Spain D Villa 28 (pen) 1-3 (1-1) France F Ribery 41 P Vieira 83 Z Zidane 90   Bookings: C Puyol 82     Bookings: P Vieira 68 F Ribery 87 Z Zidane 90 SPAINFRANCE Possession 56% 44% Shots on target 5 7 Shots off target 4 3 Corners 8 5 Fouls 28 22

Spain 01 I Casillas 22 I Pablo 05 C Puyol 15 G Sergio Ramos 03 M Pernia 18 F Fabregas 08 H Xavi (72 M Senna ) 14 X Alonso 21 D Villa (54 S Joaquin ) 09 F Torres 07 G Raul (54 S Luis Garcia ) Subtitutes 02 M Salgado, 04 C Marchena, 06 D Albelda, 10 J Reyes, 11 S Luis Garcia, 12 G Antonio Lopez, 13 A Iniesta, 16 M Senna, 17 S Joaquin, 19 S Canizares, 20 G Juanito, 23 J Reina France 16 F Barthez 19 W Sagnol 15 L Thuram 05 W Gallas 03 E Abidal 22 F Ribery 10 Z Zidane 06 C Makelele 04 P Vieira 07 F Malouda (74 S Govou ) 12 T Henry (88 S Wiltord ) Subtitutes 01 M Landreau, 02 J Boumsong, 08 V Dhorasoo, 09 S Govou, 11 S Wiltord, 13 M Silvestre, 14 L Saha, 17 G Givet, 18 A Diarra, 20 D Trezeguet, 21 P Chimbonda, 23 G Coupet Ref: Roberto Rosetti Att: 43000

By Charlie Henderson

"For 35 minutes Spain were outstanding - a pleasure to watch. But Franck Ribery's goal gave France belief and Spain needed someone to dominate, they could have done with some experience - a Patrick Vieira or a Zinedine Zidane. Spain will come again but France will take some stooping. They will fancy their chances against Brazil."
Chris Waddle, BBC Five Live Sport

PLAYER RATER: Franck Ribery edges Zinedine Zidane to your man of the match award by 8.25 to 8.24.

FULL-TIME: Experience outwits youth and France are through to the last eight and a match against Brazil in Frankfurt on Saturday.

"Spanish players drop to their knees. Luis Aragones remains deadly still in his seat and one of his training assistants starts collecting the bottles laid out on the edge of the technical area. Another major tournament ends disappointingly for Spain."
Paul Fletcher, BBC Sport in Hanover

90 + 2 mins: GOAL Spain 1-3 France
That's the way to finish the night. Forget that yellow card. Zinedine Zidane is the beneficiary of a poor Cesc Fabregas pass and gets on the end of a quick break before turning Carles Puyol and powering a shot beyond Iker Casillas.

90 + 1 min: Zinedine Zidane catches Cesc Fabregas to earn a yellow card. Not the best end to the night for the Frenchman but at least it looks as if his career is not going to end here in Hanover.

90 mins: That's the end of the 90 and France are heading to Frankfurt to play Brazil. Unless Spain can conjure something in the three minutes of added time they are heading to a first defeat under Luis Aragones and an early flight home.

89 mins: Two corners in quick succession for Spain. Fernando Torres gets on the end of the second at the back post and heads it into the mixer but Fabien Barthez claims well under pressure.

88 mins: Fabien Barthez races off his line to punch a free-kick clear. Eric Abidial is equally quick off his heels to block Marcos Senna's follow up shot.

87 mins: Spain only have themselves to blame after losing their way. Franck Ribery gets a yellow card for kicking the ball away and Sylvain Wiltord replaces Thierry Henry.

85 mins: Spain have to step it up but it is the totem Patrick Vieira who is there first again to head away Joaquin's corner.

84 mins: GOAL Spain 1-2 France
Zinedine Zidane's free-kick is flicked on to the back post where Patrick Vieira heads the ball home. Sergio Ramos gets the last touch but the Frenchman is credited with the goal. What do you make of that Nostradamus?

83 mins: Carles Puyol is booked for running across Thierry Henry as the pair chase a through ball and France win a free-kick in an attacking area. The Frenchman goes down holding his face. It was more like an arm in the chest 'Titi'.

81 mins: Zinedine Zidane finds Franck Ribery with his free-kick and after some tricky footwork 'Scarface' lays it back to Sydney Govou but the substitute scoops his shot high of the goal.

