Match Summary

England Team

France Team

Fabio Capello was forced into many changes for this friendly international at Wembley, and quite rightly he tried out some of our best young players.  But if he was hoping that France would show the same poor form that they had shown for most of the year he was in for a big shock.  This has to go down as France's best performance of the year as their possession football gave the England youth side a severe lesson!  If it proved one thing it was that we still need the experience of the likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard, and Ashley Cole in the side, to help out the youngsters.

England began the match on the front foot and Steven Gerrard fired in a first minute free-kick that was saved by the keeper.  But as soon as France found their feet on what was a cold, wet November night, they dominated the game for long periods.  Some of their one touch play was exquisite and the England players were chasing shadows at times.  After six minutes they had three good attacks one after another.  With Malouda and Nasri looking particularly sharp the England defenders were stretched to the limit.  Ben Foster made a fumbling save from Malouda's shot and then the same player went close again on 11 minutes.  France were well on top and dominating the midfield.  Gourcuff saw a shot well saved by Foster as England just could not gain possession.  When they did they invariably gave it away again and back came France.  On 16 minutes the visitors deservedly took the lead.  A lovely one-two between Malouda and Benzema left the latter with a clear strike, which he hit low at Foster's near post.  The goalkeeper stuck out a foot but the ball went past him and he will be annoyed that the ball beat him at his near post.

For five minutes after the goal England barely had a touch of the ball as France displayed some excellent possession football.  Gerrard did intercept one pass and almost sent Theo Walcott away but France were also defending well and they quickly snuffed the Arsenal winger out.  At the other end Benzema and Nasri combined well to force a corner and only good defending by Rio Ferdinand and Joleon Lescott kept the French at bay.  Milner had a shot on 27 minutes but then France broke quickly and Benzema should have increased their lead.

It took England almost 30 minutes to create a really good chance.  A free-kick by Kieron Gibbs was knocked down by Andy Carroll only for Gerrard to sweep the ball over the bar instead of under it.  On a positive note Carroll had a very good debut match and he caused the French defenders problems both in the air and on the ground.  But the Newcastle player had a very limited service from his midfield and was feeding on scraps.

Malouda was pulling the strings for France and they had long spells of possession to frustrate the England players and the crowd.  Carroll had a shot easily saved as England tried to push forward.  Jordan Henderson was working hard, but found life difficult at this higher level.  Lescott had a good game at the back and made some vital interceptions at times.  If you could criticise France then their over-casualness at times ruined their approach play, like Arsenal they do over elaborate at times.  It must be a French thing!

Capello made three changes after the break with Ashley Young, Adam Johnson and Micah Richards coming on, whilst the anonymous Gareth Barry, Rio Ferdinand and Theo Walcott went off.  So it was anen more inexperienced England team.  Barry was very poor and Walcott had one of those infuriating ineffective games that he often has.  Ferdinand didn't do anything wrong but it was time to try something different.

France largely controlled the first ten minutes of the half and on 55 minutes they increased their lead.  Sagna had oceans of room to cross from the right and the England defenders failed to attack the ball allowing Valbuena to fire home a shot on the run.

England gamely battled on and when Johnson fired in a free-kick to the far post Gerrard arrived late to head onto the top of the crossbar.  That was unlucky and Gerrard had been England's most dangerous attacker.  Meanwhile France could afford the luxury of taking off both goalscorers as they continued to dominate.  Carroll did put in one good header but it was easily saved.  He was replaced by another debutant Jay Bothroyd on 72 minutes.  Three minutes later the Cardiff player was in the area when Johnson's fierce drive deflected wide just as he looked to touch it in.

This was a real lesson for England in how to play 'give and go' and the French continued with this pattern of play even after Malouda was substituted.  He had been their best player.  With ten minutes left England almost scored when the goalkeeper fumbled a cross by Johnson and was very lucky to see Gerrard's follow up shot go the wrong side of the far post.  At the other end Nasri then hit the outside of the post after skipping past the England defenders.

Gerrard limped off after 83 minutes to be replaced by Peter Crouch, and with virtually his first touch the Tottenham player pulled a goal back.  Young took a corner deep to the far post and Crouch volleyed home a good goal to give England some hope.  Say what you like about Crouchy, but nobody can fault his goals record for his country. en though England did exert a little bit of pressure towards the end, Bothroyd and Milner having weak efforts, there was no real threat of an equaliser, and quite frankly it wouldn't have been deserved.  In the main England were outclassed on the night.  How typical of the French to raise their game to a new level when they play against us!

As for England, there were some positives, Carroll being one of them, but this match did emphasise the lack of depth in quality in the England ranks, hopefully the young players will learn from this though and go back to their clubs and up their game.

Source Notes

BBC Sport
TheFA.com
FFF.fr
Allezlesbleus.free.fr
ITV.com/football
Goal.com
Soccerway.com
Mike Payne - football historian and contributor
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CG