French Wizard Dispatches England with Moments of Magic

The first of this tournament's "clash of the titans" saw defending champions France face the challenge of possibly the strongest England team to begin a championship tournament for nearly 15 years. The number of world stars making an appearance was dazzling from the off with some of the game's most coveted players taking the field in Lisbon in a show of talent worth hundreds of millions of euros.

The two teams, captained by Real Madrid stars David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane, set off at a cracking pace with the French whizzing the ball from flank to flank. The speed of the French attack seemed to take the English by surprise and were entrenched around their own penalty area for the first five minutes. Robert Pires and Patrick Vieira continued to probe the England defenders but keeper David James was equal to the first few efforts that floated near his goal.

Teenage sensation Wayne Rooney soon became integral to the England counter-attack, testing Mikael Silvestre on the right flank and drifting inside to collect short passes from Beckham and Frank Lampard. His striking partner Michael Owen was also finding space in the French half but William Gallas, his minder on his forward marches, mopped up for the French when the diminutive forward threatened and cleared the danger.

The French soon picked up the pace even further. Vieira powered forward and tried his luck from well outside the penalty area but his shot flew high over the bar. France swept forward and it took a Frank Lampard header to deny Zidane a trademark free-kick scorcher and the England defense cleared the ensuing corner with aplomb.

England began to settle and thread incisive midfield play together but still failed to make any real penetration towards Fabien Barthez's goal. Their command of the center was broken up by Vieira who sent Zidane free into a gap in front of the back tracking England defense but his shot from 25 yards swerved well wide of James' left-hand post.

Early danger from France

Vieira was once again the danger man and his cross on 15 minutes was met by David Trezeguet, who stooped to send his header just over the crossbar. Vieira combined with Trezeguet again two minutes later but this time with a clever chip over the defence which just evaded the striker.

France increased the pressure when Claude Makelele found his way into the box with a twisting run that confused Lampard but sent his shot sailing harmlessly high and wide of the England goal.

Steven Gerrard started to grow into his role as roaming midfielder on the half hour and popped up on the left flank chasing a wide Beckham cross only to be tackled by Gallas on the edge of the area. A minute later, the Liverpool midfielder fed Paul Scholes who let fly under pressure from 30 yards but his shot ended up high in the stands.

Lampard was lucky not to be booked two minutes later for a crunching tackle on Zidane, who was beginning to show some delightful touches in midfield. His rhythm knocked out of synch, Zidane drifted, allowing England to push forward again.

England take the lead

Then on 38 minutes, the break through came. Beckham was fouled out on the right by Bixente Lizarazu, and then stepped up to send in a curling free-kick into a packed penalty area. Arching to make contact in a crowd of defenders, Frank Lampard powered the ball past Barthez with a header and England were 1-0 up.

France went in search of an equalizer but England, calmed by Beckham, saw the half out on top.

The second half began with France even more determined to get back on equal terms. In what would be an indication of what England could expect for the last 45 minutes of the match, France were relentless. Two minutes in and James had to dive to catch Henry's low cross from the left and two minutes later Zidane fired an instant shot from 40 yards that the England keeper had to smother.

French response pins back England

Vieira then charged powerfully towards the area before feeding Henry on the left - but his weak curling shot was easily gathered by the England keeper. Moments later, English hearts were in their mouths when Gary Neville appeared to block Henry's cross with his upper arm but to England's relief, the referee waved away France's appeals for a penalty.

The pressure refused to let up and Scholes was forced into giving the ball away before being booked for an appalling tackle on Vieira as he tried to make amends.

England's attacking efforts eventually came to the fore as Beckham let fly with a 35-yard free-kick that failed to trouble Barthez, but the captain's next effort just three minutes later flew just over the bar.

Heat turns up in pressure cooker atmopshere

The heat of battle was getting to the youngsters with Rooney getting in a tangle with Lizarazu, before pushing away attempts by Gallas to make the peace. The teenager still managed to carve an opening on 66 minutes but Michael Owen failed to get on the end of his cushioned pass.

France had the game in a strangle hold with England unable to get out of their own half or keep hold of the ball for any length of time. This prompted Sven Goran Eriksson to revitalise their attack by replacing the ineffective Owen with Darius Vassell.

England's fortunes looked to have turned when Wayne Rooney was brought down in the area by Silvestre. The referee pointed to the penalty spot and England had a chance to ease the pressure by doubling the lead. But Barthez was equal to Beckham's spot-kick and saved in spectacular style.

France swarmed forward with new impetus and laid siege to the England goal, forcing the defense to dig in for the remainder of the match. England looked to have the game sewn up with the clock ticking into extra time when the seemingly impossible happened.

Zidane magic breaks the Lions

When magic is required who do you call but the master magician? With 91 minutes on the clock and England seconds away from beating the champions, the referee awarded a free-kick about 25 yards from the England goal. Zidane looked once and appeared to stroke the ball over the wall of defenders. However, the ball flew past a stationary James into the corner and France were level.

Although stunned, England could have hung on for a point but the wizard would have the last say. It was Henry who raced through the defense onto a through ball only to be brought down by James. But it was Zidane who powered home the penalty kick with 93 minutes gone to win the match with the final kick of the game.

England: James, G Neville, A Cole, Campbell, King, Gerrard, Lampard, Beckham, Scholes, Owen, Rooney.

France:

Barthez, Gallas, Thuram, Silvestre, Lizarazu, Pires, Vieira, Makelele, Zidane, Henry, Trezeguet.