79 mins: The fast tempo has gone from the game but out of nowhere Joaquin accelerates past Eric Abidal into the area only to drag his left-foot shot wide. William Gallas requires treatment after getting in the way of a thunderous shot from Marcos Senna. It is fair to say the Chelsea man's eyes will be watering after kopping that shot.

78 mins: Mariano Pernia trots across to the right to take a corner, Fabien Barthez flaps and punches away the ball in the six-yard box.

76 mins: Patrick Vieira looks to thread a pass through to Theirry Henry off the outside of his boot but Xabi Alonso makes a telling interception on the edge of the area.

75 mins: France coach Raymond Domenech tweaks his line-up bringing on Sydney Govou for Florent Malouda.

74 mins: Patrick Vieira hands off Fernando Torres with a palm in the face. Luis Aragones does not like it but is told in no uncertain terms by the referee to back off from the edge of his technical area and sit back down in the dug out.

72 mins: Spain make their third and final substitution, Marcos Senna replacing Xavi. Coach Luis Aragones clearly doesn't mind a gamble with a potential 50 more minutes of action.

69 mins: Spanish fans clear their throats and urge on their team as they win a corner, but it is to no avail as France clear.

68 mins: A first yellow card and it's former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira who goes into the book for a foul on present Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

67 mins: Eric Abidal catches Xavi on the back of the calf. Referee Roberto Rosetti - not an easy one for Jonathan Ross that - tells the Frenchman to go back and apologise to his rival but there is no booking.

66 mins: Left-back Mariano Pernia, in an advanced position, runs up a blind alley. Good smothering defensive work by France.

63 mins: Mariano Pernia is proving a good outlet for Spain on the left-hand side. With his thinning hair he looks more like a waiter at your local Tapas restaurant than a professional footballer.

60 mins: Willy Sagnol, at full stretch and facing goal, hooks Joaquin's whipped cross from the right away despite the presence of two strikers at his back.

59 mins: Franck Ribery evades Mariano Pernia by the corner flag and squeezes a pass away from the byeline but it zips through the box with no white-shirted player able to get on the end of it.

RATER POLL: Spain are the more likely to score the next goal - so say the good public at least. 46% of you are backing the Spaniards with 32% opting for France. 22% of you are already preparing for the long haul and penalties.

57 mins: Spain are struggling to find the fluency they had in the first half.

54 mins: A double change for Spain. Goalscorer David Villa and Raul make way Joaquin and Luis Garcia. Iker Casillas takes on the captain's armband.

52 mins: Zinedine Zidane loops a ball over the Spanish defence but it just won't come down for Florent Malouda who has to make a high hitch-kick which Iker Casillas palms wide.

50 mins: France are momentarily at sixes and sevens at the back before number six Claude Makelele steps in to clear the ball and calm the chaos.

47 mins: Thierry Henry is caught offside again. He is loitering on the last man and Spain's rearguard must be wary because he will surely race free at least once during the match.

2101 BST: The action resumes.

"The Spanish fans taunted Zinedine Zidane early in the first-half - waving at him as if to say his career would soon be over as he prepared to take a corner in front of him. With the second-half set to start it's the French fans who have found their voice, buoyed by that equaliser.
Paul Fletcher, BBC Sport in Hanover

2057 BST: Two goals and no bookings in the first half. That means Italian referee Roberto Rosetti has overseen more goals than cards in his three-and-a-half World Cup matches - 14 v 12. The hospital manager is one of the tournament's more lenient men in the middle.

"That was an enjoyable half. Spain dominated possession, got and penalty and maybe should have had another. France came to life in the last five minuntes and if they want anything out of this game they need to get Franck Ribery playing behind Thierry Henry."
Chris Waddle, BBC Five Live Sport

HALF-TIME: There is no stoppage time and the game is perfectly poised.

43 mins: Fernando Torres goes on a direct, thrusting run into the box and Spain are infuriated when they don't get a second penalty after the striker goes down under a challenge from Willy Sagnol.

41 mins: GOAL Spain 1-1 France
Franck Ribery shows Thierry Henry how to break the offside trap. Patrick Vieira releases the youngster who rounds Iker Casillas on the edge of the area and strokes the ball home left footed beyond Mariano Pernia's outstretched leg. Henry was standing offside but in a position deemed passive.

40 mins: Thierry Henry, who has been pinged for offside more than any other player in the tournament to date, is pulled back by the flag once again. He bellows in frustration.

39 mins: A chance for France to test the Spanish defence, but Zinedine Zidane's free-kick takes a high, curving trajectory straight to Iker Casillas.

