LIVE: ENGLAND v FRANCE

17 November 2010 22:10
Fabio Capello will send out a new-look England side to take on France at Wembley Stadium, with the friendly match giving the England boss a chance to try out new blood in the absence of  Frank Lampard, John Terry and Wayne Rooney. Follow Sportsmail's coverage of the match which kicks-off at 8pm where you can email me all your thoughts on the game at dan.ripley@dailymail.co.uk[LNB] England 1-2 France (8pm) England: Foster, Jagielka, Ferdinand (Richards 45), Lescott, Gibbs (Warnock 72), Walcott (Adam Johnson 45), Henderson, Gerrard (Crouch 85), Barry (Young 45), Milner, Carroll (Bothroyd 72).Subs: Green, Smalling, Cahill, Carlton Cole, Loach.[LNB]France: Lloris, Rami, Sagna Reveillere, Mexes (Sakho 45), Gourcuff (Hoarau 85), Benzema (Remy 68), Nasri, Abidal, Malouda (Payet 78), M'Vila, Valbuena (Diarra 68).Subs: Mandanda, Carrasso, Cabaye, Kaboul, Gameiro, Clichy[LNB]Goals: Benzema 16. Valbuena 55.[LNB]Referee: Claus Bo Larsen (Denmark)[LNB]22.01: Elsewhere this evening, Rory Patterson grabbed the equaliser for Northern Ireland as they drew 1-1 with Morocco while Republic of Ireland fell to a 2-1 defeat to Norway with Erik Huseklepp getting the winner.[LNB]So, different England, same old problem. Top class opposition show us just how the game should be played as the Three Lions suffered their first defeat at Wembley under Fabio Capello.[LNB]Looks like we should start looking to bring back Greaves and Charlton after all (see 19.18) but for now that is all from me folks. Check back at the weekend for Sportsmail's coverage of Premier League action. Thank you for following.[LNB]21.58: I try not to let friendlies bother me as they are just a good way to experiment but seeing how easy France tore into England makes me panic. Spain I can understand but France at home? I know the big guns Lampard, Terry and Rooney were not involved but they were the same players after the World Cup that people claimed should be dropped.[LNB]21.54: If anything that result flattered England, France were better in all areas of the pitch and if they gave England any lessons tonight, it was the art of keeping possession. England still resort to the long ball when all else fails and it is just as frustrating.[LNB]Full-time: England 1-2 France[LNB]90+4min: Rami has gone down for France with cramp, he might need telling this is only a friendly...[LNB]90+2min: England pressuring heavily. Johnson on the byline chips the ball to Bothroyd in the box but with such little power can't beat Lloris eight yards out who catches comfortably.[LNB]90+1min: Five minutes of injury time. Still time yet.[LNB]90min: Not so much an England bombardment in these closing stages but in all honesty that goal from Crouch can only succeed in papering over the cracks.[LNB]87min: France make another sub with Anthony Reveillere replacing Sagna.[LNB] Instant impact: Peter Crouch scores moments after coming on for England[LNB]86min: GOAL! ENGLAND 1-2 France[LNB]That's unbelievable, Peter Crouch has been on the field for no more than 30 seconds and he shows great technique to guide a volley from a corner in to the roof of the net. Stunning finish.[LNB]85min: Bad news Liverpool fans, Gerrard looks hurt and he is coming off to be replaced by Peter Crouch. Seems to be a hamstring problem but I will try and update you should I get any news.[LNB]Meanwhile France also make a sub with Gourcuff replaced by Guillaume Hoarau.[LNB]83min: Without sounding too harsh Lescott is having a shocker.[LNB]He loses the ball in a midfield position after being shoved off the ball by Diarra in bully like fashion, with the counter leading to Nasri hitting Foster's near post from inside the box.[LNB]81min: England's best chance. Johnson does well to run in to the box from wide out right but after his shot is fumbled the gambling Gerrard fires his low shot just wisde of the post. Should have scored.[LNB]80min: Game has fallen flat once again. Bothroyd has looked sharp since he come on but France's defending to their credit has been superb tonight. Abidal in particular has been superb.[LNB]78min: More subs, Malouda gets a pantomime boo from the crowd as Dimitri Payet replaces him.