Match Summary

France Team

England Team

The last match of the season for most of the players on view and in the end you couldn't help but wonder if some of the England players had their minds on the sun-beds beckoning.  A very open match ended with victory for the French, who did very well considering they played most of the second-half with ten men after Raphael Varane was controversially sent off, on the evidence of the video replays, used in an England game for the first time.

Gareth Southgate made several changes to the starting line-up following the Scotland game and Tom Heaton was given his first start in goal for England.  And it was he who was the first of the goalkeepers in action.  A miscued cross from Thomas Lemar looped towards the England goal and Heaton had to be alert to prevent an embarrassing moment at his near post.  Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain three times gave the ball away with loose passes as he struggled to come to terms with his central midfield role, but after a scrappy opening it was England who struck first blood with a fine goal.

In the ninth minute Deli Alli picked up the ball wide to the right and picked out Raheem Sterling with a fine crossfield pass out to the left.  Sterling checked back and then cleverly back-heeled a pass into the path of the overlapping Ryan Bertrand.  The full-back's first time low cross was met by Harry Kane and it was meat and drink for the England captain to side-foot the ball past his Tottenham teammate Hugo Lloris.

That goal shocked the home fans, but France were soon fighting back and Olivier Giroud saw a goal rightly ruled out for offside.  England were defending well with Phil Jones prominent, but in the 16th minute a swift break from the French so nearly brought an equaliser.  Paul Pogba, influential throughout, sent Killian Mbappe down the left and the number twelve's instant pass was right into the path of Ousmane Dembele.  Much to England's relief the Borussia Dortmund player side-footed the ball just wide of Heaton's left-hand post.  France had to make an early substitution after Benjamin Mendy was injured, Lucas Digne coming on for the full-back.  Then, at the other end, Sterling was clattered over in the box by two French defenders.  You've seen them given!

On 22 minutes France equalised, and once again it was a poor goal from an England perspective.  Giroud cleverly won a free-kick against John Stones and when the kick was floated into the box Giroud put in a downward header which Heaton did well to reach but could only palm the ball back into the danger area.  The ball ran for Samuel Umtiti and it was an easy task to score from the rebound.  The annoying thing was that Giroud was virtually unchallenged by any of the England defenders.

Several England players were guilty of more sloppy play over the next spell of the game with their passing poor and their general distribution laboured.  France, meanwhile, had more zip about their play, biting into tackles and getting forward quickly and decisively as a unit when they gained possession.  On the half-hour they created another good chance when Lemar sent Mbappe away on the left.  He took out two England defenders with a good dip of the shoulder and fired in a shot but Heaton did well to divert the ball for a corner with his outstretched foot at the near post.  A minute later and it was England's turn to create a chance.  This time Bertrand burst forward and his low shot to the far post had to be turned away for a corner by the diving Lloris.  It was good to see that the left-footed Bertrand was taking corners from the right, thus at least putting some pressure on the goalkeeper.  And just to prove my point, the corner resulted by Lloris's save from Bertrand almost gave England the lead again.  Betrand's corner found Gary Cahill at the back post and his nod down fell for Eric Dier who shot agonisingly inches wide with Lloris beaten.

England had a better spell over the next few minutes and in the 37th minute a wonderful first-time volleyed pass by Kieran Trippier sent Sterling scampering through on goal.  Instead of shooting though, Sterling tried to pull the ball back for the onrushing Alli and only succeeded in winning another corner.  That really was a good chance for England but, alas, Sterling made the wrong decision.  Sterling's pace was worrying the French defenders though, and after one fine run and pass to Alli it looked good again for England.  Unfortunately, Alli mis-controlled the ball and the chance was gone again.  Pogba had previously shot over in a French attack but almost immediately after Alli's stumble the home side took the lead for the first time.

Two minutes remained of the half when France broke away again, this time through Dembele.  The player was given the freedom of the park to run at England and when he reached the box he cut inside and fired in another good shot.  Heaton once again reached it, but could only push the ball out again.  The ball ran perfectly for Djibril Sidibe to slot home another easy follow-up goal.  Still the half wasn't quite over as Sterling was tripped in the area, but  again the referee would have none of it.  You've seen them given!

So, the fairly even half ended.  England had had their chances but you couldn't help but have the feeling that France had more gears to change up to than England had.

Jack Butland and Kyle Walker replaced Heaton and Bertrand for the second-half and within three minutes of the restart, not only did Alli win a penalty, but also Varane was sent off for the challenge after the referee consulted 'upstairs'!  The sending off was harsh to say the least, but Kane remained ice-cool as he drilled the penalty past Lloris.  England had started the half well as Alli then had a header saved by the goalkeeper, and on 58 minutes Sterling yet again went down in the box under a hefty challenge from two more French defenders.  You've seen them given!

Although Stones was booked for one tackle, England seemed to be coping fairly well at this stage but having said that France were always dangerous when going forward.  Butland had to be quickly off his line to block at the feet of Mbappe as he broke clear of the back line.  And almost immediately France should have scored.  Bad play by Oxlade-Chamberlain, caught in possession, not for the first time, saw Mbappe cut inside and shoot for goal.  The ball struck the bar when it seemed easier for him to score. en then the danger wasn't over as the rebound fell to Lemar but his shot was cleared off the line by Cahill.  France really should have scored with that one and the warning signs were there for all to see.  Alli was then booked, but the earlier warning signs were not heeded as France regained the lead in the 78th minute.

Once again, and I'm getting tired of writing this, it was an England mistake that led to the goal.  A very loose pass from the disappointing Dier was easily intercepted by Lemar, and he interchanged passes with Pogba, Mbappe and Dembele, before the latter was given time and space to pick his spot at the far post.  Butland was furious as he realised what a giveaway goal it was.

For the remainder it was a case of England probing slowly and methodically, France defending with ease and Butland being the keeper who had to make a fine save from Mbappe with the only clear chance of the final ten minutes.  And that was the difference with France being quick, powerful and decisive in their attacking mode, whereas England were slow and a little bit predictable in theirs.  Pogba was the controlling influence in the vital midfield area, and this was where England were most lacking.  So, lots of work to do for Southgate with this England team, but, honestly, can you ever remember a time when an England side didn't need work on it?

Have a good summer, see you in the autumn.
   

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Mike Payne - football historian and contributor