FOOTBALL Live

Wednesday March 26, 2008 Finished Stade de France

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France

  • Ribéry 32’ (pen.)

England

  1. Ribery ruins Beckham's big day

    Ribery ruins Beckham's big day

    David Beckham made his 100th appearance for England but could not stop them losing 1-0 against France in Paris. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • France
    • England
    • 90+2 The final whistle has gone, and David Beckham's 100th cap - and Rio Ferdinand's first as England captain - ends in defeat. The Capello era's honeymoon period is now officially over!
    • 90+1 It looks all over for England here, as the sweeping changes made by Capello mean that the players are too busy adjusting.
    • 87' England win a corner, but it's cleared and France break. Ribery slips it through to Cisse who is away1 He knocks it past Ashley Cole and beats him for pace... Stabbed wide of the near post! England are looking really out of sorts now, whereas France look happy to keep on playing.
    • 86' Abidal feeds Ribery, who again is allowed to set himself up for the strike... James collects comfortably.
    • 84' Downing nods down Bentley's hoisted cross into the France area, but Glen Johnson is beaten to it. Downing gets a chance to cross himself but, having beaten Clerc once, dithers on the ball and has to play it across with his weaker foot. the move ends with Bentley's cross swinging out of play.
    • 81' Anelka comes off with ten minutes to go, and is replaced by Djibril Cisse, who gets a mixed reception from the French fans to say the least!
    • 78' Crouch turns and drives at Thuram. He holds the ball beofre slipping it through to Owen, but France are too smart for that and by the time the Newcastle striker gets the ball he is well offside.
    • 74' Les Bleus are liftes by that, as Toulalan brings the play forward and passes it to Anelka, who knocks it back for RIBERY... Dragged wide of the far post! There has been no spark about england at all in this half. How quick will the England fans be to turn on their new foreign head honcho if it stays like this?
    • 74' There is now a Mexican Wave going round the ground, but seems disappear as soon as it hits the England fans! Choruses of 'Rule Britannia' are met with whistles from the French spectators! Finally, we have regained some atmosphere!
    • 72' The Stade de France crowd are beginning to get impatient, and are urging their side on. The team respond with Ribery chipping a reverse pass for Anelka to chase, but Lescott is there to shield the ball out of play.
    • 69' Toulalan squares a ball to Ribery, who sees his shot blocked on the edge of the area. The ball breaks out to ANELKA... His shot is too high and does not trouble James.
    • 66' A nice passage of play from England, as Barry spins to shield and feeds Downing, who spreads the play over to Bentley.
    • 63' Just over an hour into the match, and David Beckham's 100th England appearance comes to an end, as he is somewhat prophetically replaced by David Bentley. Is that the last we will see of him? Wes Brown also comes off for Glen Johnson, while France bring off David Trezeguet for Sidney Govou.
    • 61' In truth, England have not had much more success with two up front than they had with one before. Downing's first touch lets him down after a crossfield ball from Beckham found him well.
    • 56' Abidal picks up on the half-clearance from Lescott and SHOOTS... James is eaqual to the shot, well struck but from too far out.
    • 56' France indeed break from a move that began with a Thuram challenge. Ashley Cole is way out of position and Ribery tries to feed Clerc... Lescott intercepts the pass. France look lethal on the counter attack.
    • 53' Gerrard is back on the bench, suited and booted as though he hasn't kicked a ball this evening! As for the match, it's a bit of a midfield scuffle at the moment. France seem willing to let England bring it forward and hit on the break.
    • 50' Malouda brings the ball towards goal. Hargreaves allows him the time to shoot and HE DOES... JUST WIDE OF THE POST!! James was at full stretch, but he would not have got there in time! A let-off for England.
    • 46' Wholesale changes at half time here, as Crouch, Owen Downing and Lescott come on for Rooney, Gerrard, Joe Cole and Terry. There are no injury worries, it's just a friendly! Second half is underway!
    • HT Stuart Smith speaks for everyone who saw Franck Ribery's celebration when he says: "Although the Ref has to stick to the rules, he is going to far when booking Ribéry for paying the tribute to Gilardi."
    • 45+1 Half time at the Stade de France and, the penalty aside, it's been a good, competent showing from England, is a little toothless!
    • 43' Joe Cole is followed all the way down the wing by Toulalan, and his cross is blocked. Barry fires in a ball to the near post and Coupet reacts well to catch Rooney's glanced header! He is looking isolated up front on his own, as he always is when asked to fill this role. Let's hope this is not the masterplan for Capello.
    • 41' Lillian Thuram turns Wayne Rooney with real finesse. Good to know he's still got it!
    • 39' 100th cap or not, Beckham goes into the book for pulling Ribery's shirt after hounding him for about 40 yards!
    • 34' Natalie Vachon wants another Englishman at her home team, LA Galaxy: "Something about this is striking me as 'throw a bone to the English crowd'. We'll trade you Beckham for John Terry, by the way..."
