France

In the 10th minute of the 2006 World Cup semifinal between France and Portugal, Lilian Thuram makes a crucial early defensive intervention to deny a dangerous Portuguese attack. As the ball is played into the box toward a lurking attacker, Thuram reads the play perfectly and stretches in with a clean, well-timed challenge to clear the danger. His composure, positioning, and experience shine through, setting the tone for a rock-solid French defensive display that would send them to the final.