Zinedine Zidane converted a Golden Goal from the penalty spot to send France to the Euro 2000 Final after the world champions and Portugal were locked at 1-1 after 90 minutes.

A fabulous strike from Nuno Gomes was cancelled out by Thierry Henry in an enthralling semi-final in Brussels but Zidane had the last word after Abel Xavier was penalised for a handball five minutes from the end of extra-time.

Gomes had speared a long-range shot past Fabien Barthez on 19 minutes after dogged persistence from Sergio Conceicao, but Henry grabbed his third goal of the tournament after 51 minutes to level the game at 1-1 and leave the sides searching for a Golden Goal to secure a place in the final.

Despite arriving in the Low Countries as Portugal's third choice striker, Gomes staked his claim with the winner against England and two goals in the quarter-final against Turkey cemented his place in Humberto Coelho's starting line-up.

Gomes' latest and most scintillating strike justified his coach's faith and belatedly ignited a game that had erred on the side of caution throughout the opening exchanges.

The pitch was rich with talent but the magnitude of the occasion amplified the fear factor on both sides, a tendency not helped by Coelho's selection policy.

The Portugese coach sacrificed the exuberant promptings of Joao Pinto and recalled the outlandishly coiffeured Xavier to reinforce the spine of his team against the powerful world champions.

Portugal's policy of containment proved successful and there was little action of note until Gomes illuminated the King Baudouin Stadium after 19 minutes.

France increased the tempo after falling behind but Portugal's supposedly susceptible defence stood firm.

Nicolas Anelka, recalled to the French side after just 20 minutes in two games, found a modicum of space on the right after 28 minutes but his optimistic effort was comfortably claimed by Baia.

Henry was presented with an easier chance four minutes later but his drive was deflected over the bar. To France's dismay the referee brushed aside their justifiable claims for a corner.

Otherwise, the world champions were kept at arms length in the first half as Portugal closed ranks impressively, but French frustration was kept to a minimum as they began the second half with renewed vigour.

Bixente Lizarazu initiated an imposing spell of pressure with a surge down the left flank, and when his fellow full-back Lilian Thuram followed suit on the right France restored parity.

A cunning pass from Thuram found Anelka in the penalty area and the former Arsenal striker found his Highbury successor, Henry, who finished smartly from 10 yards.

Luis Figo reiterated the Portugese threat soon afterwards with a threatening burst down the left but it was a rare attacking foray for Coelho's team as France enjoyed the lion's share of the possession.

Henry's elusive running and Zidane's increasing influence tested Portugal's obduracy but the world champions struggled to engineer clear-cut chances.

Marcel Desailly headed over from Emmanuel Petit's corner and Anelka was unfortunate to lose his footing as an enticing cross was speared in to the area but although territory was rarely a problem, dissecting Portugal's defence proved tougher.

Petit came close to separating the teams after 77 minutes with a well-struck volley that Baia scrambled around his right-hand post and only four minutes remained when Pinto, on as a substitute, narrowly failed to latch on to a header from Gomes.

However, the best chance of the half arrived in the final minute as Figo arrowed a free-kick into the box and Xavier's glancing header brought a splendid reflex save from Barthez.

Robert Pires crafted the first chance of extra-time after just 27 seconds but Zidane headed well over, and Laurent Blanc emulated his colleague six minutes later after a Pires corner.

Pinto went closest for the Portugese with a low shot that skimmed past the post but their night took a terminal turn for the worst as Sylvain Wiltord's shot was fisted round the post by Xavier.

With five minutes of sudden-death extra-time remaining, it was Zidane who shouldered the burden and he converted the penalty with typical precision to send France to the Euro 2000 Final.