World Cup Football: France expire after last-gasp reverse

THE French death wish reached a suitably morbid conclusion in Paris last night when Bulgaria snatched their hosts' seemingly pre-ordained place in the World Cup finals via a goal in the dying seconds, writes Rob Steen.

Having shot themselves in one foot by losing 3-2 at home to the unsung Israelis by dint of another strike in the final minute, France, who had required just one point from their final two games to qualify, completed the job when Emil Kostadinov fastened on to a long ball from Luboslav Penev to net his second goal of the game, giving Bulgaria a 2-1 victory. Eric Cantona had earlier raised Parisian spirits with a 31st minute strike, whereupon Kostadinov levelled five minutes later.

Italy managed to overcome their nerves in Milan, Dino Baggio scoring seven minutes from time to put paid to some spirited Portuguese resistance in front of a crowd of 86,000. The venue was well-chosen: Italy had not lost at the San Siro for 68 years.

Portugal's exit was confirmed when Switzerland qualified for their first finals since 1966 with a

4-0 triumph over Estonia in Zurich. Three goals in a 13-minute first-half spell through Adrian Knup, Georges Bregy and Christophe Ohrel quashed the Estonian challenge, leaving Stephane Chapuisat to cap a convincing Swiss display with a fourth in the 61st minute.

On a night otherwise lacking singularly in British success, consolation thus came in the shape of Switzerland's English coach, Roy Hodgson. 'This,' he announced, 'is the greatest day in my life.'

Despite being reduced to 10 men for 80 minutes, Spain gave the Republic of Ireland a vital helping hand in Seville, holding on to defeat Denmark 1-0 courtesy of a 63rd- minute header from Fernando Hierro. The Spaniards lost the services of their goalkeeper, Andoni Zubizarreta, when he felled his Barcelona colleague, Michael Laudrup, just outside the area after giving the striker possession.