[LNB]75min: Another free-kick out wide for England, the Man City pair have combined well this half.[LNB]Milner plays a short ball to Johnson in the box who with space fires a shot which takes multiple deflections before falling agonisingly just behind Bothroyd as the ball rolls out for a corner which France clear.[LNB]72min: The change happens with Carroll receiving a loud applause from the Wembley faithful. it's a double change with Stephen Warnock replacing Gibbs.[LNB]71min: Jay Bothroyd is ready to come on with Carroll set to be replaced, make no mistake though Carroll has done himself proud.[LNB]70min: It's taken 70 minutes but Carroll finally has a cross to attack. Gerrard delivers a left foot cross that the striker just fails to generate enough power from to seriously trouble Lloris.[LNB]68min: Double sub from France. Alou Diarra and Loic Remy come on for the goal scorers Valbuena and Benzema.[LNB]66min: Another free-kick but this is more central 25 yards out and at shooting range.[LNB]Johnson though blazes over.[LNB]65min: More bad news from our friends at opta:[LNB]The last team to win 2-0 in a friendly against England at Wembley were France in February 1999.[LNB]63min: Free-kick for England out wide on the right after Johnson draws Abidal in to a foul.[LNB]Goes very close to, with Johnson's ball in headed across goal by Gerrard that just grazes the top of the crossbar.[LNB]61min: As you were England, cannot get the ball. France are knocking it about waiting for a gap to open up, it's a far cry to Lescott's hit and hope earlier.[LNB]58min: No response from England as France go into keep-ball mode. On the evidence of tonight France are making a mockery of the FIFA World rankings that were published today that place England 15 places above them in sixth.[LNB] Double up: Valbuena scores France's second goal[LNB]55min: GOAL! England 0-2 FRANCE[LNB]Easy, just too easy. Bacary Sagna races free down the right hand side with his low cross in the box neatly finished by Mathieu Valbuena who showed good technique to direct it in the corner guiving Foster no chance and England now no hope.[LNB]52min: What a waste. Lescott unmarked, under no pressure on the halfway line elects to boot the ball long which Carroll was not going to get to in a month of Sundays. The kind of thing I expect to see at Hackney Marshes.[LNB]49min: A slightly late tackle from Henderson on Gourcuff results in a yellow card for the former, scrappy start from both sides so far.[LNB]48min: Johnson and Richards down the right, with Young down the left, lets hope the Man City duo wave some magic.[LNB]Second-half: After going off to loud boos at Half-time can England's subs make a difference as we get back underway.[LNB]21.04: Triple sub from Capello. Ashley Young, Adam Johnson and Micah Richards are on to replace Rio Ferdinand, Gareth Barry and Theo Walcott the men coming off.[LNB]For France Mamadou Sakho replaces Mexes.[LNB]21.01: Little update from other friendly matches.[LNB]Northern Ireland are a goal down at home to Morocco courtesy of Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh while Republic of Ireland are drawing 1-1 against Norway at the Dublin Arena. Shane Long's penalty being cancelled out by a Morten Gamst Pedersen strike.[LNB]20.55: Much of the difference has been in the forward lines. England's midfield has struggled to get the ball forward and Carroll is suffering from it but for France, Benzema and Maoulda have looked superb. I can't believe that the former is the same player that is having a horrid time at Real Madrid.[LNB]20.52: England came in to a bit more near the end of the half but...[LNB]...I do wonder how much of that was France taking their foot off the gas. What I can confirm is when the French were trying England looked as hopeless as they did in South Africa.[LNB]Half-time: England 0-1 France[LNB]45min: As France pass it around the Wembley crowd agree with me as they produce the universal sign of boredom...the Mexican Wave. [LNB] French resistance: Bacary Sagna (right) had the better of James Milner in the first-half [LNB]44min: France have eased up and in truth the game is a lot worse for it, it's become sluggish, one dimensional and dare I say it in an England friendly...boring.