David James
                                                   
 
  Gary Neville                         Ledley King               Sol Campbell              Ashley Cole


  David Beckham (capt)           Steven Gerrard             Frank Lampard        Paul Scholes
                                                                                                                   (Owen Hargreaves 76)

                                              Wayne Rooney                 Michael Owen
                                              (Emile Heskey 76)            (Darius Vassell 69)
 

The French team was Barthez, Gallas, Thuram, Silvestre (Sagnol 79), Lizarazu, Pires (Wiltord 76) , Viera, Makelele, Zidane (capt), Trezeguet, Henry

 

England were without John Terry who did not recover from a hamstring injury in time for this game and Ledley King just beat Jamie Carragher to be named as his replacement in central defence. First choice central defender Rio Ferdinand was suspended from Euro 2004 after failing a drug test and Jonathan Woodgate and Gareth Southgate were not included in the England squad for Euro 2004 due to injury.

In one of the most unlucky games England have ever played they held on to a 1-0 lead until 90 minutes was on the clock and then Zidane got two injury time goals to give France the victory. England now have a difficult task to qualify for the quarter finals of Euro 2004.

France started the game well but good defending from England kept the score at 0-0 until after 38 minutes England scored against the run of play. David Beckham got a free kick on the right wing and his cross was met by Frank Lampard who headed in to Barthez's left to make it 1-0 to England.

England continued to defend at the start of the second half but after 72 minutes Wayne Rooney was brought down in the penalty box by Silvestre - the penalty was given but Beckham had his penalty saved by Barthez to deny England a comfortable lead.
 

                                            
                                    Zidane takes the free kick to score to James' right (1-1)
 

With full time approaching the England fans became more confident of defeating the French (the Euro 2000 champions). But right on 90 minutes Emile Heskey gave away a free kick just outside the penalty area and a great free kick from Zidane made the score 1-1.

England looked shocked by the late equaliser and in the last minute of extra time Steven Gerrard was short with a back pass to David James - Henry got to the ball first and was brought down by James to give France a penalty - Zidane scored the penalty (with James diving the wrong way) and got his second goal in four minutes to give France the 2-1 win.

Who played well:  Frank Lampard played well after he got his goal and all the defence (including Ledley King) did well during normal time in keeping a tight defence.

Who could have played better: Michael Owen had little service in the game and David Beckham only had an average game. Emile Heskey did well when he game on until he gave away the free kick from which Zidane made the score 1-1 (and in the wall Darius Vassell appeared to duck away from Zidane's strike). Steven Gerrard's horrible back pass gave away the penalty that spoilt his good game and lost the game for England.

After the game it was announced that Paul Scholes had an ankle injury and may miss the game against Switzerland.