They then defeated Spain in the quarter-finals, before progressing to the final following a victory over Portugal in the semi-finals, won via a golden goal from Zinedine Zidane.

[7] Within two minutes of kick-off, a mistake from Marcel Desailly allowed Jon Dahl Tomasson to shoot but his strike was straight at France's goalkeeper Fabien Barthez.

[10] Pavel Nedvěd forced Barthez to make an early save and in the fifth minute, Jiří Němec crossed for Jan Koller whose header was wide.

Two minutes later, France took the lead through Henry who intercepted a weak backpass from Petr Gabriel to strike the ball under Pavel Srníček, the Czech Republic goalkeeper, and into the net.

[12] Despite having rotated much of the team following early progression, Christophe Dugarry gave France the lead in the eighth minute when he headed in a corner from Johan Micoud.

In the 31st minute, Jaap Stam made a clearing header which Wiltord struck goalbound: the ball was deflected by David Trezeguet and ended in the Netherlands' goal to make it 2–1.

Dugarry missed a chance to score early in the second half before Frank de Boer struck a direct free kick into the top corner of the France goal in the 51st minute.

[15] In the 32nd minute, Agustín Aranzábal fouled Djorkaeff and Zidane struck the resulting free kick into the top corner of Spain's goal to give France a 1–0 lead.

With a minute of the half remaining, France re-took the lead when Djorkaeff struck the ball past Santiago Cañizares, the Spain goalkeeper.

[17] In the 19th minute, Sérgio Conceição dispossessed Deschamps and the ball fell to Nuno Gomes who struck a half-volley past Barthez to give Portugal a 1–0 lead at half-time.

Six minutes into the second half, Anelka passed to Henry whose shot clipped Fernando Couto on its way into the Portugal goal to level the score.

Vítor Baía saved a volley from Emmanuel Petit and the match went into extra time, where early on, João Pinto's shot went wide.

With six minutes of the additional 30 remaining, Wiltord's shot was handballed by Abel Xavier and after considerable protests from Portugal, including Luís Figo leaving the pitch altogether, Zidane scored the resulting penalty, a golden goal, to send France to the final for the first time since 1984.

Seven minutes into the second half, Filippo Inzaghi missed with a header before his shot rebounded off Alpay Özalan, allowing Antonio Conte to score with an overhead kick.

[20] Nine minutes later, Okan Buruk equalised, beating the Italy goalkeeper Francesco Toldo to the ball with his head from a Sergen Yalçın free kick.

Midway through the second half, Ogün fouled Inzaghi who scored the resulting penalty, and although Alessandro Del Piero struck the frame of the Turkey goal twice, the match ended 2–1 to Italy.

[23] Sweden initially controlled the match with Johan Mjällby's header being cleared off the Italy goalline by Angelo Di Livio and Freddie Ljungberg shooting wide with just Toldo to beat.

With 13 minutes of the match remaining, Sweden equalised when Henrik Larsson received the ball from Kennet Andersson, and took it round Toldo to score.

In the 88th minute, Daniel Andersson conceded possession, allowing Vincenzo Montella to pass to Del Piero who struck the ball past Magnus Hedman, the Sweden goalkeeper, to secure a 2–1 victory for Italy.

Hagi was sent off in the second half after receiving two yellow cards within minutes of one another: the first for a foul on Conte which left the Italian injured and out of the remainder of the tournament, and the second for diving.

Edwin van der Sar, the Netherlands goalkeeper, then saved from Maldini but Toldo then kept Paul Bosvelt's shot out and Italy won the shoot-out 3–1 to progress to their first European Championship final since 1968.

In the 56th minute, Italy took the lead: Totti back-heeled the ball to Gianluca Pessotto whose cross beat both Blanc and Desailly, allowing Delvecchio to score from close range.

In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Barthez took a long free kick which was headed on by Trezeguet to Wiltord who controlled the ball with his chest before striking it under Toldo's left pinkie.

"[49] France manager Roger Lemerre commented on his side's determination to hold both the European Championship and World Cup titles: "It is the willpower of the team that did it ...

"[53] In the next international tournament, the 2002 FIFA World Cup, France failed to progress from their group, finishing bottom of the table without scoring a goal.