13.06.2004 - French agony for England
England's Euro 2004 campaign got off to a disappointing start in Lisbon tonight, after a dramatic final three minutes against the defending champions, France.
Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen both started for England, with Emile Heskey brought on as a late second half sub for Wayne Rooney. And the Reds' trio looked set to be involved in a famous win, as injury time began with England leading 1-0 thanks to a first half header by Frank Lampard.
But a free kick from 25 yards out, clumsily given away by Heskey, was curled brilliantly into the far corner of David James' net by Zinedine Zidane a minute into stoppage time. And worse was to come for Steven Gerrard, who attempted a backpass from 35 yards out, before noticing that Thierry Henry was standing 5 yards behind England's defence, and the Arsenal man intercepted the pass before being taken down in the box by James. Zidane netted the resulting penalty and the game was turned on it's head in the most dramatic of finishes.
With Croatia and Switzerland srawing 0-0 in the earlier kick off, England can still qualify with at least a win and a draw, but a defeat in either of their remaining games will see them crash out.
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