Total recall / Day 18

Boy done good: Emmanuel Petit played with an assurance and an urgency that France badly missed when he was withdrawn midway through the second half.

Two left feet: Youri Djorkaeff tried a spectacular scissor kick. It was spectacularly dreadful.

Magic moment: Blanc8217;s golden goal was wonderfully worked, a superb move out of keeping with the rest of the game. If Paraguay had to let one in after such a resolute defensivedisplay, at least they let in a good one. Can8217;t see that argument making anyone in Paraguay feel any better, mind you.

Mr Sitter: Djorkaeff chested down a Stephane Guivarc8217;h cross with eight minutes to go in normal time, making himself some space in the box. His earlier unwillingness to shoot when in good positions didn8217;t auger well and, sure enough, he hung about just long enough so his quot;shotquot; could be smothered by a sliding tackle.

Shiver the timbers: Henry split the Paraguayan defence in two with an incredible burst of speed and chipped the oncoming bulldozer that was Jose Luis Chilavert, but the ball bounced off the post and safely away.

Turning point: When Henry hit the post instead of the net, the French had a collective moment of clarity. The realisation that derision and not acclaim could be heading their way saw them play out the remainder of the game in a cold sweat.

Ref-er-ee!: Mr Mohamed Bujsaim booked Chilavert for giving his defenders a bollocking. If he plied histrade in the Premiership, Peter Schmeichel would miss nearly the whole season.

Terrace talk: France: quot;We really need a striker. Is Just Fontaine free this Friday?quot; Paraguay: quot;Where8217;s our penalty shoot-out? Surely only Germany score golden goals.quot;

Pre-quarter final: Denkark 4 Nigeria 1

Goals: Denmark: Moeller 3, B Laudrup 12, Sand 59, Helveg 76; Nigeria: Babangida 77
Bookings: Denmark: Rieper, 24, Nigeria: Okocha, 49
90 minutes in a nutshell: Everyone had forgotten that the Danes were in France this summer, so nondescript were their first three games. Twelve minutes and two goals later, the Nigerians were all too aware of their existence. Nigeria got back into it for a while but, although they knocked it about adroitly, they created nothing and it was just a matter of time before the Danes killed them off.

Boy done good: Peter Moeller swung his left boot at a cut-back from Brian Laudrup to hammer in a third-minute screamer. Then he wallopeda free-kick which put Peter Rufai in all sorts of bother and led to Denmark8217;s second. He didn8217;t do much else, but seeing as this was enough to win Denmark the game8230;

Two left feet: Rufai had hands like clogs, costing Nigeria two goals. By parrying Moeller8217;s free-kick straight to Brian Laudrup, he sealed Nigeria8217;s fate with the match barely started.

Magic moment: Ebbe Sand8217;s superb cushioned header over Taribo West and his subsequent calm finish will ensure that his goal will be remembered for more than the tiresome statistic that comes with it. Oh alright then, he scored it 24 seconds after coming off the bench.

Mr Sitter: Allan Nielsen must have made Christian Gross8217; day by blasting the ball straight at the inept Rufai when certain to score.Shiver the timbers: Rufai was sent back-pedalling by a Brian Laudrup cross which sailed over his head and hit the crossbar.

Turning point: Rufai8217;s charitable donation to Brian Laudrup8217;s World Cup account.

Ref-er-ee!:Martin Jorgensen was felled in the area whilst in hot pursuit of the ball. It should have been a penalty, but Mr Meier didn8217;t give it, possibly because, with the score at 3-0, he was aware that no-one cared.

Terrace talk: Denmark: quot;Brazil next8230; hmm8230; does anyone mind if we go into hiding again?quot; Nigeria: quot;We8217;d have scored four against Brazil. And let in five.quot;