"In Brazil when the national team loses the coach is to blame so I believe we will follow this script once again. We never prepared for this moment. This is a very difficult moment for all of us," he added." the Brazilian coach added.

    Arsenal striker Thierry Henry scored the decisive goal of Saturday's game, volleying in Zinedine Zidane's floated free-kick on the 57th minute while lingering unmarked at the back post.

    "We played well. We didn't steal anything from anybody. We had a tactical plan and it worked perfectly," Henry said.

    "We wanted to prove after what happened in 2002 that we were not rubbish," he added, referring to France's early exit four years ago.

    France's playermaker Zidane, playing what could have been his last game, has been in full flow with his graceful sight and showed some sublime touches, while Brazil's attacking aces were disappointing and produced a similarly listless display with the 1998 final.

    Zidane was moved to describe the 1-0 quarter-final win over Brazil as "beautiful".

    Man-of-the-match Zidane said: "We needed a great match and we delivered. We knew we would have to be fit physically and we were.

    Zidane, 34, has led the dazzling show in the center. He won back possession at the 28th minute and played a neat lay off to send France careering down the left to force a corner.

    Again on 44 minutes, he collected, twisted and passed the ball to release Patrick Vieira before the Juventus midfielder was brought down by Juan.

    It was also the Real Madrid midfielder who gave France the best chance in the additional minute of the first half. He drove a free-kick straightly at the wall after the referee forced the line back for full five meters since Henry's earlier free-kick hit the wall and Ronaldo's arm to force the second one.

    "We fought closely together for a well-deserved victory. Now we'll try to win a place in the final. This is so beautiful, we want it to carry on," added Zidane, who retires after the World Cup.

    Just three minutes ahead of Henry's goal, the former top scorer of England Premier league, whose back heel strike in box at the 52nd minute was just cleared by a Brazilian, slotted home after collecting Patrick Vieira's flick-on, but his effort was ruled out by a late wave of the lineman's flag for offside.

    The last eight matchup between France and Brazil has been dubbed as a 1998 World Cup final rematch after eight years since the French side won a historic 3-0 against Brazil in Paris for their first ever world trophy. Enditem

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