Now this is what I call irony

Those of you who have read this blog from the off will know that I didn't exactly rate the chances of the French team very highly. Well today I have a confession to make. I backed France to beat Brazil! Hahaha! Surely the most unjustified winnings ever, I slag off France right left and centre, and when they prove me to be a fool, I have the temerity to make money out of it! No, I have no shame.

Time for some humble pie. France, thank you, you were wonderful, it was a pleasure to witness your renaissance, and I as one of your biggest doubters, am only too delighted to be proven wrong, especially as your wonderful display of beautiful football accounted for the one team I have disliked more than you (not including Holland), Brazil.

So why the hell didn't you play like this before you lazy bastards?! Where have you been??

Brazil, an absolute rabble from start to finish in World Cup 2006, were turned over by a resurgent French team, and by a gloriously reawakened Zinedine Zidane, to whom I send this personal message:

Zizou, my friend, I know I doubted you, and I'm sorry. I criticised you harshly, but I was only thinking of your reputation as one of the game's giants. I did not want the lasting memory of you, a genius, to be of a useless, immobile waste of space. Thankfully you have left this to Ronaldo. Your status as a true footballing legend is secure. Zizou, I love you. Welcome back.

Another irony of this game was that two sides who have looked so dull, defensive and clueless in attack should produce the most open, attacking match of the tournament. In the end France triumphed because, unlike every other team in the competition, they were not scared of Brazil. If you walk onto a pitch feeling unequal to the opposition, you are beaten before you begin, and Brazil win so many games this way, through sheer intimidation. There was no chance however, of France succumbing, there are far too many egos in the French team for that. Why should players like Vieira, Zizou, Henry, Thuram, et al be in love with the Brazilians when they are so busy being in love with themselves? France's arrogance proved to be their biggest weapon, as it enabled them to overcome the toughest obstacle faced when playing Brazil - fear.

As for the (former, tee hee!) champs their legacy is surely to be remembered as the worst Brazil team to play in a World Cup. Not for one moment did Brazil ever look like world beaters, and I can't remember the last time you could look back on a tournament and say that. In fact Brazil carried (literally) with them the laughing stock of the tournament, his record breaking goals perhaps the biggest World Cup red herring ever. Yet this Brazil came in being hailed as possibly the greatest vintage of them all, famous five up front, Ronaldinho the finest since Pele, etc. How, er, ironic.

With confidence seemingly fully restored, France may be considered most people favourites now. Playing as they did last night, and with the real Zizou in tow, they will take some stopping, and do have the easier semi-final. The toughest problem remaining for the rest though is not Zidane, or the German crowd, and certainly not the snivelling Ronaldo. The team that wins now will surely be the one that can somehow work out how to score against Italy. Solve that one, and you will be deserved World Champions.

Now, what's the best way to spend ill-gotten gains...