France and Cameroon reach final
The hosts shook off the sad news of the death of Cameroon star Mark-Vivien Foe in the earlier semi-final to play some scintillating football, as Les Bleus roared out to a two-goal lead.
Thierry Henry finished off a fine move after Robert Pires cut the ball back in Turkey's box to Sylvain Wiltord, who knocked it on for the Arsenal striker to finish with aplumb.
They made it two with similar goal to the first, as Sidney Govou took a throw-in to Turkey's byline down the right and his cutback found Henry, who played the ball into the path of Pires to make it 2-0.
Turkey had been outplayed most of the half but soon got back into the match and were able to reply just before the break.
Gokdeniz Karadeniz scored from his own rebound when Gregory Coupet saved his initial header from a Ergun Pembe far-post cross to make it 2-1.
But France replied immediately as Wiltord made it 3-1 after a scramble in Turkey's box saw Pires's shot hit the post and the rebound fell to his Arsenal team-mate to finish with ease.
However, Turkey should have made it 3-2 as the impressive Tuncay Sanli missed a chance with a clear far-post header, as both sides eventually went to the break at 3-1.
Senol Gunes's men then made the best start to the second half and made the match a contest as Tuncay scored with an acrobatic finish from a left-hand cross that beat Coupet to make it 3-2.
Turkey were the far better side in the second period and if it was not for the defending of the French back-line and some good goalkeeping by Coupet, they could have drawn level.
And Turkey nearly did at the death but Okan Yilmaz missed a penalty with two minutes left after Olivier Dacourt was controversially adjudged to have brought down Ibrahim Uzulmez in the box.
France held on to win and play in Sunday's final while Turkey will play in the third-place match in St. Etienne on Saturday.
The hosts will be joined African Cup of Nations holders Cameroon, who disposed of South American opponents Colombia with a 1-0 victory in the earlier semi-final in Lyon.
Sedan striker Pius N'Diefi volleyed home the winner nine minutes in after receiving a Mohamadou Idrissou header back after Eric Djemba-Djemba played in a fine far-post cross.
Cameroon finished the match with ten man after defender Bill Tchato was sent off mid-way through the second half.
However, The Indomitable Lions were able to hold on to reach Sunday's final against France in St. Denis while Colombia will face the Turks in the third-place match at St. Etienne on Saturday evening.
The match was marred by the untimely death of former West Ham United and Manchester City midfielder Mark Vivien-Foe, who collapsed in the second half with a suspected heart attack, as medical staff were unable to revive the Cameroon star.
