 tie against the U.S. -- in six Cup games.

``There are not many players like him,'' French coach Raymond Domenech said. ``He is irreplaceable. ... There are many options, but Henry is the primary one for us.''