[LNB]41min: Least it is not one sided now, England have a foothold in this but are not dominating. France look comfortable but are being made to work a tiny bit more now and it's about time.[LNB]38min: He isn't just a target man either. Carrol runs on to a one touch pass from Gerrard, doing a neat step-over to get past Mexes before Abidal's last ditch sliding challenge on the edge of the box takes the ball away from him.[LNB]35min: I'm clutching at straws now but that is better from Walcott, he skins Eric Abidal for pace down the right but Philippe Mexes executes a well timed sliding tackle to dispossess the winger. Signs England just maybe starting to come out their shells.[LNB]32min: Despite the presence of Milner and Walcott, Carroll has not had a single wide ball to attack yet. In term of attacking threat, England hardly possess any and only the Newcastle forward seems to be making anything of note.[LNB]29min: And again! Moments after Benzema scuffs a shot wide, Carroll again wins the ball in the air outside the box heading down for Gerrard who blasts over.[LNB] Bright opening: Carroll had a bright if unproductive opening[LNB]28min: Better. Joleon Lescott chips the ball to Carroll who directs a neat header in to the path of James Milner with the Manchester City winger's shot at least forcing Lloris in to a save.[LNB]26min: To be fair to Carroll, he is bringing people in to play, there is always a man on him but for the majority of this game he has shaken off his marker when receiving the ball and brought England's midfield in to the game...only for them to immediately give the ball away.[LNB]23min: England have the ball! Wait hold that after some unadventurous passing at the back the Wembley crowd start to boo, Jagielka gives up and punts the ball 40 yards towards Carroll who is outnumbered as he loses the ball. Shocking.[LNB]21min: Remember those matches on the school playground where one team would have all the best kids and the other would have those that had hardly ever kicked a ball? This is a lot like one of those games right now.[LNB]19min: This is getting embarrassing, England can't get the ball and when they haven't got it they just retreat and invite a French attack. Looking desperate, really it is.[LNB] Ruthless: Benzema fired France into the lead at Wembley[LNB]16min: GOAL! England 0-1 FRANCE[LNB]From a France point of view that is superb. Karim Benzema shakes off Phil Jagielka by playing a one-two with Malouda and once in th ebox blasts past Foster at his near post. Fully deserved lead, England chasing shadows.[LNB]14min: Kieran Gibbs is another who is struggling. Karim Benzema has hustled him throughout the early stages and so far the Arsneal full-back is struggling to put the shackles on the Frenchman.[LNB]12min: France much more settled and this time it's Yoann Gourcuff whose right foot effort from 25 yards is turned behind by Foster for a corner, which England survive.[LNB]10min: Ten Minutes gone, debut watch:[LNB]Henderson is struggling to make an impact in the centre while Carroll has so far been feeding of scraps and as such has failed to make any notable mark as yet.[LNB]8min: Very slow, but after some patient passing at the back for France they zip it upfield for Malouda, left of goal 20 yards out shoots he low across Ben Foster who dives down to catch the Chelsea winger's effort.[LNB]I would not give Malouda too many of those.[LNB]6min: First moment of danger for England as France win a corner. Florent Malouda's in-swinging corner is well cleared by Barry though.[LNB]5min: Quite scrappy so far, England just trying to play keep-ball but can't seem to get the forward players involved.[LNB]3min: Bright start from England, they have all the ball and France are struggling to make any sort of impact.[LNB]2min: England win a free-kick 30 yards out but Gerrard's low effort is taken comfortably by Hugo Lloris.[LNB]20.05: England kick-us off.[LNB]20.02: Both anthems impeccably observed and we are ready for a good ol' kick-a-bout.[LNB]20.00: Following their disastrous World Cup campaign that took in-fighting to a new level, France players have to agree to a new code that includes every player being requited to sing the national anthem...which they do...or at least mime very well.