ZIDANE BIDS ADIEU TO BRAZIL REVITALIZED LES BLEUS SEND FAVORITES PACKING FRANCE 1, BRAZIL 0.

Byline: SCOTT FRENCH Staff Writer

FRANKFURT, Germany -- Zinedine Zidane's career could have closed in ignominy, watching from the bench -- suspended for an act of petulance -- as faltering France finished off another first-round failure.

That reality, two weeks ago, is history. Les Bleus, with Zidane firmly at the controls, are starting to make like it's 1998 all over again, and the midfield great is positioned to go out on top.

He was, to no surprise, the pivotal figure Saturday, carrying France past defending champion Brazil 1-0 and into the World Cup semifinals.

Zidane, retiring at the end of the tournament, was a magical presence in a stirring showdown, slicing up the Brazilian midfield, wowing the crowd of 48,000 at Waldstadion with sublime trickery, and setting up the only goal, a volley by Thierry Henry in the 57th minute.

His was a masterful performance, and it begged one question: Why is the 34-year-old playmaker, still the world's foremost player, hanging up his cleats?

``I think it's precisely because he's going to retire that he's fully invested in this,'' France coach Raymond Domenech offered. ``Every moment is perhaps his last one.''

The triumph guaranteed Zidane, so long as his querulous side remains hidden, two more games: Wednesday's semifinal against Portugal in Munich and then either Saturday's third-place match in Stuttgart or next Sunday's final, against Italy or Germany, in Berlin.

Five-time champion Brazil, the overwhelming pre-tournament favorite, finished a disappointing World Cup with a pedestrian performance.

Only once in five games, in its group finale against Japan, did Brazil offer a hint of why it is special.

``This is a hard moment for us,'' said coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, who was in charge when Brazil won the '94 title at the Rose Bowl. ``I wasn't ready for defeat. It never crossed my mind we wouldn't make it to the final.''

After Argentina's penalty- kick defeat Friday by Germany, Brazil's demise makes it an all-European final four, the first since 1982, when Italy, Germany and France also reached the semifinals.

The French, who routed Brazil in the 1998 final, played poorly through the group stage, morosely drawing with Switzerland and South Korea, then beating troubled Togo as Zidane, suspended after knocking down two Koreans in frustration, watched from the bench.

A metamorphosis has since occurred. Les Bleus dismantled Spain, which was so good in the first round, to start the knockout phase, and now Brazil is dead. Both victories were powered by phenomenal performances by Zidane.

``We've known Zidane for many years -- he's one of the best players of the last decade, and he played so well today,'' Parreira said. ``We tried to mark him -- not with one player, that's not our way, but with many players: Juninho, Gilberto, Ze Roberto. But he imposed himself. He played from the right to the left. ... He moved all the time and made it hard for our players, and this was decisive.''

France, displaying a patience that threw the harried Brazilians off their game, controlled possession almost from start to finish. It didn't always lead to scoring opportunities -- those were at a premium, as in all the quarterfinals -- but, as Parreira acknowledged, the French always ``were dangerous.''

Zidane was majestic, continually conquering his foes with exquisite touch or feints, breaking down the Brazilians with short passes to open space or balls behind the defense for teammates to run onto.

His nifty backheel, after a juggling exhibition to control possession near midfield, sent left back Eric Abidal down the wing in the 28th minute. He zig-zagged past two defenders, then split two more with a feed to Patrick Vieira just before halftime. He teased Ronaldo, flicking the ball over his head, then made a spin move in midfield to free himself from pressure in the second half.

His finest moment wasn't quite so spectacular, a free kick from the left flank toward the far post a dozen minutes into the second half.

Henry raced in and blasted it into the ceiling; it was the first time the longtime teammates, in more than 60 games, had hooked up for a goal.

``We needed a great match, and we delivered,'' Zidane said. ``Now we'll try to win a place in the final. We don't want to stop now. This is so beautiful, we want it to carry on.''

[e-mail]

[phone]

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) France's Zinedine Zidane, right, celebrates with Patrick Vieira after Thierry Henry scored the only goal of the game Saturday.

(2) French captain Zinedine Zidane comforts Brazil's Ze Roberto after Les Bleus' 1-0 victory in their quarterfinal match.

Jasper Juinen/Associated Press