INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES: England 1 France 2:IT WAS the predictability that caused the pain. Defeat in a friendly is no more than a twinge, but it will have hurt paying customers to see once more the modest capacities of the England squad, particularly when some regulars are not around.
On his debut, Andy Carroll had little scope in attack and the forceful Steven Gerrard eventually had to go off with a strained hamstring.
The side persisted and Peter Crouch had no sooner taken the field than he volleyed home a corner with his first touch of the ball in the 86th minute.
There was an initial difficulty in gauging the work of the England side while they were being denied the ball. France were slicker and did have a better line-up, but they were also efficient in putting it to use and a pause in their control was not felt until they had the lead.
France’s Karim Benzema has trouble appealing to Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid, but his importance to Laurent Blanc’s France is beyond dispute.
He put the visitors in front after a darting one-two with Florent Malouda. France then underlined their keenness by extending the lead.
It was typical of England to be so disorderly that in the 55th minute there was no cover to thwart the overlapping Arsenal right-back Bacary Sagna. His cross flew to Mathieu Valbuena and his left-footed connection sent the ball tidily into the net.
Capello’s team did muster a reaction in the 63rd minute. An Adam Johnson set-piece from the right went deep and Gerrard met the bouncing ball with a header that sent it grazing the top of the bar as it went behind.
ENGLAND:Foster, Jagielka, Gibbs (Warnock 72 mins), Ferdinand (Richards 46 mins), Lescott, Gerrard (Crouch 84 mins), Walcott (A Johnson 46 mins), Henderson, Barry (Young 46 mins), Milner, Carroll (Bothroyd 72 mins). Booked: Henderson.
FRANCE:Lloris, Sagna (Reveillere 86 mins), Rami, Mexes (Sakho 46 mins), Abidal, Gourcuff (Hoarau 85 mins), Nasri, Malouda (Payet 77 mins), M'Vila, Benzema (Remy 67 mins), Valbuena (Diarra 68 mins).
Referee: Bo Larsen
