SOCCER International Friendly/France1 England 0:"ENGLAND TILL I die," sang the visiting support as the night wore on. Fabio Capello will be glad to hear it because this was the sort of friendly that would have lesser men deserting. David Beckham duly made his 100th appearance, but the side was tame in defeat and the victors held a near-monopoly on excitement, especially when Nicolas Anelka was in possession.
He alarmed his Chelsea team-mate John Terry during the 45 minutes in which they both shared the field before the removal of the defender. Though Stewart Downing brightened up the match a little as a substitute, when it comes to stultifying friendlies Capello does not represent an immediate break with the past.
There had been much hubbub as the recall of Beckham was debated, but there was an opening half-hour composed mostly of quiet as he collected his 100th cap with a place in the starting line-up.
Capello will have seen the problems in his defence before John Terry was at fault in the move that led to an opener from the penalty spot. The Italian would have scowled as early as the eighth minute when Anelka was barely distracted by opponents before heading wide from a Franck Ribery free-kick.
Local difficulties were welcome to a degree since the main purpose of an away friendly match is to learn how a side copes when under pressure. England were not exactly forced out of the action and the 4-2-3-1 formation adopted by Capello worked to some extent. Any disadvantage in employing Steven Gerrard in an advanced position, close to Wayne Rooney, lay in the fact it put him in the areas patrolled by Claude Makelele, a man so adept in the holding role that he might as well have been its inventor.
The use Gerrard made of his liberty after 20 minutes was disappointing. Having shot high following service from Rooney he was far more culpable, moments later, when putting a Wes Brown cross high. Beckham could claim one good delivery from the right, but his main mark was made in the booking for a foul on Ribery.
While there is a strong case David Bentley should be first-choice for the right of midfield, wholesale restructuring of the line-up is unlikely. Of the XI selected by Capello, only David James, Wes Brown and Gareth Barry had not started the 2006 World Cup quarter-final against Portugal. Despite the contrasts between Capello and the then manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, there is an annoying constant in the shallowness of pool in which to fish for England players.
The sides had not met since the Euro 2004 group fixture, when England were 1-0 ahead before the first of two Zinedine Zidane goals in the 90th minute. The first of those was a penalty and the manner in which last night's successor was conceded bore a strong resemblance to it. Anelka easily eluded Terry to take Francois Clerc's pass on the right and James, who had conceded the goals four years ago, again felled an advancing France player. Ribery sent him the wrong way from the spot.
Terry, who had been captain under Steve McClaren, was among the quartet replaced at the interval. Changes were anticipated, but the Chelsea captain was poor and he ought to have been worried as Joleon Lescott took over from him.
Those who did take part in the second half were thrown the comfort blanket of the 4-4-2 formation. Michael Owen, taking over from Rooney, and Peter Crouch, on for Steven Gerrard, were the partnership in attack while Downing went to the left in place of Joe Cole. It could not be claimed, all the same, that the visitors were galvanised. The France captain, Lilian Thuram, in central defence, would not have seen any glaring reason why he should not get another 12 caps to reach the 150 mark. This was tame even by the standards of a friendly, but Raymond Domenech's side did catch the eye sporadically. Florent Malouda, for instance, would have sparked debate over the fact that this sort of sharp form is barely sighted at Chelsea.
Ribery was impressive, too, but Anelka, with his promise of goals, had the captivating look of a deadly opponent. Ribery had set him on the loose and he twisted, with the England captain, Rio Ferdinand, in attendance, before shooting a little high. It has to be admitted no one on either team looked as though they were really inflamed by this friendly. Crouch had at least headed a Beckham cross high, before the LA Galaxy player's 100th outing ended with his replacement by Bentley in the 64th minute. Beckham did not do much to suggest that he is essential to Capello's plans, but not many of his team-mates could do that, either.
Capello would not have the extraordinary record he possesses without being the shrewdest of observers, but he will need to have been at his keenest to spot causes for encouragement here.
FRANCE:Coupet, Abidal, Gallas, Makelele, Malouda, Toulalan, Clerc, Thuram, Trezeguet (Govou 64), Ribery, Anelka (Cisse 80). Subs not used: Landreau, Mexes, Squillaci, Alou Diarra, Flamini, Evra. Booked: Ribery.
ENGLAND:James, Brown (Johnson 63), Ferdinand, Terry (Lescott 46), Ashley Cole, Beckham (Bentley 63), Hargreaves, Barry, Joe Cole (Downing 46), Gerrard (Crouch 46), Rooney (Owen 46). Subs not used: Robinson, Bridge, Walcott, Green. Booked: Beckham.
Referee:Florian Meyer (Germany).
