Total recall / Day 14

90 minutes in 30 words: Aime Jacquet8217;s France cooly beat a lacklustre Denmark, despite making eight changes from the team that took the Saudi8217;s to pieces last week. Other than a 10 minute spell in the first half, which climaxed in a soft penalty for the Danes, France were rarely troubled and dominated the match with great poise. Clearly gaining in confidence as the tournament progresses, the French players demonstrated excellent awareness of one another and made good use of all the areas of the pitch. Still, however fluid and comfortable they may be, their play is at times marred by overconfidence and coq-suredness.

Boy done good: Not that he was challenged too often, but Christian Karembeu was stout at the back and made many penetrative runs, most of which were finished with anincisive cross or deadly accurate pass.

Two left feet: The entire Danish front line was weak and desparately pedestrian, even the much-touted Laudrup brothers proving ineffective. Brian in particular lost the battle with his new club-mates, Leboeuf and Desailly.

Magic moment: A late second half corner fell 8212; after a frenetic goal mouth scramble 8212; to Patrick Vieira on the edge of the box. The Arsenal player crisply returned a volley at Schmeicel, who responded with an equally brilliant reflex save.

Mr Sitter: Several times Djorkaeff elected to shoot, rather than pass to his well-positioned and slackly-marked compatriots. Sadly his spectacular efforts remained only that, his penalty being a more mundane route onto the scoresheet.

Shiver the timbers: Right at the end of the game, Fabian Barthez used the bar to help him collect a Stig Toefting free-kick.

Turning point: None as such, the French firmly controlled the game for 80 minutes. Even conceding a goal in the other 10, failed to shake theirconfidence.

Ref-er-ee!: Another by-the-book performance by the bald, stary-eyed Italian, Pierluigi Collina. His grip on the game as steady as his gaze

Terrace talk: Denmark: quot;You see our Stig Tofting? He8217;s Denmark8217;s answer to Biffa Bacon he is.quot;; France: quot;Thuram? Deschamps? Lizarazu? Zidane? Just wait for our first XIquot;

Group C: Saudi Arabia 2 South Africa 2

Scorers: South Africa: Bartlett 18, pen 90; Saudi Arabia: Al-Jaber pen 45, Al-Thynayan pen 73

Bookings: Saudi Arabia: Al-Ouairan 31; South Africa: Fortune 38, Radebe 65

90 minutes in 30 words: South Africa8217;s slim hopes of reaching the second round slipped away in Bordeaux as they were held to a 2-2 draw by wooden-spoonists Saudia Arabia. Referee Mr Sanchez Yanten of Chile awarded three penalties in the match, two of them to the Saudis, who deserved at least a point from an exciting but ultimately meaningless encounter.

Boy done good: Shaun Bartlett struck twice for Bafana Bafana, the first a well-taken volley, but it was notenough to see his side into the second phase.

Two left feet: Pierre Issa conceded both South Africa8217;s penalties, and is unlikely to receive a hero8217;s welcome back home, even if the second was a little harsh.

Magic moment: In the 48th minute South Africa8217;s Helman Mikhalele showed great skills dribbling half the length of the field before being brought down.

Mr Sitter: There were few clear-cut chances in the game, and no blatant missed opportunities.

Shiver the timbers: Late on, a Mkhalele header hit the flying Al-Daeya, and skimmed off the face of the bar.

Turning point: That first penalty, which let Saudi Arabia back in the game.

Ref-er-ee!: M Sanchez Yanten of Chile. With three penalties, need you ask?

Terrace talk: Saudi Arabia: quot;From 0 8211; 0 at Wembley to 2 8211; 2 in Bordeaux. It8217;s a funny old game.quot;; South Africa: quot;Bugger truth and reconciliation, where8217;s that ref?quot;

Group D: Spain 6 Bulgaria 1

Scorers: Spain: Hierro pen 6, Enrique 18, Morientes 53, 81, Kiko 88, 90; Bulgaria:Kostadinov 56

Bookings: Bulgaria: Penev 45, Batchev 85; Spain: Aguilera 17, Guerrero 74

90 minutes in 30 words: Spain entered the fray with double the desire and passion of a weary Bulgaria and deserved their win 8212; Enrique was electric; Morientes sharp; Zubizarreta safe. Stoichkov apparently stropped off somewhere at half time, leaving the floodgates open but it seems that Lady Fortune was born in Paraguay.

Boy done good: Luis Enrique 8212; he never stopped running, won the penalty which Hierro put away and scored the second goal with more than a touch of class 8212; genius.

Two left feet: Most of the Bulgarian side suffered from this affliction towards the end of the game and 8212; unable to balance 8212; they rolled over.

Magic moment: Emil Kostadinov8217;s beautiful turn and unstoppable shot past Zubizaretta 8212; gorgeous.

Mr Sitter: Luis Enrique squandered a great chance when put through by Francisco Morientes in the 16th minute but, hey, cut the lad some slack.

Shiver the timbers: Both Morientes head andEnrique boot hit the wood within the blink of an eye.

Turning point: In the big picture, the crucial moment came when Zubizarreta gifted Nigeria that equaliser in their opening game. Tonight, it was the moment an irresistible Spain set foot on the pitch.

Ref-er-ee!: Mr van der Ende should have given Bulgaria a penalty early on when they had a chance to come back 8212; apart from that he could sit back and enjoy the goalfest.

Terrace talk: Bulgaria: quot;We could have done with teenagers instead of stroppy old men.; Spain: quot;We were bionic tonight 8211; give us some vino tinto to help numb the pain.quot;