Live from Euro 2004
Zidane breaks English hearts
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| French captain Zinedine Zidane shoots and scores from the penalty spot to make it 2-1 against England, 13 June 2004 during their opening match at the European Nations football championships at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon. France and England are competing in Group B with Switzerland and Croatia. AFP PHOTO ADRIAN DENNIS |
After a boring Croatia-Switzerland 0-0 on Sunday France stunned England with two injury time goals from Zinedine Zidane in a never-to-be-forgotten 2-1 win for the Gauls in Euro 2004's Group B.
Zidane's goals, a majestic free-kick and a penalty, left England heart-broken as France began the defence of their European Championship crown in exhilarating fashion.
England had got within three minutes of a memorable victory thanks to Frank Lampard's first-half header and a disciplined defensive display that preserved their lead beyond the expiry of the 90 regulation minutes here on Sunday.
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| French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez saves a penalty taken by England's David Beckham, 13 June 2004 during their opening match at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon for the European Nations football championships. France and England are competing in Group B with Croatia and Switzerland. AFP PHOTO Francois Xavier MARIT |
But they were made to pay a heavy price for David Beckham's failure to convert a 72nd-minute penalty -- superbly saved by Fabien Barthez -- as Zidane once again demonstrated why he is regarded as the best footballer on the planet.
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| England midfielder Frank Lampard salutes the crowd after England lost 2-1 to France, 13 June 2004 during their opening match at the European Nations football championships at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon. France and England are competing in Group B with Croatia and Switzerland. |
His first goal came just seconds after the fourth official had indicated there would be three minutes of added-on time.
England conceded a free-kick 25 yards out and the Real Madrid maestro stepped up to send an unstoppable shot over the wall and into the top corner.
Shell-shocked, England were to suffer an even crueller blow. With barely 20 seconds remaining a terrible back pass from Steven Gerrard allowed Thierry Henry, who had been virtually anonymous until then, to find a yard of space in the box and he was pulled down by David James.
The England goalkeeper was spared a red card but there was no mercy from Zidane: the penalty was drilled low to the England goalkeeper's right and France were left sitting pretty at the top of Group B.
England in contrast now know any slip-ups against Switzerland and Croatia could leave them facing the prospect of a first round exit from a tournament they entered with high hopes of winning.
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| Croatia's forward Ivica Olic (L) vies with Switzerland's defender Bernt Haas 13 June 2004 at the Pessoa stadium in Leiria, during their Euro 2004 football match at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO John MACDOUGALL |
Earlier in the day Switzerland battled Croatia to a 0-0 draw in a bad tempered match in Leiria. There were nine yellow cards and one red brandished but no goals.
In a bruising first-half, both sides had chances to open the scoring with Alexander Frei going close with a low shot for the Swiss and then Ivica Olic failing with a close header for Croatia that clipped the bar of a wide open goal.
Switzerland suffered a blow just after the break when midfielder Johann Vogel was sent-off for a second bookable offence but they held firm led by their goalkeeper and captain Jorg Stiel.