    • 31' GOAL!! Ribery strokes it into the bottom corner, cool as you like! He then whips off his shirt to reveal a message saying 'To my friend Hichan and Monsieur Gilardi'. Unbelievably, he is booked for paying tribute to a man who died last night, yet David James is still on the pitch!
    • 30' England have been bossing the game of late, but France have a throw in the final third. Terry heads it clear but France build again and Clerc's ball feeds ANELKA WHO IS TRIPPED BY JAMES... PENALTY!! James stays on the pitch though! Ribery will take it...
    • 27' Hargreaves wins a free kick off of Ribery, although it's hard to believe he would be barged off the ball so easily. Barry then climbs all over the Bayern munich man and France have possession again.
    • 24' The free kick comes in from the left and Ferdinand is free at the far post. He nods it back across goal for GERRARD... The diving header was always rising! While none of them were clear opportunities, Gerrard has missed three in about five minutes.
    • 22' Yehia Hassan reckons Becks is still the best England have got: "Looking at England's bench, and the other options Capello has, I feel that Beckham has the most quality and so he would be the best choice to start."
    • 21' Beckham sends in another pinpoint cross and it's bound for GERRARD... Headed over the bar! The Liverpool man was at full stretch to outjump his marker, and couldn't direct his header downwards. An intriguing stalemate up until now.
    • 20' Still no clear cut chances as yet. Gerrard has time and space but sends his shot way into the stands!
    • 16' "It is a good honor, I think he deserves it. He as a player has tried for England national team, so he deserves the honour," says Emmanuel David, all the way from Lagos in Nigeria.
    • 16' A nice turn by Ribery has him past Barry, but the ball to Toulalan is not up to the task. He looks lively tonight, as do many of the French players.
    • 15' Joe Cole fires a ball across goal and Coupet palms it away but INTO THE PATH OF BECKHAM... Thuram clears before he can get there!
    • 13' AG Fawcett writes: "Of course Beckham should be playing if he is fit. England needs him, especially after the team poor performance in qualifictions matches for europe tournament. Being a French supporter dont really care, may the best team win tonight." AG Fawcett? Didn't he write Howards End?
    • 12' Malouda bursts forward and plays it in to Anelka on the edge of the box with his back to goal. Terry lets him turn and ANELKA SHOOTS... He scuffs the shot and it rolls easily to James. That's lifted the home crowd, and no doubt Sarko in the Downing Street living room. Sorry Gordon, but your boys are 1-0 down at the moment!
    • 10' Trezeguet slides in a ball for Malouda to chase... Good challenge by Ferdinand!
    • 8' Ribery delivers a free kick into the box from deep on the left, and ANELKA IS FREE... Headed wide! The marking by England was sloppy there.
    • 5' Beckham gets his first chance to deliver from the byline, and his wickedly curling cross is headed behind by Thuram. The corner is dealt with.
    • 5' Surj Sandher from sunny San Francisco says: "It's a friendly - he's got nothing to prove. Maybe Fabio's repaying Becks for winning him La Liga last season!"
    • 4' Malouda is almost scampering right at Terry with the ball, but his first touch is heavy. Hargreaves fouls Toulalan in midfield.
    • 3' England string together a good few passes, going right across the middle. The French offer no way through though, and play goes back to James. Beckham fires a long ball up to Rooney, but he can't control with his chest.
    • 2' David James gets a big chorus of whistles from the French fans. His reputation as an expert dropper of clangers is worldwide, but this is a different James to the 'Calamity' once knew. Let's hope it stays that way!
    • 1' It's a great atmosphere in the Stade de France, as France get this show on the road!
    • _ A minute silence is being held for French commentator Thierry Gilardi, who died yesterday at the age of just 49. As you would expect, it's impeccably observed.
    • _ The anthems are being sung now, with Beckham typically the most vocal. So do you think Beckham deserves to start, or do you thing this pick is a rare sign of emotion from Signor Capello? E-mail tmabert@eurosport.com with your thoughts on that or anything other matter during the match.
    • - France name their XI, with Nicolas Anelka partnering the returning David Trezeguet up front and given ample support by wingers Franck Ribery and Florent Malouda. Ageing Chelsea anchorman Claude Makelele starts alongside rising Lyon star Jeremy Toulalan, with Francois Clerc at right back. Otherwise, as you'd expect with Gallas, Abidal, Thuram and Coupet all starting. Mathieu Flamini and Lassana Diarra make the bench, Gael Clichy rested after featuring for the "A" side yesterday.
    • - Frank Lampard misses out, officially on account of an upset tummy buy I can't see how he'd fit into this formation, which requires two holding midfielders, two wide and one to play off the striker.
    • - And the big news is that Beckham will see out his tonne from the start in a 4-5-1 formation, or 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-1-1 or whatever you want to call it before seeing it on the pitch. James retains his place in goal, new captain Rio Ferdinand partners John Terry in the centre of defence, Ashley Cole and Wes Brown play full back, Joe Cole and Beckham wide midfield, Gareth Barry and Owen Hargreaves in centre mid and Steven Gerrard playing off Wayne Rooney.
    • - Hello and welcome to France v England, an international friendly in Paris that will see David Beckham win his 100th cap - LIVE from 20:00 GMT!

