They blew up the night sky with fireworks. Platini did a jig, his French jersey darkened by sweat beneath his suit. Chirac kissed half the earth. Jacquet went off to the most blissful retirement in history. France filled its lungs with air for the first time in a month.

The French wanted fireworks. The Brazilians wanted answers. The Brazilians were in turmoil. Ronaldo, their totem, their talisman, had been a ghost of himself, haunting the old places where his flesh and blood-self had cruised and bruised.

The two managers embraced on the dais. Jacquet said a few words. Zagallo faced the press and held up a French jersey with Jacquet's name on the back. All smiles. Soon there was blood on the walls. Started innocently enough, though. Explain the defeat, Mario.

"In the first half I was looking thinking that it has got to end, it has got to end. I wanted to stop it and make some changes. They defended very well. I think we were only able to put together two attacks in the first half. They scored two goals a bit like the two we conceded against the Netherlands, but . . ."

Mario Zagallo, god of so many World Cups, paused like a mere mortal and got to the main business.

"But we were suffering from a major traumatic shock tonight due to the fact that Ronaldo was not fit to play. This was a major psychological blow to our team. Everybody was very upset and very down at the idea that Ronaldo wouldn't be able to play well, so the team didn't play to its potential. It was inhibited, always thinking about the problem with Ronaldo.

"Ronaldo wasn't on the first team sheet, it is true. Some said it was because we were doing something tactical. It was because he wasn't fit to play. It affected the whole team. For details you will have to ask the Brazilian staff medical officer."

Zagallo continued on the game, leaving a burning fuse unattended.

"Their goals all happened in a fraction of a second. Zinedine did very well. I was wondering if I should keep Ronaldo on the pitch or if I should take him off."

There was a question from a Brazilian journalist. More of an accusation, it seemed. Zagallo erupted, pouring lava all over the floor. It was all in Portuguese but the message became clearer as the tone got more strident, the finger pointed more vehemently and Zagallo finally turned and left the mixed zone.

"Please respect everyone," said the French press officer into the vacuum Zagallo had left behind.

Aime Jacquet is not always respected either; indeed he is often portrayed as a genial halfwit in the French media - and he left behind almost as much venom as Zagallo.

"We took advantage of an extraordinary confidence in the team but were betrayed by the journalists over the years and France now knows it has a great team with great players," he said. "I will never forgive them, never will I forgive. Some of them indulged in what I would call shameless lying about us."

It wasn't the generous stuff of great victors or gracious losers but Jacquet soon regained his legendary equanimity.

"We have had a wonderful rapport within this team, a communion among the players, and this has been our strength. We are all on the same wave length and this made it difficult for them.

"This has justified all our efforts. We really deserved it and there has been a great public support.

"We came here to win. We were not just satisfied with getting to the final and I think you could see that. From our play, you could see that we were worthy winners.

"We are all very proud of what we have achieved. We have been working two years for this and we got better as the games went by.

"We have placed high demands on our players. They are serious professionals and were able to meet those demands. Tonight was their reward."

One man at least looked happy. Zinedine Zidane, pilloried after his weak performance in the 1996 European championships, lashed for his sending-off earlier in this tournament, was carried shoulder high last night.

"I wanted to score a goal in this World Cup and I got two. It's amazing," he said. "In the final, too, and with my head of all things.

"I'm not very good with my head. But I went for the near post on the corner from Emmanuel Petit. I got there and the ball came and I headed it right for once. It's fabulous to score two goals in the final." And off he went. That rare thing, a man who will never have to buy his own drinks again.