FIFA World Cup Final between France and Brazil played on Stade de France in Paris.
The build-up was dominated by the fitness of Brazil's star striker, Ronaldo, amid reports that he had suffered a pre-match fit.
Zinedine Zidane gave France the lead just before the half-hour mark with a header from an in-swinging corner. Only minutes later, Ronaldo was put through on goal by a long ball from Dunga, but he could not get the better of the onrushing Fabien Barthez, who collided with the Brazilian striker. Both needed assistance from the squad medics but quickly recovered. Brazil's superstar playmakers Leonardo and Rivaldo were kept quiet by Didier Deschamps and Christian Karembeu. Zidane doubled France's advantage on the stroke of half-time with an almost identical goal. In the second half, Ronaldo had a chance to halve the deficit. The ball fell for him inside the penalty box, but he could only plant his shot into Barthez's arms. Midfielder Emmanuel Petit wrapped up the scoring in the 90th minute to put the victory beyond all doubt. France had to survive the last 20 minutes with only 10 men with the dismissal of Marcel Desailly.
The stress and effort profused in winning the hard-fought match against Netherlands by penalty shootout proved to be the undoing of the Brazilian team, where they were severely defeated by them 3 goals to nail.


FRANCE:

GK 16 Fabien Barthez
RB 15 Lilian Thuram
CB 8 Marcel Desailly
CB 18 Frank Leboeuf
LB 3 Bixente Lizarazu
DM 7 Didier Deschamps (c)
CM 17 Emmanuel Petit
CM 19 Christian Karembeu 57'
CM 10 Zinedine Zidane
AM 6 Youri Djorkaeff 75'
CF 9 Stephane Guivarc'h 66'

Substitutes:
MF 4 Patrick Vieira 75'
MF 14 Alain Boghossian 57'
FW 21 Christophe Dugarry 66'

Manager:
Aimé Jacquet


BRAZIL:

GK 1 Claudio Taffarel
RB 2 Cafu
CB 3 Aldair
CB 4 Junior Baiano
LB 6 Roberto Carlos
DM 5 César Sampaio 75'
DM 8 Dunga (c)
AM 18 Leonardo 45'
AM 10 Rivaldo
CF 20 Bebeto
CF 9 Ronaldo

Substitutes:
MF 19 Denílson 45'
FW 21 Edmundo 75'

Manager:
Mário Zagallo