Christophe Dugarry and David Trezeguet scored for the world champions either side of a brilliant finish from Dutch striker Patrick Kluivert.

It put the second-string side fielded by France in control of the game, with the winners of this match to face Yugoslavia in the quarter-finals, with the losers facing a tougher task against Group C winners Spain.

Dugarry stunned Holland by firing France ahead in the eighth minute with a glancing header.

But the Dutch refused to sit back and Dennis Bergkamp's brilliant pass freed Kluivert, who finished with a powerful shot past French keeper Bernard Lama.

Chelsea's Frank Leboeuf claimed Kluivert was offside but television pictures confirmed the goal was legal.

It set up a classic match between the two sides many neutrals would like to see contest the final.

The French fielded a virtually second-string side, with nine changes to the side which beat the Czech Republic.

Holland, by contrast, had their best team on the field as they went all out to win the group - both sides having already qualified.

Arsenal striker Bergkamp came within an ace of putting Holland in front after a brilliant run by Barcelona's Boudewijn Zenden in the 22nd minute.

Zenden cut the ball back and Bergkamp's shot went into the ground, bounced over the 37-year-old keeper Lama, and hit the bar.

Lama, who plays club football back in France after an unsuccessful spell at West Ham, then comfortably saved Kluivert's follow-up header.

Liverpool's Sander Westerveld, in goal in place of the injured Edwin van der Saar, was almost embarrassed by Johan Micoud's audacious effort from the halfway line.

Westerveld tipped the ball over but, from the resulting corner, France re-took the lead. Jaap Stam's clearing header fell to Sylvain Wiltord 20-yards-out, and his shot was cleverly diverted by Trezeguet into the net.

Holland appealed for offside, but again the assistant referee's decision was spot on.

Marc Overmars, playing as a right winger, was getting little change out of France's defence with Marcel Desailly making three good tackles.

A superb half by both teams ended with left winger Zenden ballooning a cross over from a promising position after excellent build-up play from the Dutch.