I got my hands on Brazil-France 98 and watched the first half last night. It's the first time I've seen more than brief highlights since 1998 itself, when I watched in a bar in, of all places, 46th street (Little Brazil) in Manhattan.

Zidane was the best player on the pitch, although faster and less refined than he would later become. Everyone remembers the decisive headers, but here are two other beautiful Zidanisms: around 4 min in, Zidane receives a throw from Barthez, evades two Brazilians in a twenty-five yard run, executes a perfect give and go to Deschamps, receiving it back a few yards outside Brazil's box, and then megs Brazil's central defender to put the pelota on the foot of French forward Guivarc'h (alone inside the box), who promptly muffs it. Around 20 min in, another French player escapes Brazilian pressure by passing it to the nearby Zidane, who executes an across the body ball fake that puts the pressuring Brazilian on the ground, while Zidane otherwise stayed in place. Perfect.

Defensively, Thuram really impressed. Steady, speedy, and leggy, he swallowed several Brazilian attacks. A significant reason for Les Bleus' success.

Brazil looked staggered and disorganized, doing little by way of coherent attack. Denilson, who came on as a sub, was a remarkable ball handler and a thrill to watch, but Brazil could not build on his flair.

FF