Confederations Cup final - Japan 0 France 1

France added another international trophy to their collection when a 29th minute header from Patrick Vieira won the Confederations Cup in Yokohama.

A year from now the French will be deeply immersed in their attempt to retain their World Cup title and wins like this one emphasised how far ahead they are of all but a select few international teams right now.

Without several top stars they managed and controlled a Japanese team that posed little attacking threat but stuck doggedly to an offside trap that the world champions had to break down.

There are currently no African, South American or European teams that can match the skill and organisation of Roger Lemerre's team and they just need to keep up their current form in tournament football for one more year to win again in Yokohama at the 2002 finals.

There are many things that can go wrong for a team in such a long time but Lemerre has the foundations in his squad to leave the rest at Korea/Japan next year fighting for second place.

Vieira's winning goal summed up the intelligence of the best French play.

A string of offside flags littered the game but French defender Frank Leboeuf delayed his long ball forward from the half way line in the 29th minute to allow Vieira's surging run from midfield to reach the ball as it dropped on the edge of the penalty area and his header went past the advancing goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi to land in the net.

This was the first goal Japan had conceded in five matches and they are well-drilled defensively but offer little in attack to try and win games aganst he better sides. Their coach Philippe Troussier must find a balance between his negative tactics and goal scoring if Japan are to make any impression as World Cup co-hosts next year.

France now match Brazil as the only other national team to hold three international titles at the same time. Brazil won the World Cup in 1994 and the Copa America and Confederations Cup in 1997.

It has all gone wrong for Brazil now and the French are their heirs to international success.

But Lemerre must know that his side will face much tougher opposition next year as Japan did not get a shot on target in this final.