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GAME DETAILS
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International Friendly
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Attendance: 85,495
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1-2
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Peter Crouch (86)
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Karim Benzema (16), Mathieu Valbuena (55)
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Jordan Henderson (49)
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| Managers |
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DT92 Members at this game: (you can click here to load your profile picture) |
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Sidseagull
92 |
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miles gas
92 |
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robert didd
92 |
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TheWillows
92 |
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gashead eric
91 |
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A late England rally could not disguise a gulf in class and technique as France earned a deserved victory at Wembley.
Fabio Capello gave youth its chance in the shape of debutants Andy Carroll and Jordan Henderson - but the friendly provided few positives for the coach as France''s quality and composure left England distinctly second best.
Karim Benzema emphasised the visitors'' superiority with an early goal, and once Mathieu Valbuena swept home a second from Bacary Sagna''s cross just after the break, England were left with too much work to do.
Peter Crouch, on as substitute for the injured Steven Gerrard, capped an England surge of sorts with his 22nd goal in 42 England appearances, but France''s narrow margin of victory did not truly reflect the dominance they exerted for so much of the game.
PHIL McNULTY''S BLOG
Peter Crouch''s late goal, his 22nd in 42 internationals, applied a veneer of respectability England''s performance did not deserve, a display that hinted at stagnation in the face of France''s rejuvenation
Carroll was one of the few bright spots in an England display that was dismal for long periods, his endeavour on a meagre supply earning warm applause when he was substituted with 20 minutes left.
Sunderland''s Henderson endured a difficult night, but so did many of his more experienced England team-mates in the face of France''s precise passing style and outstanding movement.
Cardiff City''s Jay Bothroyd also won his first cap as substitute, but there were few memories to cherish for any of the England camp.
And if this game was a measure of how England and France have recovered from traumatic World Cup campaigns in South Africa, then it is clear France coach Laurent Blanc has taken his team to a more advanced stage of rehabilitation than Capello.
Carroll was passed fit and started, despite Newcastle''s reservations about his groin injury - and he was one of the few pluses in a harrowing first 45 minutes for England.
With Everton''s Phil Jagielka struggling in an unfamiliar right-back slot, France seized control from the start and refused to relax their grip.
Florent Malouda and Yoann Gourcuff had already brought saves from England keeper Ben Foster, called in after Joe Hart suffered a back spasm in training, before France got the goal they deserved after 16 minutes.
Jagielka and Rio Ferdinand were moved out of position by a slick exchange between Malouda and Benzema before the Real Madrid striker drilled in a low drive which beat Foster at his near post.
Newcastle''s Carroll battled well in what was often a one-man fight with the France defence, but such was the superiority of the visitors in all parts of the pitch that he was rarely afforded any decent service.
Crouch (far right) pulls one back for England late on
Capello acted during the interval by sending on Adam Johnson, Ashley Young and Micah Richards for Theo Walcott, Gareth Barry and Ferdinand - only to see any serious hope of a revival extinguished by France''s second goal 10 minutes after the break.
It was another move which highlighted the difference between the sides as Sagna crossed invitingly for Valbuena to time his run perfectly and glide a finish low into the corner beyond Foster.
England caused minor anxiety for France after 62 minutes when Gerrard chased Johnson''s free-kick to the far post, but his header landed on top of the bar.
Bothroyd was then introduced for his debut with 20 minutes left, and was almost presented with the chance to mark his entrance with a goal, but he was just unable to get the final touch after Johnson''s shot caused an outbreak of mass confusion in the French penalty area.
After Samir Nasri fired a rising shot against the post, England coach Capello was forced to introduce Crouch when Gerrard pulled up and limped off with what looked like a hamstring injury.
And Crouch made an instant impact when he stretched out a leg at the far post to turn Young''s corner beyond France keeper Hugo Lloris.
England then attempted to snatch an unlikely draw in a frantic final period, but France deservedly survived as the current limitations on the resources available to Capello were exposed.
Live text and stats
Wednesday, 17 November 2010
International Match
Home Team Score Away Team Time
England 1-2 France FT
(HT 0-1)
Crouch 86
Benzema 16
Valbuena 55
Hide team line-ups and match stats
England
01 Foster
02 Jagielka
03 Gibbs (Warnock 72)
05 Ferdinand (Richards 46)
06 Lescott
04 Gerrard (Crouch 84)
07 Walcott (A Johnson 46)
08 Hendersonyellow card10 Barry (Young 46)
11 Milner
09 Carroll (Bothroyd 72)
Substitutes
12 Green, 22 Loach, 13 Richards, 14 Warnock, 15 Smalling, 16 Cahill, 18 Young, 19 A Johnson, 17 Cole, 20 Bothroyd, 21 CrouchFrance
01 Lloris
02 Sagna (Reveillere 86)
04 Rami
05 Mexes (Sakho 46)
12 Abidal
08 Gourcuff (Hoarau 85)
11 Nasri
15 Malouda (Payet 77)
17 M''Vila
10 Benzema (Remy 67)
20 Valbuena (Diarra 68)
Substitutes
16 Carrasso, 23 Mandanda, 03 Sakho, 13 Reveillere, 19 Kaboul, 22 Clichy, 06 Cabaye, 18 Diarra, 07 Remy, 09 Hoarau, 14 Payet, 21 GameiroRef: Bo Larsen
Att: 85,495
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Qpr1967
90 |
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Reedy1990
89 |
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chrissmith
89 |
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andy james oufc
87 |
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fenposh
86 |
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fenposh
86 |
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scn148
83 |
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wrrxh04
83 |
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Goal Scorers
England...Peter Crouch 86''
France.....Karim Benzema 16'' & Mathieu Valbuena 55''
England Line-up
1 Ben Foster 2 Phil Jagielka 3 Kieran Gibbs 72'' 4 Steven Gerrard 85'' 5 Rio Ferdinand(C) 46'' 6 Joleon Lescott 7 Theo Walcott 46'' 8 Jordan Henderson 49'' 9 Andrew Carroll 72'' 10 Gareth Barry 46'' 11 James Milner
Substitutes
12 Robert Green,13 Micah Richards 46'',14 Stephen Warnock 72'',15 Chris Smalling, 16 Gary Cahill,17 Carlton Cole,18 Ashley Young 46'',19 Adam Johnson 46'',20 Jay Bothroyd 72'',21 Peter Crouch 85'' 86'',22 Scott Loach
France Line-up
Hugo Lloris(C) Adil Rami Bacary Sagna 87'' Philippe Mexes 46'' Yoann Gourcuff 85'' Karim Benzema 16'' 67'' Samir Nasri Eric Abidal Florent Malouda 77'' Yann M''Vila Mathieu Valbuena 55'' 68''
Substitutes
Steve Mandanda Cedric Carrasso Mamadou Sakho 46'' Yohan Cabaye Loic Remy 67'' Guillaume Hoarau 85'' Anthony Reveillere 87'' Dimitri Payet 77'' Alou Diarra 68'' Younes Kaboul Kevin Gameiro Gael Clichy
REF
Claus Bo Larsen
ATTENDANCE
85495
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rsn
78 |
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chriswatson92
73 |
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wendyh222
72 |
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Rockerzzzs
67 |
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vinnie82
60 |
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nicky didd
56 |
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huthwaiteman
56 |
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Frogmore
48 |
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Serowka11
48 |
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chrisjwatson
38 |
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bazman
32 |
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retrojim
23 |
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L1quidcool
13 |
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chrisjthe92watson
11 |
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