[LNB]19.58: It may be sold out but those corporate seats are not full again...I suppose that is another topic for another day though.[LNB]19.55: Rio Ferdinand leads England out, positive reception from a sold-out Wembley crowd. This fixture still matters then.[LNB]19.53: Chances of seeing Jay Bothroyd tonight? Who knows but like Kevin Davies, will we see him in an England shirt again after tonight? [LNB]19.49: Judging by this pearler from opta stats, we may be looking back at that Shearer strike just a little longer...[LNB]England have won none of their last 12 matches (excluding shootouts) at Wembley against the seven other World Cup winners.[LNB] Trademark: Alan Shearer celebrates in his usual style after scoring England's last winning goal against France in 1997[LNB]19.45: Back then a late Alan Shearer strike was the only goal as England defeated France 1-0 to win Le Tournoi. (A warm-up tournament for the World Cup)[LNB]France of course would slightly trump that by winning that very World Cup the following year.[LNB]19.40: In fact we still owe them for ruining David Beckham's big night in 2008 when the midfielder won his 100th cap.[LNB]France won the friendly in Paris 1-0 and you have to go back to 1997 for the last time we defeated the French.[LNB]19.35: In truth I still get bitter and twisted over that Euro 2004 match where Zinedine Zidane scored two goals in the last three minutes to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.[LNB]I know we still went through the group in the end but that was a terrible experience that we owe them for![LNB]19.30: They currently top Group D in attempting to qualify for Euro 2012 despite losing 1-0 to Belarus in their opening game.[LNB]In summary not the world beaters they were 10 years ago but no longer the complete laughing stock they were in June.[LNB]19.25: Speaking of South Africa, football and awful, if there was one team worse than England at the World Cup it was France who have since brought in Laurent Blanc to manage the national side with mixed fortunes thus far.[LNB]19.23: James Milner, Steven Gerrard and Gareth Barry were the unlucky three from Bloemfontein, so there is some experience out there this evening...not that it helped at the World Cup of course.[LNB]19.18: And he starts! After a day which contained a good old fashioned club v country row, Andy Carroll has passed a fitness test and will start against France.[LNB]In doing so his Newcastle boss Chris Hughton will be watching no doubt peeking through his fingers hoping he can come through unscathed.[LNB]Of course it's not just about Carroll, Fabio Capello has placed his faith in a number of other kids too. Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson will also make his debut, while Arsenal full-back Kieran Gibbs will add to his solitary cap.[LNB]Fellow team-mate Theo Walcott (yes he is still just 21-years-old) will also look to further cement his place in the first XI.[LNB]Only three players are set to start from that awful defeat to Germany at the World Cup which prompted nationwide calls for youth to be introduced.[LNB]Here it is folks the new generation, if these can't cut it then we may have to persuade Jimmy Greaves and Bobby Charlton to come out of retirement.[LNB] Ready to stand and deliver: Andy Carroll (left) and Jordan Henderson are set to make their international debuts[LNB]  Andy Carroll set for late fitness test as Newcastle raise fears about striker's England debutCapello to try a Plan B with his new-look England against FranceBoozers are losers! Take it from me, says Rio, you can't drink and thrive[LNB]  Explore more:People: Chris Hughton, John Terry, Fabio Capello, Andy Carroll, Carlton Cole, Theo Walcott, Gareth Barry, Frank Lampard, Jimmy Greaves, Adam Johnson, Wayne Rooney, James Milner, Zinedine Zidane, Steven Gerrard, David Beckham, Alan Shearer, Kevin Davies, Jay Bothroyd, Rio Ferdinand, Karim Benzema, Ben Foster, Phil Jagielka, Joleon Lescott, Ashley Young, Marouane Chamakh, Bacary Sagna, Peter Crouch Places: Newcastle, Paris, Liverpool, France, Germany, United Kingdom, South Africa, Denmark, Republic of Ireland, Morocco, Norway, Northern Ireland

Source: Daily_Mail