  • Summary

    • 87' England win a corner, but it's cleared and France break. Ribery slips it through to Cisse who is away1 He knocks it past Ashley Cole and beats him for pace... Stabbed wide of the near post! England are looking really out of sorts now, whereas France look happy to keep on playing.
    • 74' Les Bleus are liftes by that, as Toulalan brings the play forward and passes it to Anelka, who knocks it back for RIBERY... Dragged wide of the far post! There has been no spark about england at all in this half. How quick will the England fans be to turn on their new foreign head honcho if it stays like this?
    • 56' France indeed break from a move that began with a Thuram challenge. Ashley Cole is way out of position and Ribery tries to feed Clerc... Lescott intercepts the pass. France look lethal on the counter attack.
    • 50' Malouda brings the ball towards goal. Hargreaves allows him the time to shoot and HE DOES... JUST WIDE OF THE POST!! James was at full stretch, but he would not have got there in time! A let-off for England.
    • 31' GOAL!! Ribery strokes it into the bottom corner, cool as you like! He then whips off his shirt to reveal a message saying 'To my friend Hichan and Monsieur Gilardi'. Unbelievably, he is booked for paying tribute to a man who died last night, yet David James is still on the pitch!
    • 30' England have been bossing the game of late, but France have a throw in the final third. Terry heads it clear but France build again and Clerc's ball feeds ANELKA WHO IS TRIPPED BY JAMES... PENALTY!! James stays on the pitch though! Ribery will take it...
    • 24' The free kick comes in from the left and Ferdinand is free at the far post. He nods it back across goal for GERRARD... The diving header was always rising! While none of them were clear opportunities, Gerrard has missed three in about five minutes.
    • 15' Joe Cole fires a ball across goal and Coupet palms it away but INTO THE PATH OF BECKHAM... Thuram clears before he can get there!
    • 8' Ribery delivers a free kick into the box from deep on the left, and ANELKA IS FREE... Headed wide! The marking by England was sloppy there.
    • _ The anthems are being sung now, with Beckham typically the most vocal. So do you think Beckham deserves to start, or do you thing this pick is a rare sign of emotion from Signor Capello? E-mail tmabert@eurosport.com with your thoughts on that or anything other matter during the match.

Live Team Line-Up

  • France

    Manager: Raymond Domenech

    Captain: Lilian Thuram

    On the Field

    • Coupet
    • Clerc
    • Thuram
    • Gallas
    • Abidal
    • Makelele
    • Toulalan
    • Ribéry Yellow Card
    • Malouda
    • Anelka Substitution Out (80′)
    • Trezeguet Substitution Out (64′)

    Subs

    • Escudé
    • Landreau
    • Mexès
    • Cissé Substitution In (80′)
    • Squillaci
    • Govou Substitution In (64′)
    • Diarra
    • Evra
    • Flamini

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • England

    Manager: Fabio Capello

    Captain: Rio Ferdinand

    On the Field

    • James
    • Brown Substitution Out (63′)
    • Ferdinand
    • Terry Substitution Out (45′)
    • Cole
    • Hargreaves
    • Barry
    • Gerrard Substitution Out (45′)
    • Beckham Yellow Card Substitution Out (63′)
    • Cole Substitution Out (45′)
    • Rooney Substitution Out (45′)

    Subs

    • Owen Substitution In (45′)
    • Robinson
    • Woodgate
    • Lampard
    • Bridge
    • Crouch Substitution In (45′)
    • Lescott Substitution In (45′)
    • Bentley Substitution In (63′)
    • Johnson Substitution In (63′)
    • Green

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None