Ahead of England's friendly clash with France, we find recent history to favour neither side in what promises to be an enthralling game.

Since the beginning of the 1990's there have been six meetings between the two historical rivals and both have won twice, with two of the matches ending in draws. So, as one would expect of back-to-back World and European Champions in 1998 and 2000, France have improved greatly since the building of the renowned Clairefontaine Football Academy in 1988 - before this point Les Bleus had only won twice to England's 13.

There is also an added spice to the contest on account of the last-gasp win for France in Lisbon just under four years ago and the fact that eight of Raymond Domenech's squad (Nicolas Anelka, William Gallas, Mathieu Flamini, Lassana Diarra, Patrice Evra, Gael Clichy, Claude Makelele and Florent Malouda) ply their trade in England's Premier League, with five more of the selection having played there before (Thierry Henry, Florent Sinama-Pongolle, Djibril Cisse, Jean-Alain Boumsong and Patrick Vieira).

The most recent clash, however, will linger in the memory for some time, England capitulating in their Euro 2004 group stage match by conceding two injury-time goals to Zinedine Zidane after dominating the game in normal time.

A Frank Lampard header had given Sven-Goran Eriksson's side a first half lead, while David Beckham's penalty was saved by Fabien Barthez after Wayne Rooney was chopped down by soon-to-be Manchester United team-mate Mikael Silvestre.

But with the game almost won, Emile Heskey gave away a free-kick that Zidane curled past David James to level the match, and in an almost comic example of England snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, a suicidal backpass by Steven Gerrard let in Henry, who was fouled by James to hand France and Zidane a penalty and winner, "Zizou" famously vomiting before sending the kick past the keeper.

Both sides went on to qualify for the knockout phase, promptly losing to the eventual finalists with England going out to hosts Portugal on penalties and Les Bleus suffering a shock defeat to surprise champions Greece.

Prior to that there was a "friendly" draw in Paris, a heated affair in which Michael Owen converted late sub Kieron Dyer's cross to give England a boost following a dreadful showing at Euro 2000. France had taken the lead just over 20 minutes earlier, Emmanuel Petit firing past David Seaman from the edge of the box.

The match ended with former Arsenal defender Martin Keown grabbing France's Marcel Desailly and pointing him to the scoreboard after the World and European champions had mocked England's ill-fated campaign under then-boss Kevin Keegan, who resigned soon afterwards following a home defeat to Germany in World Cup qualification.

Home and away status does not seem to affect the old enemies, with a brace from a young Anelka - in the squad and expected to feature tonight - giving France a 2-0 win at Wembley in 1999 and an Alan Shearer goal helping England edge to victory in the 1997 Tournoi in Montpellier.

England v France head-to-head since 1990:

June 13 2004: Euro 2004 group stages - Lisbon, Estadio de la Luz, 2-1 (Lampard 38; Zidane, 90+1 [pen], 90+3)

September 2 2000: friendly - Paris, Stade de France, 1-1 (Emmanuel Petit 63, Michael Owen 85)

February 10 1999: friendly - London, Wembley Stadium, 0-2 (Anelka 69, 76)

June 7 1997: friendly - Montpellier, Stade de la Mosson, 1-0 (Shearer 85)

June 14 1992: Euro 92 group stages - Malmo Stadium, 0-0

February 19 1992: friendly - London, Wembley, 2-0 (Shearer 44, Lineker 74)

Overall England v France head-to-head:

England won 15

France won six

Four matches drawn

Reda Maher / Eurosport