"The Spanish fans inside the ground have been much more vocal during the game so far and that has only increased since their side took the lead."
Paul Fletcher, BBC Sport in Hanover

37 mins: The goal has really knocked France. Their early promise has been well and truly punctured. It's almost as if there's an extra Spanish shirt on the pitch. They're everywhere.

34 mins: Spain are not just about the pretty stuff. They quickly crowd out Franck Ribery in the middle of the park.

30 mins: Fernando Torres harries Lilian Thuram to win a corner. Zinedine Zidane heads Xavi's delivery away.

RATER POLL: Users of Player Rater are in little doubt that it was a penalty with 70% of you backing referee Roberto Rosetti's decision.

28 mins: GOAL Spain 1-0 France
Lilian Thuram clatters into Ibanez Pablo from behind in the box and treads on his ankle at a corner. Referee Roberto Rosetti shows no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Fabien Barthez goes the right way and gets close to the ball but the spot-kick from David Villa is rifled hard and low into the bottom corner, clipping the post as it goes in. Close to the perfect penalty.

23 mins: A great chance for France. They intercept the ball in the middle of the park and break down the right, but neither Franck Ribery or Patrick Vieira can reach Thierry Henry's low centre. Ribery hits over the ball and agonisingly Vieira can only get the tips of his studs on the ball but nothing more.

22 mins: There is no let up in the brisk pace of the game and Italian referee Roberto Rosetti is doing his best to help it flow.

19 mins: It's the first time in a fair few years that France have come into a match as underdogs and it looks to suit them. They are playing with much more freedom than the constipated, stuttering performances earlier in the tournament.

16 mins: Franck Ribery's cross from the right is half-cleared. Zinedine Zidane comes on to the loose ball in the area but his shot is deflected off target by the on-rushing defence.

14 mins: Fernando Torres pops up on the right this time and cruises through the gears, but William Gallas clearly has a bit more in the tank than Willy Sagnol and sticks with the Spaniard.

12 mins: Thierry Henry gets the first shot on target after cutting in from the right. Goalkeeper Iker Casillas is behind it all the way.

11 mins: Patrick Vieira has a little, late tap at the heels of former Arsenal team-mate Cesc Fabregas in the middle of the park. The older man does not want a repeat performance of the Champions League runaround he was given in Juve colours by the young Gunner earlier this season.

10 mins: Fernando Torres burns up the right-hand flank. Willy Sagnol is busting a gut to stay with him but the Spaniard reaches the byeline and gets a cross in, although it is too high.

9 mins: A free-kick up the other end after Lilian Thuram fouls David Villa under a high ball. Mariano Pernia's left-footed free-kick curls just wide.

8 mins: Now it is a French corner but Iker Casillas comes out to punch well above a melee of players. He wins a free-kick.

5 mins: Pablo Ibanez mis-judges a long France clearance but Thierry Henry is beaten to the ball by Sergio Ramos who hooks it out for a corner. Or does he? The referee gives a free-kick for a Henry handball.

3 mins: Spain are camped in their own half for the opening exchanges but are not too stretched. When they do get the ball though they break at pace. An early warning for the ageing duo of Patrick Vieira and Claude Makelele.

2000 BST: Spain start the match. The winners will go through to a quarter-final against Brazil.

1958 BST: Former Real Madrid team-mates Raul and Zinedine Zidane meet in the centre circle for the flip of the coin. This could be the great Frenchman's last game of football before retirement.

"That spices it up, but the Spanish supporters are totally out of order."
Chris Waddle, BBC Five Live Sport

1956 BST: The anthems have confirmed one thing. The jeers that accompany La Marseillaise highlight the fact that there are many more Spanish fans in the ground.

1954 BST: Raul gives the turf a lucky touch as he leads Spain out to a rousing reception. It is the skipper's 29th birthday today.

1952 BST: The players are gathered in the tunnel in the bowels of the AWD Arena. France are in their changed kit of white. Spain in their traditional red.

1949 BST: The bad news for France is that Nostradamus has predicted Spanish success at the World Cup... well, maybe, you decide. The Frenchman's prophecy reads: "In the sixth month of 2006 the King of Spain will cross the Pyreness with his troops. The legions of Beelzebub will battle him in central Europe but the evil ones will suffer doom and destruction. The Holy Grail will then come, like the King, to Spain." We may as well all go home then.

