France beat Spain 1-0 with a Zinedine Zidane goal and 80,000 spectators, the most ever to watch a football match in France, had a taste of the atmosphere expected in nine of this year's World Cup matches when the Stade de France was officially opened by French President Jacques Chirac last night.
The $445 million stadium is expected to host 20 to 40 sporting and other events and have 1.75 million people a year pouring through the turnstiles in the suburb of Saint-Denis.
The stadium has received criticism from some quarters.
Ecologists have warned that poisonous substances below the pitch, as the site was formerly used for a gas works, are a health and security hazard.
However the show went on with a spectacular half hour laser and light display before President Chirac gave a short inauguration speech to officially declare the stadium open.
The display left its mark on the match as French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez kicked the ball out of play to give time for a cable to be moved from his area seconds after the start.
A rasping volley from Zidane from the penalty spot, pushed over by Spain's veteran goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta, gave a hint of things to come.
A poor back pass by Abelardo almost let in Youri Djorkaeff with only Zubizarreta to beat, but the goalkeeper cleared the ball to safety.
It was the combination of Italian-based stars Zidane of Juventus and Djorkaeff of Inter Milan, which once again proved of immense value to France, creating the winner in the 20th minute.
A shot from Djorkaeff was parried by Zubizaretta on to the crossbar and Zidane, running in, had plenty of time to score his seventh goal in 29 internationals with a carefully-placed right foot shot.
Spain's best chance before the break came from Raul, who shot narrowly wide.
Chances came few and far between after the break and French coach Aime Jacquet, no doubt experimenting, made four substitutions.
However the result was never really in doubt and Spain, previously unbeaten in 31 matches (over normal time) since their 1994 World Cup quarterfinal loss to Italy, finally tasted defeat.
France: Barthez; Thuram, Blanc, Desailly; Ba (Pires 62), Deschamps (Candela 62), Boghossian, Zidane; Djorkaeff (Leboeuf 90), Guivarc'h (Trezeguet 75), Diomede.
Spain: Zubizarreta; Aguilera, Abelardo, Nadal, Alkorta, Sergi (Rios 60); Amor (Sanchez 80), Luis Enrique, Raul (Pizzi 74); Exteberria (Jordi 53), Alfonso.
