Portugal/France 
My Pick: France
It is not a semifinal you might have imagined at the beginning of the tournament. Both the teams were not expected to go so far and they have surprised both critics and themselves by reaching here. Yes folks. France plays Portugal for the right to play Italy on July 9 in Munich on Wednesday. Both the teams play with a similar formation, employing a sole striker upfront and letting their midfield do much of the work. Only two of Real Madrid's original Galacticos are left in this tournament and both these men, Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo have guided their respective teams to the last four. Unfortunately after this game, one Galactico will have to go home, with his dream unfulfilled.
France have shocked all by coming to this stage. Agree that they are no mugs, but their start to the tournament wasn't the greatest as they struggled to draws against Switzerland and Korea. They beat Togo to qualify for the next round. This team consists of many veterans in the dusk of their career, and was not expected to beat either Brazil or Spain. They did the unthinkable and beat both, and with authority, mind you. They now face Portugal, their third opponent in a row with a 100% win record in the initial stages, and will be rewarded with a date with the Azzuri if they get past Luis Felipe Scolari's boys. The likes of Zidane, Ribery and Henry had an excellent game against the World champions and the Portuguese defense will have its work cut out. At the back, Barthez will become the most capped French player in the World Cup if he starts. Theirry Henry finally scored off a Zinedine Zidane assist, in their last game and France will hope he will slot in a few past Ricardo.
6 French players, including the inspirational Zidane, speedy Frank Ribery, Patrick Vieira, Lilian Thuram, Willy Sagnol and Louis Saha will have to watch their steps carefully against the Portuguese. The Portuguese have had 3 opponent players sent off in their last 2 games and all these 6 men have a yellow against their name.
Portugal is the only team not to have won a previous World Cup to be left at this stage. They have a brilliant taskmaster in Luis Felipe Scolari.Scolari himself is no stranger to this stage, having won the previous WC with Brazil. The Portuguese will welcome Deco and Costinha back from suspension. Deco will add that extra bit of pace and trickery to their attack and Costinha will most likely be given the unanimous job of marking Zinedine Zidane. Tiago and Petit will make way for them. The Portuguese however have worries over the availability of their wing attackers, Cristiano Ronaldo and the wily Luis Figo. If the two do not play, it will make France's job much more easier. Carvalho, unarguably the best central defender in this WC along with Fabio Cannavaro will have a tough job to stop the flowing French moves. Petit is suspended for this game. Maniche, Carvalho, Nuno Valente, Ricardo and Figo are on yellows.
My verdict:
Every game France play is viewed as a potential last game for the mercurial, creative genius Zidane. However he has been in the form of his life as he has guided
them past Spain and Brazil. His inspiration might well see the French through to the final. These two have met twice in European Championship semifinals and France won both
the encounters and went on to lift the cup. Something similar is very possible...But underestimate Scolari's men at your own peril.