"Spain play a game I like to watch. Skill, technique and they dug in at 1-0 down against Tunisia to come back. It will take a good performance from France. Thierry Henry is at his best on his own, David Trezeguet got in his way, they made the same runs. Zinedine Zidane has to conserve his energy and take up good positions.
Chris Waddle, BBC Five Live Sport

1944 BST: There might be something in this star sign stuff. In an earlier trans-Pyrennean encounter at Wimbledon today, France's Arnaud Clement (Sagittarius) beat Spaniard Albert Portas (Scorpio).

1941 BST: France coach Raymond Domenech has a few weird whims as well. He's yet to name the same side twice in succession and does not trust players born under the zodiac sign of the Scorpio. There are no Scorpios in either squad.

1938 BST: In an era of mod-cons and fancy helpful tactical equipment, Spain's Luis Aragones is very much from the old-school of coaching. His squad have done no video analysis of rivals in Germany. "It's simply due to the fact that my players end up falling asleep with their mouths open while watching them," he explained.

1934 BST: What about the form? Luis Aragones may lack diplomacy but he has moulded a deadly team. Spain are unbeaten during his tenure at the helm which equates to a run of 25 matches. In the same period France have played 24 games and lost just once. They have drawn 11 of those mind.

"The ground is already packed to capacity and there is an incredible air of expectation. The feeling about the place is that Spain are favourites but no-one seems willing to dismiss a France team boasting the likes of Zindine Zidane, Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira.
Paul Fletcher, BBC Sport in Hanover

1933 BST: The teams are out going through their pre-match routines.

"I heard William Gallas speak about Luis Aragones briefly. He said it was of no interest, Aragones has been fined and they don't want to make any scene of it. As Gallas said, it has been a good tournament for racism. There have been no repurcusions and they just want to go out and play football."
Chris Waddle, BBC Five Live Sport

1926 BST: Another issue taking up column inches has been the continued fall-out from racist remarks made by Luis Aragones about Thierry Henry in October 2004. The Spanish coach has refused to apologise saying: "I won't talk about it for another second. Why? Because it's not like that. I have black, Gypsy and Japanese friends, including one whose job is to determine the sex of poultry." Good to see he's cleared that up then!

1919 BST: One of the themes in the build-up has been young v old. France have eight players aged 30 and over in their squad and five in their line-up. Spain's starting XI, which does not feature any over 30s, is on average five years younger - 25.54 v 29.54.

1913 BST: Raul is the only player in red from that match who features today. Les Bleus boast five survivors - Fabien Barthez, Lilian Thuram, Patrick Vieira, Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry. Tuesday was the first National Veterans' Day in the UK and the French will be hoping for something similar in Hanover. That quintet alone have a combined age of 160.

1907 BST: The most painful loss for La Furia Roja was the European Championship final defeat in Paris in 1984, but the most recent was not far behind. Raul missed a last-minute penalty at Euro 2000 and France went through to the semi-finals and on to win.

1904 BST: So then, the history. These teams have met 27 times, five of which were competitive matches. Spain are yet to beat their European rivals in those matches which had something riding on them, losing four and drawing one.

"It's going to be close. Spain are a technically better team and France have to stop Cesc Fabregas, Xavi and Xabi Alonso from playing. It will be a cracking game."
Chris Waddle, BBC Five Live Sport

1857 BST: Spain, who have not lost for 10 World Cup matches, line up 4-3-3 with Raul joining the free-scoring Fernando Torres and David Villa in attack.

1856 BST: Skipper Zinedine Zidane's return after a one-match ban means France revert to a 4-2-3-1 formation with Thierry Henry leading the line on his own.

1850 BST: The teams are in and there are no surprises with the predicted changes there in black and white. Spain include Cesc Fabregas and Raul at the expense of Marcos Senna and Luis Garcia. Suspended French duo Eric Abidal and Zinedine Zidane return for Mikael Silvestre and David Trezeguet.

Spain: Casillas, Pablo, Puyol, Sergio Ramos, Pernia, Fabregas, Xavi, Alonso, Villa, Torres, Raul.
Subs: Salgado, Marchena, Albelda, Reyes, Luis Garcia, Antonio Lopez, Iniesta, Senna, Joaquin, Canizares, Juanito, Reina.

France: Barthez, Sagnol, Thuram, Gallas, Abidal, Ribery, Zidane, Makelele, Vieira, Malouda, Henry.
Subs: Landreau, Boumsong, Dhorasoo, Govou, Wiltord, Silvestre, Saha, Givet, Diarra, Trezeguet, Chimbonda, Coupet.

Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Italy).