So this is it; England's first game of Euro 2012, against a French team unbeaten for either 21 or 24 games, depending upon which commentator or pundit is speaking about them. Here are the teams:
England: (4-4-1-1) Hart - Johnson, Terry, Lescott, Cole - Milner, Gerrard, Parker, Oxlade-Chamberlain - Young - Welbeck
France: (4-3-3) Lloris - Debouchy, Rami, Mexes, Evra - Cabaye, Diarra, Malouda - Nasri, Benzema, Ribery
All the England players sing the national anthem before the game with gusto. The commentator mispronounces 'La Marseillaise' as "La Marsellaise". Benzema and Ribery are first in the French line up and don't bother singing their anthem. The camera keeps cutting to them as they stand there in silence. I can't imagine that'll go down well in France.
1 min: Kick off! England pass it around nicely but a pass is hit too hard for Oxlade-Chamberlain and goes out when he would have been clear.
3 min: France mess about with the ball until Oxlade-Chamberlain disposses Rami but his pass inside is blocked. England have started well.
4 min: France have the ball and are just faffing about with it again in defence.
8 min: France get a free kick wide on the right following a dive by Nasri... nothing comes of it. England go up the other end then get a throw in. Johnson gives the ball away.
9 min: France are faffing about again then give the ball away. England then give it them back and Ribery wins a corner. Hart spills the corner but England hoof it clear.
11 min: France come forward and Nasri shoots from 20 yards but spanners it a few yards wide.
12 min: Now England faff about until Hart hoofs it upfield. Welbeck wins a throw in. Gerrard touches the ball for the first time, putting Young in down the right, Evra trips him but doesn't get the free kick.
15 min: Young puts Milner through, he rounds the keeper... but spanners it wide with an open goal! That should be 1-0!
16 min: France go upfield and Cabaye gets a shot in on goal, but Hart saves. It's pretty even so far.
18 min: Oxlade-Chamberlain beats 2 playera and slips Young through... but he's offside.
20 min: Milner beats Evra down the right but his cross is blocked. Johnson's cross then goes over everyone for a throw. France seem to be playing a 5-5-0 formation; Diarra is staying back with the defence while evreyone else goes forward, but never into the box.
22 min: Welbeck goes down with an injured ankle after Rami lands on his ankle.
24 min: France come forward but balls up a good position on the edge of the box and have to settle for a throw down their right. France then get afurther 4 throw ins down the right before spannering a cross in straight to Hart when they had no-one in the box.
28 min: Welbeck beats Mexes down the right but he gets back to win the ball as Welbeck slips.
29 min: England get a free kick down the right...
30 min: ...and Lescott scores! England 1-0 France! That was a peach of a cross from Gerrard and Lescott just guided it in with his head from 6 yards out.
32 min: England attack again but Young's cross is overhit after a nice 1-2 with Welbeck.
34 min: Oxlade-Chamberlain gives away a free kick on England's left and gets a yellow card.
35 min: Hart saves Diarra's header from Nasri's free kick then Diarra heads wide.
36 min: France come again, but England break until Cabaye legs up Parker; he should've been booked for that but wasn't.
38 min: France have gone up a gear since England's goal, but because Benzema is dropping deep, they never have anyone in the box.
39 min: Nasri gets the ball 25 yards out... and scores! England 1-1 France! Hart should have saved it, it went in at the near post.
41 min: England break but Cabaye trips Cole as he attacks, he should've been booked again, but wasn't.
42 min: Ribery beats Gerrard down the right but his cross is knocked out for a corner...
43 min: ...which England clear, but give the ball away agin. England look shaken by France's equaliser and Ribery has started to get into the game now.
45 min: Cabaye's shoots from 35 yards but it's deflected out for a corner. Benzema breaks through but Hart blocks his shot for another corner.
45+1 min: Cabaye trips Ox but gets away with it again, no free kick! He's leading a charmed life, he should have been booked by now. Half time.
Half time: 1-1 is a fair score so far on the balance of play, but England should really be ahead, Milner missing a proper sitter. France dominated the end of the half after their equaliser. England need to get the ball to Ox, Young and Welbeck more, as they've looked good, whereas Gerrard has barely been in the game other than to put the cross in for the goal and Johnson and Milner look like weak links. France have had good positions but haven't been getting anyone in the box so have restricted themselves to long range shooting, from one of whic they scored.
46 min: And the second half is underway, no substitutions by either team. Parker gives the ball away.
49 min: France have had all the ball but haven't done anything... a weak back pass from England almost puts Nasri in but Hart blocks.
53 min: England keep good possession, Gerrard is tripped just outside the box... but nothing is given.
54 min: It's now England's turn to faff about with the ball in defence. We get a replay of the Gerrard trip and it was a definite foul, should've been given
58 min: Johnson is tripped by Ribery... but nothing is given again! The ref isn't giving anything against France. England have had a good last 5 mins.
59 min: England fans give ironic cheers as England get a goal kick awarded.
61 min: Ribery goes down injured after getting tackled, England carry on and get a corner.
62 min: Ribery gets up as soon as England get the corner, but nothing comes from it.
63 min: Chants of "The referee's a wanker" can be heard from the crowd as France get a free kick.
65 min: Benzema shoots from 30 yards but Hart saves. England then get a free kick and there's more ironic cheers.
66 min: Johnson gets the ball, cuts inside and shoots from 20 yards, but it balloons over.
70 min: France are coming forward again, but none of their players go within 20 yards of the goal. They have two shots blocked. Young fouls Benzema and is rightly booked.
73 min: Oxlade-Chamberlain bursts forward but is pushed over by Ribery, who isn't booked when he probably should have been. The free kick is wasted.
74 min: Nasri slips Benzema through but Johnson intercepts. England counter but Oxlade-Chamberlain gives the ball away when it's three-on-three.
76 min: Welbeck is clearly blocked but the ref gives nothing again.
77 min: Defoe comes on for Oxlade-Chamberlain to more chants of "the referee's a wanker". The much maligned Jordan Henderson comes on for Parker. Young goes wide left.
79 min: Ribery throws himself down and gets a free kick...
80 min: ...which is cleared then deflected behind for a corner. The corner is cleared to Cabaye, whose shot is deflected wide. Hart catches the resulting corner.
84 min: Henderson tackles Ribery cleanly but gets a free kick against him. France go forward and get another corner. France bring on Ben Arfa and Martin for Cabaye and Malouda, whose done nothing.
85 min: Nasri's corner is cleared, the ball comes to Benzema, whose shot is deflected out for a corner, which is cleared. France are pushing England back now.
90 min: Hart takes about 30 seconds on the ball before launching it downfield, which France head out. Walcott comes on for Welbeck, who's played well.
92 min: France have got the ball in midfield but seem happy just to keep possession... until Benzema lashes one from 30 yards straight at Hart. The full time whistle goes.
Full time: England 1-1 France
Summary: A fair result over all, both teams looking organised and tidy enough without really pushing for a winner in the second half. The ref had a bit of a 'mare and seemed to favour France on most decisions. I think both teams will be happy with a point and will fancy their chances of beating Sweden and Ukraine, who play later.
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