If only French sport could stand in for French government...

LES BLEUS S'OFFRENT UN QUART DE FINALE
FACE AU BRÉSIL EN DOMINANT L'ESPAGNE (3-1) [Front page link]

LES BLEUS, LES PIRES AÎNÉS DE L'ESPAGNE (3-1)
27 juin 2006 (Le Monde)

ALLEZ FRANCE AS ZIDANE AND VIEIRA STRIKE

HANOVER June 28, 2006 (Guardian) - Les Bleus are reborn. A side who began the tournament squabbling among themselves and privately bemoaning their manager's apparent shortcomings have reached the quarter-finals. Spain, so fancied and supremely confident, were torn apart last night, their stunned reaction belying the fact that they knew precisely what had hit them.

So much for Zinédine Zidane being a spent force.

Although Spain looked good on paper, it's record against France was something else altogether. Spain and France have matched up 27 times, 5 of which were competitive and of these Spain lost 4 and drew 1. So however the technical numbers shake out, Spain clearly has a problem playing France. And last night France proved out, ending Spain's 10 match unbeaten run at the World Cup and also Spain's undefeated run of 26 international matches. Ah, la Selección, the Red Sox of soccer.

We wish M. Zidane bonne chance against Brazil this Saturday.

PFFT (What is this?): Congratulations 4 | Rayonnement français 3¾

Thank you Damian!

The odds are against Les Bleus, but you never know...
And even if we manage to make our way to the semifinals, that won't save Galouzeau!

Bonjour,

L' ARMEE YANKS CHOISIT EUROCOPTER=EADS !

Pave France n'aime pas EADS.
Ce n'est pas l'avis de l'armée yanks qui vient de conclure un gros contrat avec la filliale EUROCOPTER d' EADS.
Peut-être un début de repentir des Yanks envers la France avec leur échec en Irak...

Good luck to ? your country in Irak !

Go figure...

Great game against Brazil tonight! France deserved its win, and Zidane played his best game since 2000.

Next step is Portugal!

Regarding AB/AY's post -well, more or less. More interesting than Eurocopter's deal is the decision of the French government to send additional military units to Afghanistan! I'll try to add a link later. Now I have to sleep after this crazy night in Paris!