FRANKFURT (Reuters) -- A France team reminiscent of a previous vintage knocked out holders Brazil 1-0 with a Thierry Henry goal on Saturday to reach the World Cup semifinals.

Striker Henry, left unmarked in the area, volleyed home a free-kick from Zinedine Zidane for the winner after 57 minutes.

Les Bleus, who had stunned Brazil 3-0 in the 1998 final, produced a superb performance to set up a match with Portugal on Wednesday in Munich for a place in the July 9 final.

Five-times champions Brazil, aiming to reach the World Cup final for the fourth time in succession, looked nervous throughout a game of high quality.

France's win means the great Zidane, Man of the Match here, has not played his last match before retirement.

"We needed a great match and we delivered. We knew we would have to be fit physically and we were," Zidane told reporters.

"We fought closely together for a well-deserved victory. Now we'll try to win a place in the final. We don't want to stop now. This is so beautiful, we want it to carry on," added Zidane, who is 34 and will retire after the World Cup.

Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said the defeat was a shock after a run of 11 straight World Cup finals wins.

"We never prepared for this moment. This is a very difficult moment for all of us," he added.

"I would like to thank the players. I didn't do my job because my job here was to get to the final," he said. Golden oldies

The finest bunch of players to wear French colors when they were world champions began the finals sluggishly but proved at Brazil's expense that they are still a formidable outfit.

Brazil showed more initiative in a tight, tactical start dominated by an intense battle for possession and threatened after 11 minutes as Ronaldo headed a Ronaldinho free-kick over.

France, gradually winning more balls in midfield and gaining confidence, dominated their prestigious opponents for most of a frustrating first period with few highlights.

The closest France came before halftime was in added time before the break when Patrick Vieira, beautifully set up by some Zidane wizardry, charged towards goal.

It took a late tackle from Brazil defender Juan, who collected a yellow card, to stop the France midfielder.

France started the second half in determined fashion, Vieira heading a Zidane free-kick wide before Henry headed into the net, also from set piece, only to be flagged offside.

Shortly after France scored, Juan almost doubled their advantage with an own goal as he sliced a clearance aiming at a cross by the ever-dangerous Franck Ribery.

Clearly in control, France thrilled the crowd with fluent moves and despite Ronaldinho's efforts, including a free-kick over the bar, they savored a deserved victory.

Coach Raymond Domenech praised his team. "It was extraordinary. Sometimes they aren't any words to describe what you're experiencing. I tackled with them, I shot with them. The old men are still around."