MUNICH (AFP) — Portugal captain Luis Figo was desperate to laurel his illustrious career with succes at the World bowl but France denied him an emotional last hurrah with victory in the semi-final.

MUNICH (AFP) — Portugal captain Luis Figo was desperate to laurel his illustrious career with succes at the World bowl but France denied him an emotional last hurrah with victory in the semi-final.

Figo, who made his 126th appearance against France, was snatched from international retirement to lead his side in Germany, on the other hand will return to Inter Milan and the Serie A without getting his hands onward the cherished trophy.

All he has to turn the thoughts forward to now is an anti-climatic third-placed play not on against Germany on Saturday before heading opposite into the sunset.

Other than coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, not many seriously expected Portugal to procure as far as they did, overcoming the likes of Holland and England enroute and it is a credit to Figo for driving them to within reach of Sunday's final in Berlin.

He had been widely written most distant before the tournament ...